Unanimous Consent (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Unanimous Consent photo credit: levork Proceedings of the House or Senate and action on legislation often take place upon the unanimous consent of the chamber, whether or not a rule of the chamber is being violated. Unanimous consent is used to expedite floor action and … Read more

Yield Time (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Yield Time photo credit: Lori Greig When the Senate has reached a unanimous consent agreement limiting the time for debate and placing it under the control of floor managers, a senator may be recognized to speak only if a manager yields the senator a specified … Read more

Unanimous Consent Agreement / Time Limitation Agreement (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Unanimous Consent Agreement / Time Limitation Agreement A device used in the Senate to expedite legislation by spelling out the process for considering a proposal. Much of the Senate’s legislative business, dealing with both minor and controversial issues, is conducted through unanimous consent or unanimous … Read more

Budget Process (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Budget Process Established by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974, the budget process refers to the steps necessary for adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget, thereby creating the framework for consideration of appropriations bills and authorizing legislation. The Joint Select Committee … Read more

Sequester / Sequestration (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Sequester / Sequestration photo credit: pheezy The cancellation of budgetary resources pursuant to the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990. If canceled, sequestration funds will not be available for obligation or expenditure. Sequestration may occur in response to the enactment of appropriations that cause a breach … Read more

Reconciliation / Reconciliation Instruction (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Reconciliation photo credit: Ben Sutherland Reconciliation: Process by which Congress changes existing laws to conform revenue and spending levels to the limits set in a budget resolution. Limited to twenty hours of debate in the Senate. Reconciliation Instruction: A provision within a Budget Resolution directing … Read more

Budget Resolution (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Budget Resolution photo credit: haydnseek Legislation in the form of a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget, but not requiring the president’s signature. The budget resolution establishes various budget totals, divides spending totals into functional categories (e.g., transportation), and may include reconciliation instructions to … Read more

Function / Functional Classification (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Adjourn (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Recess (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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