From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adoption / Adopted / Agreed To U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION PRESSES TURKEY TO RETURN STOLEN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Adoption / Adopted: Usual parliamentary term for approval of conference report. Under House Rule XI – Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business, “Each standing committee … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Conferees / Managers / Instruct Conferees Reid Announces Conferees to Negotiate One-Year Plan Conferees: The representatives and senators from each chamber who serve on a conference committee; also referred to as managers. Instruct Conferees: Formal action by one chamber urging its conferees … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Hour Rule / One Hour Rule House Session 2012-02-01 One-Hour Rule: Rules are considered in the House under the one-hour rule, with time controlled by a majority floor manager. The majority floor manager customarily yields thirty minutes to the minority floor … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Precedents of the House of Representatives / Cannon’s / Deschler’s / Hinds’ / House Practice House Parliamentarian discusses congressional precedent and rules with Foxx Precedent: Previous ruling by a presiding officer that becomes part of the procedures of a chamber. Each chamber of … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Conference / Conference Committee Conference: 1: A formal meeting between the representatives of the House and the Senate to reconcile differences between the two chambers on provisions of a bill passed by both chambers. Members of the conference committee are appointed by the Speaker and … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Custody of the Papers / Papers Custody of the Papers: Possession of an engrossed measure and certain related basic documents that the two houses produce as they try to resolve their differences over the measure. To reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Previous Question A nondebatable House (or House committee) motion, which, when agreed to, cuts off further debate, prevents the offering of additional amendments, and brings the pending matter to an immediate vote. A motion for the previous question, when carried, has the effect of cutting … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Riddick’s Senate Procedure Named after Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus Floyd M. Riddick, this Senate document contains the contemporary precedents and practices of the Senate. It is updated periodically by the Senate parliamentarian. An appendix contains suggested forms for various procedures, e.g., offering motions or filing conference … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Enacting Clause Key phrase in bills beginning “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives . . .” A successful motion to strike it from legislation kills the measure. 1 USC § 101 specifies: The enacting clause of all Acts of Congress shall … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Floor Manager photo credit: karindalziel A member who has the task of steering legislation through floor debate and the amendment process to a final vote in the House or the Senate. Floor managers usually are the chairmen or ranking members of the committee that reported … Read more