C

Profit from selling an asset, such as stock or property, for more than it cost. Gains on assets held more than a year are usually taxed at lower rates.

The police force that protects Congress, its members and the Capitol complex.

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In Bills:S. 4530

The March 2020 coronavirus relief law that funded direct payments, expanded unemployment benefits and created the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.

A formal vote by the House or Senate condemning a member's conduct. It does not remove the member from office.

The Commerce Department agency that counts the population every 10 years, as the Constitution requires, and runs surveys such as the American Community Survey.

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A part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, created by the Affordable Care Act, that tests new ways of paying for care in Medicare and Medicaid to lower costs or improve quality.

The HHS agency that tracks and works to prevent disease, injury and health threats, and supports state and local health departments.

Official site ↗ (opens in a new tab)

In Bills:S. 2398H.R. 4541

The HHS agency that runs Medicare and, with the states, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and oversees the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

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In Bills:S.J.Res. 197S.J.Res. 198

The independent agency that gathers foreign intelligence, mostly from human sources, analyzes it for policymakers and carries out covert action when the president directs.

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A tax credit for each qualifying child that lowers a family's federal income tax. Part of it can be paid as a refund to families who owe little or no tax.

A federal-state program that covers children in families whose incomes are too high for Medicaid but who cannot afford private coverage.

The ruling political party of the People's Republic of China, which has governed the country since 1949.

In Bills:H.R. 1005

A 2022 law that provided grants and tax credits to build semiconductor factories in the United States and authorized more money for scientific research.

The DHS agency that decides applications for immigration benefits, such as green cards, work permits, asylum and citizenship.

Official site ↗ (opens in a new tab)

In Bills:S.J.Res. 99

A fine that an agency or court can impose for breaking a law or rule, without a criminal conviction.

The landmark law that bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin in employment, public accommodations and federally funded programs.

The main federal law on air pollution. It lets the EPA set national air quality standards and limit emissions from vehicles, power plants and factories.

In Bills:S.J.Res. 31H.R. 1346

The main federal law on water pollution. It regulates discharges into rivers, lakes and wetlands, mostly through permits, and helps fund wastewater treatment.

In Bills:H.R. 3898

The House officer who keeps the official records, receives bills, runs the electronic voting system and publishes the results of roll call votes.

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The Senate's way to end debate and move to a vote. On most matters it takes three-fifths of all senators, 60 when there are no vacancies, and it limits further debate to 30 hours.

In the Congress Guide →

A military service in the Department of Homeland Security that handles maritime safety, search and rescue, law enforcement at sea and port security. In wartime it can operate as part of the Navy.

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In Bills:H.R. 4275

The official compilation of general and permanent federal laws, organized by subject into 54 titles.

In Bills:S. 4530H.J.Res. 140

The official collection of the permanent rules issued by federal agencies, organized by subject into 50 titles.

An independent, bipartisan commission that studies civil rights issues and reports to the president and Congress.

An independent, bipartisan commission that monitors religious freedom abroad and makes policy recommendations to the president, the Secretary of State and Congress.

The whole House sitting as a committee, with simpler procedures and a quorum of 100, to debate and amend bills. It then reports back to the House, which votes on passage.

A committee of federal agencies, chaired by the Treasury Secretary, that reviews foreign investments in U.S. businesses and real estate for national security risks.

The Senate committee that handles the Senate's rules, federal election law and the administration of the Senate.

A government-owned corporation in the USDA that finances farm support, conservation and disaster programs, borrowing from the Treasury up to a limit set by law.

The independent agency that regulates futures, options and swaps markets, such as those for farm commodities, energy and interest rates.

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A HUD program that gives flexible grants to cities, counties and states for housing, infrastructure and economic development that mainly benefit low- and moderate-income people.

In Bills:H.R. 224

The Justice Department office that gives grants to state, local and tribal police agencies, including for hiring officers.

The head of the Government Accountability Office, appointed by the president with Senate confirmation to a 15-year term.

A measure, labeled H.Con.Res. or S.Con.Res., adopted by both chambers but not sent to the president, so it does not have the force of law. It is used for the budget resolution and for matters affecting both chambers, such as adjournment.

In Bills:H.Con.Res. 89H.Con.Res. 93

A temporary panel of House and Senate members appointed to settle differences between the two chambers' versions of a bill. Its agreement, the conference report, goes back to both chambers for a vote.

In the Congress Guide →

The final compromise version of a bill negotiated by House and Senate members on a conference committee. Each chamber must approve it without changes before the bill can go to the president.

The 1974 law that created the congressional budget process, the House and Senate Budget Committees and the Congressional Budget Office. It sets the rules for budget resolutions, reconciliation and budget points of order.

Congress's nonpartisan budget office. It estimates what bills would cost and publishes economic and budget projections.

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The area a House member represents. Each state is divided into as many districts as it has House seats, and the lines are redrawn after each census.

Congress's highest civilian honor for distinguished achievements, awarded by law. Committee rules require at least two-thirds of each chamber to cosponsor the bill.

In Bills:H.R. 452

The official daily record of what is said and done on the House and Senate floors, published when Congress is in session.

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A nonpartisan office in the Library of Congress that provides research and analysis to members of Congress and their staff. Its analysts write the official bill summaries on Congress.gov.

A 1996 law that lets Congress overturn a federal agency rule by passing a joint resolution of disapproval, which the president can sign or veto. In the Senate these resolutions cannot be filibustered, and a rule overturned this way cannot be reissued in substantially the same form.

In Bills:H.J.Res. 140H.J.Res. 131

A USDA program that pays farmers yearly rent to take environmentally sensitive cropland out of production and plant cover such as grass or trees, usually for 10 to 15 years.

The federal agency, created by the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, that enforces consumer financial protection laws for products such as mortgages, credit cards and student loans.

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In Bills:S.J.Res. 28S.J.Res. 18

The independent agency that sets safety standards for consumer products and can order recalls of dangerous ones.

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In Bills:H.R. 1770H.R. 973

A temporary funding law that keeps agencies running, usually at existing rates, when Congress has not passed the regular appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year on October 1.

In the Congress Guide →

In Bills:H.R. 6500H.R. 7147

The federal law that sorts drugs into five schedules based on medical use and potential for abuse and regulates how they are made, prescribed and sold.

In Bills:S. 331H.R. 27

The transfer of title to land or other property. Many bills direct an agency to convey federal land to a state, town or tribe.

The office in the Library of Congress that registers copyrights and advises Congress on copyright law.

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A private nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 to distribute federal funds to public radio and television stations. After Congress rescinded its funding in 2025, it began winding down.

In Bills:H.R. 4

A member who formally signs on to support another member's bill. The sponsor is the member who introduces it.

An analysis, usually by the Congressional Budget Office, of how a bill would change federal spending and revenue, usually over the next 10 years.

In Bills:S. 766

The White House office that coordinates federal environmental policy and oversees how agencies carry out the National Environmental Policy Act.

One of the 13 federal appeals courts, also called circuit courts, that review decisions of the federal district courts and some agencies.

A federal court that reviews decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals on VA benefits.

A federal court that hears claims for money against the United States, such as contract disputes and claims that the government took private property.

In Bills:S. 550

The DHS agency that secures the borders and ports of entry, inspects people and goods coming into the country and collects tariffs. It includes the U.S. Border Patrol.

Official site ↗ (opens in a new tab)

In Bills:S. 2H.R. 993

The DHS agency that works to protect federal networks and critical infrastructure, such as power grids and election systems, from cyber and physical threats.

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