Nuclear option

Chapter 10 Key terms Appropriations: Budget legislation that specifies the amount of authorized funds that will actually be allocated for agencies and departments to spend. Authorizations: Budget legislation that provides agencies and departments with the legal authority to operate. Casework: The assistance members of Congress provide to their constituents; includes answering questions and doing personal favors for those who ask for help. Cloture: A method of stopping a filibuster by limiting debate to only twenty more hours; requires a vote of three-fifths of the members of the Senate. Conference committee: A committee composed of members of both houses of Congress that is formed to try to resolve the differences when the two houses pass different versions of the same bill.