C-SPAN Congressional Glossary
Below is the complete list of glossary terms. Click on any term to see its definition. If you know of a congressional term that you would like to see added to this list, please email us at
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A
A.A.
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM
ACT
AD HOC COMMITTEE
ADVICE AND CONSENT
THE AISLE
AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT TREE
APPEAL THE RULING OF THE CHAIR
APPROPRIATIONS BILL
AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVES
AUTHORIZATION BILL
B
BASELINE
THE BELTWAY
BILL
BLOCK GRANTS
BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT
BUDGET ACT
BUDGET RESOLUTION
BULLY PULPIT
BYRD RULE
C
CALENDAR WEDNESDAY
CALL UP A BILL
CAPITOL HILL
CASEWORK
CATS AND DOGS
CAUCUS
CBO
C.F.R.
CHAPLAIN OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE
CLERK OF THE HOUSE
CLOAKROOMS
CLOSED RULE
CLOTURE
CODEL
COLA
COLLEAGUE
COLLOQUY
COMMIT A BILL
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
COMMITTEE REPORT
COMPANION BILL
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
CONFEREE
CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
CONFERENCE REPORT
CONFIRMATION
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE (CRS)
CONSTITUENCY SERVICE
CONSTITUENTS
CONTINUING RESOLUTION
CONTRACT AUTHORITY
CORDON RULE
CORRECTIONS CALENDAR
CO-SPONSOR
D
DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER
DELEGATE
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
THE DESK
DILATORY ACTION
DISAPPEARING QUORUM
DISCHARGE PETITION
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
DISTRICT
DISTRICT WORK PERIOD
DIVISION VOTE - HOUSE
DIVISION VOTE - SENATE
E
EARMARKED
ENACTING CLAUSE
ENGROSSED BILL
ENROLLED BILL
ENTITLEMENT SPENDING
EXECUTIVE ARTICLE
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE
EXECUTIVE SESSION - HOUSE
EXECUTIVE SESSION - SENATE
EX-OFFICIO
EXPUNGE
F
FAST-TRACK
FEDERAL DEFICIT
FILIBUSTER
FIREWALL
FIRST READING
FISCAL YEAR
FIVE MINUTE RULE
FLOOR
FLOOR MANAGER
FLOOR PRIVILEGES
FRANKING PRIVILEGES
FRONTLOADED OR BACKLOADED
G
THE GALLERIES
GAO
GERMANE
GPO
H
H.CON.RES.
HEARING
HIDEAWAYS
H.J.RES.
HOLD
HOMESTEAD ACT
HOPPER
H
(cont.)
HOTLINE
HOUSE CALENDAR
HOUSE CHAMBER
HOUSE JOURNAL
H.R.
H.RES.
I
IMMUNITY
IMPEACHMENT
INCUMBENT
J
JEFFERSON'S MANUAL
JOINT COMMITTEE
JOINT MEETING
JOINT RESOLUTIONS
JUNKET
K
K STREET
KING OF THE HILL
L
LAME DUCKS
LAY ON THE TABLE
LEADER TIME
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT
LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENT
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL
LEGISLATIVE DAY
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
LEGISLATIVE VETO
LIVE QUORUM
LOGROLLING
M
MACE
MAJORITY LEADER
MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS
MANAGER'S AMENDMENT
MANDATORY SPENDING
MARK-UP
MINORITY LEADER
MODIFIED CLOSED RULE
MODIFIED OPEN RULE
MORNING BUSINESS
MORNING HOUR SPEECHES
MOTION TO ADJOURN - HOUSE
MOTION TO ADJOURN - SENATE
MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES
MOTION TO INSTRUCT THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS TO ARREST THE ATTENDANCE OF ABSENT SENATORS
MOTION TO INSTRUCT THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS TO COMPEL THE ATTENDANCE OF ABSENT SENATORS
MOTION TO INSTRUCT THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS TO REQUEST THE ATTENDANCE OF ABSENT SENATORS
MOTION TO PROCEED
MOTION TO RISE
MOTION TO RECOMMIT
MOTION TO STRIKE THE ENACTING CLAUSE
MOTION TO STRIKE
A MOTION TO TABLE
MOTION TO TABLE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER
MOTION TO WAIVE THE BUDGET ACT
N
NOTICE QUORUM CALL
O
OBJECTION
OFF-BUDGET
OMB
OMNIBUS BILL
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES
OPEN RULE
OPEN SEAT
OTHER BODY
OVERRIDE
OUTLAYS
OVERSIGHT
P
PAGES
PAIRED VOTE
PARLIAMENTARIAN
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
PASTORE RULE
PAYGO
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
POCKET VETO
POINT OF ORDER
POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
PORK BARREL LEGISLATION
POSTAL PATRON
POWER OF THE PURSE
PRECEDENTS
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
PRESIDING OFFICER
PRIVATE BILLS
PRIVATE CALENDAR
PRIVILEGE
PRO FORMA AMENDMENT
PRO FORMA SESSION
PROXY - HOUSE
PROXY - SENATE
THE PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC LAW
TO PUT THE QUESTION
Q
QUESTION OF FINAL PASSAGE
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE
QUORUM - HOUSE
QUORUM - SENATE
QUORUM CALL - HOUSE
QUORUM CALL - SENATE
R
RAMSEYER RULE
RANKING MEMBER
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER
RECEDE AND CONCUR
RECESS - HOUSE
RECESS - SENATE
RECOGNITION
RECORDED VOTE: HOUSE
RECORDED VOTE: SENATE
RECONCILIATION BILL
REFER
REGULAR ORDER
REPORTING OUT
RESCISSION BILL
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF TIME
RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT
REVENUE BILL
REVISE AND EXTEND
RIDER
"ROLL CALL"
ROLL CALL VOTE: HOUSE
ROLL CALL VOTE: SENATE
ROOM LOTTERY
RULE 22
RULE FROM THE RULES COMMITTEE
S
S.
S.CON.RES.
SCORED
2ND DEGREE
2ND READING - HOUSE
2ND READING - SENATE
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
SELECT COMMITTEE
SENATE CHAMBER
SENATE JOURNAL
SENATORIAL COURTESY
SENSE OF THE HOUSE
SENSE OF THE SENATE
SENIORITY SYSTEM
SENT TO THE DESK
SEPARATE VOTE
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON
SIMPLE RESOLUTION
SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT
602(B) ALLOCATIONS
S.J.RES.
SLIP LAW
SPEAKER'S LOBBY
SPECIAL ELECTION
SPECIAL INTEREST
SPECIAL ORDERS
SPECIAL SESSION
SPONSOR
S.RES.
SR. SENATOR/JR. SENATOR
STAFFER
STANDING COMMITTEE
STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH
STATUARY HALL
STRIKE FROM THE RECORD
STRIKE THE LAST WORD
STRIKE THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF WORDS
STRUCTURED RULE
SUBSTITUTE
SUPERMAJORITY VOTE
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
T
TABLING
TAX EXPENDITURES
TELLER VOTES
THIRD READING - HOUSE
THIRD READING - SENATE
TIE VOTE
TIME AGREEMENT
U
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
UNFUNDED MANDATE
UNION CALENDAR
U.S. CODE
V
VETO-PROOF
VICE-CHAIRMAN
VITIATE
VOICE VOTE
VOTING BLOC
W
WAR POWERS ACT
WELL
WHIP - HOUSE
WHIP - SENATE
WORDS TAKEN DOWN
Y
YEAS & NAYS - HOUSE
YEAS & NAYS - SENATE
YIELD - HOUSE
YIELD - SENATE
YIELD FOR A QUESTION
Z
ZERO-BASED BUDGETING
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