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Continuous body

A legislative body that achieves stability by staggering the terms of its members to prevent more than a minority of seats from changing in a single election.

Special Session

An emergency meeting of Congress that can only be called by the president.

President Pro Tempore

The senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President, handling day-to-day business.

Term

The duration of time that members of Congress hold office.

Gerrymander

To manipulate the boundaries of a district to favor one political party.

Quorum

The minimum number of members needed to be present to make a vote valid.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two houses.

Unicameral

A legislature consisting of one house.

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically named in the Constitution, also known as delegated or enumerated powers.

Hopper

The box used to introduce bills in the House of Representatives.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly granted by the Constitution but necessary to carry out expressed powers, derived from the necessary and proper clause.

Impeachment

The power of Congress to bring charges against the president for high crimes, a power held by the House of Representatives.

Reapportion

To redistribute the representation in Congress based on population.

Joint Committee

A committee made up of members from both chambers of a bicameral legislature.

Standing Committee

Permanent committees found in each chamber of Congress.

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee created to reconcile differences in a bill passed by both chambers.

Select Committee

A committee formed to conduct investigations on a specific topic.

Eminent Domain

The right of government to take private property for public use, with compensation.

Separation of Powers

The division of government into branches, each with different powers.

Pocket Veto

A method by which the president can indirectly veto a bill by not acting on it within 10 days while Congress is adjourned.

Veto

The refusal of the president to sign a bill into law.

Cloture

A procedure to limit debate in the Senate, requiring a majority vote.

Copyright

A law that gives the owner of a work the right to control its use by others.

Patent

A law that gives an inventor the exclusive right to make or use their invention.

Filibuster

A tactic used to delay or prevent Senate action on a bill by extended debate.

Formal Qualifications of a House of Representatives member

Must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and reside in the state they represent.

House of Representatives membership

There are 435 members, a number determined post-reapportion after a Census.

Formal Qualifications for Senators

Must be at least 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, and reside in the state they represent.

Senate membership

There are 100 senators, with 2 from each state.

Senate and House terms

Senate terms are 6 years; House terms are 2 years.

Vice President's role in the Senate

Presides over the Senate primarily on ceremonial occasions or to cast tie-breaking votes.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives, responsible for guiding its legislative agenda.

Role of President Pro Tempore

To fill in for the Vice President in the Senate when they are absent.

Congressional Districts

The boundaries for electoral districts drawn by state legislators.

Gerrymandering advantage

Used to either pack opposing party voters into one area or spread them thinly across districts.

Congressional elections timing

They are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year.

Bill screening

Bills may be screened by Congress and its committees before becoming laws.

Committees in Congress purpose

Created to divide the workload within Congress.

Expressed powers of Congress

Include the power to declare war, tax, copyright, patent, naturalize citizens, create a post office, and print money.

Non-legislative powers of Congress

Include impeachment, proposing constitutional amendments, investigating, and electing the president in case of an electoral college tie.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also known as the elastic clause; allows Congress to do whatever is necessary to carry out its expressed powers.

Bill to law process

Flows from introduction, committee review, floor debate, conference committee, and then to the president.

Where most bills 'die'

In committee, they often do not pass out to the floor for a vote.

President options on a bill

They can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature through a pocket veto.

Override presidential veto

Congress can override a veto with a ⅔ vote in both chambers.

Rules of debate in the House

No member can speak for more than 5 minutes.

Rules of debate in the Senate

Members can filibuster; a filibuster ends with cloture or a majority vote to resume discussion.

Congress checks other branches

They can impeach judges, approve presidential nominations, and override vetoes.

27th Amendment

Deals with Congressional pay.