United States Congress

The Congress of the United States, also officially known as the Federal Legislature of the United States, unofficially but formally traditionally the United States in Congress assembled, and also the Congress of the Confederation, is the federal legislature of the Union of eighteen North Aegean States known as the United States of North Aegea. The Congress is bicameral, consisting of a State-appointed Senate, and a directly-elected House of Representatives. The United States in Congress assembled meet in the United States Capitol in New Adana: the Senate in the north wing, and the House of Representatives in the south wing.

Overview
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Etymology
In political science, the term congress is held to mean a formal meeting between the representatives of different States, or other entities such as subnational political subdivisions, federated states, or even independent organizations (such as trade unions).

The term was chosen for the Federal Legislature of the United States to emphasize the status of each member State composing the United States, represented in the Federal Legislature, as a sovereign self-governing political community (State). In this sense, the term, "United States" in the name "Congress of the United States" refers not to the United States as a single entity or a confederation, but as the federal union of the eighteen member States, and in this way, "[the] United States", is to be understood to mean "[the] eighteen States united": The meaning behind the name, "Congress of the United States", is that the body, the Congress, is a meeting or assembly ("Congress") of the [eighteen] States. The same concept applies to the term, "United States in Congress assembled": substitute "eighteen" for "United" and the true meaning becomes clear, e.g., "eighteen States in Congress assembled".

Other names for the Congress are, "Federal Legislature of the United States", "Congress of the Confederation", and "United States in Congress assembled"; however, the first two names are occasionally shortened to "Federal Legislature" and "Confederation Congress", respectively. In addition, the term, "United States in Congress assembled" is considered the most formal, but unofficial, and both "Federal Legislature of the United States" and "Congress of the United States" are co-official and equally interchangeable names for the Congress; whereas, "Congress of the Confederation" is unofficial and informal.

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History
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Congress in the United States general government
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State influence in Congress
The State Chief Executives and Legislatures often instruct Members of Congress how to vote on specific issues. More correctly, they "instruct" the Senators (who are, in and for each State, by and with the Advice and Consent of the State Legislature, appointed by the Chief Executive of the State ), and "request" of the Representatives (who are elected by the People of the respective States). On rare occasions a Senator resigns rather than follow instructions.

Powers of Congress
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Overview of congressional power
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Enumerated powers
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Checks and balances
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Senate
The Senate represents the governments of the respective States, and its members, called Senators, are members of their State's government, and are appointed in each State by the Executive Authority thereof, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Legislature of the same. Senators are serve at the pleasure of the State's Executive Authority (e.g., the State Governor in every State but Hawaiʻi; King in the case of Hawaiʻi).

The presiding officer of the Senate is their President, who is elected from within their membership for a Term of six Years, and the President of the Senate is ipso facto the Vice-President of the United States.

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House of Representatives
The House of Representatives represents the people of the several States.

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Structure
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Parliamentary groups
The parliamentary groups of the United States Congress are groups of Members of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, organized by political party or by coalition of parties (in the House of Representatives) or by State (in the Senate). Their function is both political and administrative. The Members of Congress in a group are expected to cooperate in promoting the policies of their group, while the group is allocated offices and technical support in the Senate by the Secretary of the Senate and in the House of Representatives by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, respectively, and each may hire additional support for their Members at their own expense (or that of their parent party or coalition).

At least five Members are required to form a parliamentary group, who must all come from the same party or electoral coalition and must not all have been elected in the same constituency. Only one parliamentary group may be formed per party or coalition. Members who cannot join a normal parliamentary group —for example, because they have left their party, or because their party does not have at least five Members in at least two constituencies—are organized into the "mixed group" for administrative purposes.

Committees
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Specialization
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Powers
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Officer
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Support services
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Library of Congress
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Joint Congressional Research Service
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Joint Congressional Budget Service
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Partisanship versus nonpartisanship
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Procedures of Congress
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Sessions
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Inaugural session and State of the Union
Each new Congress is inaugurated the first Monday in March in the Year following the last general election for Members of Congress. Somewhat comparable to a State Opening of Parliament in the various Home Countries of the United Kingdoms, the Inaugural Session of a new Congress is also full of much pomp and circumstance, including the reading of a prayer blessing that Congress; the presence of a Color Guard composed of the flags of all eighteen States and of the United States; the playing of the Federal Hymn of the United States (the Federal Anthem, also known as "Hail, Columbia"); the honoring of dignitaries of a State or a foreign State or other distinguished guests in attendance; and speeches by legislators and, in some cases, by dignitaries of a State or a foreign State or other distinguished guests in attendance.

Immediately following the inauguration ceremonies of the Congress, the Senate and House of Representatives adjourn themselves into a Joint Session of the Congress in the Hall of the House of Representatives; the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives send a formal invitation to the Governor-General by way of the Senate and House Sergeants-at-Arms to come to the Hall of the House and deliver his State of the Union address to the Joint Session of Congress. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives then appoint a joint committee of members drawn from both Houses of Congress to escort the Governor-General into the Hall of the House.

Traditionally, the Governor-General waits at the door to the Hall of the House while the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives bangs on the door three times and announces that the Governor-General is requesting an audience with the Congress. The Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate then opens the door and forcefully slams it in the face of the Governor-General. Following this, the House Sergeant-at-Arms then bangs on the door three times once more, again announcing that the Governor-General requests an audience with the Congress. This time, the door is opened and the Governor-General and his escort are allowed to enter, with the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate proceeding to present to the Congress the Governor-General. The Governor-General then enters the Hall of the House of Representatives, stopping on occasion to shake hands with various Members of Congress, and makes his way to the Speaker's rostrum, followed by members of his Congressional escort committee. After he takes his place at the House Clerk's desk, he hands two manila envelopes previously placed on the desk and containing copies of his address to the President and Speaker.

After continuing applause from the attendees has diminished, the President of the Senate introduces the Governor-General to the Senators and Representatives, stating: "Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the Governor-General of the United States." This leads to a further round of applause and, eventually, the beginning of the address by the Governor-General.

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Joint sessions
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Bills and resolutions
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