Congress

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  Formal gathering of representatives, Bicameral legislature

• Location

  U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., United States

• Etymology

  From Latin "congressus", meaning "encounter" or "meeting"

• Structure

  Divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate

• Key Powers

  To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises; to borrow Money; to regulate Commerce

• Represents

  Over 300 million American citizens

• Established by

  Article I of the United States Constitution

• Origin of Term

  Late Middle English, 1528

• Primary Function

  Enacts laws, funds government functions and programs, holds hearings, provides oversight of the executive branch

• Members (US House)

  435 Representatives, plus 5 delegates and 1 resident commissioner

• Convening Frequency

  A new Congress convenes every two years

• Members (US Senate)

  100 (2 per state)

• Total Members (US Congress)

  535 members, 5 delegates, and 1 resident commissioner

Timeline

• The term "congress" originated in Late Middle English, first used in the meaning of a formal gathering. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

  1528-XX-XX

• A convention of specially selected delegates proposed a new constitution that strengthened the national government and established the representative branch, Congress, composed of a House and Senate, following the failure of the Articles of Confederation. (Source: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center)

  1787-XX-XX

• Congress was granted the power to enforce the provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment by appropriate legislation. (Source: Senate.gov)

  1870-XX-XX

• The role of Congress was scrutinized in the context of a domestic fiscal crisis, particularly concerning a new Republican Tax Bill, and its involvement in other policy matters like a Trump administration executive order on pharmaceutical benefits and a cellular meat ban. (Source: All-In podcast)

  Current

Congress

A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of adversaries) during battle, from the Latin congressus.

Web Search Results

• About Congress | U.S. Capitol - Visitor Center

  Congress is a bicameral legislature divided into two equal institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state sends elected representatives and senators to Congress. Although the House and the Senate are structured differently and have their own roles and responsibilities, they work together to pass legislation. No bill can become a law without passing both houses of Congress. View more information about how a bill becomes a law. [...] Article I of the United States Constitution established the legislative branch known as the Congress. Congress enacts laws that influence the daily lives of all Americans and is intended to serve as the voice of the people. Its responsibilities include funding government functions and programs, holding hearings to inform the legislative process, and oversight of the executive branch. [...] With each state represented by two senators, a total of 100 members serve in the U.S. Senate. The U.S. territories and the District of Columbia are not represented in the Senate. You can find your two senators here.

• A Timeline of Congress and the Capitol

  The Congress we know today was created after the failure of a government under the Articles of Confederation, which left most powers to the states. In 1787, a convention of specially selected delegates proposed a new constitution that strengthened the national government and established a representative branch composed of a House and Senate. [...] Today, Congress represents more than 300 million American citizens. By providing a forum for a diverse nation to find common ground through debate and compromise, these two unique institutions—the Senate and the House of Representatives—continue to prove the vitality and success of government by the people. Home U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Washington, DC 20510 (202) 226-8000 ## Footer menu [...] The American experiment in representative government has now been carried out for more than two centuries. Every two years, without interruption, a new Congress has convened to represent the American people. An institution that began with forty nine representatives and twelve senators, now consists of 535 members, five delegates, and one resident commissioner, who meet in a building that has become a symbol of freedom and democracy.

• CONGRESS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

  ## Cite this Entry “Congress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Accessed 19 Jul. 2025. ## Share ## Kids Definition congress How to pronounce congress (audio) ## Medical Definition congress ## Legal Definition congress Latin congressus meeting, encounter, from congredi to approach, meet ## More from Merriam-Webster on congress Nglish: Translation of congress for Spanish Speakers [...] link icon link icon link icon Definition Definition # congress ## noun How to pronounce congress (audio) next How to pronounce congress (audio) ## Synonyms ## Examples of congress in a Sentence ## Word History Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go — more at grade entry 1 1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a ## Phrases Containing congress ## Browse Nearby Words ## Articles Related to congress ### 10 Word Histories from the U.S. Congress [...] Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word. Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points. Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing? a plate of arepas Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!

• Constitution of the United States - Senate.gov

  Section 8 The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; [...] The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State. Section 4 [...] Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Amendment XV (1870) Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

• U.S. Senate

  Membership & Assignments Hearings & Meetings History ### LEGISLATION & RECORDS Bills, Acts, & Laws Nominations Treaties Votes Floor Proceedings Rules & Procedure Landmark Legislation Sessions of Congress Senate Archives Public Disclosure ### ART & ARTIFACTS Fine Art Decorative Art Historical Images Historical Artifacts Thematic Collections ### ABOUT THE SENATE

• Instance Of

  Q4167410

A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of adversaries) during battle, from the Latin congressus.