| A | B |
|---|
| bicameral legislature | United States Congress |
| Citizen for 9 years | qualification for election to Senate |
| Senatorial term | 6 years |
| Line-item veto | cancels part of a bill |
| Whip | assistants to majority and minority leaders |
| Majority leader | presiding officer of the Senate |
| Vice-president | president of the Senate |
| Majority party | controls standing committees |
| Committees | key power centers in DC |
| Uncontrollables | most of the federal governments expenditures |
| PAC's | special interest groups who try to influence lawmakers |
| House Ways and Means Committee | does most of the work on tax laws |
| Public bills | deal with general matters and apply to entire nation |
| Joint resolution | Matters requiring action of House and Senate, but law not needed |
| Gridlock | Some historians believe that the checks and balances system causes this. |
| Subpoena | legal order requiring one to appear in court or produce documents |
| Immunity | freedom from prosecution for witnesses in exchange for testimony |
| Legislative oversight | part of checks and balances system, congress makes sure president is implementing the laws it passes |
| National budget | nation's financial plan |
| Impoundment | President's refusal to spend appropriated funds |
| Censure | a vote condemning the actions of a member of congress |
| Constituents | people in districts represented in Congress |
| Speaker of the House | majority party leader in the House of Representatives |
| incumbent | elected official already in office |
