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Congress terms
Bills, votes and the balance of power.
Advice and consent The Senate's constitutional role in approving the president's treaties and major appointments. Appropriations The laws through which Congress grants federal agencies authority to spend money each year on discretionary programs. Authorization bill A law that creates or continues a federal program and sets policy, usually separate from the law that provides its funding. Authorization for Use of Military Force A law in which Congress authorizes the president to use military force, such as the 2001 and 2002 authorizations. Blue slip A Senate Judiciary Committee custom that lets home-state senators block or delay certain judicial nominees from their states. Budget reconciliation A fast-track budget process that lets the Senate pass certain tax and spending legislation by simple majority, without a filibuster. Byrd rule A Senate rule that strips from reconciliation bills any provision that is extraneous to the budget or increases deficits beyond the budget window. CBO score The Congressional Budget Office's nonpartisan estimate of how a bill would change federal spending, revenue and deficits. Censure A formal expression of disapproval by a legislative chamber of one of its members, short of expulsion. Cloture The Senate procedure for ending debate on a measure, normally requiring three-fifths of senators. Conference committee A temporary panel of House and Senate members that negotiates a single version when the chambers pass different bills. Congressional Review Act A 1996 law letting Congress overturn federal agency rules by a simple-majority resolution that is immune to Senate filibuster. Congressional subpoena A legal order from a congressional committee compelling someone to testify or produce documents for an investigation. Contempt of Congress A finding that a person defied Congress, such as by ignoring a subpoena, which can be punished criminally or enforced in court. Continuing resolution A temporary law that keeps federal agencies funded at existing levels when regular appropriations have not been enacted. Discharge petition A House procedure that lets a majority of members force a floor vote on a bill that committee or leadership has refused to schedule. Earmark A provision in legislation that directs federal money to a specific project, recipient or location, often requested by a member of Congress. Filibuster The use of extended debate or the threat of it to delay or block Senate action, effectively requiring 60 votes for most bills. Government shutdown A lapse in federal appropriations that forces agencies to suspend non-essential operations until funding is restored. House Rules Committee The House committee that sets the terms of debate and amendment for most major bills before they reach the floor. Impeachment The constitutional process by which the House charges a federal official with misconduct and the Senate tries the charges. Lame-duck session The period after an election, before newly elected members take office, when departing members may still pass legislation. Line-item veto A power, held by many governors but not the president, to reject individual items in a spending bill while signing the rest. Majority leader The top floor leader of the majority party in a chamber of Congress, who controls scheduling in the Senate. Markup The committee meeting at which members debate, amend and vote on a bill before sending it to the full chamber. Motion to recommit A House motion to send a pending bill back to committee, long used by the minority to offer a final amendment before passage. Motion to vacate the chair A House motion declaring the office of Speaker vacant, forcing a vote on whether to remove the sitting Speaker. Nuclear option A Senate maneuver that changes the effective rules by simple majority precedent, bypassing the usual two-thirds requirement. Omnibus bill A single large bill that combines many separate measures, most often a full set of annual spending bills. Pocket veto A veto that occurs when the president does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns, so the bill dies without a chance of override. President pro tempore The Senate's ceremonial presiding officer in the vice president's absence, traditionally the senior majority-party senator. Quorum The minimum number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct official business. Recess appointment A presidential appointment made while the Senate is in recess, which lasts only until the end of the next Senate session. Regular order The traditional process of developing and debating legislation through committees, open amendment and separate votes rather than leadership-written packages. Rescission A proposal, under the Impoundment Control Act, to cancel previously appropriated funds, with a fast-track vote in Congress. Senate hold An informal notice by a senator that they will object to unanimous consent to take up a bill or nomination. Speaker of the House The presiding officer and top leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, elected by the full House at the start of each Congress. Suspension of the rules A House shortcut for passing noncontroversial bills quickly with limited debate and a two-thirds vote. Unanimous consent A Senate procedure in which the chamber agrees to a request when no senator objects, used to organize nearly all of its business. Veto The president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress by returning it unsigned with objections. Veto override Congress's power to enact a bill over a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in each chamber. War Powers Resolution A 1973 law limiting the president's ability to commit U.S. forces to hostilities without congressional approval. Whip A party leader in a legislative chamber responsible for counting votes and persuading members to vote with the party.