Ad Hoc Committee: A special committee created to investigate a specific, usually limited, area of legislative concern.
Amendment: A change made or proposed on the floor of a legislative body or in committee by adding to, or striking out, or altering the wording of any part of a bill or resolution.
Ballot: A method of voting, usually in secret, in which voters record their choice of candidates and/or issues (propositions).
Big Government: A description of expanded governmental activities, especially at the federal level, that increase public services or government's intrusion into the daily lives of citizens. It results in higher taxes to support public budgets.
Bill of Rights: A brief statement of certain fundamental rights and privileges that are guaranteed to the people, and even the government cannot violate. (The United States Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.)
Budget: An estimate of expenses and money received through taxes, fees and investments for the next fiscal year or other period for the purpose of planning.
Cabinet: The heads of the various executive branch departments including the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Justice.
Campaign Finance Reform: Laws that have been passed to regulate the amounts, sources of income, expenses, and reporting procedures for campaign funds.
Campaign fund: The total money a candidate or party committee used to win a nomination or an election. Such funds are normally used to pay the cost of office space, television and radio spots, campaign literature, and bumper stickers.
Candidate: A person who seeks public office through the established procedures of nomination and election.
Capitol Hill: Site of the United States Capitol building, located in Washington, D.C.
Caucus: A closed meeting of all the members of one or both legislative houses who belong to the same political party for the purpose of making nominations to offices and committee posts, choosing party leaders, and agreeing on united action on pending legislation.
Checks and Balances: A government structure that is designed so no part can dominate the whole. This system seeks to protect each of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches against the others and the people against all by requiring the approval by one department of certain acts of another. No one branch of government has complete authority.
Conservative/Liberal: For most of the 20th century, these two terms have been used as a rough division within the American political system. While clear descriptions of each are difficult, in recent years conservatives have been identified as those who seek a smaller governmental role in the lives of citizens while democrats have been identified as those who seek a larger governmental role in the lives of citizens.
Constituency: The voters of an electoral district.
Democrat/Republican: The two major political parties in the United States (since the 1850s).
Divided Government: The occurrence when the legislature is primarily of one political party while the executive branch (governor or president) belongs to the opposing political party.
Docket: A list of cases pending before a court or similar tribunal with brief minutes of all proceedings included.
Electoral College: Electors are chosen for the purpose of selecting the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has the number of electors equal to its congressional delegation. An absolute majority is required in the Electoral College for it to elect the president and vice president.
Executive Council: An executive cabinet, or a body of advisers of a chief executive such as a governor or the president.
Filibuster: Long-continued speechmaking by a member, or members, of a legislative body, or other delaying tactics deliberately intended to compel the majority to abandon part of its legislative program.
Fiscal Year: The 12-month period beginning at any fixed date, during which funds are to be spent, taxes collected, and accounts kept. The fiscal year of the United States begins July 1.
Foreign Policy: A relatively consistent course of conduct pursued by one country in its relationship with another country.
GOP: Grand Old Party (Republicans)
Impeachment: A formal written accusation by the lower house of a legislature sent to the upper house to remove an official for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Legislation/Bill: Proposed laws made by a legislature or other lawmaking body.
Lobbyist: People who represent various interests and seek to influence both executive and legislative branches. They usually try to get legislation or policies passed that will be favorable to their business or cause. They also try to defeat legislation or policies that would be harmful.
Majority Leader: A member chosen by the caucus of the majority party to take charge of party strategy on the floor of a legislative house.
National Debt: The overall amount of money the government owes as a result of spending more money than it takes in.
PAC: Political Action Committee; a group formed to raise and contribute money to the campaigns of candidates likely to advance the group's interests.
Parliamentary Procedure: Established rules, usages and precedents used in the process to debate and enact laws.
Political Party: A body of voters organized around common political beliefs for the purpose of influencing or controlling the policies and conduct of government through the nomination and, if possible, the election of its candidates into office.
Pork: Funds, projects, appropriations, appointments and favors obtained by a representative for his district. It usually implies that these projects are not needed.
Preamble: A concise statement of the principles of American democracy and the reasons for creating the federal union as we know it today. The general public views the words of the preamble as the basis of our democracy.
President of the Senate: Presiding officer of the Senate Chambers, votes only in the case of a tie. The vice president normally holds this office. President of the Senate is also first in line to become president in the case of death or incapacitation of the current president.
Primary Election: A preliminary election for the party nomination of candidates for office. Each party's primary election winner then goes on to the general election.
Representative: A member of the House of Representatives elected to act on behalf of a specific constituency in a legislative assembly.
Representative Government: A government in which there is an independent legislature composed of representatives elected by voters and endowed given substantial legislative and fiscal powers.
Resolution: A formal statement of legislative opinion.
Senator: A member of the Senate. Each state has two senators. When a senator is elected, he/she serves for a six-year period.
Separation of Powers: The responsibilities of lawmaking, law-enforcing and law-interpreting are divided into different branches of government to preserve liberty and prevent tyranny that can result from combining legislative, executive and judicial powers in the same hands.
Speaker of the House: The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, elected by its members, traditionally a senior member of the majority party. The speaker has great powers in controlling the passage of legislation and has considerable influence in the selection of committee members. He/She is next in line to become president after the vice president.
State of the Union Address: A speech by the president at the opening of a regular session of Congress. The Constitution requires the president to give a report to Congress on the country. Over the years, it has developed into an opportunity to unveil key policy and program ideas.
Supreme Court: The highest court in the American court system and the only Constitution requires. Sessions are from October to May, and cases usually involve questions of constitutional or statutory interpretation.
Table: To suspend consideration of a bill that is being discussed.
Veto: A bill that has passed the House and Senate must be signed by the president before it becomes a law. The president has the authority to reject, or veto, the legislation and prevent it from becoming law. If the president vetoes legislation, it can only become law if Congress overrides that veto with a two-thirds majority.