congress / conference
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conference
A large, often multi-day specialist conference or meeting of experts, members of an organization, or a party to discuss specific topics.
Nächsten Monat findet in Hamburg ein internationaler Ärzte-Kongress statt.
Next month, an international doctors' conference will take place in Hamburg.
congress
The legislative assembly (parliament) in certain countries, especially in the USA.
Der amerikanische Kongress hat über das neue Gesetz abgestimmt.
The American Congress voted on the new law.
Careful: in German, 'der Kongress' usually means a specialist conference or convention. The English word 'Congress', however, almost always refers to the US parliament.
Der Mediziner-Kongress findet dieses Jahr in Berlin statt.
The medical conference is taking place in Berlin this year.
When referring to a conference, typical prepositions are used: you go 'zu einem Kongress' (to a conference), take part 'an einem Kongress' (in a conference), or give a talk 'auf einem Kongress' (at a conference).
Nimmst du dieses Jahr am Linguistik-Kongress teil?
Are you taking part in the linguistics conference this year?
When 'Kongress' (congress) means a parliament, the country or an adjective is usually added to make it clear, for example 'der amerikanische Kongress' (the American Congress) or 'der US-Kongress' (the US Congress).
Der US-Kongress muss dem neuen Haushalt noch zustimmen.
The US Congress still has to approve the new budget.
parliament
Parlament is the general term for a state's legislative assembly. Kongress is its institutional name in certain countries, especially the United States. Parlament is appropriate for a general statement; when referring to the political system of the United States, Kongress is the precise term.
In den USA berät der Kongress über neue Gesetze.
In the United States, Congress discusses new laws.
In vielen Staaten berät das Parlament über neue Gesetze.
In many countries, parliament discusses new laws.
