From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Enacted / Enacted into Law Once legislation has passed both chambers of Congress in identical form, been signed into law by the President, become law without his signature, or passed over his veto, the legislation is enacted. Legislation to be enacted into law must pass … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Corrections Calendar / Corrections Day Calendar Corrections Calendar Obsolete A June 20, 1995, House Resolution allowed the replacement of the Consent Calendar by a new Corrections Day Calendar. This resolution enabled the house Speaker to invoke the new House Floor Schedule on the … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Pro Forma Session / Recess Appointment Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) chairs this 9-second session of the United States Senate on December 26, 2007, to prevent recess appointments by President Bush. Pro Forma Session: From the Latin, meaning “as a matter of form.” A … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Blue Dog Coalition / CMO The Blue Dog Coalition is a congressional member organization (CMO) made up of “conservative” House Democrats. Van Hollen on Blue Dog Democrats A few of the other CMOs as of 2012 include: Central American Caucus Community College Caucus … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Authorization / Authorization Act Authorization – Provision in law that establishes or continues a program or agency and authorizes appropriations for it. Basic, substantive legislation that establishes or continues the legal operation of a federal program or agency, either indefinitely or for a specific period … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee on Committees / Party Leaders At the beginning of each Congress, members meet to organize and select their leaders. Committees formed in each party conference and responsible for nominating the party’s members to committee membership and committee leadership positions. Nominations are subject to approval … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee Veto / Congressional Veto A requirement added to report language directing that certain policy directives by an executive department or agency be reviewed by certain congressional committees before they are implemented. Under common practice, the government department or agency and the committee involved are … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Lobby / Lobbying A group seeking to influence the passage or defeat of legislation. Originally the term referred to persons frequenting the lobbies or corridors of legislative chambers to speak to lawmakers. The definition of a lobby and the activity of lobbying is a matter … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms By Request House (House Rule XII – Receipt and Referral of Measures) and Senate rules permit a member to introduce a measure at the request of the president, an executive agency, or a private individual although that member may be opposed to the legislation. The … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Limitation photo credit: craigCloutier Language in legislation or in legislative documents that restricts the availability of an appropriation by limiting its use or amount. A restriction on the amount, purpose, or period of availability of budget authority. While limitations are most often established through appropriations … Read more