Pennsylvania Avenue (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Pennsylvania Avenue Pennsylvania Avenue (NW) is a street in Washington, DC, the nation’s capital city. The Capitol sits at the eastern end of Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and the White House is located a little more than a mile to the northwest of the Capitol, at … Read more

Amending the Constitution (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Amending the Constitution     How to Amend the U.S. Constitution     One of the ways in which federalism is most clearly expressed in the Constitution is in the process for its amendment. Nine of the thirteen original states were required to ratify the … Read more

Presidential Succession (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Presidential Succession   President Gerald Ford – Remarks on Taking the Oath of Office, August 9, 1974   Under Article II and the Twelfth, Twentieth, and Twenty-fifth Amendments to the Constitution, Congress has critical roles to play in the selection of the president and vice … Read more

Senate (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Senate The Senate, as distinct from the House of Representatives, although each body is a “house” or “chamber” of Congress. Established by the Constitution, Article I, Section 3. The size of the Senate, currently 100 members, is established by the Constitution (“The Senate of the … Read more

Impeach / Impeachment (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Impeach / Impeachment The House has sole power to impeach (Article. I. Section. 2.), and the Senate has sole power to try an impeachment (Article. I. Section. 3.). Senate deliberations during impeachment trials may be held in secret session. Also see Secret Session; § 8.100 … Read more

Precedents of the House of Representatives / Cannon’s / Deschler’s / Hinds’ / House Practice (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Precedents of the House of Representatives / Cannon’s / Deschler’s / Hinds’ / House Practice   House Parliamentarian discusses congressional precedent and rules with Foxx   Precedent: Previous ruling by a presiding officer that becomes part of the procedures of a chamber. Each chamber of … Read more

Federal Register / Rulemaking / Unified Agenda (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Federal Register / Rulemaking / Unified Agenda In the course of its lawmaking, Congress often delegates quasi-legislative authority to executive departments and agencies so that they might effectively implement laws and carry out the broader policy determinations that Congress itself made. Departments and agencies engage … Read more

Code of Federal Regulations / CFR (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Code of Federal Regulations / CFR The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government. It is divided into fifty titles that represent broad … Read more

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs / OIRA (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs / OIRA The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA, pronounced “oh-eye-ruh”) is a federal office established by Congress in the 1980 Paperwork Reduction Act. It is part of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is an … Read more

Office of Management and Budget / OMB (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Office of Management and Budget / OMB The core mission of OMB is to serve the president of the United States in implementing his vision across the executive branch. OMB is the largest component of the Executive Office of the President. It reports directly to … Read more