Glossary of Legislative Terms

A | B | C | E | F | H | I | J | M | R | S

A

Amendment
A proposed change to the language in a bill by adding, substituting, or omitting a portion of the legislation before final passage.

Appropriation
Legislation that funds an agency or program by directing the expenditure of money from the Budget Office.

Authorization
Legislation that authorizes or permits the expenditure of funds for an agency or program, with the actual spending to be approved by the appropriations committees.

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B

Bill
Legislation introduced in either the House or the Senate. House bills are designated by the prefix "H.B.," Senate bills by "S.B.," and then followed by the bill number. Bill numbers are determined by the order in which bills are introduced.

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C

Caucus
A meeting of members of the same political party to determine the party's position on legislative issues.

Committee
A subdivision of the House and Senate that prepares legislation for action by the parent chamber. Each committee has jurisdiction over certain subject matters and considers legislation pertaining to its jurisdiction. Most committees are further subdivided into subcommittees. There are two types of committees: 1) Standing committees are permanent committees with a particular legislative jurisdiction. 2) Joint committees have members from both the House and the Senate.

Committee Process
Once bills are introduced they are referred to one of the committees. Hearings are held, and the committee reports its recommendations to the legislative body.

Conference Committee
A committee made up of members from both chambers. Its purpose is to resolve the differences between the House and Senate version of a bill.

Constituent
Any citizen residing in a district or state represented by a House Representative or a Senator.

Continuing Appropriation
When a fiscal year begins and the legislature has not yet enacted all regular appropriation bills for that year, it passes a joint resolution "continuing appropriation" for government agencies at a rate generally based on the previous year's appropriations.

Cosponsor
One who joins in sponsoring legislation. Cosponsorship is a public demonstration of support for a measure.

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E

Executive Session
A meeting of a Senate or House committee (or occasionally of either Chamber) that only its members may attend.

Expenditures
The actual spending of money, as distinguished from the appropriation of it.

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F

Filibuster
A time-delaying tactic used by a minority in an effort to prevent a vote on a bill that probably would pass if brought to a vote.

Fiscal Year
The states annual accounting period, which begins July 1 and ends the following June 30. The fiscal year is designated by the year in which it ends.

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H

H.B.
(House Bill) A bill originating in the House.

Hearings
A session of a legislative committee at which supporters and opponents express their views. The committee announces hearings from one day to many weeks in advance and may invite certain persons to testify. Persons who request to testify may be turned down by the committee, but they are often allowed to either appear in person or submit a written statement for the record.

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I

Introduction
The original presentation of a bill.

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J

Joint Committee
A committee made up of members of both the House and Senate.

Joint Resolution
Just like a bill, a joint resolution requires the approval of both houses and has the force of law if approved. Joint resolutions are generally used in dealing with limited matters, such as a single appropriation for a specific purpose.

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M

Marking Up A Bill
Going through a measure, usually in subcommittee and committee, taking it section by section, revising language and penciling in new phrases. If the bill is extensively revised, the new version may be introduced as a separate or clean bill with a new number.

Majority Leader
Floor leader, spokesperson and strategist for the majority party.

Minority Leader
Floor leader for the minority party.

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R

Ranking Member
The most senior member of a committee from a particular party. Most often used to refer to the most senior member of the minority party.

Recommittal
Sending a bill back to the committee that reported it for consideration.

Report
Both a verb and a noun. A committee that has examined a bill refers it to the parent chamber by reporting its views and recommendations regarding the measure. A report describes the purpose and scope of a bill, along with supporting reasons. Opposing views, as well as supplemental views of other members of the committee, may be included.

Resolution
Deals with matters entirely within the prerogatives of one chamber. It does not require passage by the other chamber and does not carry the force of law. Most resolutions deal with the rules of a chamber or are used to express the sentiments of a single house.

Rule
(1) House or Senate rules governing the conduct of business. (2) A "Rule" issued by the House Rules Committee on procedure for handling House bills.

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S

S.B.
(Senate Bill) A bill originating in the Senate.

Sessions
Normally, the legislature consists of two sessions, with the long session beginning in January and ending when the legislature adjourns (odd years) and a short session that begins in May and goes until the legislature adjourns (even years).

Sponsor
The member of the legislature who introduces legislation.

Standing Committee
A committee that studies measures introduced within its jurisdiction and makes recommendations to its respective chamber concerning appropriate action.

Subcommittee
A subdivision of committee organized by subject matter.

Substitute
A motion, amendment or entire bill that is introduced in place of pending legislation. Passage of a substitute kills the original measure.

Suspend the Rules
A motion to expedite passage of legislation whereby any member recognized by the Speaker may "move to suspend the rules and pass the bill." This requires a two-thirds vote in the House and a majority in the Senate.

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