From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Minority Leader Floor leader and chief spokesperson for the minority party in each chamber, elected by the members of that party. The minority leader is also responsible for devising the chamber’s minority party political and procedural strategy. Also see Majority Whip; § 5.50 Party Leadership, … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Standing Vote / Division Vote A non-recorded vote used in both the House and Senate. (A standing vote is also called a division vote.) A division vote can be demanded by any member after a voice vote is taken. The chair or presiding officer can … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Dilatory Motion or Tactic A motion made for the purpose of killing time and preventing action on a bill or amendment by a chamber or a committee. House rules outlaw dilatory motions, but enforcement is largely within the discretion of the Speaker or chairman of … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Riddick’s Senate Procedure Named after Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus Floyd M. Riddick, this Senate document contains the contemporary precedents and practices of the Senate. It is updated periodically by the Senate parliamentarian. An appendix contains suggested forms for various procedures, e.g., offering motions or filing conference … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Vote Unless rules specify otherwise, the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of senators voting, if a quorum is present. The Chair puts each question by voice vote unless the “yeas and nays” are requested, in which case a roll call vote … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Voice Vote (Susan Boyle – Britains Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 – Saturday 11th April) Voice Vote: A method of voting in the House or Senate where members who support a question call out “aye” in chorus, after which those opposed answer “no” in unison. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Joint Session / Joint Meeting Joint Session: When the House and Senate meet together to conduct formal business or to hear an address by the president of the United States. A formal meeting that occurs when both houses adopt a concurrent resolution. A joint session, … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Senatorial Courtesy Sometimes referred to as “the courtesy of the Senate,” it is a general practice – with no written rule – applied to consideration of executive nominations. Generally, it means that nominations from a state are not to be confirmed unless they … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms “Christmas Tree” Bill “Christmas Tree” Bill: Informal nomenclature / jargon for a bill containing many riders / amendments unrelated, i.e, nongermane, to the bill’s subjects; usually refers to Senate measures. A bill on the Senate floor that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments. The amendments … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Report / Reported Report / Reported: Formal submission of a measure by a committee to its parent chamber. Both a verb and a noun as a congressional term. A committee that has been examining a bill referred to it by the parent chamber “reports” its … Read more