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Glossary
- Act
- A bill passed by the legislature.
- Adopt
- To vote to accept.
- Amendment
- A proposal to change the original terms of a bill.
- Bicameral
- Consisting of two houses. All states have bicameral legislatures except Nebraska, which only has one house (unicameral).
- Bill
- A draft of a proposed law.
- Budget
- A bill that states how much money will be spent on government programs and services.
- Calendar
- A list of bills awaiting legislative action.
- Caucus
- A meeting of members of a political party where party leaders may be elected and plans are made concerning issues and agendas.
- Chair
- A legislator who presides over a committee meeting or a session.
- Chamber
- Also known as the "floor," it is the room in which the Senate or the House of Representatives meets.
- Clerk of the House of Representatives
- The person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to assist the members of the House in the detailed processes of enacting laws and recording that history.
- Committee
- A group of Senators or Representatives appointed by the presiding officer to consider important issues and to report its recommendations for action by the body that originated it.
- Constituent
- A citizen who resides in the district of a legislator.
