Civics Unit 3

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body with two separate chambers or houses.

Special Session

A meeting of Congress called during times of crisis.

Joint Session

A meeting where both the House and Senate convene, often for presidential addresses or electoral counts.

Congressional Districts

Geographical areas within a state represented by a single member of the House of Representatives.

Majority Party

The political party with more than half the members in either the House or Senate.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives and next in line for the presidency after the Vice President.

Legislative Powers

The authority granted to Congress to make laws, including expressed and implied powers.

Elastic Clause

A clause in the Constitution allowing Congress to stretch its powers beyond those explicitly granted.

Committee Work

The system developed by Congress to handle the thousands of bills proposed each session, including standing, select, and joint committees.

Casework

The work done by lawmakers to assist constituents with problems or requests for information/services.