| A | B |
|---|
| Term | Lasts two years in Congress; each numbered consecutively |
| Session | Period of time when Congress assembles and conducts business |
| Adjourn | Suspend until the next session |
| Prorogue | End; discontinue |
| Special Session | A meeting to deal with an emergency situation |
| Apportion | To distribute |
| Reapportion | Redistribute |
| Off-Year Elections | Elections that occur between presidential elections |
| Single-Member District | Electoral district from which one person in chosen by the voters for each elected office |
| At-Large | Elected from the State as a whole rather than from a particular district |
| Gerrymandered | States that have been drawn to the advantage of the polictical party that controls the State's legislature |
| Continuous Body | Occuring when all seat are never up for election at the same time |
| Constituencies | The people and interests that the Senators represent |
| Trustee | Believe that each question they face must be decided on its merits |
| Partisan | Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party |
| Politicos | Try to balance conflicting factors |
| Oversight Function | Process by which Congress checks to see that the various agencies in the executive branch are working effectively |
| Franking Privilege | Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free |
