United States Congress
Senate plus House
The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Congress writes and passes laws, controls federal spending, and provides oversight of the executive branch.
Congress passed the bill with bipartisan support.
The word often appears without "United States": Congress is in recess.
Having two chambers
- House of RepresentativesPopulation-based legislative chamber
- SenateLegislative body, often bicameral's elder
- senatorUpper chamber member
- representativeOne who acts for another
speaker · majority leader · minority leader · whip · pro tempore · caucus · committee · subcommittee
Amount owed, written
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- amendmentChange to official text
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
act · enactment · markup · vote · roll call · debate · filibuster · cloture
Rounded vault forming roof
- rotundaCircular domed chamber
- Capitol HillCongressional district and synecdoche
- cryptSubterranean burial vault
- Capitol PoliceForce guarding legislative grounds
galleries · cloakroom · well · rostrum · mace · C-SPAN · joint session · inauguration
Paid legislative influencer
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
- special interestsGroups seeking policy influence
- campaign contributionsMoney given to candidates
advocacy · grassroots · interest groups · revolving door · testimony · corporate influence · trade association · coalition
Formally gathering together
- adjournmentTemporary suspension of proceedings
- recessPause in activity
- lame duckOfficeholder serving final term
- gavelSmall ceremonial hammer
proceedings · parliamentarian · special session · pro forma · calendar · docket
Temporary alliance for action
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
centrist · gang · unanimous consent · bridge-building · cosponsorship · unity · accord · working group
bicameral
Having two chambers
- House of RepresentativesPopulation-based legislative chamber
- SenateLegislative body, often bicameral's elder
- senatorUpper chamber member
representative · speaker · majority leader · minority leader · whip · pro tempore · caucus · committee · subcommittee · joint committee
bill
Amount owed, written
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- statuteEnacted written rule
- amendmentChange to official text
resolution · act · enactment · markup · vote · roll call · debate · filibuster · cloture · veto override
dome
Rounded vault forming roof
- rotundaCircular domed chamber
- Capitol HillCongressional district and synecdoche
- cryptSubterranean burial vault
Capitol Police · galleries · cloakroom · well · rostrum · mace · C-SPAN · joint session · inauguration
lobbyist
Paid legislative influencer
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
- special interestsGroups seeking policy influence
campaign contributions · advocacy · grassroots · interest groups · revolving door · testimony · corporate influence · trade association · coalition · access
convening
Formally gathering together
- adjournmentTemporary suspension of proceedings
- recessPause in activity
- lame duckOfficeholder serving final term
gavel · proceedings · parliamentarian · special session · pro forma · calendar · docket
coalition
Temporary alliance for action
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- consensusGeneral group agreement
moderate · centrist · gang · unanimous consent · bridge-building · cosponsorship · unity · accord · working group
United States Congresspresidency
Chief executive's office
executive branch · Supreme Court · judicial branch · federal judiciary · federal courts
United States Congresslocal government
Regional civic administration
state legislatures · state legislature · city councils · state government · county governments
United States Congressdictatorship
Unchecked single-ruler government
autocracy · absolute monarchy · authoritarian rule · one-party rule · military junta
united, states, unite, state, unites, uniting, union, unions, reunite