Motion to Vacate
A “motion to vacate” the chair is a parliamentary procedure in the House of Representatives that allows a member to propose a resolution to remove …
A “motion to vacate” the chair is a parliamentary procedure in the House of Representatives that allows a member to propose a resolution to remove …
“Ping pong” refers to reconciling the differences between a House-passed bill and a Senate-passed bill by amendments between the chambers, rather than forming a conference …
Blue-slipping is a term that originates from the United States Congress and refers to a procedural action taken by the House of Representatives to assert …
The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate each have a sergeant-at-arms, whose job it is to maintain order in the legislative chamber.
The sergeant-at-arms …
The term “germane” is used to describe the requirement that proposed amendments or provisions introduced during the legislative process must be relevant and directly related …
“Smell of jet fuel” is a reference to the impatience that sets in when Members of Congress are ready to leave Washington, D.C. to return …
The “well” refers to the area at the front of the chamber where the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other leaders of the …
Franking privileges allow lawmakers to send mail to constituents without having to pay postage.
A copy of the member’s signature replaces the stamp …
The mark-up is the committee meeting held to review the text of a bill before reporting it to the floor.
The mark-up process plays a …
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.
It is a comprehensive and authoritative reference source …
Leader time is the ten minute time allotted to Senate leaders at the start of the daily session.
It refers to a period set aside…
The Committee of the Whole is a procedural device used to expedite debates in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives uses this …
A junket is a trip taken by a politicians with expenses paid for with public funds.
Junkets are a common practice in politics, and are …
Earmarks are funds that are allocated to a specific program, project or for a designated purpose, or that direct specific exemptions from taxes or mandated …
Named for their opening salutation, a “Dear Colleague letter” is an official communication distributed in bulk by a lawmaker to all members of Congress.
They …
Cats and dogs are are leftover “stray” bills on minor subjects saved for days when the House or Senate have light floor schedules.
It is …
In a legislative context, to “lay on the table” refers to the action of temporarily postponing consideration of a motion or bill.
This is typically …
A “lame duck session” is when the House or Senate reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various …
The “aisle” refers to the space which divides the majority side from the minority on the House and Senate floor.
When debating, members frequently refer …
The “king of the hill” is a special rule in the House of Representatives for sequencing different amendments.
Under this rule, all of the proposed …
A pro forma session is a brief meeting of a legislative body, typically lasting only a few minutes, during which no formal business
In politics, cloakrooms are spaces adjacent to the chambers of the Senate and the House where politicians from both parties can gather to discuss Congressional …
The “yeas and nays” is a recorded roll call vote of members of the House or Senate.
The term “yeas” refers to votes in favor …
A “hopper” refers to a physical box or an electronic system where proposed bills or resolutions are submitted in a legislative body.
The concept comes …
“Inside the Beltway” is a term used to describe the political landscape and culture within the Capital Beltway, the Interstate 495 highway that encircles …
The term “ex officio” comes from the Latin phrase “from the office,” and in politics it refers to someone who is part of a political …
A caucus is an informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to their party’s convention.
It can also refer to …
A “codel,” or congressional delegation, is a group of members of the United States Congress who travel together on official business.
These trips …
Impeachment is the process by which a public official, such as the President of the United States, can be removed from office for …
A “live pair” refers to a situation where two lawmakers have agreed to not vote on a particular matter.
This is typically done as a …
“One minute speeches” refers to a procedure that allows members of a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress, to speak briefly
The term “sine die” is a Latin phrase that literally means “without a day” or “without setting a day.”
In politics, it is …
A bill is a proposed law introduced in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
A bill originating in the House is …
A quorum call is a procedure used in both houses of Congress to bring to the floor the number of members who must be present …
A “one-house bill” is a bill introduced by a lawmaker for the purpose of grandstanding or to demonstrate their effort to fulfill political promises without …
“Under suspension of the rules” refers to a process in the House of Representatives where a bill or resolution is considered without following all the …
The Hastert rule is an informal guiding principle for leaders in the House of Representatives that dictates a majority of the majority party support any …