| A | B |
|---|
| bicameral | legislature made up of two houses |
| term | time in office between elections |
| session | time congress is working each year |
| convene | to begin a new session |
| adjourn | to end a session |
| recess | to temporarily break from a session |
| prorogue | Presidents decision to end a session |
| special session | an emergency session of congress |
| apportion | how seats in congress are distributed |
| reapportion | seats in congress are distributed every ten years in line with population |
| off-year election | non-presidential elections |
| single-member district | one position voted into office |
| at-large | Senate voted as state representative |
| gerrymander | fixing districts in favor of one party |
| incumbent | current office holder |
| continuous body | 1/3 of sentators up for re-election every two years |
| constituency | people that an office holder represents |
| delegate | vote their constuencies wishes |
| trustee | trusted by their constituencies to make the right choices |
| partisan | vote based on party affiliation |
| politico | vote on a combination of political factors |
| bill | a proposed law |
| floor consideration | bought before the entire house or senate |
| oversight function | congress watches over executive branch to follow through on law |
| franking priviledge | postage free |
