U.S. Congress Quiz

A bill that has accumulated a large number of unrelated amendments, often tacked on to gain the support of various members of Congress.

Congress can overturn a presidential veto by passing the bill again with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

A roll-call vote records how each individual member of Congress voted, providing transparency to the public.

Many members of Congress gain experience in local politics before seeking a national office.

Constituents are the people who live in the district represented by an elected official, and who can vote for them.

The US Constitution mandates a census every ten years to count the population, which then triggers reapportionment of House seats based on population changes.

The number of senators in the US Senate is fixed at 100, with two senators representing each of the 50 states.

A bill that has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but has not yet been signed into law by the president.

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts, often done following a census to ensure equal representation based on population.

The practice of attaching unrelated amendments to a bill that is likely to pass, often done to gain support for a separate issue.

A closed meeting of a political party's members in Congress to discuss party strategy and make decisions about legislation.

The head of government in a parliamentary system, usually selected by the majority party in the legislature.

The two-year period between congressional elections, during which Congress meets to conduct business.

Legislative bills that deal with matters of general interest, such as taxation, spending, and the national economy, rather than specific local interests.

A system of government in which the head of state is a monarch, usually a king or queen, but the monarch's power is limited by a constitution and a parliament.

The practice of delaying a vote in the Senate by making long speeches or raising points of order, often done by a minority party to prevent action on a bill.

The process of formally questioning a person who is being considered for a government position, such as a cabinet member or a judge.

A law that is passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, but that is later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The process of allocating funding to government programs and agencies.

A system of government in which power is shared between a national government and state governments.