Key Legislative Terms
A nonpartisan glossary of common legislative terms that may be unfamiliar to the general public.
46 terms
Act
A bill that has been passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by the President, or whose veto has been overridden. Once enacted, a bill becomes an act — a published law.
Appropriation
Legislation that provides federal funding for government programs and agencies. Appropriation bills must originate in the House of Representatives.
Authorization
Legislation that establishes, continues, or modifies a federal program or agency and may set its maximum funding level. An authorization does not itself provide money — a separate appropriation is required.
Bill
A proposed law introduced in either the House or Senate. Bills are designated 'H.R.' (House) or 'S.' (Senate) followed by a number. A bill must pass both chambers in identical form and be signed by the President to become law.
Bipartisan
Refers to a bill, amendment, or vote that has support from members of both major political parties.
Budget Reconciliation
A special legislative process created by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that allows certain spending and revenue bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority (51 votes) instead of the 60 votes normally needed to overcome a filibuster. Reconciliation bills must be directly related to the federal budget — provisions with no fiscal impact are removed under the 'Byrd Rule.' It is often used to advance major budget-related policy changes on a party-line vote.
Byrd Rule
A Senate rule (named after Senator Robert Byrd) that prohibits 'extraneous' provisions from being included in a reconciliation bill. Any senator may raise a point of order against provisions that have no budgetary impact, and they are struck unless 60 votes waive the objection.
Cloture
The Senate procedure for ending a filibuster and bringing a matter to a vote. Cloture requires 60 votes (three-fifths of senators present and voting) to invoke. Once cloture is achieved, debate is limited to 30 additional hours.
Co-sponsor
A member of Congress who formally signs on in support of a bill introduced by another member. Co-sponsorship does not carry the same procedural role as being the primary sponsor but signals support and can help build momentum.
Committee
A subgroup of legislators assigned to review and refine legislation on a specific topic before it reaches the full chamber. Bills are typically referred to a committee based on their subject matter, where they may be amended, voted on, or tabled.
Concurrent Resolution
A resolution passed by both the House and Senate that expresses the position of Congress but does not have the force of law and is not sent to the President. Often used for internal congressional rules or the annual budget resolution.
Continuing Resolution (CR)
Temporary legislation that funds federal agencies at existing levels when regular appropriation bills have not been passed by the start of the fiscal year (October 1). A CR prevents a government shutdown but does not set new spending priorities.
Debt Ceiling (Debt Limit)
The maximum amount the federal government is legally permitted to borrow to pay its existing obligations. When the debt approaches this limit, Congress must vote to raise or suspend it, or the U.S. risks defaulting on its debts.
Discharge Petition
A mechanism in the House that allows a bill stuck in committee to be brought to the floor for a vote without committee approval. It requires the signatures of a majority of House members (218).
Discretionary Spending
Federal spending that Congress controls through the annual appropriation process, covering areas like defense, education, and transportation. It makes up roughly one-third of the federal budget.
Earmark
A provision inserted into a spending bill that directs funds to a specific project, organization, or location, typically in a member's home district. Earmarks were banned in 2011 but have since been reinstated with new transparency rules.
Engrossed Bill
The final official copy of a bill as passed by one chamber, certified by the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, and sent to the other chamber for consideration.
Enrolled Bill
The final printed version of a bill that has passed both the House and Senate in identical form, certified by leaders of both chambers, and presented to the President for signature or veto.
Entitlement Program
A federal program that guarantees benefits to any individual who meets eligibility criteria, regardless of how much money Congress appropriates. Examples include Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Spending is classified as mandatory.
Executive Order
A directive issued by the President that manages operations of the federal government. Executive orders have the force of law but can be revoked by the President or overturned by Congress or the courts. They are separate from legislation.
Filibuster
A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate indefinitely. Because Senate rules allow unlimited debate, a single senator or a group can refuse to yield the floor unless 60 senators vote for cloture to end the filibuster.
Germane
Relevant to the subject matter of the bill under consideration. Senate rules generally require amendments to be germane, while House rules are stricter. Non-germane provisions in reconciliation bills are subject to the Byrd Rule.
Hopper
The box on the Clerk's desk in the House where members drop bills to formally introduce them. 'Dropping a bill in the hopper' is the official act of introduction.
Joint Resolution
A resolution that has the same legal effect as a bill and must pass both chambers and be signed by the President. Joint resolutions are used for constitutional amendments (which go to the states instead of the President) and for special purposes like continuing appropriations or declaring war.
Line-Item Veto
The power to cancel specific spending items within a bill while signing the rest into law. The U.S. President does not currently have this power — a 1996 law granting it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998 as unconstitutional.
Mandatory Spending
Federal spending driven by eligibility rules in existing law rather than annual appropriations. It includes entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, and makes up roughly two-thirds of the federal budget.
Mark-up
The process by which a committee reviews, amends, and votes on a bill before sending it to the full chamber. During mark-up, members can offer amendments to modify the bill's language, add provisions, or remove sections.
Motion to Recommit
A procedural motion, usually offered by the minority party just before a final vote, to send a bill back to committee with instructions to make changes. In the House, it is the last opportunity to amend a bill before passage.
Motion to Table
A Senate motion to set aside a pending amendment or motion without a direct vote on its merits. Tabling effectively kills the item and requires a simple majority.
Omnibus Bill
A single large bill that combines multiple separate pieces of legislation or appropriation measures into one package. Omnibus bills are often used to pass funding for many agencies at once when individual bills have stalled.
Override (Veto Override)
The process by which Congress can enact a bill despite a presidential veto. A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is required to override a veto. If successful, the bill becomes law without the President's signature.
Pocket Veto
An indirect veto that occurs when the President takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns during the 10-day signing period. Because Congress is not in session, it cannot override the veto, and the bill dies.
President pro tempore
A constitutionally designated officer of the Senate, traditionally the most senior member of the majority party. The President pro tempore presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence and is third in the presidential line of succession.
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for a chamber to conduct business. In both the House and Senate, a quorum is a simple majority (218 in the House, 51 in the Senate).
Reconciliation
See 'Budget Reconciliation.' A fast-track legislative process that allows certain budget-related bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority, bypassing the 60-vote threshold for cloture.
Reported Bill
A bill that has been approved by a committee and sent to the full chamber for consideration. The committee 'reports' the bill with a written explanation of its purpose, any amendments made, and the committee's recommendation.
Rider
An unrelated provision attached to a bill, often a must-pass spending measure, to secure its passage. Riders may not be directly related to the main bill's subject and are used to advance policies that might not pass on their own.
Roll Call Vote
A recorded vote in which each member's name and vote are recorded in the official record. The House uses an electronic voting system; the Senate typically uses a voice response process called the yeas and nays.
Simple Resolution
A resolution that addresses matters within a single chamber's internal rules or procedures. It is not considered by the other chamber and does not have the force of law. Designated 'H.Res.' or 'S.Res.'
Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, elected by members of the majority party. The Speaker is second in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President and controls the House's legislative agenda.
Sponsor
The member of Congress who introduces a bill and is primarily responsible for it. The sponsor's name appears on the bill, and they manage its progress through the legislative process.
Suspension of the Rules
A House procedure used to pass non-controversial bills quickly. Debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments are allowed, and passage requires a two-thirds vote. Bills passed this way are typically minor or widely bipartisan.
Unanimous Consent
A Senate practice where any senator can object to a request. If no one objects, the Senate proceeds. Most routine business — including scheduling votes — is conducted by unanimous consent agreement.
Veto
The President's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law. A regular veto sends the bill back to Congress, which can override it with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
Voice Vote
A voting method in which members call out 'aye' or 'no' together, and the presiding officer judges the result by volume. Individual votes are not recorded. Used for routine or non-controversial matters.
Whip
A member of each party's leadership responsible for counting votes, tracking member positions, and encouraging attendance and party-line voting. Each chamber has a majority whip and a minority whip.