Senate

“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 …

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 Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.

It is a comprehensive and authoritative reference source …

The term “vote-a-rama” is used to refer to a marathon session of voting in the United States Senate.

This typically occurs during the consideration of …

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 …

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 “candy desk” is where a supply of candy is kept in the U.S. Senate.

Sen. George Murphy (R-CA) originated the practice of keeping a …

“Advice and Consent” is a critical phrase in the United States Constitution that outlines a key aspect of the checks and balances among the three …

Hideaways are personal, unmarked offices in the Capitol originally assigned to senior senators. They are often conveniently located near the Senate floor.

The hideaway location …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Morning business is routine business that is supposed to occur during the first two hours of a new legislative day in the U.S. Senate.

This …

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 …

Unanimous consent is a legislative procedure whereby a legislator requests approval by all legislators to approve rule changes and bills.

The rules have been used …

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 …

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 …

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 …

“Inside the Beltway” is a term used to describe the political landscape and culture within the Capital Beltway, the Interstate 495 highway that encircles …

A “codel,” or congressional delegation, is a group of members of the United States Congress who travel together on official business.

These trips …

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 …

Impeachment is the process by which a public official, such as the President of the United States, can be removed from office for …

“Riddick’s Senate Procedure” is a comprehensive reference work that serves as the definitive guide to the rules, practices, and precedents governing the United States Senate.…

The term “sine die” is a Latin phrase that literally means “without a day” or “without setting a day.”

In politics, it is …

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 …

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 …

“Cloture” is legislative term referring to a motion or process by which debate is brought to a quick end.

Origin of “Cloture”

From the French …

A “maiden speech” is the first speech that an elected official makes in front of a legislature.

The term is most commonly used in the …

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 …

The Byrd rule is a parliamentary tripwire that prevents tangential material from being included in a budget reconciliation bill in the Senate.

Reconciliation legislation is …

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 …

A tag-team hold is when two or more senators agree to circumvent a 2011 resolution limiting secret senate holds to two days.

One senator will …

The “nuclear option” is a metaphorical term that refers to a parliamentary procedure in the U.S. Senate allowing for a significant change to the rules …