Printed Amendment / Unprinted Amendment (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Printed Amendment / Unprinted Amendment Amendments can be either printed or unprinted. Printed Amendment: A House rule guarantees five minutes of floor debate in support and five minutes in opposition, and no other debate time, on amendments printed in the Congressional Record at least one … Read more

Special Session (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Special Session A session of Congress after it has adjourned sine die, completing its regular session. The president convenes special sessions (Article. II. Section. 3.). Also see Lame Duck; Terms of Congress; § 5.30, Terms and Sessions of Congress, in Congressional Deskbook.   US Congress … Read more

Five-Minute Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Five-Minute Rule photo credit: Moe_ A debate-limiting rule of the House that is invoked when the House sits as the Committee of the Whole. Under the rule, a member offering an amendment is allowed to speak five minutes in its favor, and an opponent of … Read more

Committee of the Whole (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee of the Whole photo credit: flowercarole The Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, more often referred to as the “Committee of the Whole,” is the House of Representatives operating as a committee on which all 435 House members serve. … Read more