Terms starting with "M"

Minority Party The minority party is the political party holding fewer seats than the other in a chamber of a legislature — in Congress, the party that does not hold the majority in the House or the Senate. The minority party has its own leadership structure (minority leader, whips), its own committee membership quotas, and procedural rights the chamber rules guarantee (debate time, the ability to offer amendments where rules allow, and, in the Senate, extended debate). Which party is the minority can change with each election, and in an evenly split Senate the majority depends on the Vice President tie-breaking vote. Martial Law Martial law is the use of military authority in place of, or to supplement, civilian government under extraordinary circumstances. Its legal basis, scope, and limits depend on the situation, applicable statutes, and constitutional protections. Measure In legislative practice, a measure is a proposal formally submitted for consideration by a legislative body. In Congress, the term includes bills and several kinds of resolutions, which follow different procedures and do not all have the force of law. Member of Congress A Member of Congress is an elected member of either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. Members legislate, serve on committees, oversee executive agencies, and perform other official duties, including helping constituents navigate federal services. Markup Markup is a committee or subcommittee meeting at which members consider a bill or other measure, propose amendments, and decide whether to report it onward. The details depend on the chamber’s rules and the committee’s procedures. Majority-Minority District A majority-minority district is an electoral district in which one or more racial or ethnic minority groups together make up more than half of the relevant population measure, such as the voting-age population. Such districts may be relevant to Voting Rights Act analysis, but their legality depends on the facts and applicable constitutional and statutory standards. Mandamus Mandamus is an extraordinary court order directing a public official or lower court to perform a duty required by law when the legal conditions for the remedy are met. It is not ordinarily a substitute for a normal appeal or a way to control discretionary decisions. Mandate In politics, a mandate is a perceived public endorsement for an elected official or party to pursue policies presented during an election campaign. It is a political interpretation of an election result, not a separate constitutional power. Mandatory Spending Mandatory spending is federal spending generally controlled by eligibility rules and benefit formulas in laws other than annual appropriations acts. Changing it usually requires changing the underlying law, although Congress can amend those laws through legislation. Majority Opinion A majority opinion is a written opinion joined by more than half of the judges or justices participating in a case. It explains the reasoning supporting the court’s judgment and, in a precedential decision, the legal rule that lower courts must apply within the relevant jurisdiction. Majority Party The majority party is the political party that holds more than half the seats in a legislative chamber. It often has greater influence over leadership selection, committee assignments, and the chamber’s agenda, subject to chamber rules and political circumstances. Majority Rule Majority rule is a decision-making principle under which an option supported by more than half of the relevant votes prevails. The required threshold and the meaning of “majority” depend on the body’s rules and the type of decision.