Bicameral Legislature in the United States

Senate

The upper house of Congress, consisting of two senators from each state.

House of Representatives

The lower house of Congress, with representation based on state population.

bicameral legislature

A legislature with two separate chambers, namely the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Great Compromise

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, it established the bicameral legislature in the United States.

representation

The number of senators and representatives each state has in Congress, based on their population and equal representation principles.

congressional district

A geographic area represented by a member of the House of Representatives.

gerrymandering

The deliberate drawing of congressional districts to favor a particular political party or group.

mid-term election

An election held in even-numbered years, not during a presidential election year, to elect members of Congress.

senior senator

The senator who has served the longest time in their position.

Congressman

A member of the House of Representatives, representing a specific congressional district.

Senator

A member of the Senate, representing their respective state.

rank and file member

A regular member of Congress who is not in a leadership position.

franking privilege

The ability of members of Congress to send official mail postage-free.

censure

A formal disapproval of a member's actions by Congress.

expulsion

The removal of a member from Congress due to serious misconduct or violation of ethical standards.

powers of Congress

The authority of Congress to carry out various actions and responsibilities, including lawmaking, oversight, and budgetary powers.

naturalization

The legal process of becoming a citizen of another country, regulated by Congress in the United States.

necessary and proper clause

A clause in the United States Constitution that gives Congress the authority to make laws necessary for carrying out its enumerated powers.

strict construction

The belief that Congress can only exercise powers explicitly stated in the Constitution or necessary implied powers.

loose construction

The belief that Congress has broad powers to fulfill its responsibilities, even if not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

McCullough v. Maryland

A landmark Supreme Court case that established Congress's implied powers, particularly the power to create a national bank.

inherent powers

Powers belonging to the national government as a sovereign nation, beyond those explicitly granted by the Constitution.

impeachment

The process of charging a government official, including the President, Vice President, or federal judges, with misconduct or high crimes and misdemeanors.

bill

A proposed law that is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

standing committee

A permanent committee in Congress that specializes in a specific area, such as finance, judiciary, or agriculture.

subcommittee

A subdivision of a standing committee that focuses on specific matters within the committee's jurisdiction.

select committee

A committee established to handle special issues or investigations that go beyond the capacity of a standing committee.

joint committee

A committee composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, usually for collaborative purposes.

conference committee

A committee formed to resolve differences in proposed laws between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

speaker of the house

The leader of the House of Representatives, responsible for presiding over sessions and guiding legislative agenda.

majority leader

The head member of the majority party in the Senate, responsible for managing the party's legislative agenda.

minority leader

The head member of the minority party in the Senate, responsible for representing the party's interests and opposing the majority party's agenda.

party whip

A member of Congress who helps persuade party members to support the party's policy positions and ensures party discipline during votes.

quorum

The minimum number of representatives needed for a valid vote or decision-making process in Congress.

roll call vote

A voting method in which each member of Congress votes one at a time, usually by responding 'yea' or 'nay' when their name is called.

engrossed

A bill that has been printed in its final form and is ready for a final vote in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

veto

The President's power to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses.

pocket veto

The President's power to hold a bill without signing it, allowing it to expire if Congress adjourns before the 10-day period for signing expires.