Glossary
Bicameral
A legislature consisting of two separate chambers or houses.
Example:
The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature, with both a House of Representatives and a Senate.
Budget Reconciliation Process
A legislative process in the U.S. Senate that allows certain budget-related legislation to pass with a simple majority vote, bypassing the filibuster.
Example:
The budget reconciliation process is often used by the majority party to pass significant tax cuts or spending changes without needing bipartisan support.
Enumerated Powers
Specific powers explicitly granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
Example:
The power to declare war or to coin money are classic examples of enumerated powers given to the legislative branch.
Gerrymandering
The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage over another.
Example:
After a census, state legislatures might engage in gerrymandering to create oddly shaped districts that pack opposing voters into a few districts or spread them thinly across many.
Great Compromise
An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, balancing representation based on population and equal state representation.
Example:
The Great Compromise resolved a major dispute between large and small states, leading to the current structure of Congress.
House of Representatives
The lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, with representation based on each state's population.
Example:
A state with a large population like California has many representatives in the House of Representatives, giving it more legislative influence based on its size.
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
A clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that grants Congress the authority to make all laws “necessary and proper” for carrying out its enumerated powers.
Example:
Congress used the Necessary and Proper Clause to establish the national bank, arguing it was essential for managing the nation's finances, even though banking isn't explicitly listed as an enumerated power.
Safe Seats
A legislative district where the incumbent or a candidate from a particular party is highly likely to win the election, often by a large margin.
Example:
In many congressional districts, the political leanings are so strong that the outcome is predictable, creating a safe seat for the dominant party.
Senate
The upper chamber of the U.S. Congress, where each state receives equal representation with two members.
Example:
Despite its smaller population, Wyoming has the same number of senators in the Senate as California, ensuring equal state representation.