Term
| What are select committees? |
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Definition
| Temporary committees that are given the power to draw up and suggest legislation in a specific area. |
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Term
| What is a standing committee? |
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Definition
| Permanent legislature of congress. |
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Term
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Definition
| Committees that specialize in one part of the area for which the standing committee is responsible. |
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Term
| What are joint committees? |
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Definition
| Committees made up of members from both the House and Senate. They can be temporary or permanent. |
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Term
| What is a conference committee? |
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Definition
| A temporary committee set up when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill. |
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Term
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Definition
| The member of the majority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee. |
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Term
| What do critics say about the seniority system? |
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Definition
| The system ignores the ability in the choice of committee chairpersons. They believe that the person most qualified to lead to committee should be the chairperson, not the person with the longest period of service. |
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Term
| How are the committees chosen? |
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Definition
1) Seniority
2) Areas of expertise |
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Term
| What is an administrative assistant? |
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Definition
- (AA)
- Very important legislative aide |
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Term
| What is a legislative assistant? |
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Definition
- (LA)
- The second type of personal staff member |
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Term
| What does an Administrative Assistant do? (AA) |
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Definition
| - Runs the lawmaker's offive, supervise the lawmakers scheduale, and gives advice on political matters. |
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Term
| What does a Legislative Assistant do? (LA) |
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Definition
- Makes sure the lawmaker is well informed about the many bills he or she must deal with.
- Assists the lawmaker in committee meetings.
- Keeps track of the work taking place on the floor of Congress. |
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Term
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Definition
| - The third type of personal staff member. |
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Term
| What does a Caseworker do? |
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Definition
| - Handles the many requests for help from people in a lawmaker's state or congressional district. |
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Term
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Definition
| - Congressional Budget Office |
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Term
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Definition
| - Coordinates the budget-making work in Congress, studies the budget proposals put forward by the pres. each year, and makes cost projections of proposed new programs. |
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Term
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Definition
- General Accounting Office
- The nation's "watchdog" over the spending of funds appropriated by Congress. |
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Term
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Definition
| - Reviews financial management of government programs created by Congress, collects government debts, settles claims, and provides legal service. |
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Term
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Definition
| - Government Printing Office |
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