Legislative Glossary
AMENDMENT -- Any alteration made (or proposed to be made) to a bill or clause by adding, deleting, substituting, or omitting.
- Committee amendment -- an alteration made (or proposed to be made) to a bill that is submitted by a legislative committee.
- Floor amendment -- an alternation to a legislative document, presented by a legislator at the same time the document is being discussed on the floor of that legislator's chamber.
BIPARTISAN – Affiliation, association, or representatives of two political parties or caucuses in a two party system. Your memorial should be bi-partisan. Your citizen lobbyists should be as non-partisan as possible. Remember, this is a non-partisan issue. It’s the Bill of Rights.
CAUCUS -- Informal meeting of a group of the members of a political party, though the affiliation may also be based on gender, ethnicity or a specific issue.
COMMITTEE – A group of legislators appointed by the legislative authority to consider and make recommendations concerning disposition of bills, resolutions and other related matters.
- Conference committee -- A committee composed of members from the two houses appointed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill or bills.
- Interim committee -- A committee established to study or investigate certain matters between annual or biennial legislative sessions and to report to the next regular session.
- Joint committee -- A committee composed of members from both chambers.
- Standing committee -- A committee appointed with continuing responsibility in a general issue area or field of legislative activity.
COMMITTEE REPORT -- Official release of a bill or resolution from committee with (or without) a specific recommendation, such as "pass", "pass as amended" or "do not pass."
ENACTING CLAUSE -- That clause of an act that formally expresses the legislative sanction. It varies in different states, but usually begins "Be It Enacted."
FIRST READING -- The first presentation of a bill or its title for consideration. In some states, the first reading is done at the time of introduction.
INTRODUCTION -- The formal presentation of a proposal after it has been drafted.
LOBBYIST - A representative of a special interest group whose function is to influence legislation affecting his special interest. Check in your particular state, but if you are not paid to lobby, you may not be considered a lobbyist in your state. If you are paid to lobby, it’s likely you will have to register with the state legislature.
MEASURE -- General term for bill, resolution or memorial.
MEMORIAL -- The method by which the legislature addresses or petitions Congress and other governments or governmental agencies; method by which the legislature congratulates or honors groups or individuals.
REFERRAL - The assigning or referring of a bill to committee.
SPONSOR -- The person (usually a legislator) who presents a bill or resolution for consideration; may be joined by others, who are known as cosponsor. See also: author, introducer, patron.
For a legislative glossary from your state check our available listings or search on your state's legislature's web site.
Other Resources
BORDC State Resolution Toolkit
State Legislature Web
Sites for Research
Fundamentals of Building
a State Resolution