Congressional Powers and Privileges

The right of members of Congress to send mail free of charge to their constituents.

The process by which the House of Representatives formally accuses a federal official of wrongdoing.

A bill that proposes raising government revenue.

The process by which the Senate approves presidential appointments and treaties.

The power of Congress to create and spend money.

People currently holding a political office seeking re-election.

The advantage of being widely known and recognized by voters.

The advantage of having a proven track record of experience and accomplishments.

The principle that government actions must apply equally to all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics.

The practice of manipulating voting district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

A type of gerrymandering that deliberately draws district lines based on race to ensure a specific candidate wins.

A legal principle that allows courts to review the actions of other branches of government to ensure they comply with the Constitution.

The ability of state and local governments to regulate issues within their borders.

The power of the federal government to ensure that all citizens have equal rights and protection under the law, even on issues traditionally considered state matters.

The right to have a case heard in court, particularly in cases where a person's legal rights have been violated.

A legal principle that ensures fairness and prevents the government from arbitrarily favoring one group over another.

The right to vote and have that vote count equally, regardless of the individual's location or other factors.

A legal document that restricts the ability of certain states to change their voting laws without federal approval.

A district where an incumbent is highly likely to win re-election due to strong voter support.

A legislative system with two chambers, like the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).

A formal proposal for a new law introduced in either the House or Senate.

A permanent committee in Congress (House or Senate) that deals with specific policy areas.

The process by which a bill is introduced, debated, amended, and voted on by both houses of Congress to become a law.

The powerful committee in the House of Representatives that sets rules for debate, including how much time is allotted and whether amendments are allowed.

A rule allowing amendments to a bill during floor debate in the House of Representatives.

A rule prohibiting amendments to a bill during floor debate in the House of Representatives.

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by speaking continuously.

A committee formed of members from both the House and Senate to reconcile differences in versions of the same bill passed by each chamber.

The formal rejection of a bill by the President, which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.

The ability for a bill to become law automatically after ten days if the President does not take any action (sign or veto).

A veto that occurs when Congress is about to adjourn within ten days and the President does not take action on a bill, effectively killing it.

The advantage incumbents possess due to their experience, name recognition, and access to resources, making them more likely to win elections than challengers.

The minimum number of members of the House or Senate required to be present for official business, such as debating and voting on bills. Without a quorum, the chamber cannot function normally.

A vote in the Senate to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill. Requires at least 60 senators to agree.

The power of Congress to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and with Indian tribes.

A process in the House of Representatives that allows a bill to be brought to the floor for a vote even if it has been stalled in a committee for over 30 days.

Government funding allocated for local projects that primarily benefit a specific legislator's district or state, often used to gain political support.

The direct election of senators by the people, replacing the previous method of appointment by state legislatures.

The process by which a bill becomes law, involving steps like introduction, committee review, floor debate, voting, and presidential approval.

The House of Representatives is the first legislative body to act on bills, whereas the Senate is the second body to review and vote on bills.

The Senate has a more relaxed debate structure than the House, with fewer rules for how long members can speak. This is because they are smaller in size.

The House of Representatives has strict rules about how long members can speak during debates. This is due to the fact that there are more members in the House.

The Founders believed that the bicameral system with the House of Representatives and the Senate was necessary to balance the passions of the people with a more mature and deliberative body.

A group of members of Congress that specialize in a specific area, such as Agriculture, Homeland Security, or Financial Services. They review and revise bills before they are sent to the full House or Senate.

A committee formed for a specific purpose, often short-term, to investigate a particular issue or problem.

A committee composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They often work on long-standing issues like the Library of Congress, or on emergency legislation.

A committee that exists in both the House and the Senate, consisting of a fraction of the total members. It's a smaller version of the full House or Senate, where they debate and vote on bills.

The most powerful member of the House of Representatives. They are always a member of the majority party and have significant influence over committee appointments.

Leaders of the majority and minority parties in the House. They work to enforce their parties' influence and steer legislation.

Members of the majority and minority parties in the House tasked with keeping their party members in line with party policy. They ensure discipline and vote cohesion.

The Vice President of the United States who also serves as the President of the Senate. The VP is a non-voting member except in case of a tie.

The leader of the Senate when the Vice President is absent. They are also third in line to succeed the president.

The most powerful member of the Senate. They set the legislative agenda, deciding what bills will be debated.

Leads the opposition party in the Senate. They have less power than the Majority Leader, but represent their party's views and lead debates.

Members of the majority and minority parties in the Senate tasked with keeping their party members in line with party policy. They ensure discipline and vote cohesion.

Most legislative work in Congress happens at the subcommittee level. They revise, discuss, and amend bills before they go to the full House or Senate.

A system of government where the executive official is chosen from within the legislative body. This is common in the UK, where the Prime Minister comes from the Parliament.

A political strategy where lawmakers negotiate to support each other's bills in exchange for votes, ensuring their own bills pass. Think of it as two people pushing a log together, each gaining momentum from the other.

The power of the legislative branch to monitor and review the actions of the executive and judicial branches, ensuring they operate effectively. It's like a check on the other branches' power.

A method used to speed up the lawmaking process by bypassing committee review and directly sending a bill to the full floor for a vote. It's used for urgent or important legislation.

A special group created to swiftly address an urgent issue and prepare legislation for immediate enactment. They work solely on this task with a sense of urgency.

Combining multiple bills into one large document to facilitate their passage through the legislative process. This increases the chances of all included bills passing.

Services provided by elected officials to their constituents, often addressing issues with federal agencies like USCIS or the Department of Agriculture. It helps build a connection between representatives and their voters.

A representative who votes based on their own judgment and what they believe is best for the greater good, even if it differs from their constituents' views. They prioritize their own conscience over direct constituent wishes.

A representative who acts as a mouthpiece for their constituents, prioritizing their interests and voting in accordance with their views. They see themselves as representing the people's wishes.

A combination of the trustee and delegate models, where representatives act as trustees on issues they believe their constituents don't care much about and as delegates on issues where their constituents have strong feelings.

The process of redistributing seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on population changes revealed by the census. It happens every 10 years.

The redrawing of congressional district lines within a state, done by state legislatures. Ideally, each district should have roughly the same number of people.

A Supreme Court case that established the federal courts' authority to review state apportionment and redistricting plans. It challenged the idea that these issues were solely a matter of state law.