GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE AND BUDGET TERMS

ACT

A bill or certain type of joint resolution which has passed both chambers of a legislature, has been enrolled, certified, approved by the Governor or passed over the Governor's veto and published.

ADJOURNMENT

Termination of a meeting occurring at the close of each legislative day upon the completion of business, with the hour and day of the next meeting set prior to adjournment.

ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE

Final termination of the Legislature, occurring on the last day of a session. No immediate future meeting date is set except as provided in the constitution.

ADOPTION

Approval or acceptance, usually applied to motions, amendments or resolutions.

ALLOCATION

Funds or personnel which are apportioned or designated to a function, program or activity.

AMENDMENT

An alteration proposed or made in a bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting or omitting. It may be offered by a committee or a member.

ANNOTATE

To update by notation; especially the Code.

APPEAL

A parliamentary procedure for changing the decision of a presiding officer by a vote of the members.

APPROPRIATION

Funds allocated (from a specific fund) for various governmental purposes set aside by formal legislative action for specific use.

APPROVED BY GOVERNOR

Acceptance by the governor of a measure passed by the Legislature, as indicated by the Governor's signature on the enrolled bill.

AT EASE

A temporary cessation of formal floor activities pending some specific action.

BICAMERAL

A legislature consisting of two chambers.

BILL

Legislative proposal originating in either house, normally proposing a change in the statutes requiring approval by both chambers of the Legislature and action by the Governor in order to be effective.

BILL HISTORY

A complete record of action taken on a bill from its date of introduction to its final disposition.

BILL INDEX

A record of all activities taken by the General Assembly on Senate and House bills, joint and concurrent resolutions.

BILL SUBJECT INDEX

List of legislative bills by subject matter or topic.

BUDGET UNIT

A predetermined grouping of one or more organizations that indicates an individual entity within a department. There may be one or more budget units within a department. A budget unit generally equals each appropriation made by the General Assembly.

CALENDAR

Agenda of daily legislative business in a chamber.

CALENDAR DAYS

Literally, the days as listed on the Gregorian Calendar as distinguished from "legislative days" which refer to days on which the Legislature is in session.

CALL OF THE HOUSE (SENATE)

Procedure used to compel attendance of members for consideration of any single item of legislative business.

CALL TO ORDER

Notice given indicating the Legislature is officially in session.

CARRY-OVER LEGISLATION

Legislation held over in the same general assembly from one annual session to the next. It has the same standing as at the end of the previous session.

CAUCUS

A meeting of the members of a political party. The meeting may be either open or closed to the public. Also refers to staff for a particular political party.

CHAIR

Presiding officer of the chamber or chairperson.

CHAMBER

Official meeting place of a legislative body.

CHIEF CLERK

A nonmember officer of the House of Representatives appointed by the House to perform and direct the parliamentary and clerical functions of the House.

CLIP SHEET

A daily printing of amendments filed in a chamber on the previous day that are clipped apart and filed with the appropriate bills by legislative secretaries. They are printed on yellow paper in the House and blue paper in the Senate.

CODE OF IOWA

The official compilation and publication of all Iowa laws of a permanent nature issued by the Code Editor following the legislative session in each even-numbered year.

CODE SUPPLEMENT

An official compilation of Iowa's permanent laws enacted during the legislative session of each odd-numbered year.

COMMITTEE

A body of appointed members designated to consider and make recommendations concerning disposition of bills, resolutions and other related matters within a particular subject area.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

A member appointed to function as the parliamentary head of a standing or special committee in the consideration of matters assigned to the committee.

COMMITTEE REPORT

An official release of a bill or resolution to the Senate or House of Representatives with or without recommendation for passage.

COMMITTEE SECRETARY

Employee designated to take notes and keep official records, including votes on actions taken at committee meeting.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Through a suspension of the rules, the membership of the House or Senate meeting as a committee to consider legislation in an informal manner. Ordinary rules of procedure do, however, apply, but votes cannot be taken nor does the secretary or clerk record in the minutes the Committee's proceedings. A chair of the Committee of the Whole is appointed by the chamber's presiding officer.

COMPANION BILL

A bill identical to one introduced in the other chamber.

CONCURRENCE

Action by which one chamber agrees to a proposal or action which the other chamber has approved.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

A resolution acted upon by both chambers requiring the approval of a majority of those present and voting, used to express sentiment or relating to temporary legislative matters.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Committee composed of appointed members of both chambers to resolve differences between the two chambers on a legislative proposal.

CONFIRMATION

Approval by the Senate of an executive appointment -- usually requires two-thirds vote of the members (34 votes in the Senate).

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Condition which affects the ability of a legislator to vote impartially.

CONSTITUENT

An individual residing within the district represented by a legislator.

CONSTITUTION

A written instrument embodying the fundamental principles of the State, outlining the powers and duties of the government and guaranteeing certain rights to the people.

CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY

Majority of the membership in the Iowa General Assembly: in the Senate, 26; in the House of Representatives, 51 votes.

DISTRICT

The portion of the state represented by a legislator distinguished numerically or by counties contained therein; determined on the basis of population.

DIVISION

A method of recording votes by printing only vote totals in the journal rather than the members' names and their votes.

DOUBLE-BARRELED MOTION

A motion that an action be reconsidered and that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. Adoption of this motion prevents reconsideration and causes the measure to proceed on its regular course immediately, unless a motion to take from the table prevails.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Date on which a law becomes binding.

ENACTING CLAUSE

The constitution requires that each law be prefaced by the phrase "Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa. . . " An amendment to strike out the enacting clause kills a proposed law.

ENGROSSED BILL

The original bill incorporating in the proper place all amendments which have been adopted and all approved technical corrections at the time the proposal was ordered engrossed.

ENROLLED BILL

The bill as finally passed by both chambers (incorporating in the proper place all amendments and corrections) signed by the officers of both chambers and sent to the Governor for review. The enrolled bill is then sent to the Secretary of State. If the bill is vetoed, the bill is sent to the Secretary of State with a Veto Message attached, with additional copies going to the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate.

ESTIMATED REVENUES

A projection compiled by the Revenue Estimating Conference for general fund receipts.

EXECUTIVE BUDGET

Suggested allocation of state moneys presented annually by the Governor for consideration by the Legislature.

EXPENDITURES

Disbursements and payables for services rendered and goods received including authorized encumbrances for a specified period of appropriations.

FISCAL NOTE

A memorandum attached to a bill or amendment that states the financial effect on the revenue or expenditures of legislation.

FY/FISCAL YEAR

The 12-month financial period used for recordkeeping, budgeting, appropriating, revenue collecting and other aspects of fiscal management. The fiscal year of the State of Iowa is July 1 to June 30.

FLOOR

That portion of the chambers reserved for members and officers of the Senate or House and other designated persons.

FTE/FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT

A budgeting and monitoring unit that equates the aggregate of full-time positions, part-time positions, a vacancy and turnover factor and other adjustments. One full-time equivalent position represents 2,080 working hours, which is the regular number of hours one full-time person works in a fiscal year.

GENERAL FUND

The registry for state moneys whose receipts are not earmarked for dedicated purposes and which supports the general functions of state government.

GERMANENESS

The relevance or appropriateness of an amendment to a bill.

GRANDFATHER CLAUSE

A specific portion of a bill that insures that additional requirements or standards placed on an affected person or agency do not apply to parties covered by the previous law.

GRANTS AND AIDS

State money that passes through state departments for local needs.

HEARING

Public discussion and presentation relating to a proposal which may be scheduled for consideration by a committee.

IMPEACHMENT

The procedure to remove from office public officials accused of misconduct.

INDEFINITE POSTPONEMENT

An action taken by a legislative body that means the question will not again be acted upon during the session.

INSIST

A motion made to determine that a chamber prefers the amendments to a bill that it has adopted to those adopted in the other chamber. This sends the measure to a conference committee unless the other chamber recedes.

INTERIM

The time interval between regular sessions.

INTERIM COMMITTEE

A committee delegated to study or investigate certain matters during the time the Legislature is not in session and make recommendations to the next regular session of the Legislature.

INTRODUCTION

The formal presentation and numbering of a bill after it has been processed.

ITEM VETO

An action taken by the Governor to prevent the enactment of an item of an appropriation bill.

JOINT RESOLUTION

A resolution acted upon by both chambers requiring the approval of a majority of the members of each chamber: may appropriate money, enact temporary laws, propose amendments to the Iowa Constitution, ratify amendments to the U.S. Constitution or make a request of Congress.

JOINT SESSION

A combined meeting of the Senate and House, usually in the House Chamber.

JOURNAL

An official chronological record of the proceedings of a chamber, printed daily in pamphlet form. The journals are compiled, indexed and bound at the close of each session.

LEGALIZING ACT

A bill introduced that ratifies an action of a public official, agency or local government that was conducted contrary to the law.

LEGISLATIVE LIAISON

See lobbyist.

LOBBYIST

An individual who encourages the passage, defeat or modification of legislation by members of the General Assembly.

MAJORITY LEADER

A member of the majority party in a chamber elected by that party's members as its leader.

MAJORITY PARTY

The political party having the most members in a chamber.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Those members of a chamber who are actually present at a daily session of the Legislature. Many votes are determined by a majority of the members present unless a constitutional majority vote is required.

MEMORIAL RESOLUTION

A resolution commemorating a deceased member of a chamber.

MESSAGES FROM GOVERNOR

Official communications from the Governor printed in the journal.

MESSAGES FROM SENATE (HOUSE)

Official communications from the other chamber printed in the journal.

MINORITY LEADER

A member of the minority party in a chamber elected by that party's members as its leader.

MINORITY PARTY

The political party having less than a majority of members in a chamber.

MINUTES

A chronological record of the proceedings of and actions taken at a meeting.

MOTION

A formal proposal offered by a member.

MOTION TO RECONSIDER

A move which, if approved, places a question in the same status it was prior to the vote on the question.

OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION

An appropriation of funds for the performance of the normal operating functions of a department or division.

OPINION

A formal expression of legal reasons and principles as the response to an inquiry.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

A question posed to the chair of a chamber for clarification of a point in the proceedings.

PASSAGE OF A BILL

Favorable final action on a measure before either chamber.

PER DIEM

Literally, per day, payment for attendance at official legislative business.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Criteria used to assess progress toward the objectives in the implementation of a program.

PETITION

A formal request submitted by an individual or group of individuals to the Legislature.

POCKET VETO

An instance in which the Governor takes no action within 30 days on a bill submitted to the Governor within or after the last three days of a regular session. The bill cannot become law without the governor's approval.

POINT OF ORDER

Calling attention to a breach of order or rules.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

Recognition of a member while a chamber is in session that allows the member to make comments on any issue.

PRECEDENT

The body of parliamentary law, apart from the rules. The individual precedents generally are interpretations of rulings by presiding officers on specific rules.

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Presiding officer of the Senate.

PRESIDING OFFICER

Person elected or designated to direct the activities of a chamber.

PREVIOUS QUESTION

A motion to close debate and bring the pending question before the chamber or a committee for an immediate vote.

PROCEDURE

Rules and traditional practices of a chamber.

PRO TEMPORE

The elected officer of the Senate or House who acts in the absence of the regular presiding officer.

QUORUM

The minimum required number of members present to transact legislative business.

QUORUM CALL

A method used to determine that a majority of a body is present for the lawful transacting of business.

RATIFY

To approve and make valid.

READING

Presentation of a bill before either chamber by the reading of the title. A part of the enactment process.

REAPPORTIONMENT

Reallocating the number of congressional seats among the states to reflect changes in the nation's population.

RECEDE

The motion made by a legislative body to agree with the other chamber and not insist upon the amendments previously adopted to the bill.

RECESS

Intermission in a daily session.

REDISTRICTING

Redrawing the boundaries of legislative districts to reflect changes in population.

REFERRAL

The sending of a bill to committees.

REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS

The established sequence of deliberation set up for each legislative day.

REGULAR SESSION

The time during which the Legislature considers all areas of legislation. The first session of the two-year General Assembly is usually longer than the second. The legislators are reimbursed for expenses for 110 calendar days during the first regular session and for 100 calendar days during the second regular session of a General Assembly.

REPEAL

A method by which a legislative action is revoked or annulled.

REPRINTED BILL

A revised or engrossed version of a bill that has been amended and passed by a chamber with the amendments incorporated into the bill and printed on pink paper.

RESCIND

Annulment of an action previously taken.

RESOLUTION

A formal expression of opinion or decision (not to be confused with a bill).

RESOLUTION (HOUSE OR SENATE)

A resolution acted upon by only one chamber, requiring the approval of a majority of those present and voting, used for matters relating only to that chamber.

REVERSION

Following the close of a fiscal year, all unencumbered or unobligated balances revert to the state treasury and to the credit of the fund from which the appropriation or appropriations were made.

RULES

Operating regulations and principles adopted by each chamber for the duration of the session.

SAVINGS CLAUSE

Ordinarily a restriction in an act which is intended to save rights, pending procedures, penalties or similar legally acquired entitlements from being affected by the act.

SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

A nonmember officer of the Senate appointed to perform and direct the parliamentary and clerical functions of the Senate.

SERGEANTS-AT-ARMS

Nonmember officers of a chamber responsible for maintaining order and carrying out the directives of the presiding officer or of the membership.

SESSION LAWS

A compilation of all measures enacted by the Legislature during a year; also referred to as the Acts.

SPEAKER

Presiding officer of the House of Representatives elected by the members.

SPECIAL ORDER

Matter of business set for a special time and day designation.

SPECIAL SESSION

Session called by and limited to matters specified by the Governor or called by a petition signed by two-thirds of the members of both chambers. Legislators receive per diem and expenses for the duration of a special session.

STANDING COMMITTEE

A committee appointed with a continuing responsibility in a specific field of legislative activity.

STANDING LIMITED APPROPRIATION

An annual appropriation of a specific dollar amount established in the Code of Iowa.

STANDING UNLIMITED APPROPRIATION

An annual appropriation made by statute, not specifying a dollar amount but based upon a formula or criteria stated in the Code of Iowa.

STATUTE

A permanent or general act approved by the Legislature.

STRIKE OUT

The deletion of language from a bill or resolution.

SUBCOMMITTEE

A group of members of a standing committee appointed by the chairperson to study and report on a specified subject or bill.

SUBSTITUTE BILL

An amendment which replaces an entire bill or resolution.

VETO

An action taken by the Governor to prevent the enactment of an entire bill.

VETO MESSAGE

A memorandum attached to a bill which was vetoed or item vetoed explaining why the Governor vetoed the bill.

WELL

The area of the chamber directly in front of and including the presiding officer's bench where the chamber staff is located.

Iowa General Assembly

Index

© 1995 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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Last update: 1995
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