congress
- (initial capital letter)
- the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.
- this body as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same membership: the Ninety-Seventh Congress.
- a session of this body: to speak in Congress.
- the national legislative body of a nation, especially of a republic.
- a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of some matter of common interest.
- the act of coming together; an encounter; meeting.
- an association, especially one composed of representatives of various organizations.
- familiar relations; dealings; intercourse.
- coitus; sexual intercourse.
- to assemble together; meet in congress.
Origin of congress
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words
councilsocietycommitteeconferenceunionconventionmeetingcaucusparliamentassemblyconclavegovernmentclubconvocationassociationlegislatureleagueguildchamberorderExamples from the Web for congress
Contemporary Examples
Historically the reelection rate for members of Congress is in the area of 95 percent.
The breakdown of the 114th Congress is 80 percent white, 80 percent male, and 92 percent Christian.
With all that said, representation of each of these respective communities has increased in the new Congress.
This Congress will welcome more women than ever before at 19 percent of the House and 20 percent of the Senate.
How far has Congress really evolved on race when in 50 years it has gone from one black senator to two?
Historical Examples
Additional legislation of this kind was passed by the outgoing Congress.
The daily proceedings of Congress at Washington are discussed in Japan.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
I shall deal with each of them upon the assembly of the Congress.
We need a new engagement, too, between the Executive and the Congress.
His eloquence was proverbial, both in congress, and at home.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
congress
- a meeting or conference, esp of representatives of a number of sovereign states
- a national legislative assembly
- a society or association
- sexual intercourse
Word Origin
Congress
- the bicameral federal legislature of the US, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate
- this body during any two-year term
- Also called: Congress Party (in India) a major political party, which controlled the Union government from 1947 to 1977Official name: Indian National Congress
Word Origin and History for congress
n.
c.1400, "body of attendants; also "meeting of armed forces" (mid-15c.); main modern sense of "coming together of people, a meeting" is from 1520s; from Latin congressus "a friendly meeting; a hostile encounter," past participle of congredi "meet with, fight with," from com- "together" (see com-) + gradi "to walk," from gradus "a step" (see grade (n.)).
Sense of "meeting of delegates" is first recorded 1670s. Meaning "sexual union" is from 1580s. Used in reference to the national legislative body of the American states since 1775 (though since 1765 in America as a name for proposed bodies). Congress of Vienna met Nov. 1, 1814, to June 8, 1815, and redrew the map of Europe with an eye to creating a balance of powers after the disruptions of Napoleon.
Congress
The legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Popularly elected, senators and representatives are responsible for advocating the interests of the constituents they represent. Numerous congressional committees are organized to study issues of public policy, recommend action, and, ultimately, pass laws. Congress plays an important role in the system of checks and balances; in fact, the two-house (bicameral) organization of Congress acts as an internal check, for each house must separately vote to pass a bill for it to become a law. In addition to lawmaking, Congress has a variety of functions, including appropriation of funds for executive and judicial activities; instituting taxes and regulating commerce; declaring war and raising and supporting a military; setting up federal courts and conducting impeachment proceedings; and approving presidential appointments.