Congress

  

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Congress

Definition: Congress

Congress

Noun

1. The legislature of the United States government.

2. A meeting of elected or appointed representatives.

3. A national legislative assembly.

4. The act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman; the man's penis is inserted into the woman's vagina and excited until orgasm and ejaculation occur.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "Congress" was first used: 14th century. (references)

Etymology: Congress \Con"gress\, noun; plural Congresses. [Latin congressus, from congredi, past participle -gressus, to go or come together; con- + grati to go or step, gradus step: compare to French congr?s. See Grade.]. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Congress

DomainDefinition

Satire

CONGRESS, n. A body of men who meet to repeal laws. Source: Devil's Dictionary.

General

Regular coming together on a representational basis of several hundreds-or even thousands-of individuals belonging to a single professional, cultural, religious or other group. A congress is often convened to discuss a particular subject. Contributions to the presentation and discussion of the subject matter come only from members or the sponsoring body. Frequency:usually established in advance and can be either multiannual or annual. Most international or world congresses are of the former type while national congresses are more frequently held annually. A congress will often last several days and have several simultaneous sessions. Source: European Union. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: Congress

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

A congress is a gathering of people. Congress is the name of the main legislative body in a nation that operates under a congressional system of government.

A congress is different from a parliament in that it has no Prime Minister as its leader, and rarely has a sitting member as the nation's Head of State or Head of Government.

Countries with Congresses:

Congress is included in the name of several political parties:

Congress has also been used to describe certain historical gatherings of independence-minded nationalists or revolutionaries:

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Congress of the Philippines

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Congress of the Philippines is the primary legislature of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the upper chamber, the Senate, and the lower chamber, the House of Representatives.

The Senate is composed of 24 senators half of which are elected every three years. Each senator therefore serves a total of six years. The senators are elected by the whole electorate and do not represent any geographical district.

The House of Representatives is composed of a maximum of 250 congressmen. There are two types of congressmen: the district and the sectoral representatives. The district congressment represent a particular geographical district of the country. All provinces in the country are composed of at least one congressional district. Several cities are also their own congressional districts, with some composed of two or more representatives.

The sectoral congressmen represent minority sectors of the population. This enables these minority groups to be represented in the Congress, when they would otherwise not be represented properly through district representation.

Lawmaking

[Any of the two house may initiate a bill that will be signed into law. Three hearings. Pass to other house. Another three hearings. Pass to president for approval or veto. Bill is now a law.]

Related Articles

External Links

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Congress, Arizona

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Congress is a town located in Yavapai County, Arizona. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,717.

Geography


Congress is located at 34°8'46" North, 112°50'48" West (34.146068, -112.846533)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 97.6 km² (37.7 mi²). 97.5 km² (37.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.08% water.

Demographics


As of the census2 of 2000, there are 1,717 people, 821 households, and 579 families residing in the town. The population density is 17.6/km² (45.6/mi²). There are 1,070 housing units at an average density of 11.0/km² (28.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.92% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 7.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 821 households out of which 12.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% are married couples living together, 4.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% are non-families. 24.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.09 and the average family size is 2.43. In the town the population is spread out with 13.3% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 13.3% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 37.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 60 years. For every 100 females there are 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.6 males. The median income for a household in the town is $27,868, and the median income for a family is $32,250. Males have a median income of $25,588 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income for the town is $15,926. 12.4% of the population and 10.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 17.8% are under the age of 18 and 10.6% are 65 or older.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Congress, Arizona."

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Congress, Ohio

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Congress is a village located in Wayne County, Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 192.

Geography


Congress is located at 40°55'32" North, 82°3'12" West (40.925447, -82.053222)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²). 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics


As of the census of 2000, there are 192 people, 64 households, and 52 families residing in the village. The population density is 436.1/km² (1,154.2/mi²). There are 68 housing units at an average density of 154.4/km² (408.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 97.40% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 64 households out of which 29.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% are married couples living together, 3.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% are non-families. 14.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.00 and the average family size is 3.35. In the village the population is spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 111.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 110.3 males. The median income for a household in the village is $36,875, and the median income for a family is $42,083. Males have a median income of $22,321 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the village is $14,911. 4.1% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 0.0% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Congress, Ohio."

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Continental Congress

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Continental Congress was the federal legislature of the Thirteen Colonies and later of the United States from 1774 to 1789, a period that included the American Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation. There were two Continental Congresses.

The First Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress lasted only from September 5, 1774, to October 26, 1774, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress ran from May 10, 1775, to March 2, 1789, but met in different places at different times. (See the external link below for the daily records of its proceedings.)

In 1775 the Congress began to support actual rebellion. They created the Continental Army and issued currency (the Continental Dollar).

Dates and Places of Sessions

See also

External links

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Indian National Congress

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Indian National Congress (also called the Congress Party) is the oldest surviving political organisation in India. It is one of the largest political parties in India.

It was founded in 1885 with the object of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, and was initially in favour of British rule. Indeed, it was an Englishman, Allan Octavian Hume who brought about its first meeting in Bombay, with the approval of Lord Dufferin, the then Viceroy. Later, however, its demands became more radical in the face of constant opposition from the government, and was very active in the independence movement. During this period there were two camps in the Congress -- the Garam Dal or Extremists and the Naram Dal or Moderates -- depending on their attitude towards the British. Its leaders before Indian independence included Mohandas Gandhi (aka Mahatma Gandhi), Subash Chandra Bose (aka Netaji S. C. Bose).

Gandhi is said to have held the view that the party was formed only for independence and must have been disbanded in 1947. But the party ruled India for much of the time after independence under Jawaharlal Nehru, Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi, her son Rajiv Gandhi, P. V. Narasimha Rao among others.

In the 1980s and 1990s it was also known as Congress-I where the I stood for Indira (initially to distinguish it from Congress-O led by Kamaraj, etc.). Slowly many groups broke away from the Congress and there are now scores of parties each derived from the Congress and hence having 'Congress' somewhere in their party name, thus decreasing somewhat the strength of the Congress from the 1940s to 60s when it used to regularly get two-thirds majority in Parliament.

It is currently the main opposition party at the Centre (i.e. the central or federal government) and also has formed the government in a majority of Indian states. Its current leader is Sonia Gandhi, wife of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Currently there is some controversy about the foreign (Italian) origin of Sonia Gandhi which raises doubts about the appropriateness of her becoming the Prime Minister if the party returns to power.

Leaders

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Tenth United States Congress

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Tenth United States Congress

This is currently a draft article. The text in this article is computer-generated. Links and spelling have to be verified. See Wikipedia:WikiProject US Congress.

1807-1808

Major Political Events

Members of the Tenth United States Congress

Ninth United States Congress United States Congress Eleventh United States Congress

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Tenth United States Congress."

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Thirtieth United States Congress

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Thirtieth United States Congress

This is currently a draft article. The text in this article is computer-generated. Links and spelling have to be verified. See Wikipedia:WikiProject US Congress.

1847-1848

Major Political Events

Members of the Thirtieth United States Congress

Twenty-ninth United States Congress United States Congress Thirty-first United States Congress

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Thirtieth United States Congress."

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United States Congress

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government. The structure and responsibilities of Congress are defined in Article One of the United States Constitution. The United States Congress is bicameral, that is, having two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The first Congress started its term in New York City on March 4, 1789 and their first action was to declare that the new Constitution of the United States was in effect. The United States Capitol building in Washington, DC held its first session of Congress on November 17, 1800.

The powers of the Congress are set forth in Article 1 (particularly Article 1, Section 8) of the United States Constitution. Congress's powers were later supplemented by the post-Civil War amendments to the Constitution (Amendments 13, 14, and 15, each of which authorizes the Congress to enforce its provisions by appropriate legislation), and by the 16th Amendment, which authorizes an income tax.

Other parts of the Constitution--particularly Article 1, Section 9, and the first ten amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights)--impose limitations on Congress's power.

The Senate has 100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms. Each state has equal representation in the Senate because the states are each equal members of the federal union.

The House of Representatives has 435 seats. Members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms from Congressional districts. The states with the smallest population still have at least one seat. These seats are apportioned according to the population of each state, but the total number is fixed at 435.

Proceedings of the United States Congress were televised for the first time on January 3, 1947. Proceedings of the Congress are regularly broadcast, including newsworthy sessions of committees and subcommitees.

Powers of the House and Senate

Each house of Congress has the power to introduce legislation on any subject except raising revenue, which must originate in the House of Representatives. The large states may thus appear to have more influence over the public purse than the small states. In practice, however, each house can vote against legislation passed by the other house. The Senate may disapprove a House revenue bill — or any bill, for that matter — or add amendments that change its nature. In that event, a conference committee made up of members from both houses must work out a compromise acceptable to both sides before the bill becomes law.

The Senate also has certain powers especially reserved to that body, including the authority to confirm presidential appointments of high officials and ambassadors of the federal government, as well as authority to ratify all treaties by a two-thirds vote. In either instance, a negative vote in the Senate nullifies executive action.

In the case of impeachment of federal officials, the House has the sole right to bring charges of misconduct that can lead to an impeachment trial. The Senate has the sole power to try impeachment cases and to find officials guilty or not guilty. A finding of guilt results in the removal of the federal official from public office.

The broad powers of the whole Congress are spelled out in Article I of the Constitution:

A few of these powers are now outdated, but they remain in effect. The Tenth Amendment sets definite limits on congressional authority, by providing that powers not delegated to the national government are reserved to the states or to the people. In addition, the Constitution specifically forbids certain acts by Congress. It may not:

Officers of the Congress

The Constitution provides that the vice president shall be president of the Senate. The vice president has no vote, except in the case of a tie. The Senate chooses a president pro tempore to preside when the vice president is absent. The House of Representatives chooses its own presiding officer — the Speaker of the House. The speaker and the president pro tempore are always members of the political party with the largest representation in each house.

At the beginning of each new Congress, members of the political parties select floor leaders and other officials to manage the flow of proposed legislation. These officials, along with the presiding officers and committee chairpersons, exercise strong influence over the making of laws.

The Committee Process

One of the major characteristics of the Congress is the dominant role committees play in its proceedings. Committees have assumed their present-day importance by evolution, not by constitutional design, since the Constitution makes no provision for their establishment.

At present the Senate has 17 standing (or permanent) committees; the House of Representatives has 19 committees. Each specializes in specific areas of legislation: foreign affairs, defense, banking, agriculture, commerce, appropriations, and other fields. Almost every bill introduced in either house is referred to a committee for study and recommendation. The committee may approve, revise, kill, or ignore any measure referred to it. It is nearly impossible for a bill to reach the House or Senate floor without first winning committee approval. In the House, a petition to release a bill from a committee to the floor requires the signatures of 218 members; in the Senate, a majority of all members is required. In practice, such discharge motions only rarely receive the required support.

The majority party in each house controls the committee process. Committee chairpersons are selected by a caucus of party members or specially designated groups of members. Minority parties are proportionally represented on the committees according to their strength in each house.

Bills are introduced by a variety of methods. Some are drawn up by standing committees; some by special committees created to deal with specific legislative issues; and some may be suggested by the president or other executive officers. Citizens and organizations outside the Congress may suggest legislation to members, and individual members themselves may initiate bills. After introduction, bills are sent to designated committees that, in most cases, schedule a series of public hearings to permit presentation of views by persons who support or oppose the legislation. The hearing process, which can last several weeks or months, opens the legislative process to public participation.

One virtue of the committee system is that it permits members of Congress and their staffs to amass a considerable degree of expertise in various legislative fields. In the early days of the republic, when the population was small and the duties of the federal government were narrowly defined, such expertise was not as important. Each representative was a generalist and dealt knowledgeably with all fields of interest. The complexity of national life today calls for special knowledge, which means that elected representatives often acquire expertise in one or two areas of public policy.

When a committee has acted favorably on a bill, the proposed legislation is then sent to the floor for open debate. In the Senate, the rules permit virtually unlimited debate. In the House, because of the large number of members, the Rules Committee usually sets limits. When debate is ended, members vote either to approve the bill, defeat it, table it — which means setting it aside and is tantamount to defeat — or return it to committee. A bill passed by one house is sent to the other for action. If the bill is amended by the second house, a conference committee composed of members of both houses attempts to reconcile the differences.

Once passed by both houses, the bill is sent to the president, for constitutionally the president must act on a bill for it to become law. The president has the option of signing the bill — by which it becomes law — or vetoing it. A bill vetoed by the president must be reapproved by a two-thirds vote of both houses to become law.

The president may also refuse either to sign or veto a bill. In that case, the bill becomes law without his signature 10 days after it reaches him (not counting Sundays). The single exception to this rule is when Congress adjourns after sending a bill to the president and before the 10-day period has expired; his refusal to take any action then negates the bill — a process known as the "pocket veto."

Congressional Powers of Investigation

One of the most important nonlegislative functions of the Congress is the power to investigate. This power is usually delegated to committees — either to the standing committees, to special committees set up for a specific purpose, or to joint committees composed of members of both houses. Investigations are conducted to gather information on the need for future legislation, to test the effectiveness of laws already passed, to inquire into the qualifications and performance of members and officials of the other branches, and, on rare occasions, to lay the groundwork for impeachment proceedings. Frequently, committees call on outside experts to assist in conducting investigative hearings and to make detailed studies of issues.

There are important corollaries to the investigative power. One is the power to publicize investigations and their results. Most committee hearings are open to the public and are widely reported in the mass media. Congressional investigations thus represent one important tool available to lawmakers to inform the citizenry and arouse public interest in national issues. Congressional committees also have the power to compel testimony from unwilling witnesses and to cite for contempt of Congress witnesses who refuse to testify and for perjury those who give false testimony.

Informal Practices of Congress

In contrast to European parliamentary systems, the selection and behavior of U.S. legislators has little to do with central party discipline. Each of the major American political parties is a coalition of local and state organizations that join together as a national party — Republican or Democratic —. Thus the members of Congress owe their positions to their districtwide or statewide electorate, not to the national party leadership nor to their congressional colleagues. As a result, the legislative behavior of representatives and senators tends to be individualistic and idiosyncratic, reflecting the great variety of electorates represented and the freedom that comes from having built a loyal personal constituency.

Congress is thus a collegial and not a hierarchical body. Power does not flow from the top down, as in a corporation, but in practically every direction. There is only minimal centralized authority, since the power to punish or reward is slight. Congressional policies are made by shifting coalitions that may vary from issue to issue. Sometimes, where there are conflicting pressures — from the White House and from important interest groups — legislators will use the rules of procedure to delay a decision so as to avoid alienating an influential sector. A matter may be postponed on the grounds that the relevant committee held insufficient public hearings. Or Congress may direct an agency to prepare a detailed report before an issue is considered. Or a measure may be put aside ("tabled") by either house, thus effectively defeating it without rendering a judgment on its substance.

There are informal or unwritten norms of behavior that often determine the assignments and influence of a particular member. "Insiders," representatives and senators who concentrate on their legislative duties, may be more powerful within the halls of Congress than "outsiders," who gain recognition by speaking out on national issues. Members are expected to show courtesy toward their colleagues and to avoid personal attacks, no matter how unpalatable their opponents' policies may be, though in recent years this norm has been called into question. Members usually specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns. Those who conform to these informal rules are more likely to be appointed to prestigious committees or at least to committees that affect the interests of a significant portion of their constituents.

Elections

Next election: November 2, 2004

Seats by party (108th Congress, 2003-2005)

Congressional Delegations

Each state's delegation in Congress consists of two Senators, and a number of Representatives (see below) depending on an apportionment among the states, based every ten years on their respective populations in the U.S. Census. Non-state territories have a Delegate each in the House, and many present states had such delegates when they were organized territories prior to statehood.

The sum of Senators and Representatives determines that state's number of Electors in the U.S. Electoral College.

Based on the 2000 Census, members of the U.S. House of Representatives represent on average 646,952 persons each.

The following states Congressional delegations include the number of Representatives indicated; the articles linked in many cases list not only the current Congressional delegation but former Senators, and Representatives; when applicable, Delegates of the former organized territory that had the same extent are included.
  • Alabama (7)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (8)
  • Arkansas (4)
  • California (53)
  • Colorado (7)
  • Connecticut (5)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (25)
  • Georgia (13)
  • Hawaii (2)
  • Idaho (2)
  • Illinois (19)
  • Indiana (9)
  • Iowa (5)
  • Kansas (4)
  • Kentucky (6)
  • Louisiana (7)
  • Maine (2)
  • Maryland (8)
  • Massachusetts (10)
  • Michigan (15)
  • Minnesota (8)
  • Mississippi (4)
  • Missouri (9)
  • Montana (1)
  • Nebraska (3)
  • Nevada (3)
  • New Hampshire (2)
  • New Jersey (13)
  • New Mexico (3)
  • New York (29)
  • North Carolina (13)
  • North Dakota (1)
  • Ohio (18)
  • Oklahoma (5)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Pennsylvania (19)
  • Rhode Island (2)
  • South Carolina (6)
  • South Dakota (1)
  • Tennessee (9)
  • Texas (32)
  • Utah (3)
  • Vermont (1)
  • Virginia (11)
  • Washington (9)
  • West Virginia (3)
  • Wisconsin (8)
  • Wyoming (1)

The following are the changes in apportionment following the 2000 Census:

  • Arizona (+2)
  • California (+1)
  • Colorado (+1)
  • Connecticut (-1)
  • Florida (+2)
  • Georgia (+2)
  • Illinois (-1)
  • Indiana (-1)
  • Michigan (-1)
  • Mississippi (-1)
  • Nevada (+1)
  • New York (-2)
  • North Carolina (+1)
  • Ohio (-1)
  • Oklahoma (-1)
  • Pennsylvania (-2)
  • Texas (+2)
  • Wisconsin (-1)

Non-voting Territorial Members

The United States territories are not members of the federal union. They have no Senators, but each has a single non-voting member of the House of Representatives.

External Links

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United States House of Representatives

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the United States Congress, whose upper house is the United States Senate.


House of Representatives chamber

Members

Members of the House are elected for a term of two years. Elections alternately coincide with the presidential election; when they do not, they are called mid-term elections.

The 435 seats in the House are apportioned among the fifty states by population, as determined by a decennial census. Members are elected from districts through a first past the post method. Consequently, disputes over the boundaries of the districts, which must be redrawn after each census, can be particularly contentious. Subject to constitutional requirements established by case law, and in some states to review by the United States Department of Justice to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, the government of each state draws the boundaries for the House districts within the state's borders.

If a vacancy occurs in a House seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election.

Presently the state delegations in the House range from fifty-three members for California, to one each for Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. There are also delegates without voting rights (except in committee votes) from the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Apportionment of House seats among the states changed slightly with the 108th Congress elected on November 5, 2002, which took office in January, 2003. That Congress, and the four that follow, have been reapportioned on the basis of the April 1, 2000, United States Census. (See complete apportionment numbers in United States Congress.)

See List of Members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Activities

The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the House; although historically every Speaker has been a Member of the House, this is not a constitutional requirement (Art. I, s. 2. merely specifies that the House "shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers"). In matters of legislation it is essentially co-equal with the Senate, with the exception of the rule provided by the Constitution that all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. (The Senate has exclusive power to ratify treaties and approve presidential appointments.)

Because of the large size of the House of Representatives, much of the power of the House is in the committees. The House Committee on Rules is particularly powerful because each bill submitted to the floor of the house must have a rule assigned by the committee which limits the amount of debate and more importantly specifies what amendments can or cannot be allowed in the course of the debate. The rule approved by the Rules Committee is subject to acceptance or rejection by a vote of the full House.

Another important committee is the House Committee on Ways and Means which is responsible for taxation and is particularly powerful because of the constitutional requirement (in Article 1, Section 7) that bills raising revenue shall originate in the House. The House Committee on Appropriations is another important committee whose power derives from its ability to consider funding for government projects.

Unlike senators, most House members have little individual power, and typically will ally themselves in informal caucuses with other members from similar districts.

The House chamber is located in the south wing of the United States Capitol, in Washington, DC.

History

In New York City on April 1, 1789 the House held its first quorum and elected Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as the first House Speaker.

On August 8, 1911, Public Law 62-5 set the number of representatives in the House of Representatives at 435 but the law didn't take effect until 1913.

See also:

Composition of the 108th Congress (2003-2005)

                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                                      
                                                 

+Republicans: 229 -Independent: 1 (Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.)
*Democrats: 205 +

A Cable TV Viewer's Guide to the House

Minding the House can be a rewarding experience for those with time to spare.

Since about 1980 or so, C-SPAN, the cable television network, has televised the House proceedings live. Also, the Official Reporters of Debates take down every word spoken on the House floor, and the heavily redacted transcripts of the proceedings can be found in the Congressional Record. (The Congressional Record is also printed daily.)

The House, when in session, generally convenes at 12:00 Noon (Eastern Time) and continues until adjornment late in the day. The first thing one notices about the House chamber is that most of the seats in the chamber are empty most of the time. Most Members of Congress ("members") are usually busy attending committee meetings, working in their offices, or doing other things while the House is in session. If there is a floor vote, or a quorum call, the electronic voting system is activated and a sequence of bells rings throughout the House side of the Capitol and in the House office building complex. When the bells ring, members flock to the House floor, typically travelling the one-block distance from their offices by foot or by electric trolley. During the last few minutes of the 15 minutes usually allotted for an electronically recorded vote, the chamber fills with members and just as quickly empties again after the vote. It can be politically damaging at home if a member misses too many votes, and the political leadership therefore tries to schedule votes during times when members are likely to be around. Sometimes several votes are held all at once at the end of the day. Fridays usually mean short sessions, no sessions, and/or no votes. This is so that members who live on the other side of the country can fly home for the weekend. Members also have to punch in for quorum calls, which can be demanded by any member if (as is usually the case) fewer members than a quorum are present on the floor.

Voting

Members vote by inserting a plastic voting card, which doubles as a photo ID, into terminals located on the backs of seats in the House chamber. The member presses a red button to vote "No" or "Nay," a green button to vote "Aye" or "Yea," and a yellow button to vote "Present" (i.e. the member abstains from voting) or to register his or her presence at a quorum call. Members' names are displayed on a blue, backlit panel above the Speaker's chair, and when a member votes, a red, green, or yellow light appears adjacent to his or her name. Displays on the side walls of the chamber display a running vote total.

If the voting system is down, either the clerk calls the roll and members enunciate their votes, or a "teller" vote is held in which the members fill our red or green or yellow voting cards and give them to the clerk. For more information, Recorded vote.

A Typical Day's Proceedings

Every two years at the beginning of a session of Congress, the House adopts the same Rules of the House as was in force during the preceding Congress. But most of the rules in the book are hopelessly antiquated and are ignored.

At 12:00 Noon, the Speaker walks into the chamber and gavels the House to order. The Chaplain, or some guest clergy member from someone's home district, offers a prayer. After the prayer, a period for "one-minute speeches" takes place. A member who wishes to give a one-minute speech is recognized by the Speaker: "For what purpose does the gentleman [gentlewoman] from [state] arise?" "I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks." "Without objection, it is so ordered. The gentleman is recognized."

(If the Speaker of the House does not feel like presiding for whatever reason, he appoints a member of his party as Speaker Pro Tempore.)

Two things of note:

  1. Much House business is conducted by "unanimous consent." Any member may object, but nobody usually does.
  2. To "revise and extend" one's remarks means that the member may submit remarks in written form to be printed in the Congressional Record. What the member puts in the Congressional Record may be longer or shorter or completely different from what was actually said on the floor -- the only verbatim account of the proceedings would be a videotape recorded from C-SPAN.

After the one minute speeches, the House might typically proceed to consider a "rule," or a resolution stating how much time is allotted to debate a particular bill. Rules are made by the Committee on Rules. (In the press, it is the House Rules Committee or the House [Blank] Committee, officially it is the Committee on [Blank].) A rule may provide that amendments to the bill are allowed (an "open rule") or restricted (a "closed rule").

A rule might say something like this:
House Resolution 999
"Resolved, that at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill H.R. 9999, the [XXX] Act. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on [XXX] . After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions."

What all this means is, that the House first forms itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. When sitting as the Committee of the Whole, a quorum is 100 members instead of 218, and a limit of five minutes of debate are allowed for or against any specific amendment to the bill being considered. You can tell whether the House is convened as the House or the Committee of the Whole by noting the position of the Mace (the pole with the silver eagle on top which is situated on the left side of the Speaker's podium). If the Mace is placed atop its pedestal, the House is in session; if placed in a lower position, this means the Committee of the Whole is in session. (The Mace is not visible in the above photo of the House chamber, indicating that the House was not then in session.)

After all the amendments to the bill are voted on, and before the bill itself is voted on, there is usually a "motion to recommit" the bill back to the committee from whence it came (to kill the bill). The vote on a motion to recommit is usually more indicative of how Members really feel about a bill than the final vote on passage. Many members who are against a bill will vote for the motion to recommit and then vote to pass it once the vote to recommit is lost. That way they can tell the constituents back home about how they favored the legislation all along.

After the day's business, and before adjournment, there is a period called "special orders" during which members may reserve time, as much as an hour, to speak. There is nobody in the chamber at 8 P.M., but the cameras don't usually show the empty seats: the members can play to the C-SPAN audience, especially if the member's district is on Pacific time.

External links

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US Congressional Delegations from Arizona

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Present and Past Senators, Representatives and Delegates of Arizona:
See also : United States Congress

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "US Congressional Delegations from Arizona."

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Abbreviations & Acronyms: Congress

The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
EntrySourceExpressionField
COPEEnglishCongress on Optimum Population and EnvironmentEnvironment, Social Sciences

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Synonyms: Congress

Synonyms: carnal knowledge (n), coition (n), coitus (n), copulation (n), intercourse (n), relation (n), sex act (n), sexual congress (n), sexual intercourse (n), sexual relation (n). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Congress

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Assemblage

Noun: {opp. } assemblage; collection, collocation, colligation; compilation, levy, gathering, ingathering, muster, attroupement; team; concourse, conflux, congregation, contesseration, convergence; meeting, levee, reunion, drawing room, at home; conversazione; (social gathering); assembly, congress; convention, conventicle; gemote; conclave; (council); posse, posse comitatus; Noah's ark.

Convergence

Noun: convergence, confluence, concourse, conflux, congress, concurrence, concentration; convergency; appulse, meeting; corradiation.

Conversation

Conference, parley, interview, audience, pourparler; tete-a-tete; reception, conversazione; congress; (council); powwow.

Council

Cabinet council, privy council;cabinet council, privy council; cockpit, convocation, synod, congress, convention, diet, states-general.

Junction

Coition, copulation;sex, sexual congress,sexual conjunction, sexual intercourse, love-making.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Congress

English words defined with "Congress": AFL, American Federation of Labor, Amphictyons ♦ Benjamin Henry Latrobe ♦ Capitol Hill, civil right, civil rights, Congress water, Congresses, congressional, Congressional Record, Continental Congress ♦ Declaration of Independence ♦ farmer, Federal Congress, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, federal job safety law, FHLMC, Freddie Mac ♦ green ♦ Half-boot, Hancock, Henry Laurens, homestead law, House of Representatives, Huntington ♦ James Leonard Farmer, James Madison, John Hancock, John L. Lewis, John Llewelly Lewis, Joint meeting, joint resolution, Joint session ♦ Latrobe, Laurens, Lewis, Livingston ♦ Madison ♦ national debt ceiling, nullification ♦ occupational safety and health act, OSHA ♦ page, President Madison ♦ Robert R. Livingston ♦ Samuel Huntington, Secretary of Health and Human Services, senate, serve, special session, Star-Spangled Banner ♦ the Hill, The Liberty Bell, To lay before, To speak for Buncombe ♦ United States Senate ♦ William Green, Without day, Writ of privilege. (references)

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Modern Usage: Congress

DomainUsage

Screenplays

When Congress voted to cut airport appropriations, you never even sent in a letter of protest (Airport; writing credit: Arthur Hailey; George Seaton)

The male of the species engages in sexual congress no less than forty-six thousand, five hundred and three times from the time he is thirteen until the time he runs out of ammo (Moonlighting; writing credit: Eric Blakeney)

Fine. Say, Tom, you should have been in Congress today (A Thousand Clowns; writing credit: Herb Gardner)

There must be confetti all over the Library of Congress. (Cheers; writing credit: Isaac Cronin; Wayne Wang)

She's had congress with the Beast (Firefly; writing credit: John Sullivan)

Clever

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. (references; author: Mark Twain)

Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. (references; author: Mark Twain)

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. (references; author: Mark Twain)

I don't blame Congress. If I had $600 billion, I'd be irresponsible too. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Meet Your Congress (1949)

Congress Session 1948 (1948)

Library of Congress (1945)

Indian National Congress at Gauhati (1927)

Congress of Celebrites (1926)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Congress

DomainTitle

Books

  • Transferable quotas under the Magnuson Act : hearing before the Subcommittee on Fisheries Management of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, first session, on the use of individual transfera (reference)

  • Grumbly, Alm, Coburn, and Burton nominations : hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, on the nominations of Thomas P. Grumbly, to be Under Secretary, Department of E (reference)

  • The Next Forty Years in Space: International Astronautical Congress, 40th Proceedings (reference)

  • Federal acknowledgment of various Indian groups : hearing before the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, second session on H.R. 3958 ... H.R. 1475 ... H.R. 2349 ... H.R. 5562 ... H.R. 3607 ... (reference)

  • Indian federal acknowledgment process : hearing before the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, second session, on H.R. 3430, to establish administrative procedures to extend federal recognition (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  • Actes Du 24eme Congress International De Melbourne - Diskette (reference)

  • Annual Report To Congress (reference)

  • Annual Report To The President And To The Congress For Fiscal Year (reference)

  • Asqc Annual Quality Congress Proceedings (reference)

  • Canadian Meteorological And Oceanographic Society Annual Congress Program & Abstracts (reference)

    (more periodical examples)

  

Theater & Movies

  

Music

  • Great Performances From The Library Of Congress, Vol. 6: Budapest String Quartet In Concert At The Library of Congress (reference)

  • Congress of the Cow (reference)

  • FREEDOM: The Golden Gate Quartet & Josh White at The Library of Congress (1940) (reference)

  • Treasury of Library of Congress Field Recordings (reference)

    (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Congress

Photos:
Congress

More pictures...

Illustrations:
Congress

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Congress

More pictures...

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Photo Album: Congress

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

In 1930, Senator Joseph E. Ransdell of Louisiana, convinced that fundamental research could lead to cures for diseases, got his Ransdell Act through Congress. This Act reorganized and expanded the Hygienic Laboratory and renamed it the National Institute of Health. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist.

Kennedy Giving Historic Speech to Congress. Credit: NASA.

The Bronze Star Medal eligibility criteria was limited with the Fiscal 2001 National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress. The Medal will be limited to those people receiving imminent danger pay. (Photo illustration by Virginia Reyes).

Gen. Michael E. Ryan, Air Force chief of staff, told members of Congress Sept. 27, the Air Force needs $20 to $30 billion a year to solve its readiness challenges. He cited operations tempo, past underfunding of spares, aging infrastructure and aircraft a.

Library of Congress. Credit: USDA.

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, containing about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, was designated by Congress as a National Conservation Area (NCA) on November 18, 1988. Credit: Unknown.

A 15-mile segment of Bonita Creek is part of a special area designated by Congress. Along with 23 miles of the Gila River, this creek is part of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. Credit: Unknown.

Caption: Mina Edison Folk Dancing at National Recreation Congress; Atlantic City, NJ; October, 1922; {14.352/62} (jpg).

10th International Congress On Photobiology. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

[Dr. Donald Fredrickson is recognized at the congress on thrombosis and haemostasis]. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: Congress
 

"Congress Building" by Rodrigo Galindo
Commentary: "Congress Building at Central Mexico City."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Familiar Quotations: Congress

AuthorQuotation

Boris Marshalov

Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens -- and then everybody disagrees.

Sam Rayburn

Too many critics mistake the deliberations of the Congress for its decisions.

Senator George Aiken

May I now pass on to this Congress advice which I received recently from a fellow Vermonter -- Either impeach him or get off his back.

Theodore Roosevelt

I am hard at work on my message to Congress, and accordingly shall not try to go out or see any one either this afternoon or this evening. All of this work is terribly puzzling at times, but I peg away at it, and every now and then, when the dust clears away and I look around, I feel that I really have accomplished a little, at any rate.
To-night while I was preparing to dictate a message to Congress concerning the boiling caldron on the Isthmus of Panama, which has now begun to bubble over, up came one of the ushers with a telegram from you and Ted about the football match. Instantly I bolted into the next room to read it aloud to mother and sister, and we all cheered in unison when we came to the Rah! Rah! Rah! part of it. It was a great score. I wish I could have seen the game.

Woodrow Wilson

Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: Congress

AuthorDateQuotation

US Declaration of Independence

1776

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. (reference)

US Constitution

1791

And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. (reference)

US Bill of Rights

1795

Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (reference)

Amendment to US Constitution

1795-1992

But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. (reference)

Marbury v. Madison

1803

The constitution vests the whole judicial power of the United States in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as congress shall, from time to time, ordain and establish. (reference)

The Emancipation Proclamation

1862

"That the executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State or the people thereof shall on that day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such States shall have participated shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the United States." (Abraham Lincoln)

Treaty of Versailles

1919

The High Contracting Parties, while they recognise the guarantees stipulated by the Treaties of 1815, and especially by the Act of November 20, l815, in favour of Switzerland, the said guarantees constituting international obligations for the maintenance of peace, declare nevertheless that the provisions of these treaties, conventions, declarations and other supplementary Acts concerning the neutralized zone of Savoy, as laid down in paragraph 1 of Article 92 of the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna and in paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Treaty of Paris of November 20, 1815, are no longer consistent with present conditions. (reference)

Brown v. Board of Education

1954

What others in Congress and the state legislatures had in mind cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: Congress

TitleAuthorQuote

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

It was the accent of Castlereagh drawing up for the Congress of Vienna the bill which France was to pay.

Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck, John

And without any signal the family gathered by the truck, and the congress, the family government, went into session

Walden

Thoreau, Henry David

Our ambassadors should be instructed to send home such seeds as these, and Congress help to distribute them over all the land

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Congress

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

In 1993, Congress appropriated funds to begin a national STD-related infertility prevention program. (references)

Its annual report to Congress covers progress in research on services to Alzheimer's patients and families. (references)

In 1977, Congress established the Commission for the Control of Huntington's Disease and Its Consequences, which made a series of important recommendations. (references)

Business

He was elected to the chairmanship of the National People's Congress. (references)

The 9th National People's Congress endorsed the plans at its March 1998 session. (references)

In 1995 President Zedillo proposed and Congress approved extensive judicial reform legislation. (references)

Children

Mexico

In January 2000, the Congress passed a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of children and teenagers and ensure respect for their dignity. (references)

Philippines

In May a Member of Congress who had been convicted and sentenced to two life terms in prison in 1997 for the 1996 rape of an 11-year-old girl, was reelected for the second time since his initial conviction. (references)

Guatemala

In 1996 Congress passed the Law on Protection of the Elderly and the Law on Attention to Disabled Persons, which mandates equal access to public facilities, prohibits discrimination based on disability, and provides other legal protections. (references)

Civil Liberties

Equatorial Guinea

The Government also paid money owed to the CPDS by law so that it would have funds for the congress. (references)

Kazakhstan

The KNB called participants in the congress into their offices and copies were made of their documents. (references)

Libya

The authorities tolerate some difference of opinion in People's Committee meetings and at the General People's Congress. (references)

Economic History

Ecuador

Legislative--123-member unicameral Congress. (references)

Mexico

The law is currently with Congress for consideration. (references)

Venezuela

Congress last passed a social security reform in 1998. (references)

Human Rights

Ecuador

As of October, Congress had not named a replacement, and Claudio Mueckay was acting Ombudsman. (references)

Honduras

The 4-year term for justices of the Supreme Court coincided with those of the Congress and the President. (references)

Dominican Republic

Due to controversy over these changes, the draft legislation remained pending in the Congress at year's end. (references)

Indigenous People

Indonesia

The consultation's closing statement called for the holding of a congress comprised of the entire Papuan community. (references)

Brazil

However, legislation regulating mining on indigenous lands pending before the Congress since 1995 has never been passed. (references)

Indonesia

Presidium vice chairman Tom Beanal recounted the Presidium's efforts since the Papuan Congress to start a dialog with Jakarta, and appealed for calm. (references)

Minorities

Peru

Afro-Peruvians generally do not hold leadership positions in government, business, or the military; however, there are three Afro-Peruvian members of Congress. (references)

Micronesia

The law prohibits noncitizens from purchasing land, and the national Congress grants citizenship to non-Micronesians only in rare cases (an authority that last was exercised during 1998, for the first time in almost 20 years). (references)

China

The Communist Party has an avowed policy of boosting minority representation in the Government and the CCP, and minorities constitute 14 percent of the National People's Congress, which is higher than their percentage in the population. (references)

Political Economy

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Congress also may enact minimum wage legislation. (references)

Botswana

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) won only one seat. (references)

BRAZIL

The new agreement must still be ratified by the Brazilian Congress. (references)

Political Rights

Paraguay

Debate in Congress is free and frank. (references)

Peru

The length of a term in Congress is 5 years. (references)

Paraguay

Four parties are represented in the Congress. (references)

Trade

Mexico

Recently, the Mexican Congress approved a law to promote the use of electronic methods of payment. (references)

Dominican Rep

There is a proposed Customs Council (Consejo Superior de Aduanas) that is awaiting approval by Congress. (references)

Honduras

In keeping with this commitment, on April 24, 1997, the Honduran Congress passed the Tariff Matching Law. (references)

Women

Mexico

Women's and human rights groups protested the revisions, and the federal legislature promised to take action if the state congress did not amend the changes. (references)

Malaysia

In 1999 Malaysian Trade Union Congress President Zainal Rampak urged trade unions to fulfill the ILO policy of filling 30 percent of leadership positions with women. (references)

Mauritania

In 2000 approximately 70 jurists and female lawyers established an association of female jurists and, under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice, organized their first national congress dedicated to the legal concerns of women. (references)

Worker Rights

United Kingdom

The largest federation is the Trades Union Congress. (references)

Barbados

The Caribbean Congress of Labor has its headquarters in Barbados. (references)

Peru

On May 10, Congress ratified ILO Convention 138 on the minimum working age. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

REAR, n. In American military matters, that exposed part of the army that is nearest to Congress.

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Spoken Usage: Congress

SpeakerPhrase(s)

John McCain

You know, I don't think so, because I think we're going through a process of full and open debate, not only nationally and in our Congress and through the media. This program is being watched every place in the world, as we know.

Lawrence Lindsey

Oh, I don't think so. I mean, the Social Security commission was very explicit. They urged the Congress to debate this extensively for a year.

Nancy Pelosi

I don't know if the White House is, but I do know that what I see on a daily basis in Congress is that is the case, and certainly we have heard rhetoric from the White House that would reinforce that negative message from the Congress.

Norman Mineta

Well, first of all, bag-match is not the silver bullet all by itself. As I indicated earlier, security is a multi-layered approach. And the law itself that Congress passed gave us a blueprint in terms of mandates of how we should screen baggage.

Robert Novak

In the short time left for this year's session of Congress, the Senate faces partisan struggles over an economic stimulus bill and aid to farmers and the insurance industry.

Rush Limbaugh

People trust Congress more than Wall Street!

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Speeches: Congress

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

George Washington

1789-1797Thirty days from the commencement of this session being the legal limitation of the employment of the militia, Congress can not be too early occupied with this subject.

Thomas Jefferson

1801-1809Another important acquisition of territory has also been made since the last session of Congress.

Abraham Lincoln

1861-1865All members of Congress swear their support to the whole Constitution--to this provision as much as to any other.

Harry S. Truman

1945-1953I, therefore, urge the Congress soon to extend the Second War Powers Act.

John F. Kennedy

1961-1963Our balance of payments On one special problem, of great concern to our friends, and to us, I am proud to give the Congress an encouraging report.

Richard Nixon

1969-1974America needs a full-time President and a full-time Congress, particularly at this time with problems we face at home and abroad.

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989Thirteen individual bills, on time and fully reviewed by Congress.

George Bush

1989-1993Speaker, members of the United States Congress.

Bill Clinton

1993-2001Last fall, Congress missed the opportunity to change that.

George W. Bush

2001-2005Selling into new markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve trade promotion authority.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Usage Frequency: Congress

"Congress" is generally used as a noun (common) -- approximately 99.71% of the time. "Congress" is used about 5,459 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words		Rank in English
Noun (common)99.71%5,4431,798
Noun (proper)0.26%1493,893
Noun (plural)0.04%2245,945
                    Total100.00%5,459N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Name Usage Frequency: Congress

The following table summarizes the usage of "Congress" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified.
NameUsage/GenderUsage per 100
million Persons		Rank in USA
CongressLast name17052,390
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Cities: Congress


1. Congress, AZ
Zip Code(s): 85332
Country: USA

2. Congress, OH (village, FIPS 18308)
Location: 40.92630 N, 82.05529 W
Population (1990): 162 (61 housing units)
Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Country: USA

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Expressions: Congress

Expressions using "Congress": act of congress ♦ american Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations ♦ Congress boot ♦ congress gaiter ♦ congress man ♦ congress of Industrial Organizations ♦ congress of Racial Equality ♦ congress shoe ♦ Congress water ♦ contempt of Congress ♦ Continental Congress ♦ criminal congress ♦ Federal Congress ♦ hold a congress ♦ national congress ♦ participant at the congress ♦ peace congress ♦ sexual congress ♦ The Continental Congress ♦ The Federal Congress ♦ trade union congress ♦ United States Congress. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "Congress": congress-led, congress-ruled, congress-run, congress-the.

Ending with "Congress": anti-congress, non-congress, pre-congress.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Congress

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day		ExpressionFrequency
per Day

library of congress

3,958

the first continental congress

44

congress

1,454

the national congress of american indian

41

us congress

1,167

congress on racial equality

41

united state congress

469

african national congress

40

american bowling congress

194

center congress world

39

congress plaza hotel

155

congress new urbanism

39

center congress georgia world

146

quarter horse congress

36

member of congress

86

baptist congress national

36

allegiance congress did officially pledge recognize year

76

congress hall

35

congress plaza hotel chicago

70

second continental congress

34

continental congress

68

center congress ottawa

34

library congress catalog

66

congress theater chicago

33

the congress of vienna

65

congress theater

32

congress hotel chicago

56

canadian labour congress

32

baseball congress national

56

amateur american baseball congress

31

congress iraqi national

52

congress hall cape may

30

center congress toronto

52

library of congress copyright

30

108th congress

51

congress heading library subject

29

congress hotel

50

congress internet thomas u.s

28

billiard congress of america

44

congress texas

28

basketball congress international

28
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translation: Congress

Language Translations for "Congress"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

trup legjislativ, kongres (convention). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏كونغرس هيئة تشريعية, ‏مؤتمر (conference, consultation, convention, conventional, parley, seminar), ‏لقاء (appointment, encounter, get together, match, meeting, rendezvous), ‏جماع (coition, coitus, copulation, intercourse, lay, love making), ‏إجتماع (assembly, convention, forum, gathering, grouping, huddle, meet, meeting, muster, powwow, proceedings, seance). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

събрание (assembly, convention, meeting, powwow, rally, sanhedrim, turnout), конгрес (convention). (various references)

   

Catalan

  

congrés (convention). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

國會 (diet, parliament), 国会 (Congresses, Congressional). (various references)

   

Czech

  

sjezd (downhill), kongres (convention). (various references)

   

Danish

  

kongres (convention). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

congres (convention). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

kongreso (convention). (various references)

   

Faeroese

  

ting (article, convention, object, parliament, thing), ráðstevna (convention). (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

مجلسین سناونمایندگان(امریکا), مجلس (Assembly, Convocation, Council, Legislature, Parliament, Scene, Session), همایش , کنگره (Jag), انجمن (Assemblage, Assembly, Club, Community, Company, Convention, Convocation, Council, Group, Guild, Institute, Moot, Order, Society). (various references)

   

Finnish

  

puoluekokous (convention), kongressi, kokous (assemblage, assembly, conference, gathering, meeting, reunion). (various references)

   

French

  

congrès (conference, consultation, convention). (various references)

   

Frisian

  

kongres (convention). (various references)

   

German

  

kongress (conference, convention), Tagung (conference, convention, meeting, session, sitting), Kongreß (congressional, convention). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

συνέδριο (conference, convention, diet). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

ועידה (conference, convention, powwow). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

kongresszus, nagygyűlés (rally). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

kongres (compoundence). (various references)

   

Italian

  

congresso (conference, convention). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

議会　 (Diet, parliament), 議会 (Diet, parliament), 招集　 (assembly, to call, to convene a meeting), 会議 (assembly, conference, convention, council, meeting, session), 国会　 (National Diet, parliament), 国会 (National Diet, parliament), コロンブスの卵 (Columbus Day, Columbus' egg, computer graphics, conc., concentrated, concert, concert hall, concert master, concertante, concise, conclave, concord, Concorde, concourse, concrete, concrete block, concrete jungle, concrete mixer, concrete pile, concurrent, conga, conglomerate, conglomerate merchant, Congo, congratulations, congress gaiters, conscious, conservation, conservative, conservator, conservatory, consultant, consultant engineer, consulting, consulting sales, consumer, Consumer Interpole, consumering, consumerism, consumers' relation, consumers' research, consumption, contest, CR). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

ぎかい (Diet, parliament), かいぎ (assembly, conference, consultation via a circular, convention, council, disbelief, doubt, meeting, session, skepticism), こっかい (Black Sea, bone ash, National Diet, parliament), コングレス . (various references)

   

Korean 

  

의회 (Congresses). (various references)

   

Manx

  

quaiyl ard-eish, cheet ry-cheilley (amalgamate, club, come together, confluence, converge, focusing, get together, harmonize, herd, mix, tally). (various references)

   

Papiamen

  

kongreso (convention). (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

ongresscay.(various references)

   

Portuguese

  

congresso (convention, powwow). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

congres (conference, convention, diet), conferinţã (conference, diet, lecture, parley, reading, session, speech), sesiunea congresului, adunare (accumulation, addition, aggregate, assemblage, assembly, cluster, collection, conference, congregation, conjunction, convention, convocation, crowd, footing up, gathering, heap, hoarding, meeting, muster, powwow, rally, reunion, rodeo, sitting, social, tot, turn out). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

конгресс (cong). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

skup (aggregate, assemblage, bevy, concourse, conference, congregation, convention, convolution, costly, expensive, fancy, gathering, ingathering, meeting, troop), kongres (conference, convention). (various references)

   

Spanish

  

congreso (conference, convention, rally). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

kongress (convention). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

kongre (assembly, conference, congressional, convention, session). (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

slяot (r). (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

конгрес (diet), з'їзд (conference, convention, diet, rally, synod). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

sự nhóm hợp, sự hội họp đại hội, Phi-líp-pin (congressional, congressman, congresswoman). (various references)

   

Welsh

  

cyngres. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Ancestral Language Translations: Congress

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Latin500 BCE-Modern

congressus, conventus. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Congress

Derivations

Words beginning with "Congress": congressed, congresses, congressing, congressional, congressionally, congressman, congressmen, congresspeople, congressperson, congresspersons, congresswoman, congresswomen. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Congress" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: cogness, Colgrass, conggres, congles, congrees, congres, Congreso. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Congress"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "Congress" (pronounced kÄ"nggrus)
4-g r u sogress.
3-r u sactress, ambassadress, ambidextrous, arris, Brontosaurus, buttress, chorus, Cirrus, citrus, Cypress, Cyprus, cytomegalovirus, desirous, dextrous, disastrous, embarrass, estrous, estrus, ferrous, fibrous, fortress, hantavirus, headmistress, heiress, hubris, huntress, hydrous, idolatrous, Iris, ludicrous, lustrous, Madras, maquiladoras, mattress, mistress, monstrous, Morris, nitrous, nonferrous, polyandrous, porous, puris, retrovirus, seamstress, sorus, stegosaurus, temptress, terrace, thesaurus, Tyrannosaurus, virus, waitress, walrus, wondrous.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Congress

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "c-e-g-n-o-r-s-s"

-1 letter: censors, congers, engross.

-2 letters: censor, conger, conges, corses, crones, crosse, genros, gnoses, goners, gorses, ogress, recons, scones, scores, scorns, segnos, senors, sensor, snores.

-3 letters: ceros, cones, conge, cores, corns, corse, coses, cress, crone, cross, genro, gesso, goers, goner, gores, gorse, gross, noses, ogres, onces, recon, roses, scone, score, scorn, segno, segos, senor, snogs.

 Words containing the letters "c-e-g-n-o-r-s-s"
 

+1 letter: cosigners, scrounges.

 

+2 letters: congressed, congresses, processing, recognises, recrossing, sclerosing, scroungers.

 

+3 letters: compressing, congressing, congressman, congressmen, constringes, cradlesongs, gasconaders, grouchiness, refocussing, scroungiest.

 

+4 letters: coprocessing, countersigns, cryosurgeons, egocentrisms, graciousness, necrologists, overcastings, prefocussing, reprocessing, scaremongers, scuppernongs, shortchanges, stringcourse, testcrossing.

 

+5 letters: accessorising, accessorizing, congressional, congresswoman, congresswomen, congruousness, coprocessings, cosignatories, costermongers, crossbreeding, crosschecking, decompressing, gastrocnemius, grouchinesses, intercrossing, laryngoscopes, microfunguses, overfocussing, preprocessing, processioning, psychosurgeon, scenographers, scenographies, shortchangers, stringcourses.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern 		5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Images: Photo Album
8. Images: Digital Art 		9. Quotations: Familiar
10. Quotations: Historic
11. Quotations: Fiction
12. Quotations: Non-fiction 		13. Quotations: Spoken
14. Quotations: Speeches
15. Usage Frequency
16. Names: Frequency 		17. Cities
18. Expressions
19. Expressions: Internet
20. Translations: Modern 		21. Translations: Ancient
22. Abbreviations
23. Acronyms
24. Derivations 		25. Rhymes
26. Anagrams
27. Bibliography


  

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