Union Calendar (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Union Calendar Bills that directly or indirectly appropriate money or raise revenue are placed on this House calendar according to the date they are reported from committee. The Constitution specifies that all bills for raising revenue originate in the House (Article I, Section 7). House … Read more

Fiscal Year / Prior Year (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Fiscal Year photo credit: MBoy68 Fiscal Year: Any yearly accounting period, regardless of its relationship to a calendar year. The federal government’s annual accounting period. Financial operations of the government are carried out in a 12-month accounting year, beginning on October 1 and ending on … Read more

Five-Minute Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Five-Minute Rule photo credit: Moe_ A debate-limiting rule of the House that is invoked when the House sits as the Committee of the Whole. Under the rule, a member offering an amendment is allowed to speak five minutes in its favor, and an opponent of … Read more

Committee of the Whole (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee of the Whole photo credit: flowercarole The Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, more often referred to as the “Committee of the Whole,” is the House of Representatives operating as a committee on which all 435 House members serve. … Read more

House / House of Representatives (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms House / House of Representatives The House of Representatives, as distinct from the Senate, although each body is a “house” or “chamber” of Congress. Established by the Constitution, Article I, Section 2. See “A Note About Usage: ‘Congress’.” When members of the House and House … Read more

Teller Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Teller Vote photo credit: wjarrettc This is a largely moribund procedure in the House in the Committee of the Whole. Members file past tellers and are counted as for, or against, a measure, but they are not recorded individually. In the House, teller votes are … Read more

Hearing / Hearings (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Hearing / Hearings photo credit: The U.S. Army Committee sessions for taking testimony from witnesses. At hearings on legislation, witnesses usually include specialists, government officials and spokesmen for persons or entities affected by the bill or bills under study. Hearings related to special investigations bring … Read more

Parliamentarian (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Parliamentarian   House Session 2012-03-27 (19:04:25-20:19:32)   The Senate and the House each has an Office of the Parliamentarian to provide expert advice and assistance on questions relating to the meaning and application of that chamber’s legislative rules, precedents, and practices. House: The House Parliamentarian … Read more

Speaker (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Speaker The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, selected by the caucus of the party to which she belongs and formally elected by the whole House. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution states: “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other … Read more

Enrolled Bill / Enrolled Measure (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Enrolled Bill / Enrolled Measure The final official copy of a bill that has been passed by both chambers in identical form. It is certified by an officer of the house of origin (clerk of the House or secretary of the Senate) and then sent … Read more