House / House of Representatives (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms House / House of Representatives The House of Representatives, as distinct from the Senate, although each body is a “house” or “chamber” of Congress. Established by the Constitution, Article I, Section 2. See “A Note About Usage: ‘Congress’.” When members of the House and House … Read more

Teller Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Teller Vote photo credit: wjarrettc This is a largely moribund procedure in the House in the Committee of the Whole. Members file past tellers and are counted as for, or against, a measure, but they are not recorded individually. In the House, teller votes are … Read more

Hearing / Hearings (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Hearing / Hearings photo credit: The U.S. Army Committee sessions for taking testimony from witnesses. At hearings on legislation, witnesses usually include specialists, government officials and spokesmen for persons or entities affected by the bill or bills under study. Hearings related to special investigations bring … Read more

Parliamentarian (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Parliamentarian   House Session 2012-03-27 (19:04:25-20:19:32)   The Senate and the House each has an Office of the Parliamentarian to provide expert advice and assistance on questions relating to the meaning and application of that chamber’s legislative rules, precedents, and practices. House: The House Parliamentarian … Read more

Speaker (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Speaker The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, selected by the caucus of the party to which she belongs and formally elected by the whole House. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution states: “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other … Read more

Clerk of the House (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Clerk of the House Chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives, responsible principally for administrative support of the legislative process in the House. Selected by the House per the Constitution, Article I. Section 2. Duties correspond to those of the Secretary of the Senate. … Read more

Secretary of the Senate (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Secretary of the Senate Chief administrative and budgetary officer of the Senate selected by the Senate per the Constitution (Article I, Section 3) responsible for overseeing the duties of Senate employees, educating Senate pages, administering oaths, handling the registration of lobbyists, and handling other tasks … Read more

Pair / Logrolling (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Pair / Logrolling photo credit: dno1967b A pair is a voluntary, informal arrangement that two lawmakers, usually on opposite sides of an issue, make on recorded votes. In many cases the result is to subtract a vote from each side, with no effect on the … Read more

Cloakroom / Hotline (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Cloakroom / Hotline   Donnald K. Anderson: Running the Democratic Cloakroom   Democratic and Republican cloakrooms adjacent to the Senate and House chambers serve as gathering places for party members to discuss chamber business privately. Each cloakroom operates a “hotline” (telephone cloakroom recording) for party … Read more

Lame Duck / “Lame Duck” Session (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Lame Duck / “Lame Duck” Session When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business. Some lawmakers who return for this session will not be in the next Congress. Hence, they are informally … Read more