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A legislature composed of two houses

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responsible for "keeping the pack together" by urging party members to vote with the party on key issues

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when the Vice President is absent, the body of the Senate is presided over by the

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the head of the majority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or House of Representatives.

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the head of the minority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or House of Representatives.

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U.S. House of Representatives- Definition

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U.S. House of Representatives- Definition

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the lower house of the U.S. Congress

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the upper house

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A congressional district is an electoral constituency that elects a single member of congress.

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A practice in which a state legislature draws its district boundaries so as to purposely favor the party in power, thus giving the party control of as many congressional seats as possible

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the branch of government that creates laws

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a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches

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A select or special committee of the United States Congress is a congressional committee appointed to perform a special function that is beyond the authority or capacity of a standing committee.

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a permanent committee that meets regularly

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A conference committee is a committee of the United States Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill. A conference committee is usually composed of senior Members of the standing committees of each House that originally considered the legislation.

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a proposed a new law

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There are three, and only three, standing qualifications for U.S. Senator or House Representatives in Congress which are expressly set out in the U.S. Constitution: age (25 for the House, 30 for the
Senate); citizenship (at least seven years for the House, nine years for the Senate); and
inhabitancy in the state at the time elected. As per the Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. A senator's job is to represent the people living in his or her state in the United States Senate. Part of this job is to write and vote on new laws called “bills.”

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Congress has authority over financial and budgetary matters, through the enumerated power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The Constitution also grants Congress exclusively the power to appropriate funds. Other powers granted to Congress include the authority to borrow money on the credit of the United States, regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, and coin money. The Constitution also gives Congress an important role in national defense, including the exclusive power to declare war, to raise and maintain the armed forces, and to make rules for the military.

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LIMITS ON CONGRESS
Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution places three important limits on Congress and its powers. Congress cannot

pass ex post facto laws, which outlaw acts after they have already been committed.

pass bills of attainder, which punish individuals outside of the court system.

suspend the writ of habeas corpus, a court order requiring the federal government to charge individuals arrested for crimes. Congress can only suspend the writ of habeas corpus during times of national emergency.

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A Bill Is Born
Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so, become the sponsor(s). The president, a member of the cabinet or the head of a federal agency can also propose legislation, although a member of Congress must introduce it.

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Committee Action
As soon as a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee. At this point the bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are first determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is effectively "dead.

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Subcommittee Review
Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials and supporters, and opponents of the legislation.

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Mark up
When the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to "mark up" the bill; that is, make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies. If the committee votes for the bill, it is sent to the floor.

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Committee Action to Report a Bill
After receiving a subcommittees report on a bill the full committee votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported."

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Voting
After the debate and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting.

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Referral to Other Chamber
When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.

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Conference Committee Action
When the actions of the other chamber significantly alter the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared describing the committee members' recommendations for changes. Both the House and Senate must approve the conference report.

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Final Action
After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the president. If the president approves of the legislation, he signs it and it becomes law. Or, if the president takes no action for ten days, while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law. If the president opposes the bill he can veto it; or if he takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation dies.

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Overriding a Veto
If the president vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the president's veto is overruled and the bill becomes a law.