bill

a proposed law, drafted in precise, legal language. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration

minority leader

the pricipal leader of the minority party in he House of Representatives or in the Senate.

legislative oversight

Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings

joint committees

Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses

seniority system

a simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had seved on the committee the longest and whose party controlled Congress became chair, regradless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence

casework

activities of members of Congress that help constituents aas individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get.

conference committees

Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill

Whips

Party leader who work with the majority leader of minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party