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
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 Substitute / Substitute Amendment / Queen-of-the-Hill Rule Substitute: A motion, amendment or entire bill introduced in place of the pending legislative business. Passage of a substitute measure kills the original measure by supplanting it. The substitute also may be amended. Substitute Amendment: This type 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 “Christmas Tree” Bill “Christmas Tree” Bill: Informal nomenclature / jargon for a bill containing many riders / amendments unrelated, i.e, nongermane, to the bill’s subjects; usually refers to Senate measures. A bill on the Senate floor that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments. The amendments … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Hopper Box attached to the House clerk’s desk where members place bills and resolutions to introduce them. Also called “bill hopper.” The term derives from a funnel-shaped storage bin filled from the top and emptied from the bottom, often used to house grain or coal. … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Clean Bill If a committee has approved extensive amendments, the committee may decide to report the original bill with one “amendment in the nature of a substitute” consisting of all the amendments previously adopted, or may introduce and report a new bill incorporating those amendments, … Read more
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
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Calendar of Business An agenda or list of business eligible for floor consideration. Each chamber decides which measures are discussed, and in what order, in accordance with its rules and practices. The Senate has two calendars, the Executive Calendar for treaties and nominations, and the … Read more
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