FCS 447 Food Policy

20 pts
Assignment #2

Find the definitions of the terms (as they apply to policy and legislation). Many can be
found in the Federal Bills to Laws link http://votesmart.org/education/how-a-bill-
becomes-law#.Vp0tB_krJaQ. For the “How is this term different from….” column, try
www.differencebetween.net and explain how the two terms are different.
Term Definition How is this term different
from term in the first
column?
Advocacy An activity by an individual ___
or group that aims to
influence decisions within
political, economic, and
social systems and
institutions. Advocacy tries
to influence public policy,
laws, and budgets by using
facts, relationships, media,
and messaging to educate
government officials and
the public.
Amendment An addition or alteration Rider
made to a constitution, A rider is an additional
statue, or legislative bill or provision added to a bill or
resolution. Amendments other measure under the
can be made to existing consideration by a
constitutions and statutes legislature. Rider can be
and are also commonly used to prevent
made to bills in the course amendments, also called a
of their passage through a wrecking amendment.
legislature.
Bill A legislative proposal that if Law
passed by both the House The bill is a proposed
and the Senate and legislation under
approved by the President consideration by legislature.
becomes law. Each bill is A bill does not become a
assigned a bill number. HR law until it is passed by the
denotes bills that originate legislature and approved by
in the House and S denotes the executive. A law is a
bills that originate in the mature and approved bill.
Senate.
Committee Is a legislative sub- Caucus
organization in the U.S Caucuses differ from
Congress that handles a committees because
 specific duty. Committees committees are subsidiary
formed in each party organizations est. for the
conference and responsible purpose of considering
for nominating the party’s legislation, conducting
senators to committee hearings and investigations,
membership and committee or carrying out other
leadership positions. assignments while a caucus
is an informal organization
of members of the House or
Senate that exists to discuss
issues of mutual concern
and possibly to perform
legislative research and
policy planning.
Conference Committee A temporary, ad hoc panel ___
composed of House and
Senate conferees which is
formed for the purpose of
reconciling differences in
legislation that has passed
both chambers. Conference
committees are usually
convened to resolve
bicameral differences on
major and controversial
legislation.
Interest Group Any association of ___
individuals or
organizations, usually
formally organized, that on
the basis of one or more
shared concerns, attempts to
influence public policy.
Law The system of rules which a Policy
particular country or Policies are only documents
community recognizes as and not law, but these
regulating the actions of its polices can lead to new
members and which it may laws. Polices outline what a
enforce by the imposition of government is going to do
penalties. and what it can achieve
while a law is more formal
as it is a system of rules and
guidelines.
Lobby, lobbyist A group of people seeking ___
to influence politicians or
public officials on a
 particular issue. Lobbyist is
a person who takes part in
an organized attempt to
influence legislators.
Policy A course or principle of
action adopted or proposed
by a government, party,
business, or individual.
Regulation A rule of order having the
force of law, prescribed by
a superior or competent
authority, relating to the
actions of those under the
authority’s control.
Regulations are issued by
various federal government
departments and agencies to
carry out the intent of
legislation enacted by
Congress.
Resolution A written motion adopted
by a deliberative body. The
substance of the resolution
can by anything that can
normally be proposed as a
motion. Commonly used in
Politics
Politics refers to authority
and refers to public life.
Politics generally revolves
round government and its
activities that refers to the
organizational process. A
policy can also be termed as
a commitment or statement
of intent. Policy is the set of
rules or principles that guide
decisions.
Law or legislation
Laws go through the bill
process before becoming
established as a law. A bill
has to be written, sponsored
by a legislator, debated and
passed through both the
House of Representatives
and the Senate after various
committee and budget
hearings before going to the
Executive to be signed into
law. A regulation is created
by a governmental agency,
often to actually implement
a given law, and does not
have to go through the bill
process described above.
With regulations, an agency
holds a public hearing and
after that hearing makes a
decision on either adopting,
changing or rejecting the
regulation.
Executive Order
An executive order is a
directive issued by the
president of the united states
that manages operations or
the federal government.
 corporations and houses of
legislature.
Sponsor (of a bill) The first member of the
House or Senate to be listed
among the potentially
numerous lawmakers who
introduce a bill for
consideration.
While a resolution is a
written motion adopted by a
deliberative body.
Co-sponsor
A co-sponsor are those who
support the bill and the
sponsor.