Budget Act (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Budget Act photo credit: phauly The common name for the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974, which established the current budget process and created the Congressional Budget Office. The act also put limits on presidential authority to refuse to spend appropriated money. Titles I-IX … Read more

Adjournment sine die (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adjournment sine die photo credit: KalasMannen Final adjournment of an annual or two-year session of Congress. Adjournment without fixing a definite day for reconvening; literally “adjournment without a day.” A session can continue when, under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, it automatically terminates. Both … Read more

Unfilled Customer Orders (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Unfilled Customer Orders photo credit: Sam Beebe / Ecotrust The dollar amount of orders accepted from other accounts within the government for goods and services to be furnished on a reimbursable basis. In the case of transactions with the public, these orders are amounts advanced … Read more

Unified Budget (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Unified Budget   Funding the Government: The Budget Process and Omnibus Spending Bills [Article I Initiative]   Under budget concepts set forth in the Report of the President’s Commission on Budget Concepts (October, 1967), a comprehensive budget in which receipts and outlays from federal and … Read more

Conference Report (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Conference Report photo credit: ☺ Lee J Haywood The compromise product negotiated by the conference committee. The “conference report,” which is printed and available to Senators, is submitted to each chamber for its consideration, such as approval or disapproval. The conference report contains a formal … Read more

How Legislators Make Decisions

Congress is both slow and deliberative, by design. When the new government was established in 1789, it was created through the rather elaborate use of a system of checks and balances that were meant to ensure that no single section of government would be able to dominate the process. Although this system can be frustrating, … Read more

Understanding “Congressional Culture”

“Congressional culture” is comprised of a mix of youthful staff, optimistic freshman members, cynical reporters, seasoned members, and crusty senators. This can often result in a clash of both the old and new. photo credit: Mr. T in DC In evaluating congressional culture, it is important to understand the working environment of Congress. That environment … Read more

How Legislatures, Including Congress, Really Work

When you attempt to influence a group of people, it is important to develop an understanding of the environment in which that group operates. Congressional and state legislative environments differ from other environments, including private and public workplaces. Learning to appreciate those differences as well as the inherent characteristics that are unique to legislative environments … Read more

“Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials” Author on C-SPAN

Bradford Fitch talked about his book Citizen’s Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials. Despite conventional wisdom about the power lobbyists have in Washington DC, Mr. Fitch believes that a well-informed constituency can be a driving force in swaying elected officials. The book offers advice on how to approach members of Congress, the value of being informed … Read more