From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms
Committee Amendment / Floor Amendment
Committee Amendment: An amendment recommended by a committee in reporting a bill or other measure. When the House is meeting as the Committee of the Whole, a special rule often provides that committee amendments become part of the text of the measure for further amendment. After committee amendments become part of the base text, individual members are then recognized to offer individual amendments. In the Senate, Senate rules prohibit the floor consideration of substantive committee amendments containing significant matter outside the jurisdiction of the reporting committee. The Senate often agrees by unanimous consent to committee amendments as a package, called en bloc amendments.
En Bloc Amendment: Several amendments offered as a group after obtaining unanimous consent.
Sen. Cruz Introduces 529 Savings Plan Amendment on Senate Floor
Floor Amendment: An amendment offered by an individual senator from the Senate floor during consideration of a bill or other measure, in contrast to a committee amendment. In the House, Suspension of the Rules does not allow floor amendments.
Also see
- Amendment
- Suspension of the Rules
- Unanimous Consent
- § 6.80 House Floor: Methods of Consideration, § 6.120 Committee of the Whole: Amendment Process, § 6.220 Senate Amendment Procedure, § 8.151 Fast-Track Procedures, in Congressional Deskbook
- Chapter 3.F. Amendment Procedure; Chapter 8.B. Nominations in Congressional Procedure
More
- “House Committee Markup: Amendment Procedure,” CRS Report 98-335 (7-page PDF
) - “House Committee Markup: Preparation,” CRS Report 98-168 (7-page PDF)
- “Senate Amendment Process: General Conditions and Principles,” CRS Report 98-707 (7-page PDF)
- “Senate Rules for Committee Markups,” CRS Report 98-711 (5-page PDF)
- “Senate Floor Procedure: A Summary,” CRS Report 97-368 (53-page PDF)
- “House Committee Markups: Manual of Procedures and Procedural Strategies,” CRS Report R41083 (220-page PDF)
Courses
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CongressionalGlossary.com, from TheCapitol.Net
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