All terms in this list:

bicameral: legislature that is a legislature made up of two house

term: congress last for two years

session: congress is that period of time during which each year congress assembles and conduct business

adjourns: suspend until its next session, each regular session as it sees fit

convenes: (begins) a few days or even a few weeks after the third of January

recess: short periods during a session

prorogue: (end, discontinue) a session, but only when the two house can not agree on a date for adjournment

special session: a meeting to deal with some emergency situations

apportioned: (distributed) among the states on the basis of their respective populations

reapportion: (redistribute)the seats in the house every ten years

off-year elections: congressional elections that occur in nonpresidential years that is between presidential elections

single-member district: voters in each district elect one of the states representative

at-large: elected from the states as a whole rather than voter could vote for a candidate for each one of the states seats in house

gerrymandered: drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the states legislature

incumbent: the person who currently holds the office

continuous body: all seats are never up for election at the same time

constituencies: the people and interest the senators represent

Delegates: see themselves as the agents of the people

Trustees: believe that each question they face must be decided on its merits

Partisans: believe that they owe their first allegiance to their political party

politicos: attempt to combine the basic elements of the delegate,trustee, and partisan

bills: proposed laws

floor consideration: be considered and acted upon by the full membership of the house or senate

oversight function: the process by which congress through its committees, checks

franking privilege: well-known benefit that allows them to mail letters and other materials