| A | B |
|---|
| term | specified length of time served by elected officials |
| pocket veto | type of veto that may be used after legislature has adjourned, when the president does not sign or reject the bill |
| constituents | all people represented by a legislator |
| Speaker of the House | presiding officer of the House of Representatives |
| President of the Senate | presiding officer of the U.S. Senate |
| President pro tempore | member of the Senate who presides in the absence of the President of the Senate |
| party caucus | meeting of party leaders to conduct party business |
| committee chairman | member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body |
| seniority rule | unwritten rule in both houses of Congress that the top posts are filled by those with the longest service record |
| standing committee | permanent committee in a legislative body |
| conference committee | temporary joint committee created to reconcile differences between two versions of a bill |
| bill | a proposal presented to Congress for possible enactment into law |
| rider | a bill that is unlikely to pass on its own, added to a more popular bill in hopes that it will pass |
| quorum | least number of members who must be present to conduct business |
| filibuster | various tactics (usually prolonged floor debate) in the attempt to stop a vote for a bill from happening |
| cloture | procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate |
| veto | power to reject a bill passed by a legislature |
| session | the regular period of time when Congress conducts business |
