Legislative Branch Agencies / Architect of the Capitol / AOC / Legislative Branch Appropriations (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Legislative Branch Agencies / Architect of the Capitol / AOC To ensure that Congress has independent sources of information from the executive branch to support it in its legislative and oversight responsibilities, Congress formed several legislative branch agencies.   Stone Preservation on Capitol Hill   … Read more

Floor / Aisle / Candy Desk / Gallery (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Floor / Aisle / Candy Desk / Gallery “The Floor” describes the actual physical chambers of the House and the Senate, in the Capitol Building, in Washington, DC. These are the only places where legislation can pass. The aisle is the space between the minority … Read more

Clerk of the House (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Clerk of the House Chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives, responsible principally for administrative support of the legislative process in the House. Selected by the House per the Constitution, Article I. Section 2. Duties correspond to those of the Secretary of the Senate. … 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

Understanding the 4 Basic Types of Legislation

There are four basic types of legislation that are handled by Congress. They include bills, simple resolutions, joint resolutions and concurrent resolutions. photo credit: USDAgov Bill A bill is the most common type of legislation and can be either permanent or temporary. It may also be general or special in nature; public or private. Bills … Read more