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