CONGRESSIONAL DIGEST Washington, D.C. Vol. II , October 1922, No. 1 [page 31] The Glossary
An Explanation of Legislative Terms By Hon. Wm. Tyler Page Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress
A LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
of the superior class is designated "Bill," as distinguished from a Resolution. When a Bill is finally enacted, it is then called "An Act." This also is true officially of a bill that has passed but one of the two Houses of Congress; but the term "bill" usually follows a measure throughout its legislative processes to final approval by the President, when it becomes "An Act" and is so designated in the compiled statutes. A House of Representatives bill is designated thus—H. K. 1, etc. A Senate bill, S. 1, etc.
PUBLIC BILLS
relate to public matters and deal with individuals only by classes. Bills relating to the revenue, to the tariff, to appropriations, to public lands, to the courts, etc., are classed as public bills.
A PRIVATE BILL
is a bill for the relief of one or several specified persons, corporations, institutions, etc. It has been the practice in Congress to consider as private such as are "for the interest of individuals, public companies or corporations, a parish, city, county, or other locality."
A BILL IS INTRODUCED
when it is presented to the Senate or the House of Representatives. The rules of the House require that the bill merely be dropped in a basket beside the desk of the Speaker while the House is in session. The rules of the Senate require that a Senator, when introducing a bill, arise and verbally announce his intention and the subject of the bill, after which a page boy takes the bill to the desk of the Vice President, who is presiding officer of the Senate.
A BILL IS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
having jurisdiction of the subject matter. Reference is made in the case of public bills by the speaker and in the case of private bills by the clerk.
A BILL IS AMENDED
when it is changed in any particular, either in committee or while the bill is under discussion on the floor of either House. Committees may recommend amendments but the House must agree to them before they become a part of the bill.
A BILL IS PASSED
when either House finally votes to pass it. When passed by one House it is sent to the other.
A BILL IS ENACTED INTO LAW
when it shall have been approved by the President or allowed to become a law without his approval, not having been returned with his veto to the House in which it originated within ten days.
APPROPRIATION BILLS
known as general appropriation bills, twelve in number, appropriate revenue for the support of the Government. These bills have certain privileged status to insure prompt consideration.
A RESOLUTION
serves the purpose of one House or the other in matters of interest to the House in which it is employed. A House Resolution is designated thus—H. Res. 1, etc. A Senate Resolution is designated S. Res. 1, etc.
A JOINT RESOLUTION
is a development of modern practice which does not differ in any respect from a bill so far as the processes of Congress in its consideration are concerned. It must pass through the same travail to which a bill is subjected, except in the case of a joint resolution proposing to amend the Constitution, which does not require the approval of the President.
COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
are necessary in order to expedite the work of Congress. There are sixty-two committees of the House and thirty-four in the Senate. The chairman and a majority of the members of a committee are always members of the party in control of the House of which the committee is a part.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
are opportunities offered proponents and opponents of a bill to furnish the committee with information and views concerning the necessity or effect of the bill it is considering. Sometimes, as is frequently the case with bills affecting the executive departments, committees hold secret hearings, but in most instances the hearings are public. Official stenographers make reports of these hearings which are afterwards printed for use of the committee.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
are recommendations made by committees to the House or Senate concerning the bill which has been referred to them. The rules of the House require that committee reports be made in writing. In the Senate Committees may report either verbally or in writing.
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE (OR SENATE)
means within the bar of that body where the actual business of consideration and voting takes place.
PARTY MEASURE
is one for which the Members of a political party are committed as distinguished from a measure supported by individuals of each party.
THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
is the printed list of bills in the order of their report from committee.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE
is made up of leading members of the majority party, selected by the party Committee on Committees and ratified or confirmed in party conference. This Committee formulates the program of business and the order in which it shall be considered.
An Explanation of Legislative Terms By Hon. Wm. Tyler Page Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress
A LEGISLATIVE MEASURE
of the superior class is designated "Bill," as distinguished from a Resolution. When a Bill is finally enacted, it is then called "An Act." This also is true officially of a bill that has passed but one of the two Houses of Congress; but the term "bill" usually follows a measure throughout its legislative processes to final approval by the President, when it becomes "An Act" and is so designated in the compiled statutes. A House of Representatives bill is designated thus—H. K. 1, etc. A Senate bill, S. 1, etc.
PUBLIC BILLS
relate to public matters and deal with individuals only by classes. Bills relating to the revenue, to the tariff, to appropriations, to public lands, to the courts, etc., are classed as public bills.
A PRIVATE BILL
is a bill for the relief of one or several specified persons, corporations, institutions, etc. It has been the practice in Congress to consider as private such as are "for the interest of individuals, public companies or corporations, a parish, city, county, or other locality."
A BILL IS INTRODUCED
when it is presented to the Senate or the House of Representatives. The rules of the House require that the bill merely be dropped in a basket beside the desk of the Speaker while the House is in session. The rules of the Senate require that a Senator, when introducing a bill, arise and verbally announce his intention and the subject of the bill, after which a page boy takes the bill to the desk of the Vice President, who is presiding officer of the Senate.
A BILL IS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
having jurisdiction of the subject matter. Reference is made in the case of public bills by the speaker and in the case of private bills by the clerk.
A BILL IS AMENDED
when it is changed in any particular, either in committee or while the bill is under discussion on the floor of either House. Committees may recommend amendments but the House must agree to them before they become a part of the bill.
A BILL IS PASSED
when either House finally votes to pass it. When passed by one House it is sent to the other.
A BILL IS ENACTED INTO LAW
when it shall have been approved by the President or allowed to become a law without his approval, not having been returned with his veto to the House in which it originated within ten days.
APPROPRIATION BILLS
known as general appropriation bills, twelve in number, appropriate revenue for the support of the Government. These bills have certain privileged status to insure prompt consideration.
A RESOLUTION
serves the purpose of one House or the other in matters of interest to the House in which it is employed. A House Resolution is designated thus—H. Res. 1, etc. A Senate Resolution is designated S. Res. 1, etc.
A JOINT RESOLUTION
is a development of modern practice which does not differ in any respect from a bill so far as the processes of Congress in its consideration are concerned. It must pass through the same travail to which a bill is subjected, except in the case of a joint resolution proposing to amend the Constitution, which does not require the approval of the President.
COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
are necessary in order to expedite the work of Congress. There are sixty-two committees of the House and thirty-four in the Senate. The chairman and a majority of the members of a committee are always members of the party in control of the House of which the committee is a part.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS
are opportunities offered proponents and opponents of a bill to furnish the committee with information and views concerning the necessity or effect of the bill it is considering. Sometimes, as is frequently the case with bills affecting the executive departments, committees hold secret hearings, but in most instances the hearings are public. Official stenographers make reports of these hearings which are afterwards printed for use of the committee.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
are recommendations made by committees to the House or Senate concerning the bill which has been referred to them. The rules of the House require that committee reports be made in writing. In the Senate Committees may report either verbally or in writing.
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE (OR SENATE)
means within the bar of that body where the actual business of consideration and voting takes place.
PARTY MEASURE
is one for which the Members of a political party are committed as distinguished from a measure supported by individuals of each party.
THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
is the printed list of bills in the order of their report from committee.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE
is made up of leading members of the majority party, selected by the party Committee on Committees and ratified or confirmed in party conference. This Committee formulates the program of business and the order in which it shall be considered.