Congress of the United States

congressional supervision of the many departments and agencies that make up the executive branch

rule that permits the Senate to end debate on a bill with a three-fifths majority vote of the entire Senate

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3, of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the authority to regulate both national and international commerce

temporary committee made up of members from both chambers of Congress that is tasked with reconciling differences in House and Senate versions of the same bill

congressional support agency that provides legislators with cost reports and projections on current and pending legislation

congressional support agency that provides legislators with policy and legal advice and research

model of congressional representation in which legislators make policy decisions based purely on the will of their constituency

procedure that forces a bill from the committee onto the chamber's floor for full debate and a vote

power specifically granted to Congress by Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution

practice in the Senate of "talking a bill to death" aimed at delaying or preventing legislative action

congressional support agency that provides legislators with nonpartisan analysis of the efficiency of federal policies and programs

formal charge of misconduct brought by the House of Representatives

against an executive or judicial official who is in office

power assumed by Congress through interpretation of the necessary and proper clause of Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18, of the Constitution

congressional committee made up of members of both chambers of Congress that has a narrow focus and will not usually report bills for debate

member of Congress whose role is to represent the majority party's policy positions in the House of Representatives or Senate

process by which members of a congressional committee debate the merits and content of the bill, amending and rewriting as necessary

member of Congress whose role is to represent the minority party's policy positions in the House of Representatives or Senate

clause in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the right to make any laws required to carry out Congress's specific powers listed in the Constitution

action by Congress to pass a bill over a president's veto, which requires a two-thirds vote of both chambers

action in which a president refuses to sign a bill during the 10-day signing period while Congress is in adjournment. The fact that Congress is adjourned means that it cannot vote to uphold or override the veto

model of congressional representation that combines the trustee and delegate models with the impact of the influence of public opinion, interest groups, and the desire for reelection

presiding officer of the Senate, assigned to the vice president by the Constitution but typically filled by the president pro tempore, a senator who acts as a temporary president

bill-writing process involving committees and subcommittees and including hearings

temporary congressional committee formed to address a specific, timely issue

presiding officer and powerful leader of the House of Representatives, who is second in the line of presidential succession after the vice president

permanent congressional committee that focuses on a specific area of legislation

small, focused group formed within a larger congressional committee that considers and researches certain issues and then reports back to the larger committee

model of congressional representation in which legislators uses their own personal and professional experience to make policy decisions

action by a president to reject legislation passed by Congress

member of the House of Representatives or Senate chosen by the party's caucus who encourages votes and loyalty from members of the majority or minority party