From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adjournment to a Day and Time Certain photo credit: Brett Jordan Adjournment to a Day and Time Certain is adjournment under a motion or resolution that fixes the next time of meeting for one chamber or both chambers. Under the Constitution, neither chamber can adjourn … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 The 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (Pub.L. 93-344, 88 Stat. 297, July 12, 1974) 2 U.S.C. Chapter 17A, Congressional Budget and Fiscal Operations) requires the House and Senate each year to adopt a concurrent resolution … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Point of Order photo credit: lightsinmotion An objection raised by a member, in committee or on the floor, that the chamber is departing from rules governing its conduct of business. The objector cites the rule violated, and the chair sustains the objection if correctly made. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Concurrent Resolution A concurrent resolution, designated H. Con. Res. in the House or S. Con. Res. in the Senate, must be adopted by both houses but is not sent to the president for his signature and therefore does not have the force of law. A … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Bills / Measure / Passed A bill is the most commonly used form for legislation. A bill is prefixed with an H.R. in the House and with an S. in the Senate. A number assigned at the time of introduction signifies the order in which … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Joint Resolution A joint resolution, designated H.J. Res. or S.J. Res. Requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the president, just as a bill does, and has the force of law if approved. There is no practical difference between a bill and … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adjourn for More than Three Days Three Princesses found at MegaCon 2010 in Orlando, Florida. By Sam Howzit Under the Constitution (Article. I. Section. 5.), neither chamber may adjourn for more than three days without the approval of the other. Such approval is obtained 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 Agency photo credit: independentman Agency: No one definition of this term has general, governmentwide applicability. “Agency” and related terms, like “executive agency” or “federal agency,” are defined in different ways in different laws and regulations. For example, the provisions of the Budget and Accounting Act … Read more