About Congress | Resolutions & Such | Vocabulary | Congressional Committees | Miscellaneous |
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What are Congressional elections
Held on the same day in every state on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. Congressional elections
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What are Resolutions
Deal with matters concerning either house alone & are taken up only by that house; adoption of new rule or amendment.
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What is a Copyright
The exclusive right of an author to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her creative work.
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What are Standing committees
Permanent panels to which all similar bills are sent. There are 20 in the House and 16 in the Senate.
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What is January 3 of odd-numbered years
Much of the organization in the House is taken care of at this time when Congress begins a new term.
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What is a Continuous body
The Senate is an uninterrupted body in that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time. Only 1/3 every two years.
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What are Joint resolutions
They are similar to bills. They deal with unusual or temporary matters.
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What is a Patent
It grants a person the sole right to manufacture, use, or sell any new and useful thing, or any new and useful improvement.
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What is the House Rules Committee
Before most bills reach the floor of the House, they must clear this committee, which schedules it for floor consideration.
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What is the State of the Union address
A few weeks after the House and Senate are organized, the President gives this address to a joint session of Congress.
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What is The Reapportionment Act of 1929
It established the permanent size of the House. The seats are redistributed every 10 years after the census is taken.
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What are Concurrent resolutions
Deal with matters in which House & Senate must act jointly; used most often by Congress to state a position on some matter.
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What is Naturalization
The process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another.
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What are Select committees
They are in each house and are temporary. They investigate the need for new laws and various current matters.
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What is a Bill
A proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration.
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What is Gerrymandering
The drawing of districts to the advantage of the political party that controls the state’s legislature.
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What is a Rider
A provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to an important measure certain to pass.
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What is a Session
When Congress assembles and conducts business (from January through most of the year).
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What are Joint committees
It is composed of members of both houses, sometimes to serve some temporary purpose. Most are permanent.
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What is a Pocket veto
When the President fails to sign a bill after Congress has adjourned and is unable to override the veto.
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What is Contiguous territory
Districts of each state must be made up of territory that is all 1 piece, have somewhat equal populations, & be as small as possible.
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What is a Discharge petition
It enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee 30 days onto the floor for consideration.
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What is Apportionment
The total number of seats in the House shall be distributed among the states on the basis of their respective populations.
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What is a Conference committee
A temporary, joint body created to iron out the differences in a bill.
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What is a Filibuster
A stalling tactic to delay or prevent Senate action.
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