Gov CH6

Congress

The legislative branch of the United States government, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses, specifically the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house).

Senate

The upper house of Congress, with two senators from each state, regardless of state size.

House of Representatives

The lower house of Congress, consisting of 435 members, with representation based on state population.

17th Amendment

An amendment that established the direct election of senators by the people, rather than by state legislatures.

Incumbents

Current officeholders who generally have an advantage in elections, often winning reelection over 95% of the time.

Apportionment

The process of distributing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives based on population shifts after each census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries to reflect changes in population and apportionment.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Baker v

A Supreme Court case that ruled that unequal district sizes violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, currently Kevin McCarthy (R-California).

Majority Leader

The second most important person in the House of Representatives, currently Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana).

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives, currently Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York).

Presiding Officer of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States, who casts a vote in case of a tie.

President Pro Tempore

The senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President, currently Patty Murray (D-Washington).

Elastic Clause

A clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that allows Congress to make laws necessary to carry out its powers.

Power of the Purse

Congress's authority to levy taxes and allocate federal spending.

Advice and Consent

The Senate's role in approving treaties and confirming presidential appointments.

Impeachment

The process by which the House of Representatives can charge a federal official with misconduct, requiring a majority vote to issue articles of impeachment.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic used to delay or block legislative action, requiring a cloture vote to end debate.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees in Congress that review proposed legislation.

Joint Committees

Committees that include members from both the House and Senate, often for investigations or special studies.

Conference Committees

Temporary committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Select Committees

Temporary committees established for a specific purpose, such as investigations.

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

A nonpartisan agency that provides research and information to Congress.

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

An independent agency that audits the financial expenditures of the executive branch and federal agencies.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

An agency that provides economic analysis and projections related to federal spending policies.

War Powers Resolution (1973)

A law that limits the President's ability to deploy troops without congressional approval.