Congress

A congress is a gathering of people, especially a gathering for a political purpose.

Legislative assembly

Congress is the name of the main legislative body in a state that operates under a congressional system of government.

Related Topics:
Legislative - State - Congressional - System of government

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A congress is different from a parliament (Westminster System of Government) in that legislative initiative is vested into it. In a congressional system the executive and legislative branches of government are clearly differentiated. The office as Head of State (president) and Head of Government (prime minister) are typically merged, and the members of cabinet are only rarely taken from the congress.

Related Topics:
Parliament - Legislative initiative - Executive - Legislative - Clearly differentiated - Head of State - President - Head of Government - Prime minister - Cabinet

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Countries with Congresses:

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• The U.S. Congress is the only constitutional legislative branch of the United States federal government
• The National People's Congress is the highest legislative body in the People's Republic of China
• The National Congress of Brazil (Portuguese: Congresso Nacional) is Brazil's legislature.
• The National Congress of Ecuador is the unicameral legislature of Ecuador

In France, the congrès is a formal and exceptional joint meeting of both houses of Parliament in order to ratify an amendment to the Constitution.

Related Topics:
France - Both houses of Parliament - Constitution

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