The Legislative Branch

Bicameral

Describing a Legislative body composed of two chambers

Term

Two year period of time during which Congress meets

Session

Period of time each year during which Congress assembles and conducts business

Convene

To begin a new session of Congress

Adjourn

Suspend, as in a session of Congress

Recess

A time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business

Gerrymander

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Incumbent

The current officeholder

Constituency

The people and interests that an elected official represents

Partisan

Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party and vote according to the party line

Bipartisan

Supported by two parties

Bill

A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration

Floor Consideration

The process by which proposed laws are considered and acted upon by the full membership of the House or Senate

Oversight Function

Review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch

Expressed Powers

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the Constitution; those “necessary and proper” to carry out the expressed powers

Tax

A charge levied by government on persons or property to raise money to meet public needs

Naturalization

The legal process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another

Necessary & Proper Clause

The final clause of Article 1, Section 8 in the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for executing its powers

Impeach

To bring formal charges against a public official

Acquit

To find not guilty of a charge

Censure

To issue a formal condemnation

Subpoena

An order for a person to appear and to produce documents or other requested materials

Party Caucus

A closed meeting of a party’s house or Senate members

Majority Leader

The floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress

Minority Leader

The floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of Congress

Whip

Assistant leader to the Majority/Minority leader in their absence and is responsible for rounding up party members for votes

Standing Committee

Permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject area are referred

Subcommittee

Division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues

Select Committee

Legislative committee created for a limited time and for some specific purpose

Joint Committee

Legislative committee composed of members of both houses

Conference Committee

Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses’ versions of a bill

Joint Resolution

A proposal for action that has the force of law when passed

Concurrent Resolution

A statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly

Resolution

A measure relating to the business of either house of Congress or expressing an opinion

Rider

Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so it will “ride” through the Legislative process

Pigeonhole

Expression describing how most bills introduced in each session of Congress are buried, put away, or never acted upon

Quorum

Fewest number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business

Cloture

A procedure to limit or end floor debate

Veto

Chief executive’s power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Pocket Veto

A type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature had adjourned when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House

President of the Senate

The presiding officer of a senate; in Congress, the Vice President of the United States; in a State’s legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator

President pro tempore

The member of the United States Senate, or of the upper house of a State’s legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate

Checks and Balances

System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others

Seniority Rule

Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service

Apportion

Distributed, as in seats in a legislative body

Eminent Domain

The power of a government to take private property for public use

Special Session

An extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation

Filibuster

A stalling tactic in which senators monopolize the Senate floor with talk and other delays so a bill cannot be brought to a vote

Commerce Power

Exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade

Deficit Financing (debt ceiling)

The practice of funding government spending and revenue

Public Dept

All of the money borrowed by the government and not yet repaid, plus the accrued interest on that money

Consensus

Genera; agreement among various groups on fundamental matters

Appropriate

To assign to a particular use

Perjury

The act of lying under oath