From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms
Call of the Calendar

Senate bills not brought up for debate by a motion, unanimous consent or a unanimous consent agreement are brought before the Senate for action when the calendar listing them is “called.” Bills must be called in the order listed. Measures considered by this method usually are non-controversial, and debate on the bill and any proposed amendments is limited to a total of five minutes for each senator. Party leaders and their aides check with senators beforehand to make sure that no one objects to the measures. The system is referred to as “the clearance process.”
Also see § 6.180 Senate Calendars and Legislative and Executive Business before the Senate, in Congressional Deskbook.
David Hawkings’ Whiteboard: How Congress’ Schedule Works
More
- Most-Viewed Bills on Congress.gov
- Senate Rule VIII. Order of Business
- “Bypassing Senate Committees: Rule XIV and Unanimous Consent,” CRS Report RS22299 (17-page PDF
)
- “Motions to Proceed to Consider Measures in the Senate: Who Offers Them?,” CRS Report RS21255 (19-page PDF
)
- “Supreme Court Nominations: Senate Floor Procedure and Practice, 1789-2011,” CRS Report RL33247 (53-page PDF
)
- “House Floor Activity: The Daily Flow of Business,” CRS Report RS20233 (3-page PDF
)
- “Reorganization of the Senate: Modern Reform Efforts,” CRS Report RL32112 (45-page PDF
)
- “The Amending Process in the Senate,” CRS Report 98-853 (38-page PDF
)
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