Civic Facts
Reference
Glossary.
If government uses a word, it gets defined here. No exceptions.
- appropriation
- Money set aside by Congress for a specific purpose through legislation.
- article-5
- NATO's collective defense clause: an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all.
- authorization
- Legislation that creates or continues a government program, agency, or activity.
- cloture
- The Senate procedure for ending debate on a bill or motion, requiring 60 votes.
- collective-defense
- A security arrangement in which an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all members.
- filibuster
- A Senate procedure used to delay or prevent a vote on a bill or other matter.
- quorum
- The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct business.
- ratification
- The formal approval of a treaty or agreement by a country's legislature, making it legally binding.
- treaty
- A formal written agreement between two or more sovereign nations.
- veto
- The President's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.