From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Discharge Calendar / a Committee / Petition / Resolution Discharge a Committee: To remove a measure from committee to which it has been returned in order to make it available for floor consideration. This is attempted more often in the House than in the Senate, … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Oversight / Oversight Committee Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a federal agency or program. Oversight Committee: A congressional committee, or designated subcommittee of a committee, charged with general oversight of one or more federal agencies activities. Usually, the oversight panel for a particular … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Presidential Signature / Presidential Signing Statements A proposed law passed by Congress must be presented to the president, who then has 10 days to approve or disapprove it (Article. I. Section. 7.). The president signs bills he supports, making them law. He vetoes a bill … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Grandfather Clause A provision exempting persons or other entities already engaged in an activity from new rules or legislation affecting that activity. Grandfather clauses sometimes are added to legislation to avoid antagonizing groups with established interests in the activities affected. Kenny Chesney – Don’t … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Recorded Vote / Roll Call Vote Roll Call Vote on H.R. 2126 Recorded Vote: A vote upon which each member’s stand is individually made known. In the Senate, this is accomplished through a roll call of the entire membership, to which each senator … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Hopper Box attached to the House clerk’s desk where members place bills and resolutions to introduce them. Also called “bill hopper.” The term derives from a funnel-shaped storage bin filled from the top and emptied from the bottom, often used to house grain or coal. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Proxy Voting / Polling The practice of permitting a member to cast the vote of an absent colleague. Proxy voting is permitted only in Senate committees if committee rules allow them. Senate Rule XXVI provides that proxies may not be voted when the absent senator … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Morning Hour / Morning Business The time set-aside at the beginning of each legislative day for the consideration of regular, routine business. The “hour” is of indefinite duration in the House, where a period is set aside at the beginning of the day for members … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Floor Leaders In the House, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader represent their parties on the House floor. They are assisted by whips. The House, with its large membership, has chosen majority and minority leaders since the 19th century to expedite legislative business and … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Majority Leader The Majority Leader is elected by her party colleagues. In the Senate, the Majority Leader, in collaboration with the Minority Leader, directs the legislation schedule for the Senate. Each is her party’s spokesperson and chief strategist. In the House, the Majority Leader is … Read more