Impeachment – The first step to remove the President, Vice President, or other federal civil officers from office and to disqualify them from any further federal office of “honor, trust or profit.” The House has the sole power of impeachment while the Senate has the sole power of trying the charges and convicting. The House impeaches by a simple majority vote; conviction requires a two-thirds vote of all senators present.
Inspector General – A position created in 1992 to audit the administrative functions of the House of Representatives. Appointed jointly by the Speaker, majority leader and minority leader, the inspector general reports to them, to the director of non-legislative and financial services, and to the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration.
Introduction – The presentation of a bill.
Investigative Power – The authority of Congress and its committees to pursue investigations upheld by the Supreme Court but limited to matters “related to, and in furtherance of, a legitimate task of the Congress.” Standing committees in both houses are permanently authorized to investigate matters within their jurisdictions. Major investigations are sometimes conducted by temporary select, special, or joint committees established by resolutions for that purpose.
Item Veto – A suggested presidential authority to veto a portion of a measure rather than all of it, as is now required; sometimes called a line-item veto.