Amendment
A change to a bill, motion, act or the Constitution.

Appropriation
A formal approval to draw funds from the Treasury for specific purposes.

Authorization
A law that creates a program and sets funding limits. The actual drawing of funds from the Treasury and determination of the amount to be drawn are established by an appropriation.

Bill
A proposed law.

Budget
The President’s annual proposal to Congress, usually submitted in January, for federal expenditures and revenues for the coming fiscal year (which starts October 1).

Budget Resolution
House and Senate-passed guidelines, and later caps, on federal budget authority and outlays. The Budget Resolution is considered a matter of internal congressional rules and procedure and is not submitted to the President for signature or veto. Bills that would exceed budget caps are subject to a point of order—although waivers have been granted regularly in both the House and Senate.

Cloture
A method of limiting debate or ending a filibuster in the Senate. Sixty of the 100 Senators must vote in favor of cloture for it to occur.

Conference Committee
A committee comprised of senators and representatives appointed to resolve differences between House and Senate-passed versions of the same legislation.

Continuing Resolution
A resolution enacted to allow specific Executive Branch agencies to continue operating even though funds have not been appropriated for them for the following fiscal year.

Co-sponsor
A senator or representative who joins in sponsoring a piece of legislation but is not the one who introduced the legislation. A large number of co-sponsors increases a bill’s chances for consideration.

Filibuster
A delaying tactic to prevent action in the Senate by speaking continuously.

Fiscal Year
The federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.

Hearing
Meetings of committees or subcommittees to gather information on the ramifications of proposed legislation, investigate problems or explore issues. Witnesses present testimony and answer questions.

Lame Duck
A member of Congress (Or the President) who has not been re-elected but whose term of office has not yet ended.

Lobbying
Attempts by individuals or groups who are not members of Congress to influence the passage, defeat or content of legislation.

Majority Leader
In the Senate, the leader of the majority party and the most powerful position in the Senate. In the House, the floor leader and principle assistant to the Speaker (the most powerful position in the House.)

Mark-up
After hearings, members of a committee or subcommittee examine a proposed piece of legislation line by line to determine what additions, deletions or amendments should be made. This activity is referred to as “markup.” Often, the chairman of a subcommittee drafts a starting proposal, referred to as the “chairman’s mark.”

Member
A U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative

Minority Leader
The leader of the minority party in the House or Senate.

Override a Veto
When both the House and Senate vote by a two-thirds majority to set aside a presidential veto of legislation.

Report
A printed record of a committee’s actions and views on a particular bill or matter.

Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House, leader of the majority party in the House, and next in line to the Vice President for succession to the Presidency. One of the most powerful offices in Washington.

Sponsor
The representative or senator who introduces a bill or resolution.

Whip
The senator or representative who serves as an internal lobbying for the Republican or Democratic party to persuade legislators to support the party position, and who counts votes for the leadership in advance of floor action.