What term refers to the combined legislative bodies in the United States, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate?

The term that refers to the combined legislative bodies in the United States, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate, is Congress. Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning it has two chambers that work together to create and pass federal legislation. This structure allows for a division of labor and representation; the House of Representatives is based on population and represents the citizens more directly, while the Senate provides equal representation to each state regardless of size.

Understanding the function of Congress is crucial in recognizing how laws are made and the democratic processes involved in governance in the United States. The other terms do not accurately describe the U.S. legislative system: the Federal Assembly refers to a legislative body in other countries, the Senate is just one part of Congress, and the Legislative Council typically refers to various state or local legislative bodies, not the federal system.