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| A legislative system consisting of two houses or chambers. |
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Term
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| Bicameral legislative system made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. |
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| The process by which government actors can be removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." The House of Representatives votes on the charges and then the trial takes place in the Senate. |
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| Necessary and Proper Clause |
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Definition
| Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, of the Constitution stating that Congress can "make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution for foregoing Powers." |
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| A legislative action that allows the president or exectuvie agencies to implement a law subject to the later approval or disapproval of one or both houses of Congress. |
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| A process of redrawing voting district lines from time to time and adjusting the number of representatives allotted each state. |
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| The redrawing of boundary lines of voting districts in accordance with census data or sometimes by order of the courts. |
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| Any attempt during state redistricting of congressional voting boundaries to create a safe seat for one party. |
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| majority-minority districts |
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| A congressional district drawn to include enough members of a minority group to greatly improve the chance of electing a minority candidate. |
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Term
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| Congress members who feel bound to follow the wishes of a majority of their constituents; they make frequent efforts to learn the opinions of voters in the state or district. |
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| Congress members who feel authorized to use their best judgment in considering legislation. |
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| Individuals who currently hold public office. |
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| The free mailing of newsletters and political brochures to constituents by members of Congress. |
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Term
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| Favors done as a service for constituents by those they have elected to Congress. |
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Term
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| A legislated limit on the amount of time a political figure can serve in office. |
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| The only presiding officer of the House mentioned in the Constitution. The leader of the majority party in Congress and third in line for the presidency. |
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| The person elected by the majority party caucus to serve as the party's chief strategist and floor spokesperson |
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| A conference of party members in Congress. |
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| The leader of the minority party in Congress. |
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| Congress members charged with counting prospective votes on various issues and making certain that members have the information they need for floor action. |
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| A senator selected by the majority party whose functions are similar to those of the speaker of the House. |
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| Permanent congressional committees that determine whether proposed legislation should be sent to the entire chamber for consideration. |
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Definition
| The vice president of the United States. |
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Term
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Definition
| The majority party member with the longest continuous service in the Senate; serves as the chief presiding officer in the absence of the vice president. |
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| Select committees(or Special committees) |
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Definition
| Temporary congressional committees that conduct investigations or study specific problems or crises. |
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Definition
| Committees that reconcile differences between versions of a bill passed by the House and the Senate. |
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| Groups of members from both chambers who study broad areas that are of interest to Congress as a whole. |
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| The subgroups of congressional committees charged with initially dealing with legislation before the entire committee considers it. |
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Definition
| An informal procedure used by Congress to assemble groups of legislators to draft legilation and negotiate strategy for passing a bill. |
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