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| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
1350–1400 for earlier sense “body of attendants, following”; 1520–30 for current senses; Middle English < Latin congressus assembly, intercourse, meeting, equivalent to congred(ī) to approach, meet (con- con- + -gredī, combining form of gradī to step; compare grade) + -tus suffix of v. action
Related forms
3. conference, council, convention.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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congress
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Congress definition
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.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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