Recognize / Recognition (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Recognize / Recognition To speak on the floor of the House or Senate, a member must be “recognized” by the presiding officer. In the House, the presiding officer has considerable discretion in recognition and her rulings are rarely challenged (House Rule XVII – Decorum And … Read more

Motion to Recommit / Recommit to Committee / Table / Lay on the Table (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Motion to Recommit / Recommit to Committee / Table / Lay on the Table     Rep. Cartwright Motion to Recommit     Recommit: To send a measure back to the committee that reported it. A motion to recommit without instructions kills a measure; a … Read more

By Request (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms By Request House (House Rule XII – Receipt and Referral of Measures) and Senate rules permit a member to introduce a measure at the request of the president, an executive agency, or a private individual although that member may be opposed to the legislation. The … Read more

Bills Introduced / Bills Referred / Sponsor (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Bills Introduced / Bills Referred / Sponsor Bills Introduced: In both the House and Senate, any number of members may join in introducing a single bill or resolution. The first member listed is the sponsor of the bill, and all members’ names following his or … Read more

Quorum Call (Congressional Glossary)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Quorum Call A call of the roll to establish whether a quorum is present — 218 in the House and 100 in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union; a quorum in the Senate is 51. If any senator “suggests … Read more

Law / Public Law / Private Law (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Law / Public Law / Private Law Law: An act of Congress that has been signed by the president or passed over his veto by Congress. Public bills, when signed, become public laws, and are cited by “Pub. L.” or the letters PL and a … Read more

Reading of Bills (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Reading of Bills   Rand Paul Refuses to Vote Without Reading the Bill   Traditional parliamentary procedure required bills to be read three times before they were passed. This custom is of little modern significance. Normally a bill is considered to have its first reading … Read more

Majority Leader (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Controlled Time (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Controlled Time photo credit: PopCultureGeek.com When a unanimous consent agreement limits the time for debate on a bill or other measure and places it under the control of bill floor managers, the time is said to be controlled. Each manager then allows any senator to … Read more

Germane / Germaneness / Pastore Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Germane / Germaneness / Pastore Rule photo credit: mRio Pertaining to the subject matter of the measure at hand. All House amendments must be germane to the bill being considered. House Rule XVI, clause 7 specifies: 7. No motion or proposition on a subject different … Read more