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
The power to appoint all federal judges is shared by the president and the Senate. The legal framework for such appointments is established by provisions within the Constitution under Article II, Section 2, Clause 2. photo credit: LithiumP4 Nominations for judicial appointments by the president are transmitted by message to the Senate. The message is … Read more
The federal budget process typically involves a rather complex series of legislative and executive procedures and various financial transactions. photo credit: Evelyn Proimos The term Revenue refers to income that is received by the federal government. (The executive branch also uses receipts as a term for revenue.) Revenue may be raised from a variety of … Read more
The president submits a proposed budget to Congress on the first Monday in February, although there can be some flexibility regarding the actual date of this submission. photo credit: mackarus Known as the President’s Budget, this request to Congress is used as the basis for reports prepared by congressional budget committee members and staff. Appropriations … 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
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Reapportionment and Redistricting Every ten years, following the decennial census, seats in the House are reapportioned among the states based on each state’s population relative to the other states. Also see Apportionment (CongressionalGlossary.com) and Reapportionment / Redistricting (CongressionalGlossary.com) Reapportionment and Redistricting 3/23/2012 Under … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Because appointments to Federal District and Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court, are lifetime appointments, the Senate plays a constitutional (Article. II. Section. 2.) and active role in such appointments. The stakes in judicial appointments are often seen as being quite high by … Read more