This legislative glossary was adapted with permission from the Washington State Legislature website.

A

ACT. A bill adopted by the Legislature.

ACTUARY. A legislative staff officer appointed by the Select Committee on Pension Policy to prepare actuarial analyses of pension proposals and other items as directed by the Legislature.

AD HOC COMMITTEE. A committee formed for a short duration, usually to study a specific issue.

ADJOURN. To conclude a day's session with a time set to meet again, or conclude a meeting.

ADJOURN SINE DIE. To conclude a regular or special session without setting a day to reconvene.

ADOPT. To approve formally.

AGENCY REQUEST BILL. A request for legislation proposed by an agency of the executive branch of government.

AGENDA. The proposed order of business for a meeting.

AMEND. To modify, delete or add to a proposal.

AMENDMENT. Any change in a bill, resolution or memorial. A committee amendment is an amendment proposed in a committee meeting. A floor amendment is an amendment proposed on the floor of a legislative chamber.

APPEAL FROM DECISION OF THE CHAIR. A parliamentary procedure for challenging the decision of a presiding officer by asking the members to uphold or reject the decision.

APPORTIONMENT. The division of the state into districts with distinct geographic boundaries and the allocation of the number of legislators or congressmen to be elected to represent each district.

APPROACH THE BAR. A legislator's physical movement from any place on the floor of either house to the rostrum.

APPROPRIATION. A legislative allocation of money for a specific purpose.

ASSEMBLY. Lower chamber of a two-body legislature. In some states this chamber is called the House of Representatives or House of Delegates.

AT EASE. A pause in the proceedings of either house, usually for an indefinite time.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION. A formal expression of legal reasons and principles regarding statutory or common law questions from state agencies or legislators.

B

BAR OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE. The rostrum within both houses behind which sit or stand the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and others as designated, for presiding over the body, recording, and processing legislation being considered by the houses.

BICAMERAL. Composed of two chambers or two legislative bodies. For example, some states have the House and Senate, others have the Assembly and Senate.

BIENNIUM. Two-year period.

BILL. A proposed law presented to the Legislature for consideration.

BILL ANALYSIS. A document that must be prepared by committee and/or floor analysis staff prior to hearing the bill in that committee. It explains how a bill would change current law and sometimes mentions support and opposition from major interest groups.

BILL BOOKS. Binders located adjacent to the chamber or in committees containing all bills and amendments currently before or passed by the Legislature or committee.

BILL DIGEST. Section-by-section summary of a bill.

BILL HISTORY. A record of the action taken on bills, resolutions and memorials.

BILL INDEX. A list of legislative measures by subject matter.

BILL REPORT. Summary of background and effect of bills, prepared by committee staff.

BUMPING. Slang term for suspending the rules to allow a bill to be advanced from second to third reading without having the bill revert to the Rules Committee.

C

CALENDAR A list or schedule of pending business.

CALL OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE. A procedure used to compel attendance of members.

CALL TO ORDER. Notice given indicating the Legislature is officially in session. Also used to restore order during floor action.

CAPITOL CAMPUS. The grounds and group of buildings surrounding the domed Legislative Building, holding the offices of most of the state's elected officials.

CASTING VOTE. The deciding vote the Lieutenant Governor may cast in the case of a tie vote in the Senate.

CAUCUS. A meeting of members of a body who belong to the same political party (i.e. Republican or Democratic Caucus).

CHAIR. Presiding officer.

CHAMBER. Official hall for the meeting of a legislative body.

CHAPTER NUMBER. A chapter number, in numerical order, given to each bill enacted. The chapter number is the number of the law. When codified the chapter is inserted in the appropriate section of the statutes.

CHIEF CLERK. A person elected by the members of the House of Representatives to record the official actions of the House and to be the chief administrative officer of the House.

CLOTURE. A procedure in which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken.

COMMITTEE. A portion of a legislative body charged with examining matters specifically referred to it.

COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES. Committees in each house that select the chairs and members of standing committees.

COMPANION BILL. A bill introduced in the same form in both the House and the Senate.

CONCURRENCE CALENDAR. A list of own-house bills amended by the opposite body and returned for possible concurrence.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION. A resolution relating to the internal operation of the Legislature, in which one house concurs in the action of the other; it may originate in either house.

CONFERENCE CALENDAR. A list of bills to which both bodies have appointed conferees to discuss differences and seek resolution.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. A committee which may be appointed to discuss specific differences of opinion between the House and Senate on bills which have passed each house but with differing positions on one or more amendments.

CONFIRMATION. Approval by the Senate of gubernatorial appointments.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Any interest, financial or otherwise, any business or professional activity, or any obligation which is incompatible with the proper discharge of duties.

CONSENT CALENDAR. Bills with little or no known opposition which are placed on a special calendar by the Rules Committee.

CONSTITUTION. The written instrument embodying the fundamental principles of the state that establishes power and duties of the government and guarantees certain rights to the people.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Proposed change in the Constitution which has been approved by two-thirds of both houses of the Legislature. To be enacted, the proposed amendment must be placed on the next general election ballot and secure a simple majority of votes in favor of adopting the measure.

CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. A majority of those members elected to either the Senate or the House.

CONVENE. Assemble for an official meeting.

CO-SPONSOR. Two or more persons proposing any document.

CUT-OFF DATES. Time certain set by a legislative body for specified action such as bill introduction, committee action, or passage of bills by either house.

D

DAY CERTAIN. Adjournment with specific day to reconvene.

DEBATABLE. Open for discussion or argument.

DEBATE. Discussion of a matter following parliamentary rules.

DEPARTMENT REQUEST BILL. A request for legislation proposed by a department of the state (also known as agency request bill).

DISCHARGE. What happens to an elected official who has been recalled.

DISPUTE CALENDAR. Bills amended by one body where the second body refuses to concur and asks the first body to recede.

DISSENT. Difference of opinion.

DISTRICT. Area encompassing citizens represented by a legislator. There are currently 49 legislative districts, each having two House members and one senator.

DIVISION. A method of voting by standing.

DIVISION OF QUESTION. Consideration of each item separately.

DO PASS. Affirmative recommendation made by a committee which moves a bill to the floor or to the next committee.

DO PASS AS AMENDED. Passage recommended by committee providing the language of the bill is changed as specified.

E

EFFECTIVE DATE. The date a bill, once passed, becomes law. Unless a different date is specified, bills become law ninety days after Sine Die.

EMERGENCY CLAUSE. A provision in a bill that allows a measure to become effective immediately upon the signature of the Governor.

ENACTING CLAUSE. The constitutionally required portion of a bill which formally expresses the intent that it become law: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Minnesota . . ."

ENACTMENT. The passage of a bill by both houses and the signing by the Governor.

ENGROSSED BILL. A bill which reflects all amendments made in the house of its origin.

ENROLLED BILL. A bill passed by both houses, which incorporates all amendments, and to which has been attached a certificate of enrollment indicating the date passed, votes cast on the bill, and the certifying officers' signatures. It is presented to the Governor for signature.

ETHICS. Standard of moral conduct.

EXECUTIVE ACTION. 1. Executive action of a standing committee refers to final consideration of a bill by the committee. 2. Executive action on a bill already passed by both houses refers to action taken by the Governor.

EXECUTIVE ORDER. A directive or command from the Governor to agencies in the executive branch.

EXECUTIVE REQUEST BILL. Request for legislation proposed by the Governor.

EXECUTIVE SESSION. A meeting for committee members to discuss and vote on bills they wish to report out of committee. These meetings are open to the public but no testimony is taken. Note that in other contexts executive sessions are closed to the public.

EX OFFICIO. Holding one office by virtue of or because of the holding of another office. Ex-officio members of a committee have voice but may not vote.

EXPULSION. The act wherein a body removes one of its members as provided under its rules.

F

FILIBUSTER. An obstructive tactic used to stall legislative action.

FIRST READING. First of three readings required to pass measures. Bills on first reading are introduced and referred to standing committees.

FISCAL. Relating to financial matters.

FISCAL NOTE. An estimate of the expected cost of a measure to state and/or local government.

FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE. The actual floor space, committed primarily to legislators' desks, on which the business of the Legislature is conducted.

FLOOR RESOLUTION. A written motion calling for action, which may be offered from the floor of either house.

G

GALLERY. Areas of both chambers where public visitors may observe the Legislature in session.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Abbreviated: GA) A legislative body, specifically a state legislature.

GERMANE. Relating directly to a question.

GERRYMANDERING. Legislative district boundary lines drawn to obtain partisan or factional advantages.

GOVERNOR. The chief executive officer of a state.

GRANDFATHER CLAUSE. Inserted in a bill making provisions nonapplicable to activities or personnel involved prior to the enactment of the new legislation.

GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT. Designation by the Governor to fill an office or position.

H

HEARING. A legislative committee meeting at which witnesses present testimony on matters under consideration by the committee.

HELD IN COMMITTEE. When bill fails to get sufficient votes to pass out of committee.

HIJACK. Amendments that delete the contents of a bill and insert entirely new provisions. Can be accomplished with or without the author's permission.

HOPPER. Box located in the bill drafting area in which legislative measures are deposited for introduction.

HOUSE FILE. The number assigned to a bill before it is introduced. It is listed at the top of the bill. HF2379, for example.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Lower chamber of a two-body legislature. In some states this chamber is called the Assembly.

I

INDEFINITELY POSTPONE. To postpone without setting a definite time for consideration.

INITIATIVE. A legislative power vested in the people. An initiative is proposed through a petition containing signatures of 8 percent of the number of voters voting in the last preceding regular gubernatorial election. There are two types of initiatives:
1. Initiative to the people. Original legislation by the voters, proposing a new law (or changing existing laws) without consideration by the Legislature.
2. Initiative to the Legislature. Original legislation by the voters, proposing a new law (or changing existing laws) for consideration by the Legislature at its next regular session. If not enacted, it is placed on the next general election ballot.

INTERIM. Time between legislative sessions.

INTERIM COMMITTEE ASSEMBLY. A legislative practice during the interim of having some days devoted to committee hearings and caucuses in the capitol city or another location within the state.

INTERN. A college or university student from a higher education institution within the state, working with the Legislature, who receives stipend and credit hours. Legislative interns are assigned to members' offices during session and to committee staff during the interim.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. An order of business during which new bills are read into the record.

INVOCATION. Prayer given prior to a session. The schedule for persons offering prayer is determined by the presiding officer.

J

JOINT COMMITTEE. Committee which consists of members from both houses.

JOINT MEMORIAL. A message or petition addressed to the President and/or Congress of the United States, or the head of any other agency of the federal or state government, asking for consideration of some matter of concern to the state or region. Proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution are also in the form of joint memorials.

JOINT RESOLUTION. An act of the Legislature which proposes an amendment to the state Constitution for reference to the people for acceptance or rejection. To pass, joint resolutions must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members elected in each house.

JOURNAL. Official record of action of legislative session. Usually referring to either the Journal of the Senate or the Journal of the House, which are the official records of the respective bodies.

L

LAW. Common law is law set by precedent in court and by interpretation of the Constitution and statute law. Statute law is governing action or procedure approved through the legislative process.

LEADERSHIP. The officers elected by their respective caucuses.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET NOTES. Document providing detail about the operating budget.

LEGISLATIVE BUILDING. The domed capitol building containing both the House or Assembly and Senate chambers and the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Treasurer, Auditor and Secretary of State.

LEGISLATIVE DIGEST AND HISTORY OF BILLS. A publication issued periodically containing the sponsors, titles, short digest of content, legislative actions, and veto messages of the Governor for each bill, memorial, resolution and gubernatorial appointment.

LEGISLATIVE INTENT. If the words of a law cannot be clearly interpreted as written, the court may refer to the journal and bill reports to establish the intent of the Legislature in passing certain bills.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT. Summary of legislation passed during one or more legislative sessions.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION. The term session is used loosely and has many different meanings -- l) the two-year period during which the Legislature meets; 2) regular session refers to the annual meetings of the Legislature; 3) daily sessions refer to the times when the House and Senate meet in their respective chambers.

LEGISLATOR. Elected member of either the House of Representatives or Senate.

LEGISLATURE. The body made up of the members of both the House of Representatives or Assembly and the Senate.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. Presiding officer of the Senate. Can cast a vote only in the event of a tie. If the Governor cannot assume his or her duties or is absent from the state, the Lieutenant Governor assumes the office of the Executive Office for the remainder of the term or during the absence.

LOBBYIST. A person who tries to get legislators to introduce or vote for measures favorable and against measures unfavorable to an interest that he or she represents.

M

MAJORITY LEADER. Leader of the majority party in the state Senate. In the House or Assembly, second in command to the Speaker. Elected by the majority caucus in each body.

MAJORITY PARTY. The party numbering the most members in a legislative body.

MAJORITY REPORT. Document bearing the signatures of a majority of the members of a committee recommending a particular action on a measure.

MEASURE. Any matter before a body such as a bill, memorial or resolution.

MEMBERS. Legislators having taken the oath of office.

MINORITY PARTY. A party numbering less than a majority of members in a legislative body.

MINORITY REPORT. Document carrying signature(s) of a minority of the members of a committee recommending an action different from the majority.

MOOT. A term indicating that a motion is not timely because it can no longer affect an action or event.

MOTION. A proposal that the Senate or House take a certain action.

MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion which, if it succeeds, would place a question in the same status as it was prior to a previous vote on that question.

MOVE. A formal request for action.

N

NULL AND VOID CLAUSE. Language specifying that a measure is invalid unless funding is provided in the budget by a specified date.

O

ORDER OF BUSINESS. The usual order of daily activities of a body, set out in its rules.

ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. A list of measures anticipated to be acted upon by the House or Senate on a particular day.

P

PAGE. A person employed by the House or Senate to run errands, to assist committees, and to perform a variety of other legislative tasks.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. Question posed to chair for clarification of a point in the proceedings.

PASSAGE OF BILL. The act of passing a bill by either or both houses of the Legislature.

PDC. Public Disclosure Commission. Oversees the reporting of information filed by lobbyists, state agencies, legislators, candidates and political committees on the amount of money spent on the political process and enforces the campaign laws.

PENALTY CLAUSES. Sections of bills which lay out criminal or civil penalties for violation of the law.

PETITION. A formal request.

PLURALITY. The person or alternative with the most votes between two or more choices; as opposed to a "simple majority," meaning 51 percent or more of those present and voting. A "constitutional majority" is 51 percent or more of those elected to the House or Senate.

POINT OF ORDER. A demand or request by a member for a legislative body to adhere to its rules of procedure.

PREFILING. The act of introducing a bill prior to the beginning of session.

PRESIDENT. Presiding officer of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor of the state.

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. A senator elected by the Senate to discharge the duties of presiding officer in the Lieutenant Governor's absence.

PREVIOUS QUESTION. A motion to close debate and bring the pending question or questions to an immediate vote.

PRIME SPONSOR. The originator or first name on a bill or amendment that has been introduced.

PROCLAMATION. An order issued by the Governor, such as a proclamation calling a special session of the Legislature.

PROVISO. A clause in a bill that sets out specific exceptions to the general law.

PULL. Slang term for moving a bill. For example, Rules Committee members may move (pull) bills to the floor for action by the full Senate, or members may vote to pull a bill from a committee to the floor.

PUT THE QUESTION. When the presiding officer instructs the body what it is about to vote on.

Q

QUORUM. A majority of members of the group concerned. This means a majority of those elected to either house; in a committee, this means a majority of members assigned to the specific committee.

R

RECALL. The recall is the vote of the people which, in effect, tries the elective public officer on charges brought against the officer. All elective public officers except judges of courts of record are subject to recall and discharge from elective offices.

RECEDE. To withdraw from an amendment in which the other house refused to concur.

RECOMMITTED BILL. A procedure whereby a bill is referred back to a standing or conference committee for further consideration. A bill may be recommitted at any time, usually on second or third reading. Recommitment of bills can be used to kill a bill during the final days of a session.

RECONSIDER. To vote again on a question previously before the body.

REDISTRICTING. Redrawing the boundaries of areas of representation to make them equal in population. Generally done once each decade.

REFER. To send a measure to a committee for study and consideration.

RE-REFER. To reassign a measure to a different committee.

REFERENDUM. Recently passed legislation referred by the Legislature to the voters for their rejection or enactment.

REFERENDUM MEASURE. The legislative power whereby the electorate may call back recently enacted laws for voter consideration. It originates in a petition containing signatures of those registered and voting at the last preceding regular gubernatorial election.

RELIEVED. A committee may be relieved of further consideration of any bill in either house by a majority vote of the members of the particular house.

REORGANIZATION MEETINGS. Meetings of legislative caucuses to select leaders. Generally held in even-numbered years shortly after the general election.

REPASSAGE. A final vote on a bill previously passed in another form to include amendments of the other chamber, a conference committee or amendments.

REPEAL. To revoke or abrogate by legislative action.

REPORTING OUT. Action by a committee on a measure which moves the measure out of the committee. A measure may be reported out with a do pass, do not pass, amend, substitute, refer to another committee, or no recommendation.

ROLL CALL. Record of how members voted on a particular issue or question.

RULE SUSPENDED. To temporarily set aside a rule.

RULES. Regulating principles used in the conduct of legislative business.

S

SCOPE AND OBJECT. A parliamentary ruling by the presiding officer as to whether a proposed amendment fits within the subject matter of the bill under consideration. Senate and House rules prohibit amendments which change or expand the scope and object of a bill.

SECRETARY OF THE SENATE. A person elected by the Senate members to record the official actions of the Senate and to be the chief administrative officer of the Senate.

SECOND READING. The reading of a bill for the second time, in full, in open session, opening it to amendatory action.

SELECT COMMITTEE. A committee appointed to consider a particular topic for a limited time. Used interchangeably with special committee.

SENATE. Upper chamber of our two-body legislature.

SENATE FILE. The number assigned to a bill before it is introduced. It is listed at the top of the bill. SF2379, for example.

SERGEANT AT ARMS. Enforces protocol of the House or Senate and provides security for the legislative offices.

SESSION. Official meeting of the Legislature. The Constitution provides for one 105-day regular session during odd-numbered years and one 60-day regular session during even-numbered years each biennium.

SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. A section of a bill which instructs the court that if one section of the act is found unconstitutional, the remainder of the act will remain intact.

SHORT TITLE. An abridged description of the bill.

SINE DIE. To conclude a regular or special session without setting a day to reconvene.

SPEAKER. Presiding officer of the House of Representatives, House of Delegates, or Assembly.

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS. A motion to take up a specified measure at a specific time.

SPECIAL SESSION. A session of no more than 30 days, convened by the Governor or the Legislature, following adjournment of the regular session. The Legislature, upon two-thirds vote of all members, may call itself into special session.

SPONSOR. Member offering a bill, amendment, resolution or memorial.

STANDING COMMITTEES. Committees set up by the Legislature to last for the entire length (two years) of a legislature.

STATUS SHEET. A daily publication during session giving status of bills pending or acted upon by the Legislature.

STATUTE. A law enacted by the Legislature.

STRIKE OUT. To delete language from a bill or resolution.

STRIKING AMENDMENT. Amendment removing everything after the title and inserting a whole new bill.

SUBCOMMITTEE. Selected members of a committee designed to study a special area of concern and then report to the whole committee their findings and recommendations.

SUBSTITUTE. A bill which replaces an entire bill or resolution.

SUNSET PROVISION. A date certain for a law to automatically be repealed unless renewed by the Legislature.

SUPREME COURT. The highest court of the state.

T

TABLE. To set aside a matter for possible consideration at a future time.

TERM. Duration of office of an elected official.

TERM LIMITS. Restrictions on the length of service for elected offices.

THIRD HOUSE. An association whose membership includes most of the professional lobbyists in the state.

THIRD READING. The final consideration of a bill before either house. The bill can be debated, tabled, referred, but not amended. Final passage takes a constitutional majority.

TITLE OF BILL. Description of bill or act which encompasses the intent of the bill.

TITLE-ONLY BILL. A bill which contains nothing more than a title and a number. It is introduced in order to have a vehicle on which to amend substance at a later time.

U

ULCER GULCH. Slang term for area in the Legislative Building used by lobbyists and general public for telephone calls and messages.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Business which has been laid over from a previous day.

UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE. A legislative body having only one house, such as a city council. Nebraska has the only unicameral state legislature.

UNOFFICIAL ENGROSSMENT. Amendment by the other house of a bill which has been passed by its house of origin. For example, the House (known as the Assembly in some states) cannot officially amend a Senate bill, so when the House considers a Senate bill and makes changes, that engrossment is unofficial until the bill returns to the Senate and the Senate adopts the engrossment.

V

VETO. Rejection of a bill by the Governor. Governor has power to veto sections of bills but cannot make any additions. The Governor can also veto appropriation items. To pass a bill over a Governor's veto takes a two-thirds vote of both houses and is known as overriding a veto.

W

WAYS AND MEANS. The chief revenue and appropriations committee in the Senate. The committee is responsible for deciding the ways in which state monies will be spent and the means that will be used to raise the tax revenues.

WHIP. An assistant to the majority or minority leader, the duties of the whip include counting votes, checking attendance and maintaining caucus discipline on partisan issues and procedural questions.

WITHDRAW A MOTION. To recall or remove a motion according to parliamentary procedure.

WITHIN THE BAR. Refers either to a legislator's presence within the bar of the house or to his or her physical presence on the floor of the Legislature.

WORK ROOM. An office in each house where the bills are processed, roll call information retained and bills engrossed, enrolled, etc.

WORK SESSION. Informal discussion of a measure or topic by a committee. No executive action or amendments are permitted.

X

X-FILE. The House and Senate Rules Committees may place bills that will go no further in the process on the "X-file."

Y

YIELD. To relinquish the floor of the House or Senate to allow another member to speak.