Maiden Speech
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 …
Senate
Quorum Call
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
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 …
One-House Bill
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 …
Tag-Team Hold
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 …
Nuclear Option
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 …
Mae West Hold
A “Mae West hold” is a type of Senate hold nicknamed because of the senator’s implied desire to make a deal, rather than block a …
Ping Pong
“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 …