From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Function / Functional Classification photo credit: quinn.anya Categories of spending established for accounting purposes to keep track of specific expenditures. Each account is placed in the single function (such as national defense, agriculture, health, etc.) that best represents its major purpose, regardless of the agency … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adjourn photo credit: Gaffke Photography v2.8 Adjourn: Formal motion to end a day’s session of a chamber of Congress. A motion to adjourn in the Senate (or a committee) ends that day’s session. Adjournment is not a recess. Because procedures are so strictly determined when … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Recess photo credit: Harpersbizarre Temporary interruption or suspension of a committee or chamber meeting. In the House, the Speaker is authorized to declare recesses. In the Senate, the chamber often recesses rather than adjourns at the end of the day so as not to trigger … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Act photo credit: Ruth L An Act of Congress (also called Act) is legislation (a bill or joint resolution) that has passed both chambers of Congress in identical form, been signed into law by the president, or passed over his veto, thus becoming law. A … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Pocket Veto The act of the president in withholding his approval of a bill after Congress has adjourned. When Congress is in session, a bill becomes law without the president’s signature if he does not act upon it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, from the … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Engrossed Bill / Engrossed Measure photo credit: alancleaver_2000 The final official copy of a bill as passed by one chamber, with the text as amended by floor action and certified by the clerk of the House or the secretary of the Senate. After a measure … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Account / Appropriation Account photo credit: kenteegardin Hearing: Environmental Protection Agency Budget Account: A separate financial reporting unit for budget, management, and/or accounting purposes. All budgetary transactions are recorded in accounts, but not all accounts are budgetary in nature. Some accounts do not … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Discretionary usually modifies “spending,” “appropriation,” or “amount.” Discretionary spending refers to outlays from budget authority that is provided in and controlled by annual appropriation acts. Discretionary appropriation refers to those budgetary resources that are provided in appropriation acts, other than those that fund mandatory programs. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Rise: In order only in the Committee of the Whole during the amendment stage, it has the effect of terminating or suspending debate on the pending matter. Rise and Report: Term to refer to the culmination of proceedings in the Committee of the Whole. The … Read more
Filibusters may be ended by one of two ways: either through negotiation among senators or through a process known as invoking cloture. Cloture is the only procedure by which the Senate can end debate without rejecting the measure under consideration at the same time. Creative Commons License, Photo credit: Robbie1 Several stages for invoking cloture … Read more