Citizenship · Civics Vocabulary

Choose the correct spelling: 'The [Congres / Congress / Congrass] meets in Washington, D.C.'

Correct answer

Congress

  1. A Congress
  2. B Congrass
  3. C Congras
  4. D Congres

Why this is the answer

CONGRESS is on the USCIS WRITING VOCABULARY list under CIVICS. Correct spelling: 'C-O-N-G-R-E-S-S' (note TWO 'S's at the end). Common dictation sentences: 'Congress meets in Washington.' 'Congress meets in Washington, D.C.' 'Senators are in Congress.' 'We elect Congress.' Capitalize 'Congress' as a specific reference to the U.S. legislative branch (the Senate and House of Representatives). The word comes from Latin meaning 'a coming together.' The U.S. Congress: meets in the U.S. CAPITOL building (note: CAPITOL = building, CAPITAL = city); consists of the SENATE (100 members) and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (435 voting members); is the legislative branch that makes federal laws. Vocabulary connections: CONGRESS and SENATORS often appear in the same sentence; SENATE (where Senators meet); WASHINGTON, D.C. (where Congress meets). Spelling tip: think of 'progress' or 'success' — both end with double 'ss.' CONGRESS, PROGRESS, SUCCESS all share this pattern. RELATED LEGAL VOCABULARY (for context, not necessarily on writing list): Bill (a proposed law), law (the final legislation), vote (process of deciding). Congress votes on bills; the President signs them into law.
Source: USCIS Writing Vocabulary — Congress

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About this topic: Civics Vocabulary

Civics vocabulary for the writing test covers words such as American Indians, capital, citizens, Civil War, Congress, Father of Our Country, flag, free, freedom of speech, President, right, Senators, state, White House. This is one of 11 Writing Vocabulary questions on civics vocabulary, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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