| A | B |
|---|
| standing committee | Each house of Congress has a number of permanent committees |
| conference committee | Committee formed to work out a compromise when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill. |
| bill | A proposed law. |
| committee | Each house of Congress divides its work among smaller groups. |
| subcommittee | The permanent committees are divided into committees that deal with specific issues in the area handled by the committee as a whole. |
| ex post facto law | A law that applies to an action that took place before the law was passed. |
| joint committee | A committee made up of an equal number of representatives and senators. Set up when the two houses of Congress decide they can take care of certain matters better by working together. Sometimes called by the president. |
| seniority system | Member of the majority party who has the most years of service on the committee. |
| writ of habeas corpus | A person accused of a crime has the right to be brought to court to determine if there is enough evidence to hold him/her for trial |
| implied power | Powers that Congress claims under the elastic clause. |
| constituent | Person represented by members of a lawmaking body. |
| treason | An act that betrays or endangers one's country. |
| appropriation bill | Bill approving the spending of money. |
| impeachment | The procedure of drawing up and passing the list of charges in the House. |
| bill of attainder | A law that sentences a person to jail without a trial. |
| select committee | These committees are created to deal with things such as scandals. The committee no longer exists once the issue is over. |
| elastic clause | Allows Congress to stretch the delegated powers listed in the Constitution to cover many other subjects. Permits Congress to pass laws on situations that developed long after the Constitution was written. |
