Table a Bill / Motion to Table (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Table a Bill / Motion to Table   Diagramming how a bill becomes a law in the U.S.   Table a Bill: Motions to table, or to “lay on the table,” are used to block or kill amendments or other parliamentary questions. When approved, a … Read more

Proxy Voting / Polling (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Floor Manager (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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

Enrolled Bill / Enrolled Measure (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Enrolled Bill / Enrolled Measure The final official copy of a bill that has been passed by both chambers in identical form. It is certified by an officer of the house of origin (clerk of the House or secretary of the Senate) and then sent … Read more

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute / Committee Substitute (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute / Committee Substitute   Full Committee Markup: FY 2018 Defense & Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill   Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute: Usually an amendment that seeks to replace the entire text of a bill. Passage of … Read more

Concurrent Resolution (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Concurrent Resolution A concurrent resolution, designated H. Con. Res. in the House or S. Con. Res. in the Senate, must be adopted by both houses but is not sent to the president for his signature and therefore does not have the force of law. A … Read more

Nongermane Amendment (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Nongermane Amendment photo credit: bfelice An amendment that would add new and different subject matter to, or may be irrelevant to, the bill or other measure it seeks to amend. Senate rules permit nongermane amendments in all but a few specific circumstances. The amending process … Read more

Conference Report (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Conference Report photo credit: ☺ Lee J Haywood The compromise product negotiated by the conference committee. The “conference report,” which is printed and available to Senators, is submitted to each chamber for its consideration, such as approval or disapproval. The conference report contains a formal … Read more

Division of a Question for Voting (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Division of a Question for Voting photo credit: neoterra A practice that is more common in the Senate but also is used in the House whereby a member may demand a division of an amendment or a motion for purposes of amendment. The individual parts … Read more

Engrossed Bill / Engrossed Measure (CongressionalGlossary.com)

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