Legislative Terms and Concepts Quiz

Legislative Terms and Concepts

• Rider: A provision added to a bill to influence its passage or defeat, regardless of relevance to the bill's main topic.

• Delegate Form of Representation: A model where elected representatives act solely as mouthpieces for their constituents, lacking autonomy and decision-making based on personal conscience.

• Trustee Form of Representation: A representation model allowing elected officials to act with discretion in the best interest of the public, even if it means diverging from constituents' immediate desires.

• Logrolling: A practice among legislators involving mutual aid and exchange of votes to support each other's proposals.

• Conference Committee: A committee formed by leaders of both legislative chambers to reconcile differences in bills passed in different forms.

• Seniority Rule: A principle assigning committee leadership positions to the majority party member with the longest continuous service, promoting experience in legislative processes.

• Joint Committee: A committee that consists of members from both houses of Congress, responsible for overseeing specific functions like the Library of Congress and conducting investigations.

• Unanimous Consent: A parliamentary procedure wherein a proposal is deemed accepted in the absence of objections from those present, facilitating swift legislative action.

• House Rules Committee: A unique committee in the House of Representatives responsible for establishing the rules under which other bills are debated and voted on, influencing legislative workflow.

Constitutional Amendments and Legislative Framework

• 17th Amendment: Ratified in 1913, this amendment to the U.S. Constitution mandates the direct election of two senators from each state through popular vote, with a six-year term.

• Casework: The assistance provided by congressional members to constituents facing issues, reflecting the personal engagement of legislators with their constituents' needs.

• Article I: Outlines the structure and authority of the legislative branch of the U.S. government, emphasizing the separation of powers, election procedures, law-making processes, and congressional powers.