From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Floor / Aisle / Candy Desk / Gallery “The Floor” describes the actual physical chambers of the House and the Senate, in the Capitol Building, in Washington, DC. These are the only places where legislation can pass. The aisle is the space between the minority … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Joint Committee Committees including membership from both the House and the Senate. A joint committee may be investigative or research oriented. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation. As of 2018 only five joint committees remain: Joint … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Special Session A session of Congress after it has adjourned sine die, completing its regular session. The president convenes special sessions (Article. II. Section. 3.). Also see Lame Duck; Terms of Congress; § 5.30, Terms and Sessions of Congress, in Congressional Deskbook. US Congress … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Veto A veto is the disapproval by the president of a bill or joint resolution passed by Congress (other than a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment). After both chambers of Congress have passed a bill, it is enrolled, then is sent to the president … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Morning Hour / Morning Business The time set-aside at the beginning of each legislative day for the consideration of regular, routine business. The “hour” is of indefinite duration in the House, where a period is set aside at the beginning of the day for members … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Parliamentary Inquiry Parliamentary Inquiry regarding the New York Yankees – November 5, 2009 A question from the floor to the presiding officer by a member requesting a clarification of the procedural situation on the floor. Responses to parliamentary inquiries are not rulings of … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Clean Bill If a committee has approved extensive amendments, the committee may decide to report the original bill with one “amendment in the nature of a substitute” consisting of all the amendments previously adopted, or may introduce and report a new bill incorporating those amendments, … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees photo credit: SurfaceWarriors When a majority of the members of the House sign a motion to discharge a committee from consideration of a public bill or resolution, that motion is referred to the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Congressional Record The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. At the back of each daily issue is the Daily Digest, which summarizes the day’s floor and … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Controlled Time photo credit: PopCultureGeek.com When a unanimous consent agreement limits the time for debate on a bill or other measure and places it under the control of bill floor managers, the time is said to be controlled. Each manager then allows any senator to … Read more