| A | B |
|---|
| Speaker of the House | Both the elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowleged leader of its majority party |
| President of the Senate | The Senate's presiding officer; not a member of the body |
| President Pro Tempore | Person who serves in the absence of the Vice President |
| Party Caucus | A closed meeting of the members of each party in each house |
| Floor Leaders | Do not hold positions in either chamber; legislative strategists |
| Whips | Assistant floor leaders; serve as a liason |
| Committee Chairmen | Members who head the standing committes in each chamber |
| Seniority Rule | The most important posts will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress |
| Standing Committees | Permanent panels to which all similiar bills could be sent |
| Select Committee | Panels set up for some specific purpose and for a limited time |
| Joint Committee | Composed of member of both houses; both temporary and permanent causes |
| Conference Committee | Temporary, joint body; job is to produce a compromise bill that both houses will accept |
| Bill | Proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration |
| Joint Resolution | Most often deal with unusual or temporary matters; |
| Concurrent Resolution | Do not have the force of law and do not require the the President's signature |
| Resolution | Deal 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 that is attached to an important measure certain to pass |
| Discharge Petition | Enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee 30 days |
| Subcommittees | Division of exisiting committees formed to address specific issues |
| Committee of the Whole | An old parliamentary device for speeding business on the floor |
| Quorum | Majority of the full membership |
| Engrossed | Printed in its final form |
| Filibuster | An attempt to "talk a bill to death" |
| Cloture | Limiting debate |
| Veto | Refuse to sign a bill |
| Pocket Veto | When Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the measure dies |
