US Legislature terms starting with C

29 terms

  1. "christmas tree" bill Informal nomenclature for a bill on the Senate floor that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments.
  2. Calendar of Business A Senate publication sent to each lawmaker's office (and other offices) every day the Senate is in session.
  3. caucus From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of Members of the House or the Senate, or both, that…
  4. chairman The presiding officer of a committee or subcommittee. In the Senate, chairmanship is based on seniority of committee tenure, but a Senator may not chair…
  5. chaplain (CHA-plin) A member of the clergy in charge of a chapel or who works with the military or with an institution, such as a hospital.
  6. class Article I, section 3 of the Constitution requires the Senate to be divided into three classes for purposes of elections.
  7. clean bill Generally, after a committee has amended legislation, the chairman may be authorized by the panel to assemble the changes and what remains unchanged from…
  8. cloakroom Democratic and Republican cloakrooms adjacent to the Senate chamber serve as gathering places for party members to discuss chamber business privately.
  9. cloture The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster.
  10. committee Subsidiary organization of the Senate established for the purpose of considering legislation, conducting hearings and investigations, or carrying out…
  11. committee amendment An amendment recommended by a committee in reporting a bill or other measure.
  12. committee calendar Senate committees periodically publish a committee calendar that lists the bills and resolutions referred to them, action taken on those measures, and…
  13. committee jurisdiction The subjects and functions assigned to a committee by rule, resolution, precedent, or practice, including legislative matters, oversight and…
  14. committee membership Senators are assigned to specific committees by their party conference. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent…
  15. committee on committees Committees formed in each party conference and responsible for nominating the party's Senators to committee membership and committee leadership positions.
  16. committee print A publication used by committees for various purposes. For example, the rules of each standing committee may be published as a committee print, and drafts…
  17. committee substitute Short for committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  18. companion bill or measure Similar or identical legislation which is introduced in the Senate and House. House and Senate lawmakers who share similar views on legislation may…
  19. concurrent resolution A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both…
  20. conditional adjournment When Congress adjourns for more than three days, authority is often provided the Speaker and President Pro Tempore (or the Senate Majority Leader) to…
  21. conferees Senators appointed to serve on conference committees. They are also called "managers.
  22. conference committee A temporary, ad hoc panel composed of House and Senate conferees which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed…
  23. conference report The compromise product negotiated by the conference committee. The "conference report," which is printed and available to Senators, is submitted to each…
  24. conference, party The organization of all party members in the chamber. The conferences elect the party and committee leaders as well as rank-and-file committee members…
  25. confirmation This written notice provided by a brokerage acknowledges completion of a securities transaction.
  26. Congressional Record The substantially verbatim account of daily proceedings on the Senate floor. It is printed for each day the Senate is in session.
  27. Consideration An item of value given in exchange for a promise or act.
  28. continuing resolution/continuing appropriations Legislation in the form of a joint resolution enacted by Congress, when the new fiscal year is about to begin or has begun, to provide budget authority…
  29. controlled time When a unanimous consent agreement limits the time for debate on a bill or other measure and places it under the control of bill floor managers, the time…