| A | B |
|---|
| Term | Two years, two sessions |
| Session | Yearly Congressional meeting |
| Prorogue | Adjourn a session |
| Special Session | Emergency meeting |
| At-Large | Representatives are elected from state as a whole |
| Continuous Body | Portion of seats come up for election |
| Constituencies | People and interests represented by a congress member |
| Trustee | Question must be decided on its merits |
| Partisans | Owe first allegiance to party |
| Politicos | Combine trustee, delegate, and partisan roles |
| Delegates | Vote the way their constituents would |
| Oversight Function | Congress oversees the executive branch |
| Direct Tax | Paid by the person on whom it is imposed |
| Indirect Tax | Taxes passed on to other people |
| Deficit Financing | Spending more than you take in |
| Public Debt | All borrowed monies and interest |
| Commerce Power | Power of Congress to regulate trade |
| Legal tender | Money that a creditor must accept |
| Bankruptcy | Legal proceeding where assets are distributed to debtors |
| Naturalization | Citizens of one country become citizens of another |
| Copyright | Exclusive right to reproduce creative works |
| Patent | The right to have exclusive access to a new idea or invention |
| Eminent Domain | Take private property for public use |
| Appropriate | Assign money to a particular use |
| Necessary and Proper Clause | Gives Congress power to make necessary laws |
| Impeach | Bring charges against |
| Censure | Formally condemning actions |
| Speaker of the House | Most powerful member of Congress |
| President of the Senate | Vice President |
| President Pro Tempore | Serves in VPs absence |
| Party Caucus | Closed meeting of the members of each party in each house |
| Floor Leaders | Chief spokesman for each party |
| Whips | Assistant floor leaders |
| Committee Chairmen | Heads of standing committees |
| Standing Committee | Permanent panel |
| Select Committee | Special, limited committee |
| Joint Committee | Composed of members of both houses |
| Conference Committee | Formed to produce a compromise bill |
| Public Bill | Measures that apply to whole nation |
| Private Bill | Measures that apply to certain persons or places |
| Joint Resolutions | Deal with temporary matters; force of law |
| Concurrent Resolutions | State a position; passed by both houses |
| Resolutions | Deal with matters concerning only one house |
| Discharge Petition | Forces a bill onto the floor |
| Committee of the Whole | Device for speeding up House business |
| Engrossed | Bill is printed in its final form |
| Filibuster | Stalling tactic to keep Senators from conducting business |
| Cloture | Limiting debate |
| Pocket Veto | President does not act and Congress adjourns within 10 days |
