Sergeant at Arms (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Sergeant at Arms Byers set to wrestle world’s best Greco-Roman heavyweights House: As an elected officer of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant at Arms is the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the House of Representatives, and is responsible for maintaining order in … Read more

Chamber (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Chamber The meeting place for the membership of either the House or Senate; also the membership of the House or Senate meeting as such. The lowest level in each chamber, i.e., the floor of the chamber below the galleries in the physical chamber, is often … Read more

Chairman / Chair / Chairwoman (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Chairman / Chair / Chairwoman The presiding officer of a committee or subcommittee. In the Senate, chairmanship is based on seniority of committee tenure, but a senator may not chair more than one standing committee. Traditionally, the majority party member with the greatest seniority on … Read more

Floor / Aisle / Candy Desk / Gallery (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Petition (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Petition A request or plea sent to one or both chambers from an organization or private citizens’ group asking support of, or opposition to, particular legislation or favorable consideration of a matter not yet receiving congressional attention. Petitions are referred to appropriate committees. Petitions are … Read more

Joint Committee (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Veto (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Override a Veto (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Override a Veto If the president disapproves a bill and sends it back to Congress with his objections, Congress may try to override his veto and enact the bill into law. Neither chamber is required to attempt to override a veto. The override of a … Read more

Recorded Vote / Roll Call Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Recorded Vote / Roll Call Vote   Roll Call Vote on H.R. 2126   Recorded Vote: A vote upon which each member’s stand is individually made known. In the Senate, this is accomplished through a roll call of the entire membership, to which each senator … Read more

Morning Hour / Morning Business (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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