Definitions:
- From LII. The power of congress to make laws. Additionally, as an incident to that power, congress can conduct hearings and investigations, consider those matters that form the basis on which Congress may enact legislation, and perform other duties that are "necessary and proper" to the enacting legislation pursuant to Article I, Section I. -
- congressional power: Congressional powers refer to the authority Congress has to create legislation. These powers are enumerated and Article I of the U.S. Constitution creates and defines the powers of Congress. Due to principles of federalism, Congress shares power with the various governments of the states. Some congressional powers, like the power to tax, are held by both Congress and the states. Additionally, any power not expressly granted to Congress is reserved for the governments of the states. Under the preemption doctrine, the exercise of certain congressional powers can occasionally prevent states from also exercising those powers.
- From Britannica: . . . lawmaking branch of a government. Before the advent of legislatures, the law was dictated by monarchs. Early European legislatures include the English Parliament and the Icelandic Althing (founded c. 930). Legislatures may be unicameral or bicameral (see bicameral system). Their powers may include passing laws, establishing the government’s budget, confirming executive appointments, ratifying treaties, investigating the executive branch, impeaching and removing from office members of the executive and judiciary, and redressing constituents’ grievances. Members may be appointed or directly or indirectly elected; they may represent an entire population, particular groups, or territorial subdistricts. In presidential systems, the executive and legislative branches are clearly separated; in parliamentary systems, members of the executive branch are chosen from the legislative membership.
Textbook terms:
Article 1, US Constitution, Congress
Article 3, Texas Constitution, Texas Legislature
power of the purse
- appropriations
- budgets
checks and balances
- protection from
- - executive
- - - legislative immunity
- - judiciary
US - full-time
Texas - part-time
bicameral
representation styles
- delegate
- trustee
- politico
representative
- people
- 2 year terms
- districts
- - single member
- - winner take all elections
- 435, see map
- 150, see map
senator
- states
- six year overlapping terms
- 2 per state
- - winner take all elections
constituency
- people
- state
regular session
- US
- Texas
special session
- Texas, governor's power
majority
supermajority
power of one
descriptive representation
- diversity
- - race
- - gender
- - wealth
- majority, minority districts
substantive representation
diversity
principle / agents
candidates
incumbency
constituency service
pork barrel
apportionment
redistricting
- one person, one vote
- - Baker v Carr
- Legislative Redistricting Board
gerrymandering
- racial
- partisan
- independent redistricting commission
conference
parties in the legislature
- caucus
presiding officer
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
majority leader
minority leader
whip
standing committees
select committee
joint committee
conference committee
seniority
staff agencies
congressional caucuses
bill
bill making process
committee markup
closed rule
open rule
filibuster
cloture
veto
pocket veto
appropriations
omnibus appropriations bill
party unity vote
roll call vote
oversight
executive agreement
impeachment
