CONGRESS, n. [L., to come together; to go or step; a step. See Grade and Degree.]

1. A meeting of individuals; an assembly of envoys, commissioners, deputies, &c., particularly a meeting of the representatives of several courts, to concert measures for their common good, or to adjust their mutual concerns. – Europe.
2. The assembly of delegates of the several British colonies in America, which united to resist the claims of Great Britain in 1774, and which declared the colonies independent.
3. The assembly of the delegates of the several United States, after the declaration of Independence, and until the adoption of the present constitution, and the organization of the Government in 1789. During these periods, the congress consisted of one house only.
4. The assembly of senators and representatives of the several states of North America, according to the present constitution, or political compact, by which they are united in a federal republic; the legislature of the United States, consisting of two houses, a senate and a house of representatives. Members of the senate are elected for six years, but the members of the house of representatives are chosen for two years only. Hence the united body of senators and representatives for the two years, during which the representatives hold their seats, is called one congress. Thus we say the first or second session of the sixteenth congress.
5. A meeting of two or more persons in a contest; an encounter; a conflict. – Dryden.
6. The meeting of the sexes in sexual commerce.

1. A meeting of individuals, whether friendly or hostile; an encounter.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there;
   Their congress in the field great Jove withstands.
   Dryden.

2. A sudden encounter; a collision; a shock; -- said of things.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   From these laws may be deduced the rules of the congresses and reflections of two bodies.
   Cheyne.

3. The coming together of a male and female in sexual commerce; the act of coition.
   
   
   Pennant.
4. A gathering or assembly; a conference.
5. A formal assembly, as of princes, deputies, representatives, envoys, or commissioners; esp., a meeting of the representatives of several governments or societies to consider and determine matters of common interest.
   
   

   The European powers strove to . . . accommodate their differences at the congress of Vienna.
   Alison.

6. The collective body of senators and representatives of the people of a nation, esp. of a republic, constituting the chief legislative body of the nation.
   
   

   * In the Congress of the United States (which took the place of the Federal Congress, March 4, 1789), the Senate consists of two Senators from each State, chosen by the State legislature for a term of six years, in such a way that the terms of one third of the whole number expire every year; the House of Representatives consists of members elected by the people of the several Congressional districts, for a term of two years, the term of all ending at the same time. The united body of Senators and Representatives for any term of two years for which the whole body of Representatives is chosen is called one Congress. Thus the session which began in December, 1887, was the first (or long) session, and that which began in December, 1888, was the second (or short) session, of the Fiftieth Congress. When an extra session is had before the date of the first regular meeting of a Congress, that is called the first session, and the following regular session is called the second session.

7. The lower house of the Spanish Cortes, the members of which are elected for three years.
   
   

   The Continental Congress, an assembly of deputies from the thirteen British colonies in America, appointed to deliberate in respect to their common interests. They first met in 1774, and from time thereafter until near the close of the Revolution. -- The Federal Congress, the assembly of representatives of the original States of the American Union, who met under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 till 1789. -- Congress boot or gaiter, a high shoe or half-boot, coming above the ankle, and having the sides made in part of some elastic material which stretches to allow the boot to be drawn on and off. [U.S.] -- Congress water, a saline mineral water from the Congress spring at Saratoga, in the State of New York.

   Syn. -- Assembly; meeting; convention; convocation; council; diet; conclave; parliament; legislature.