congress

A congress is a formal deliberative assembly or legislative body that exists in many governments. The term is commonly used to describe a national legislature or a chamber within a bicameral parliament. Its name derives from the Latin congressus, meaning a coming together or meeting. While the concept is widespread, the exact powers, composition, and procedures of a congress vary by country.

Functions typically attributed to a congress include creating and passing laws, representing the electorate, and providing oversight of the executive branch. In many systems, the legislature also approves budgets, taxes, and public spending, ratifies treaties, and confirms or rejects appointments to government offices. In bicameral arrangements, the two houses may have distinct powers or areas of responsibility; in unicameral systems there is a single legislative chamber.

Structures differ widely. A congress can be bicameral, consisting of an upper house and a lower house, or unicameral with one chamber. Voting rules, term lengths, and methods of representation reflect each country’s constitution and political traditions. For example, in the United States the national legislature is called the Congress and is divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives; in Mexico, the Congress of the Union comprises a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies.

In many countries the congress operates within a framework of separation of powers, balancing authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Its size, procedures, and day-to-day operations are typically defined by a constitution or statutory law.