Part 4: Helpful Terms

Frequently, Members of Congress and Congressional staffers use jargon that is not always familiar to those not well-versed in the legislative process. Here are a few terms that you may encounter as you venture toward Capitol Hill.

ACT

a bill that has already been approved by either the House or the Senate

APPROPRIATION

a formal Congressional approval in specific "dollar" figures to fund a program

AUTHORIZATION

legislation that creates or extends a program, generally including an outline for funding (although no funding is assured until after the formal appropriations process)

BILL

a piece of legislation, especially in its early stages—when identical measures are introduced in the House and Senate Chambers they are referred to as "companion" bill.

BUDGET AUTHORITY

appropriations, contract authority, and borrowing authority are set forth to insure that Federal Agencies may incur financial liability

CALENDAR

the official line-up of business awaiting action on the House or Senate floor

CLOTURE

only relevant in the Senate, a rule imposing a 100-hour limit for debate on the Senate floor, when agreed to by three-fifths of the Members

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

selected Members of the House and Senate meeting to produce one document by resolving differences in similar House-passed and Senate-passed legislation in preparation for final passage

CONTINUING RESOLUTION

a joint appropriations measure which provides funding for an authorized program for which a regular appropriations bill has not been passed in time to ensure an uninterrupted flow of services

FISCAL YEAR

the duration for which funds are appropriated for the Federal government, October 1 - September 30

GERMANENESS

a standing rule in the House that all amendments to a piece of legislation must relate to the subject matter under consideration

MARK-UP

the amendment and passage of a piece of legislation by a Committee or Subcommittee to prepare it for consideration on the Floor of the House or Senate

POINT OF ORDER

an objection raised by a Member of Congress that a specific matter currently under consideration is somehow in violation of the Chamber's standing rules of debate

QUORUM

the number of Members required to be present to conduct official business (218 in the House, 51 in the Senate)

RANKING MEMBER

the majority Member holding the most seniority of a given Committee, following the Chair

RANKING MINORITY MEMBER

the most senior minority member on a Committee

RIDER

an unrelated amendment to a piece of legislation to ensure its passage (more common in the Senate than the House, due to a germaneness rule)

SEQUESTER

when funds, previously appropriated, are unilaterally cut back due to an overall budgetary imbalance

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES

a mechanism only utilized in the House which significantly restricts time for floor debate, disallows amendments, and requires passage by two-thirds majority—generally used for noncontroversial measures at the close of a legislative session

WHIP

appointed Member of each party in each Chamber to assist leadership in developing legislative agenda, and to monitor likelihood of passage on controversial measures (count votes), among other duties

Next --> Part 5 - Important Members of Congress