From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Rules The term “rules” has two specific congressional meanings. A rule may be a standing order governing the conduct of House or Senate business that is listed among the permanent rules of either chamber. The rules deal with duties of officers, the order of business, … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Standing Committee Committees permanently established by House and Senate rules. House Rule X and Senate Rule XXV list the jurisdiction of each committee. The standing committees are legislative committees. Legislation may be referred to them and they may report bills and resolutions to their parent … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Ramseyer Rule / Cordon Rule A comparative section in contrasting typefaces must be included in committee reports. This comparative section shows the text of a statute, or a part thereof, that is proposed to be amended or repealed. This section is usually prepared by each … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Original Bill A bill drafted by a committee and introduced by its chair when the committee reports the measure back to its chamber. It is not referred back to the committee after introduction. The Senate allows all committees to report original bills; the House generally … 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 Leave to Sit Permission for a committee to meet during the proceedings of the parent chamber. Under Senate Rule XXVI committees are forbidden to meet after the first two hours of the Senate’s daily session, and in no case after 2 pm while the Senate … 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