Bicameral Legislature

a two-chamber legislature

Session

a period of time during which a legislature meets to conduct business

Census

population count

Reapportionment

the procedss of reassigning the representation based on populatoin, after every census

Redistricting

to set up new district lines after reapportionment is complete

Gerrymandering

to draw a district's boundaries to gain an advantage in elections

At-large

as a whole, for example, statewide

Censure

is a vote of formal disapproval of a member's actions

Incumbent

elected official that is already in office

Constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

Caucus

a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office

Majority leader

the Speaker's top assistant whose job is to help plan the majority party's legislative program and to steer important bills through the House

Whip

an assistant to the party floor leader in the legislature

Bill

a proposed law

Calendar

a schedule that lists the order in which bills will be considered in Congress

Quorum

minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action