US Senate
Capitol Hill centurions
The US Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, comprising two senators from each state regardless of population.
Senators serve six-year terms and must confirm presidential appointments, ratify treaties, and try impeachment cases.
The bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
Often shortened to simply the Senate in American political discourse.
Party chief in legislature
- minority leaderHeads the smaller party
- whipStrikes or aerates
- caucusParty selection meeting
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
party · coalition · bipartisan · dealmaking · negotiation · compromise · consensus · unity
Delaying tactic through speech
- clotureProcedure ending legislative discussion
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
- unanimous consentComplete agreement by all
- roll call voteVoting by individual announcement
voice vote · point of order · yielding · holds · reconciliation · nuclear option · amendment · markup
Organized effort toward goal
- candidatePerson seeking selection
- incumbentCurrent position holder
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- primaryChief in importance
runoff · midterm · special election · voters · constituents · electorate · polls · turnout
Amount owed, written
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- statuteEnacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
- sponsorFunder of activities
cosponsor · rider · earmark · omnibus · appropriations · authorization · passage · veto override
Law-interpreting government branch
- financeProvide money for
- armed servicesNation's organized combat forces
- foreign relationsTies between sovereign states
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
appropriations · budget · commerce · agriculture · hearing · subcommittee · chairman · ranking member
Legislative assembly building
- floorIndoor walking surface
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- rostrumRaised speaker's platform
- presidingLeading a formal gathering
dais · chamber · upper house · hundred · seat · desk · roll call · sworn in
Organized provision of treatment
- taxationCompulsory government revenue collection
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
- defenseProtection against harm
- foreign affairsCross-border governmental dealings
trade · environment · energy · infrastructure · education · judiciary · agriculture · banking
majority leader
Party chief in legislature
- minority leaderHeads the smaller party
- whipStrikes or aerates
- caucusParty selection meeting
conference · party · coalition · bipartisan · dealmaking · negotiation · compromise · consensus · unity · Schumer
filibuster
Delaying tactic through speech
- clotureProcedure ending legislative discussion
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
- unanimous consentComplete agreement by all
roll call vote · voice vote · point of order · yielding · holds · reconciliation · nuclear option · amendment · markup · engrossment
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- candidatePerson seeking selection
- incumbentCurrent position holder
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
primary · runoff · midterm · special election · voters · constituents · electorate · polls · turnout · swing state
bill
Amount owed, written
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- statuteEnacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
sponsor · cosponsor · rider · earmark · omnibus · appropriations · authorization · passage · veto override · conference
judiciary
Law-interpreting government branch
- financeProvide money for
- armed servicesNation's organized combat forces
- foreign relationsTies between sovereign states
intelligence · appropriations · budget · commerce · agriculture · hearing · subcommittee · chairman · ranking member · testimony
Capitol
Legislative assembly building
presiding · dais · chamber · upper house · hundred · seat · desk · roll call · sworn in · elder statesman
healthcare
Organized provision of treatment
- taxationCompulsory government revenue collection
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
- defenseProtection against harm
foreign affairs · trade · environment · energy · infrastructure · education · judiciary · agriculture · banking · veterans
US SenateSupreme Court
Nation's top tribunal
federal judiciary · White House · Oval Office · federal courts
US Senatestate legislature
Lawmaking body below Congress
state senate · city council · local government · county board
Senate, senates, senator, senators, senatorial, senior, seniority, seniors