| A | B |
|---|
| standing committee | a permanent committee dealing with prominent policy matters |
| select committee | panels established for a specific purpose and a limited amount of time |
| joint committee | committee composed of members of both houses of Congress |
| conference committee | a temporary , joint body, which is created to "iron out" differences in a bill passed by both houses of Congress |
| bill | a porposed law presented to the House or the Senate for consideration |
| joint resolution | similar to a bill passed to deal with unusual or temporary matters |
| concurrent resolution | this deals with matters in which the House and Senate must act jointly |
| resolution | deals with matters concerning either house alone and are taken up only by that house |
| rider | a provision not likely to pass on its own merit is attached to an important measure certain to pass |
| first reading | when a bill receives its official number |
| calendar | a schedule of the order in which bills will be taken up on the floor of a house of Congress |
| quorum | a majority of the full membership of a house that must be present for that house to do business |
| engrossed | when a bill is printed in its final form and the final vote is taken |
| filibuster | only happens in the Senate when a minority senators try to delay action on a measure by "talking it to death" |
| cloture | action to limit debate on a bill on the floor |
| veto | The President refuses to sign a bill |
| pocket veto | if Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the measure dies. |
| party whips | assistant floor leaders |
| party caucus | a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house |
| floor leaders | party officers which are legislative strategists |
