Constituents The people represented by a particular elected official.

Apportionment The process of allocating seats in the House of Representatives based on population after each census.

Appropriation The act of setting aside money for a specific purpose or program by the government.

Impeachment The formal process of charging a government official (such as the President) with serious misconduct or a crime.

Oversight Congressional review, monitoring, and supervision of the executive branch and its agencies.

Necessary and Proper Clause Also known as the Elastic Clause, it grants Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out
the enumerated powers.

Indirect Tax A tax levied on goods or services rather than directly on income or property.

Direct Tax A tax directly imposed on individuals or entities.

Deficit The amount by which government spending exceeds revenue in a fiscal year.

Commerce Clause The clause in the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commerce.

Gibbons v. Ogden A landmark Supreme Court case establishing the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce.

Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States A Supreme Court case that upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically Congress's power to
regulate private businesses to prevent discrimination.

McCulloch v. Maryland A landmark Supreme Court case affirming the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and establishing the
constitutionality of the national bank.

Subpoenas Legal documents that require individuals to testify in court or provide evidence.

Writ of Habeas Corpus A court order that requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court to secure their release unless
lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

Bill of Attainder A legislative act that declares a person or group guilty of a crime and imposes punishment without a trial.

Ex Post Facto Laws Laws that criminalize an action after it has occurred.

Reapportionment The redistribution of congressional seats based on population shifts.

Gerrymandering Manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one party or group.

Wesberry v. Sanders A Supreme Court case establishing the principle of "one person, one vote" and requiring congressional districts to be
approximately equal in population.

Speaker of the House The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Bills Proposed laws presented to the legislative body for consideration.

Floor Leader The leader of a party in a legislative assembly.

Whips Members of Congress who assist the party leadership in managing party activities and encouraging party loyalty.

Party Caucus A meeting of all the party members in a legislative chamber.

Standing Committee A permanent legislative committee specializing in a particular area of policy.

Select Committees Temporary committees appointed for specific purposes.

Joint Committee A committee composed of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature.

President of the Senate The Vice President of the United States, who serves as the presiding officer of the Senate.

President Pro Tempore The senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.

Senate Majority Leader The leader of the majority party in the Senate.

Seniority Rule A custom in Congress that grants committee chairmanship to the member with the longest continuous service on the committee.

Filibuster A tactic used to delay or prevent a vote on a bill by making long speeches.

Cloture A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.

Rider: An amendment attached to a bill unrelated to its subject matter.

Joint Resolution A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses and the President.

Concurrent Resolution A resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that does not require the President's signature.

Committee of the Whole A committee comprising all members of the House, used for more informal debate on proposed legislation.

Quorum The minimum number of members required to conduct official business in a legislative body.

Roll Call Vote A vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded.

Conference Committee A temporary committee formed to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.

Pocket Veto A means by which the President can indirectly veto a bill by failing to sign it within 10 days while Congress is adjourned.