GOPO 4

Senate

The upper house in the bicameral legislature of the U.S, has 100 members and is made up of 2 members from each state.

House

The lower house in the bicameral legislature of the U.S, has 435 members and is made up of members elected based on population of their state.

Constituent

A person who is represented politically by a designated government official or officeholder.

Implied powers

The powers of congress that come from interpretations of the Constitution.

Enumerated powers

The designated powers of congress that are listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S constitution.

Revenue

Income received from taxes and other sources to pay for government expenditures.

Tax revenue

Income generated by governments through taxes, including income, profits, social security contributions, taxes on goods and services, payroll taxes, and more.

Budget

A governing body's anticipated revenues and proposed spending for a fiscal year.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House of Representatives, elected by House membership every two years.

Filibuster

A tactic to kill a bill in the Senate by debating it endlessly.

Cloture

A procedure to stop a filibuster by getting 60 votes from Congress.

Rules Committee

A committee in the House of Representatives which provides rules and times for debates on bills and decides how bills are presented to the House.

Committee of the whole

The whole membership of a legislative house sitting as a committee and operating under informal rules.

Discharge petitions

Used to try to get around obstructionism by the majority party, as a last resort to get a floor vote on an Act/bill.

Entitlements

Benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the federal government, such as Social Security.

Discretionary spending

Money formally approved by Congress and the President during the appropriations process each year.