Glossary of Legislative Terms
Select a letter to navigate this comprehensive, alphabetical list of legislative terms: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ACT. A bill adopted by the Legislature. B BILL HISTORY. A record of the action taken on bills, resolutions and memorials. CALENDAR A list or schedule of pending business. D EFFECTIVE DATE. The date a bill, once passed, becomes law. Unless a different date is specified, bills become law ninety days after Sine Die. GALLERY. Areas of both chambers where public visitors may observe the Legislature in session. HEARING. A legislative committee meeting at which witnesses present testimony on matters under consideration by the committee. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Lower chamber of our two-body legislature. The House has 125 members who serve. INDEFINITELY POSTPONE. To postpone without setting a definite time for consideration. INTERIM. Time between legislative sessions. J LAW. Common law is law set by precedent in court and by interpretation of the Constitution and statute law. Statute law is governing action or procedure approved through the legislative process. MAJORITY LEADER. Leader of the majority party in the state Senate. In the House, second in command to the Speaker. Elected by the majority caucus in each body. NULL AND VOID CLAUSE. Language specifying that a measure is invalid unless funding is provided in the budget by a specified date. OATH OF OFFICE. Oath taken by members-elect of the Legislature prior to being seated. PAGE. High school and junior high students who assist the House or Senate. Each page is appointed by a member for one day for which they receive a stipend. PROCLAMATION. An order issued by the Governor, such as a proclamation calling a special session of the Legislature. QUORUM. A majority of members of the group concerned. This means a majority of those elected to either house; in a committee, this means a majority of members assigned to the specific committee. R SCOPE AND OBJECT. A parliamentary ruling by the presiding officer as to whether a proposed amendment fits within the subject matter of the bill under consideration. Senate and House rules prohibit amendments which change or expand the scope and object of a bill. TABLE. To set aside a matter for possible consideration at a future time. U VETO. Rejection of a bill by the Governor. Governor has power to veto sections of bills but cannot make any additions. The Governor can also veto appropriation items. To pass a bill over a Governor's veto takes a two-thirds vote of both houses and is known as overriding a veto. W YIELD. To relinquish the floor of the House or Senate to allow another member to speak.
AD HOC COMMITTEE. A committee formed for a short duration, usually to study a specific issue.
ADJOURN. To conclude a day's session with a time set to meet again, or conclude a meeting.
ADOPT. To approve formally.
AGENCY REQUEST BILL. A request for legislation proposed by an agency of the executive branch of government.
AGENDA. The proposed order of business for a meeting.
AMEND. To modify, delete or add to a proposal.
AMENDMENT. Any change in a bill, resolution or memorial. A committee amendment is an amendment proposed in a committee meeting. A floor amendment is an amendment proposed on the floor of a legislative chamber.
APPEAL FROM DECISION OF THE CHAIR. A parliamentary procedure for challenging the decision of a presiding officer by asking the members to uphold or reject the decision.
APPORTIONMENT. The division of the state into districts with distinct geographic boundaries and the allocation of the number of legislators or congressmen to be elected to represent each district.
APPROPRIATION. A legislative allocation of money for a specific purpose.
AT EASE. A pause in the proceedings of either house, usually for an indefinite time.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION. A formal expression of legal reasons and principles regarding statutory or common law questions from state agencies or legislators.
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BICAMERAL. Composed of two chambers or two legislative bodies. The Washington State bicameral legislature is made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate.
BILL. A proposed law presented to the Legislature for consideration.
BILL BOOKS. Binders containing all bills and amendments currently before or passed by the Legislature or committee.
BILL BRIEF. Section-by-section summary of a bill, prepared by the Reviser's office.
BILL INDEX. A list of legislative measures by subject matter.
BILLS ON CALENDAR. Printed volumes with yellow covers distributed to each member's floor desk. Includes the full text of bills and proposed committee amendments on the pending calendar.
BUMPING. Slang term for suspending the rules to allow a bill to be advanced from second to third reading without having the bill revert to the Rules Committee.
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CALL OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE. A procedure used to compel attendance of members.
CALL TO ORDER. Notice given indicating the Legislature is officially in session. Also used to restore order during floor action.
CAPITAL. Topeka, Kansas.
CAPITAL BUDGET. Appropriations made to state and local agencies for building and construction projects.
CAPITOL CAMPUS. The grounds and group of buildings surrounding the domed Legislative Building, holding the offices of most of the state's elected officials.
CAUCUS. A meeting of members of a body who belong to the same political party.
CHAIR. Presiding officer.
CHAMBER. Official hall for the meeting of a legislative body.
CHAPTER NUMBER. A chapter number, in numerical order, given to each bill enacted. The chapter number is the number of the law. When codified the chapter is inserted in the appropriate section of the statutes known as the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
CHIEF CLERK. A person selected by the members of the House of Representatives to record the official actions of the House and to be the chief administrative officer of the House.
CHIEF REVISER. Operating under the supervision of the Statute Law Committee, this person codifies into the appropriate sections of the RCW those measures enacted into law by the Legislature and also codifies administrative rules adopted by executive branch agencies.
COMMITTEE. A portion of a legislative body charged with examining matters specifically referred to it.
COMPANION BILL. A bill introduced in the same form in both the House and the Senate.
CONCURRENCE CALENDAR. A list of own-house bills amended by the opposite body and returned for possible concurrence.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION. A resolution relating to the internal operation of the Legislature, in which one house concurs in the action of the other; it may originate in either house.
CONFERENCE CALENDAR. A list of bills to which both bodies have appointed conferees to discuss differences and seek resolution.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. A committee which may be appointed to discuss specific differences of opinion between the House and Senate on bills which have passed each house but with differing positions on one or more amendments.
CONFIRMATION. Approval by the Senate of gubernatorial appointments.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Any interest, financial or otherwise, any business or professional activity, or any obligation which is incompatible with the proper discharge of duties.
CONSENT CALENDAR. Bills with little or no known opposition which are placed on a special calendar by the Rules Committee.
CONSTITUTION. The written instrument embodying the fundamental principles of the state that establishes power and duties of the government and guarantees certain rights to the people.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Proposed change in the Kansas State Constitution which has been approved by two-thirds of both houses of the Legislature. To be enacted, the proposed amendment must be placed on the next general election ballot and secure a simple majority of votes in favor of adopting the measure.
CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. A majority of those members elected to either the Senate or the House. In the Senate a constitutional majority is 25; in the House it is 50.
CONVENE. Assemble for an official meeting.
COSPONSOR. Two or more persons proposing any document.
CUTOFF DATES. Time certain set by a legislative body for specified action such as bill introduction, committee action, or passage of bills by either house.
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DEBATABLE. Open for discussion or argument.
DEBATE. Discussion of a matter following parliamentary rules.
DEPARTMENT REQUEST BILL. A request for legislation proposed by a department of the state (also known as agency request bill).
DISCHARGE. What happens to an elected official who has been recalled.
DISPUTE CALENDAR. Bills amended by one body where the second body refuses to concur and asks the first body to recede.
DISSENT. Difference of opinion.
DISTRICT. Area encompassing citizens represented by a legislator.
DIVISION. A method of voting by standing.
DIVISION OF QUESTION. Consideration of each item separately.
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EMERGENCY CLAUSE. A provision in a bill that allows a measure to become effective immediately upon the signature of the Governor.
ENACTMENT. The passage of a bill by both houses and the signing by the Governor.
ENGROSSED BILL. A bill which reflects all amendments made in the house of its origin.
ENROLLED BILL. A bill passed by both houses, which incorporates all amendments, and to which has been attached a certificate of enrollment indicating the date passed, votes cast on the bill, and the certifying officers' signatures. It is presented to the Governor for signature.
ETHICS. Standard of moral conduct.
EXECUTIVE ACTION. 1. Executive action of a standing committee refers to final consideration of a bill by the committee.
2. Executive action on a bill already passed by both houses refers to action taken by the Governor.
EXECUTIVE ORDER. A directive or command from the Governor to agencies in the executive branch.
EXECUTIVE REQUEST BILL. Request for legislation proposed by the Governor.
EXECUTIVE RULES. See FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS.
EXECUTIVE SESSION. A meeting for committee members to discuss and vote on bills they wish to report out of committee. These meetings are open to the public but no testimony is taken. Note that in other contexts executive sessions are closed to the public.
EX OFFICIO. Holding one office by virtue of or because of the holding of another office. Ex-officio members of a committee have voice but may not vote.
EXPULSION. The act wherein a body removes one of its members as provided under its rules.
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FIRST READING. First of three readings required to pass measures. Bills on first reading are introduced and referred to standing committees.
FISCAL. Relating to financial matters. The state fiscal year (FY) is July 1 through June 30.
FISCAL NOTE. An estimate of the expected cost of a measure to state and/or local government.
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE. The actual floor space, committed primarily to legislators' desks, on which the business of the Legislature is conducted.
FLOOR RESOLUTION. A written motion calling for action, which may be offered from the floor of either house.
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GERMANE. Relating directly to a question.
GERRYMANDERING. Legislative district boundary lines drawn to obtain partisan or factional advantages.
GOVERNOR. The chief executive officer of a state.
GRANDFATHER CLAUSE. Inserted in a bill making provisions nonapplicable to activities or personnel involved prior to the enactment of the new legislation.
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENT. Designation by the Governor to fill an office or position.
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INITIATIVE. A legislative power vested in the people. An initiative is proposed through a petition containing signatures of 8 percent of the number of voters voting in the last preceding regular gubernatorial election. There are two types of initiatives:
1. Initiative to the people. Original legislation by the voters, proposing a new law (or changing existing laws) without consideration by the Legislature.
2. Initiative to the Legislature. Original legislation by the voters, proposing a new law (or changing existing laws) for consideration by the Legislature at its next regular session. If not enacted, it is placed on the next general election ballot.
INTERIM COMMITTEE. A legislative practice during the interim of having some days devoted to committee hearings.
INTERN. A college or university student from a higher education institution within the state, working with the Legislature, who receives credit hours. Legislative interns are assigned to members' offices during session.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. An order of business during which new bills are read into the record.
INVOCATION. Prayer given prior to a session. The schedule for persons offering prayer is determined by the presiding officer.
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JOINT COMMITTEE. Committee which consists of members from both houses.
JOINT MEMORIAL. A message or petition addressed to the President and/or Congress of the United States, or the head of any other agency of the federal or state government, asking for consideration of some matter of concern to the state or region. Proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution are also in the form of joint memorials.
JOINT RESOLUTION. An act of the Legislature which proposes an amendment to the state Constitution for reference to the people for acceptance or rejection. To pass, joint resolutions must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members elected in each house.
JOURNAL. Official record of action of legislative session.
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LEADERSHIP. The officers elected by their respective caucuses.
LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR. Staff director of JLARC.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET NOTES. Document providing detail about the biennial operating budget.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURAL MANUAL. Biennial publication that contains the rules of each body, joint rules, and other information about the Legislature and state government.
LEGISLATIVE REPORT. Summary of legislation passed during one or more legislative sessions.
LEGISLATOR. Elected member of either the House of Representatives or Senate.
LEGISLATURE. The body made up of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
LOBBYIST. A person who tries to get legislators to introduce or vote for measures favorable and against measures unfavorable to an interest that he or she represents.
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MAJORITY PARTY. The party numbering the most members in a legislative body.
MAJORITY REPORT. Document bearing the signatures of a majority of the members of a committee recommending a particular action on a measure.
MEASURE. Any matter before a body such as a bill, memorial or resolution.
MEMBERS. Legislators having taken the oath of office.
MINORITY PARTY. A party numbering less than a majority of members in a legislative body.
MINORITY REPORT. Document carrying signature(s) of a minority of the members of a committee recommending an action different from the majority.
MOOT. A term indicating that a motion is not timely because it can no longer affect an action or event.
MOTION. A proposal that the Senate or House take a certain action.
MOTION TO RECONSIDER. A motion which, if it succeeds, would place a question in the same status as it was prior to a previous vote on that question.
MOVE. A formal request for action.
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OPERATING BUDGET. Two-year plan for funding ongoing activities of state agencies, except transportation.
ORDER OF BUSINESS. The usual order of daily activities of a body, set out in its rules.
ORDER OF CONSIDERATION. A list of measures anticipated to be acted upon by the House or Senate on a particular day.
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PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. Question posed to chair for clarification of a point in the proceedings.
PASSAGE OF BILL. The act of passing a bill by either or both houses of the Legislature.
PENALTY CLAUSES. Sections of bills which lay out criminal or civil penalties for violation of the law.
PETITION. A formal request.
PER DIEM. Payment in lieu of living expenses.
PLURALITY. The person or alternative with the most votes between two or more choices; as opposed to a "simple majority," meaning 51 percent or more of those present and voting. A "constitutional majority" is 51 percent or more of those elected to the House or Senate.
POINT OF ORDER. A demand or request by a member for a legislative body to adhere to its rules of procedure.
PREFILING. The act of introducing a bill prior to the beginning of session. Prefiling starts on the first Monday in December prior to the commencement of the session, or twenty days prior to a special session.
PRESIDENT. Presiding officer of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor of the state.
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. A senator elected by the Senate to discharge the duties of presiding officer in the Lieutenant Governor's absence.
PREVIOUS QUESTION. A motion to close debate and bring the pending question or questions to an immediate vote.
PRIME SPONSOR. The originator or first name on a bill or amendment that has been introduced.
PROVISO. A clause in a bill that sets out specific exceptions to the general law.
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RECALL. The recall is the vote of the people which, in effect, tries the elective public officer on charges brought against the officer. All elective public officers except judges of courts of record are subject to recall and discharge from elective offices.
RECEDE. To withdraw from an amendment in which the other house refused to concur.
RECOMMITTED BILL. A procedure whereby a bill is referred back to a standing or conference committee for further consideration. A bill may be recommitted at any time, usually on second or third reading. Recommitment of bills can be used to kill a bill during the final days of a session.
RECONSIDER. To vote again on a question previously before the body.
REDISTRICTING. Redrawing the boundaries of areas of representation to make them equal in population. Generally done once each decade.
REFER. To send a measure to a committee for study and consideration.
RE-REFER. To reassign a measure to a different committee.
REFERENDUM. Recently passed legislation referred by the Legislature to the voters for their rejection or enactment.
REFERENDUM MEASURE. The legislative power whereby the electorate may call back recently enacted laws for voter consideration. It originates in a petition containing signatures of 4 percent of those registered and voting at the last preceding regular gubernatorial election.
RELIEVED. A committee may be relieved of further consideration of any bill in either house by a majority vote of the members of the particular house.
REORGANIZATION MEETING. Meetings of legislative caucuses to select leaders. Generally held in even-numbered years shortly after the general election.
REPEAL. To revoke or abrogate by legislative action.
REPEALER CLAUSE. The section of a bill that lists which RCW sections and chapters of law are revoked and abrogated by the proposed legislation.
REPORTING OUT. Action by a committee on a measure which moves the measure out of the committee. A measure may be reported out with a do pass, do not pass, amend, substitute, refer to another committee, or no recommendation.
ROLL CALL. Record of how members voted on a particular issue or question.
RULE SUSPENDED. To temporarily set aside a rule.
RULES. Regulating principles used in the conduct of legislative business.
RULES COMMITTEE. Committee responsible for setting the daily calendar of the Senate and House. The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, respectively, serve as chair of these committees.
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SECRETARY OF THE SENATE. A person selected by the Senate members to record the official actions of the Senate and to be the chief administrative officer of the Senate.
SECOND READING. The reading of a bill for the second time, in full, in open session, opening it to amendatory action.
SELECT COMMITTEE. A committee appointed to consider a particular topic for a limited time. Used interchangeably with special committee.
SENATE. Upper chamber of our two-body legislature. The Senate has 40 members who serve four-year terms.
SERGEANT AT ARMS. Enforces protocol of the House or Senate and provides security for the legislative offices.
SESSION. Official meeting of the Legislature. The Constitution provides for one 105-day regular session during odd-numbered years and one 60-day regular session during even-numbered years each biennium.
SINE DIE. To conclude a regular or special session without setting a day to reconvene.
SPEAKER. Presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS. A motion to take up a specified measure at a specific time.
SPECIAL SESSION. A session of no more than 30 days, convened by the Governor or the Legislature, following adjournment of the regular session. The Legislature, upon two-thirds vote of all members, may call itself into special session.
SPONSOR. Member offering a bill, amendment, resolution or memorial.
STANDING COMMITTEES. Committees set up by the Legislature to last for the entire length (two years) of a legislature.
STATE OFFICIALS. The six elected statewide administrative officers: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Insurance Commissioner.
STATUTE. A law enacted by the Legislature.
STRIKE OUT. To delete language from a bill or resolution.
STRIKING AMENDMENT. Amendment removing everything after the title and inserting a whole new bill.
SUBCOMMITTEE. Selected members of a committee designed to study a special area of concern and then report to the whole committee their findings and recommendations.
SUBSTITUTE. A version of a bill offered by a committee in the first house. If adopted, the substitute replaces the original bill or resolution. The floor and the second house cannot offer substitutes.
SUNSET. A program for review of state agencies, programs and statutes by JLARC and OFM.
SUNSET PROVISION. A date certain for a law to automatically be repealed unless renewed by the Legislature.
SUPREME COURT. The highest court of the state. Comprised of nine elected justices who serve staggered six-year terms.
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TERM. Duration of office of an elected official.
TERM LIMITS. Restrictions on the length of service for elected offices.
THIRD READING. The final consideration of a bill before either house. The bill can be debated, tabled, referred, but not amended. Final passage takes a constitutional majority.
TITLE OF BILL. Description of bill or act which encompasses the intent of the bill.
TITLE-ONLY BILL. A bill which contains nothing more than a title and a number. It is introduced in order to have a vehicle on which to amend substance at a later time.
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET. Appropriations for highways, bridges, ferries, transit, vehicle licensing, and traffic enforcement.
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS. Business which has been laid over from a previous day.
UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE. A legislative body having only one house, such as a city council. Nebraska has the only unicameral state legislature.
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WAYS AND MEANS. The chief revenue and appropriations committee in the Senate. The committee is responsible for deciding the ways in which state monies will be spent and the means that will be used to raise the tax revenues.
WHIP. An assistant to the majority or minority leader, the duties of the whip include counting votes, checking attendance and maintaining caucus discipline on partisan issues and procedural questions.
WITHDRAW A MOTION. To recall or remove a motion according to parliamentary procedure.
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