GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE TERMS
Act B Legislation that has passed both chambers of
Closed Rule B In the House, a prohibition against
Congress and become law.
amendments not approved by the committee
which brought the bill to the floor. The House must
Adjourn B To close a legislative day.
either accept or reject the bil Aas is@.
Amendment B A change in a bill or document by
Cloture B Method of limiting debate or ending a
adding, substituting, or omitting portions.
filibuster in the Senate. At least 60 Senators must
vote in favor before cloture can be invoked.
Appropriations Bill B Legislation that provides
funds for authorized programs.
Cosponsor B Member who joins in sponsoring
legislation but who is not the principal sponsor or
Authorization Bill B Legislation establishing a
the one who introduced the legislation.
program and setting funding limits.
Commit B To refer a bil or matter to a com-
Bill B Legislation introduced in either the House or
mittee.
Senate.
Committee B A group of Members assigned to
By Request B Phrase used when a member intro-
give special consideration to certain bills. See Joint
duces a bil at the request of an executive agency or
Committee.
private organization but does not necessarily
endorse the legislation.
Committee of the Whole B A mechanism to
expedite business in the House whereby the House
Calendar B List and schedule of bills to be consid-
itself becomes a committee, allowing for less rigid
ered by a committee.
rules and a quorum of 100 instead of 218.
Caucus B Meeting of Republican or Democratic
Companion Bills B Identical bills introduced sepa-
Members of Congress to determine policy and/or
rately in both the Senate and the House.
choose leaders.
Concurrent Resolution B Legislative action used
Chair B Presiding of icer.
to express the position of the House or Senate.
Does not have the force of law.
Chamber B Place where the entire House or
Senate meets to conduct business; also, the House
Conference Committee B Meeting between
of Representatives or the Senate itself.
Representatives and Senators to resolve differences
when two versions of a similar bil have been pass-
Clean Bill B A bill that has been revised in mark-
ed by the House and Senate.
up. Amendments are assembled with unchanged
language and the bill is referred to the floor with a
Congressional Record B Official transcript of the
new number.
proceedings in Congress.
Cloak Rooms B Smal rooms on the House and
Continuing Resolution B A resolution enacted
Senate floor where members can rest and hold
to allow specific Executive Branch agencies to
informal conferences.
continue operating even though funds have not
been appropriated for them for the fol owing fiscal
Closed Hearing B Hearings closed to all but
year.
members, staff, and witnesses testifying; also called
Executive Hearings.
15
Discharge Petition B A petition for the purpose
Lame Duck B Member of Congress (or the Presi-
of removing a bill from the control of a committee.
dent) who has not been reelected but whose term
A discharge petition must be signed by a majority of
has not yet expired.
Members in the House or Senate.
Lobbying B The process of attempting to influence
Engrossed Bill B Final copy of a bill passed by
the passage, defeat, or content of legislation by
either the House or Senate with amendments. The
individuals or a group other than Members of
bill is then delivered to the other chamber.
Congress.
Enrolled Bill B Final copy of a bill that has passed
Logrolling B Process whereby Members help
both the House and Senate in identical form.
each other get particular legislation passed. One
Member wil help another on one piece of
Extension of Remarks B When a Member of
legislation in return for similar help.
Congress inserts in the Congressional Record
material not directly related to the debate
Main Motion B Motion that introduces the busi-
underway.
ness or proposal to the assembly for action.
Filibuster B Tactic used in the Senate whereby a
Majority Leader B Chief spokesperson and
minority intentionally delays a vote.
strategist for the majority party, elected by
Members of the majority party.
Final Passage B Adoption of a bill after all amend-
ments have been voted on.
Marking Up a Bill B Process, usually in com-
mittee, of analyzing a piece of legislation section by
Fiscal Year B Accounting year. For the federal
section and making changes.
government, the fiscal year (FY) is October 1 to
September 30 of the fol owing calendar year.
Member (of Congress) B A U.S. Senator or U.S.
Representative.
Floor Manager B A Member who attempts to
direct a bill through the debate and amendment
Minority Leader B Chief spokesperson and
process to a final vote.
strategist for the minority party, elected by
Members of the minority party.
General Consent B A unanimous silent vote. If
there is no objection to the matter, it is resolved
Motion B Proposal presented to a legislative body
without a formal vote.
for consideration.
Germane B Having some relation to the bill in
Motion to Table B Proposal to postpone
question. In the House all amendments must be
consideration of a matter in the Senate.
germane.
Omnibus Bill B Bill regarding a single subject that
Hearing B Committee sessions for hearing wit-
combines many different aspects of that subject.
nesses.
Open Rule B In the House, permission to of er
Hopper B Box on the desk of the Clerk of the
amendments to a particular bill during floor debate.
House where sponsors submit their bills.
Override a Veto B Two-thirds majority vote by
Joint Committee B Committee composed of
both the House and Senate to set aside a
Members of both the House and Senate.
Presidential veto of legislation.
Joint Resolution B Legislation similar to a bill that
Petition B Plea by an individual or organization for
has the force of law if passed by both chambers and
a chamber to consider particular legislation.
signed by the President; general y used for special
situations.
16
Pocket Veto B An indirect veto. When the
Resolution B A measure passed only in one house
President does not sign or veto legislation submitted
to express the sentiment of that chamber. A simple
to him/her by Congress within ten days of
resolution does not have the force of law.
adjournment, the bill dies.
Rider B A measure added to another, often unre-
Point of Order B An objection that language, an
lated, bill with the purpose of one piece of
amendment, or bill is in violation of a rule. Also
legislation passing on the strength of another.
used to force a quorum cal .
Roll Call Vote B In the House, an oral vote for
President of the Senate B The Vice President of
which a record is kept.
the United States is designated by the Constitution
as the President of the Senate. The President of the
Seniority B Length of unbroken service, often
Senate casts a vote only in the case of a tie.
used to determine rank in committees.
Previous Question B In the House, it is a request
S ine Die B Final adjournment at the end of a
to end al debate and force a vote.
session. Bills under consideration but not enacted
must be reintroduced in the next session.
Private Bill B Bill designed to benefit a certain
individual or business.
Speaker B The presiding of icer of the House,
elected by Members of the House.
President Pro Tempore B Senator who presides
over the Senate in the absence of the Vice
Sponsor B The Representative or Senator who
President of the U.S. The President Pro Tem is
introduces a measure.
usually the longest-serving Member of the majority
party.
Suspend the Rules B Procedural action in the
House whereby a two-thirds majority can vote to
Public Law
bring a measure to a vote after forty minutes of de-
B Designation used for legislation that
has been passed by both chambers and signed by
bate.
the President.
Table a Bill B Motion to kill a bill by cutting of
Quorum
consideration of it. Such motions are not debatable.
B The number of Senators or
Representatives who must be present before a
legislative body can conduct of icial business.
Unanimous Consent B A procedure whereby a
matter is considered agreed to if no Member on
Quorum Call
the floor objects. Unanimous Consent motions
B In the Senate, a method of deter-
mining whether there is a quorum. Often used to
save time by eliminating the need for a vote.
suspend debate without adjourning.
Whip B Assistant leader for each party in each
Ranking Members
chamber who keeps other Members of the party
B The Members of the
majority and minority party on a committee next in
informed of the legislative agenda of the leader. Also
seniority after the chair.
tracks sentiment among party Members for certain
legislation and tries to persuade Members to be
Recess
present and vote for measures important to the
B Temporary halt to proceedings, with a
time set for proceedings to resume.
leadership.
Record Vote
Yield B Permission granted by the Member who
B Vote in which Members of
Congress indicate their vote orally for listing in the
has the floor to another Member who wishes to
Congressional Record.
make a comment or ask a question.
Rescission Bill B Legislation that revokes spending
authority previously granted by Congress.
17