abstain: To refrain from voting.

adjourn: To close a meeting or session.

amendment: A change or addition to a law or legislative bill.

bicameral: Having two legislative houses.

bill: A proposed law or other legislative measure.

census: A counting of the number of people in a given town, district, state, or nation.

checks and balances: A system instituted by the U.S. founders which allows each of the three government branches to check, or counter, the powers of the others so that no one branch becomes too powerful.

civil rights: A broad range of rights and privileges granted by the U.S. Constitution.

cloture: A rule that limits speeches and debate. conference committee: A committee that considers House and Senate versions of the same bill and reaches a compromise.

confirmation hearing: Meeting held by the Senate to gather information about a candidate for federal office appointed by the...