| A | B |
|---|
| resolution | a measure relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion does not have the force of law and does not require the prez signature |
| rider | unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will ride through the legislative process |
| discharge petition | a procedure enabling numbers to force a bill that has been pigeonholed in committee onto the floor for consideration |
| quorum | least number of members that need to be present for a group to do business, majority |
| party caucus | a closed meeting of a party's house or senate members also called a party conference |
| filibuster | various tactics, long speeches, aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote (US senate) |
| joint committee | legislative committee composed of members of both houses |
| whip | assistant to the floor leaders in both house and senate responsible for monitoring and marshalling votes |
| speaker of the house | the presiding officer of the house of representatives chosen by and from the majority party in the house |
| president of the senate | presiding officer of the senate in congress the vice president of the US-- in a state's legislature either the lt. gov. or a senator |
