From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Yield / Yielding / Yield for a Question? photo credit: OnTask When a member has been recognized to speak by the presiding officer, no other member may speak unless he obtains permission from the member recognized. This permission is called yielding and is requested in … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Petition Box photo credit: feeliz A “petition box” is mentioned in older House documents. The “petiton box” was not a physical box in the House, but a method of handling private bills. [It is not necessary that leave should be asked of the House to … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms The United States Congress consists of two separate legislative bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Jointly these two separate legislative bodies are referred to as “Congress”. Congress meets in the United States Capitol building. Congress, n. A body of men who meet to … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Calendar of Business An agenda or list of business eligible for floor consideration. Each chamber decides which measures are discussed, and in what order, in accordance with its rules and practices. The Senate has two calendars, the Executive Calendar for treaties and nominations, and the … Read more
Filibuster / Unlimited Debate Creative Commons License photo credit: PatrickRohe When a senator is recognized to speak on a pending measure, few limitations are placed on her. Debate is generally unlimited on all pending measures. A senator may yield to another senator for a question, but the senator still controls the floor. One of the … Read more
“The seven stages of the office seeker,” by Edward Williams Clay (artist) and John Childs (lithographer). Image and text from the Library of Congress: A satire on patronage and corruption in New York State politics, based on the medieval theme, perpetuated in American folk art, of the “life and ages of man.” Here the seven … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Yeas and Nays photo credit: dhendrix73 Yeas and Nays: A vote in which members respond “aye” or “no” on a question. Their names are called in alphabetical order The Constitution requires that yea-and-nay votes be taken and recorded when requested by one-fifth of the members … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Conference Report photo credit: ☺ Lee J Haywood The compromise product negotiated by the conference committee. The “conference report,” which is printed and available to Senators, is submitted to each chamber for its consideration, such as approval or disapproval. The conference report contains a formal … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Division of a Question for Voting photo credit: neoterra A practice that is more common in the Senate but also is used in the House whereby a member may demand a division of an amendment or a motion for purposes of amendment. The individual parts … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Electronic Vote Voting terminal in the U.S. House. Image from the Clerk of the House. A vote in the House using electronic voting machines. Members insert voting cards into one of the devices located throughout the House chamber. Recorded and roll call votes are normally … Read more