US Congress
Senate plus House
The US Congress is the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Congress makes federal laws, controls government spending, and provides oversight of the executive branch.
Congress passed the bill with bipartisan support.
The term often appears in news about political gridlock or landmark legislation.
Legislative body, often bicameral's elder
- House of RepresentativesPopulation-based legislative chamber
- bicameralHaving two chambers
- legislatorsElected law-making officials
- majority leaderParty chief in legislature
minority leader · whip · floor · quorum · committees · subcommittee · sessions · caucus
Rounded vault forming roof
- rotundaCircular domed chamber
- Capitol HillCongressional district and synecdoche
- HartEnglish-origin family name
- RussellEnglish surname, aristocratic
Rayburn · Capitol Police · visitor center · steps · crypt · National Mall
Amount owed, written
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- amendmentChange to official text
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
enactment · vote · filibuster · cloture · reconciliation · markup · debate · committee hearing
Temporary alliance for action
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- joint effortCombined work toward goal
unanimous · conciliation · accord · unity · alliance · nonpartisan · reaching across · moderate
Formal examination of facts
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- impeachmentCharging officials with misconduct
confirmation · checks and balances · accountability · inquiry · watchdog · inspector general · executive oversight · judicial appointment
One who acts for another
- constituentsParts of a whole
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- campaignsOrganized efforts toward goals
- districtBounded administrative area
gerrymandering · redistricting · incumbent · reelection · term limits · midterms · swing district · safe seat
Governing principles document
- Founding FathersRevolutionary-era American statesmen
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- Federalist PapersFounding-era persuasive essays
- Articles of ConfederationOriginal American governing charter
1787 · James Madison · Missouri Compromise · Reconstruction · Civil Rights Act · Great Society · Watergate
Senate
Legislative body, often bicameral's elder
- House of RepresentativesPopulation-based legislative chamber
- bicameralHaving two chambers
- legislatorsElected law-making officials
majority leader · minority leader · whip · floor · quorum · committees · subcommittee · sessions · caucus · chamber
dome
Rounded vault forming roof
- rotundaCircular domed chamber
- Capitol HillCongressional district and synecdoche
- HartEnglish-origin family name
Rayburn · Russell · Capitol Police · visitor center · steps · crypt · National Mall
bill
Amount owed, written
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- amendmentChange to official text
resolution · enactment · vote · filibuster · cloture · reconciliation · markup · debate · committee hearing · lobbying
coalition
Temporary alliance for action
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- consensusGeneral group agreement
joint effort · unanimous · conciliation · accord · unity · alliance · nonpartisan · reaching across · moderate · centrist
investigation
Formal examination of facts
impeachment · confirmation · checks and balances · accountability · inquiry · watchdog · inspector general · executive oversight · judicial appointment · censure
representative
One who acts for another
- constituentsParts of a whole
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- campaignsOrganized efforts toward goals
district · gerrymandering · redistricting · incumbent · reelection · term limits · midterms · swing district · safe seat · primary
Constitution
Governing principles document
- Founding FathersRevolutionary-era American statesmen
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- Federalist PapersFounding-era persuasive essays
Articles of Confederation · 1787 · James Madison · Missouri Compromise · Reconstruction · Civil Rights Act · Great Society · Watergate
- legislaturesparliament, legislature, senate, House of Commons, Senate
US Congressstate legislatures
Regional elected lawmaking bodies
city councils · local government · municipal government · town halls
US Congressdictatorship
Unchecked single-ruler government
autocracy · one-party rule · authoritarian regime · totalitarian government · absolute monarchy
Congress, congressional, congressman, congresswoman, congresspeople, congresses, regress, regression, regressive