| Political Glossary
Act Legislation which has passed both Houses of Congress,
and has been approved by the President, or passed over his veto,
thus becoming law.
Adjournment Action taken by either House of Congress
to end a legislative day, which can last longer than 24 hours.
Amendment A proposal by a Member to alter the language
or provisions of a bill or act. It is voted on in the same manner
as a bill. Negative Amendments are usually either introduced to
kill a bill, to alter the bill for another purpose, or to change
to meaning or intent of the bill.
Appropriations Legislative word for the process through
which Congress decides how much money they will allot to agencies
and programs for the next fiscal year. Key phase in the legislative
process, because appropriations determine how a program will be
run, or if it will even exist. All appropriation bills must originate
in the House.
Authorization A law creating or sustaining a program,
delegating power to implement it, and outlining its funding. Following
authorization, an appropriation actually draws funds from the Treasury.
Bill Formally introduced legislation. Most legislative
proposals are in the form of bills and are designated as H.R. (House
of Representatives) or S. (Senate), depending on where they originate,
and are numbered consecutively in the order in which they are introduced
during each Congress.
Bipartisanship Cooperation between Members of both
political parties in either or both Houses, or between the President
and Members of Congress representing the other party in addressing
a particular issue or proposal. Bipartisan action usually results
when party leaders agree that an issue is of sufficient national
importance as to preclude normal considerations of partisan advantage.
Budget The President's annual proposal to Congress,
submitted in January, outlining executive branch plans for federal
expenditures and revenue for the coming fiscal year. The Budget
is subject to substantial revision and amendment as part of its
consideration by Congress.
Calendar A list of bills, resolutions, or other matters
to be considered before committees or on the floor of either House
of Congress.
Caucus Two types of Congressional organizations are
called caucuses:
- a meeting of Democratic Party members in the House, which elects
party leaders and makes decisions on legislative business. (Congressional
Republicans in each House of Congress and Senate Democrats organize
as conferences);
- an informal grouping of Members organized to focus attention
on, advocate action on, or represent mutual interests, policy
proposals, or geographic areas. Caucuses in this instance may
be organized by Members of either or both Houses and by either
or both political parties.
Chair Slang for chairperson. Used for the majority
party leader of a committee. This is an extremely powerful position,
because they control much of the legislation that is actually brought
to the floor for a vote.
Chamber Meeting place for the total membership of
either the House or Senate. Also known as the "floor."
Clean Bill A piece of legislation that has gone through
a committee or through the full chamber without amendments or a
bill that has been written to incorporate a previous bill that has
undergone a number of significant changes.
Cloture A parliamentary device used in the Senate
(Rule 22) by which debate on a particular measure can be limited.
The Senate otherwise has a tradition of unlimited debate. The action
of 16 Senators is necessary to initiate a petition for cloture,
and a vote of at least 60 Senators is required to invoke it.
Committee Subsidiary organizations of both Houses
of Congress established for the purpose of considering legislation,
conducting investigations, or carrying out other assignments, as
instructed by the parent chamber. Committee memberships are determined
by party leadership in each House, with the seniority (time in service)
of a Member being generally a prominent factor in committee assignments.
Congressional committees generally fall into one of four categories:
- Standing committees — permanent organizations within each
House specializing in consideration of bills falling in particular
subject areas. Membership on committees generally reflects party
strength in each House; the majority party usually provides a
majority of members, and a senior member of the majority party
is usually elected chair;
- Joint committees — Committees including membership from
both Houses. Joint committees are usually established with a narrow
jurisdiction and normally lack authority to report legislation
to the floor of either House;
- Select or Special committees — Committees usually established
for a limited time period to perform a particular function and
without authority to report legislation to the floor of its Chamber.
These panels may be organized by either House, to conduct an investigation
or to make a study and recommendations about a particular problem;
- Conference committees — Ad hoc committees composed of Members
of both Houses, appointed to reconcile similar bills which have
passed the House and Senate in different form.
Committee of the Whole (Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union) — A practice widely used by the
House of Representatives to expedite the consideration of legislation.
Advantages include lower quorum requirements (100 Members, rather
than 218) and streamlined procedures, including limitations on debate.
All decisions taken in the Committee of the Whole require approval
of the full House.
Conference Republican Members' organization in the
House and Senate and Democratic Members' organization in the Senate
(see also caucus).
Confirmation Action by the Senate approving Presidential
nominees for the executive branch, regulatory commissions, and certain
other positions.
Constituent Resident of a Member's district or state.
A person who is represented by an elected official or organization.
Executive Branch The branch of the federal government
which includes the President, Cabinet members and federal agencies.
Filibuster Under the rules of the Senate and as a
matter of tradition, debate on any measure or matter is generally
unlimited. A filibuster is typically characterized by individual
Senators or groups of Senators speaking at extended length against
a pending measure, often with the objective of frustrating action
on the pending legislative proposals.
Fiscal Year (FY) The 12-month period used for financial
purposes, usually a different period than a calendar year. In the
federal government, this period runs from October 1 to September
30 and carries the date of the calendar date in which it ends. If
Congress has not passed a new fiscal year appropriation by September
30, it can halt government operations.
Five-Minute Rule Under House Rules, a measure considered
in the Committee of the Whole is governed by the five-minute Rule.
A member offering an amendment is recognized to speak in favor of
it for five minutes; another Member can claim five minutes of time
to speak against the amendment.
Gerrymandering Drawing of district lines to maximize
the electoral advantage of a political party or faction.
Hearing A meeting or session of a committee of Congress
— usually open to the public — to obtain information and
opinions on proposed legislation, to conduct an investigation, or
oversee a program.
Joint meeting A meeting of both Houses of Congress,
in which each chamber recesses to meet for an occasion or ceremony,
usually in the House Chamber.
Joint Session A meeting of both Houses of Congress,
customarily held in the House Chamber. Joint sessions are held for
necessary administrative and official purposes: e.g., the purpose
of counting electoral votes, attending inaugurations, and to hear
presidential State of the Union messages.
Lame Duck Session A session of Congress meeting after
elections have been held, but before the newly elected Congress
has convened.
Law An Act of Congress or local legislative body that has
been signed by the President or executive officer, or has been passed
by Congress over a veto.
Legislative Day A formal meeting of a House of Congress
which begins with the call to order and opening of business and
ends with adjournment. A legislative day may cover a period of several
calendar days, with the House recessing at the end of each calendar
day, rather than adjourning.
Legislative Veto The House or Senate can review proposed
regulations or actions from the executive branch and modify or block
the measures.
Lobby A person or group seeking to influence the passage,
defeat or change of legislation, generally by personal interview
and persuasion.
Majority and Minority Leader Floor leaders for respective
parties in and out of power. The chief strategists and spokespersons
for their parties. Elected by other party Members, Leaders are in
both the House and Senate.
Majority and Minority Whips The assistants to their
respective Leaders in the House and Senate. Their job is to marshall
support for legislation and support strategies for their respective
parties.
Markup The process in which congressional committees
and subcommittees amend and rewrite proposed legislation in order
to prepare it for consideration on the floor.
Member Term referring to Congressmembers and Senators.
Motion Request by a Member for parliamentary and
procedural actions. Motions are governed by the rules of the House
and Senate.
Nomination Two distinct uses of this term are:
- the process by which candidates for an elected office gain political
party approval and status as the party nominee on the general
election ballot;
- appointments to office by the President that are subject to
Senate confirmation.
One-Hour Rule The rule stipulating debate limits
in the House of Representatives. Measures brought up for consideration
in the House are debated for one hour, with the majority supporters
of the bill customarily yielding half of the debate time to the
opposing party.
Other Body The practices of the House and Senate
prohibit direct reference in floor debate to actions taken in the
other Chamber. Members typically refer to actions taken in "the
other body," rather than to name the House or Senate expressly.
Override a Veto Congress may pass a bill vetoed by
the President if approved by a two-thirds majority in both Houses.
Petition A request or plea sent to one or both Houses
from an organization or private citizens' group asking support of
particular legislation or favorable consideration of a matter. Petitions
are referred to appropriate committees for action.
Pocket Veto When Congress is in session, a bill becomes
law without the signature of the President in ten days, excluding
Sundays. If Congress adjourns within the ten day period, the bill
is killed without the President's formal veto.
Political Action Committee (PAC) A group organized
to promote its members' views on selected issues, usually through
raising money that is contributed to the campaign funds of candidates
who support the group's position.
President of the Senate Presiding officer of the Senate
chamber. In the Constitution, this is the designated role of the
Vice-President. In the absence of the Vice-President, a President
Pro Tempore presides.
President Pro Tempore (Latin: "for the time being").
The officer who presides over the Senate when its President (the
Vice-President of the United States) is absent. Tradition vests
this office in the senior Senator of the majority party.
Previous Question A motion in the House to cut off
debate and force a vote on a pending measure.
Quorum The number of Members in each House necessary
to conduct business (218 in the House, 51 in the Senate).
Ratification Two uses of this term are:
- the act of approval of a proposed constitutional amendment by
the legislatures of the States;
- the Senate process of advice and consent to treaties negotiated
by the President.
Reapportionment The Process by which seats in the
House of Representatives are reassigned among the States to reflect
population changes following the decennial census.
Recess An interruption in the session of the House
or Senate of a less formal nature than an adjournment.
Redistricting The process within the States of redrawing
legislative district boundaries to reflect population changes after
a census.
Report The printed record of a committee's actions,
including its votes, recommendations, and views on a bill or question
of public policy or its findings and conclusions based on oversight
inquiry, investigation, or other study.
Resolution A proposal approved by either or both
Houses which, except for joint resolutions signed by the President,
does not have the force of law.
Rider An unrelated amendment attached to a pending
bill in order to improve its chances for passage.
Rule The term has two specific legislative meanings.
- A rule is the standard order for conducting business in the
House or Senate. Rules cover duties of officers, orders of business,
voting procedures, etc.
- In the House, each bill must have a "rule," made by the Rule's
Committee, assigned to it before it can go to the Floor for a
vote. These rules can limit debate time, amendments, etc.
Session The period during which Congress assembles
and carries on its regular business. Each Congress generally has
two regular sessions, based on the constitutional mandate that Congress
assemble at least once each year. In addition, the President is
empowered to call Congress into special session.
Speaker of the House The presiding officer in the
House of Representatives, elected by House Members. The Speaker
greatly influences the course of legislation in the House, and is
designated in the Constitution.
Subcommittee A small part of a committee which focuses
on very specific legislation, and reports recommendations after
markup to the full committee.
Tabling Motion A motion to stop action on a pending
proposal and to lay it aside indefinitely. When the Senate or House
agrees to a tabling motion, the measure which has been tabled is
effectively defeated.
Veto The constitutional procedure by which the President
refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents
its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President
returns the legislation to the originating House without approval.
It can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in each House. A
pocket veto occurs after Congress has adjourned and is unable to
override the President's action.
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