Glossary of Legislative Terms

Glossary of Terms

Administration bill: A bill introduced by the Speaker of the House or President of the Senate at the request of the Governor.

Amend: To make a change in a bill or a law.

Appropriation: Authorization to spend public funds for a specific purpose.

Bill: A proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body.
Budget bill: A bill that consists of the Governors proposed operating budget for the State for the next fiscal year. The budget bill becomes law on approval by both chambers.

Committee report: The report a committee submits to the chambers listing actions taken on bills (i.e., favorable, favorable with amendments, unfavorable, re-referred, or referred for interim study.)

Conference: Three members from each chamber (appointed Committee by the presiding officers) who work to resolve differences in a bill passed by both chambers.

Courtesy date: Each chambers committees report their own bills to the floor by this date.

Cross over date: Each chamber sends to the other chamber those bills it passes favorably by this date.

Cross-filed bill: An identical bill that is introduced in both chambers.

Departmental bill: A bill introduced by a committee chairman at the request of a department of the Executive Branch of State government.

Drop into the hopper: When a member files a bill with the Chief Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate for introduction.

Emergency bill: A bill that takes effect immediately upon the Governor's approval. Emergency bills must pass third reading with a 3/5 vote in each chamber.

Enacted: A bill is enacted when the bill becomes law, i.e. is signed by the Governor and takes effect.
Enrolled: A bill is an enrolled bill if it was amended in the opposite chamber.

First reading: When a bill is introduced in a chamber and “read” for the first time and assigned to a standing committee.

Guarantee date: A bill introduced by this date is guaranteed a committee hearing in the chamber of origin.

Hearing: A formal meeting by a committee where testimony is presented and bills are discussed.

Interim: The nine months between legislative sessions.

Joint resolution: A resolution passed by both chambers that makes a statement on a public issue, makes a request of the Governor or a government office, or establishes a task force. With certain exceptions, joint resolutions do not have the effect of law.
Point of order: A question asked by a legislator regarding the formal rules of procedure.

Prefiled bill: A bill the Department of Legislative Services drafts, by request, prior to a legislative session for introduction in that session. Prefiling dates are set by law.

Quorum: The number of members needed in attendance to conduct business.

Roll call: A recorded vote taken on third reading and final passage of a bill or on request of a member with support of four other members.

Second reading: When a bill is reported out of committee and brought to the chamber floor for preliminary approval. Committee and floor amendments may be added to the bill at this time. A bill is not reprinted for second reading.

Session: The 90-calendar day period during which the General Assembly meets to carry out legislative duties.

Sine Die: The final adjournment of a session, without adjourning to a specific time or date.

Special order: Floor action on a bill is postponed until a definite date or time.

Suspend the rules: To set aside the rules temporarily, by a 2/3 vote, to allow a certain action.

The Floor: The elected members of each chamber.
Third reading: When a bill is voted on for the final time in each chamber. The third reading vote is recorded.
Veto: Action the Governor takes to prevent enactment of a across the desk bill passed by the General Assembly. At the next session the General Assembly may override the Governors veto with a 3/5 vote in each chamber.

Definitions are taken directly or adapted from
Legislative Lingo and The Maryland House of Delegates: Your Voice in Annapolis,
produced by the Department of Legislative Services,
Maryland General Assembly, Annapolis, MD.

Maryland’s Legislative Process
A Guide for Individuals Concerned about the Health of Maryland’s Children and Adolescents, Second Edition
The Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
© 2001

	Glossary of Terms Administration bill A bill introduced by the Speaker of the House or President of the Senate at the request of the Governor. Amend To make a change in a bill or a law. Appropriation Authorization to spend public funds for a specific purpose. Bill A proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body. Budget bill A bill that consists of the Governors proposed operating budget for the State for the next fiscal year. The budget bill becomes law on approval by both chambers. Committee report The report a committee submits to the chambers listing actions taken on bills (i.e., favorable, favorable with amendments, unfavorable, re-referred, or referred for interim study.) Conference Three members from each chamber (appointed Committee by the presiding officers) who work to resolve differences in a bill passed by both chambers. Courtesy date Each chambers committees report their own bills to the floor by this date. Cross over date Each chamber sends to the other chamber those bills it passes favorably by this date. Cross-filed bill An identical bill that is introduced in both chambers. Departmental bill A bill introduced by a committee chairman at the request of a department of the Executive Branch of State government. Drop into the hopper When a member files a bill with the Chief Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate for introduction. Emergency bill A bill that takes effect immediately upon the Governor's approval. Emergency bills must pass third reading with a 3/5 vote in each chamber. Enacted A bill is enacted when the bill becomes law, i.e. is signed by the Governor and takes effect. Enrolled A bill is an enrolled bill if it was amended in the opposite chamber. First reading When a bill is introduced in a chamber and “read” for the first time and assigned to a standing committee. Guarantee date A bill introduced by this date is guaranteed a committee hearing in the chamber of origin. Hearing A formal meeting by a committee where testimony is presented and bills are discussed. Interim The nine months between legislative sessions. Joint resolution A resolution passed by both chambers that makes a statement on a public issue, makes a request of the Governor or a government office, or establishes a task force. With certain exceptions, joint resolutions do not have the effect of law. Point of order A question asked by a legislator regarding the formal rules of procedure. Prefiled bill A bill the Department of Legislative Services drafts, by request, prior to a legislative session for introduction in that session. Prefiling dates are set by law. Quorum The number of members needed in attendance to conduct business. Roll call A recorded vote taken on third reading and final passage of a bill or on request of a member with support of four other members. Second reading When a bill is reported out of committee and brought to the chamber floor for preliminary approval. Committee and floor amendments may be added to the bill at this time. A bill is not reprinted for second reading. Session The 90-calendar day period during which the General Assembly meets to carry out legislative duties. Sine Die The final adjournment of a session, without adjourning to a specific time or date. Special order Floor action on a bill is postponed until a definite date or time. Suspend the rules To set aside the rules temporarily, by a 2/3 vote, to allow a certain action. The Floor The elected members of each chamber. Third reading When a bill is voted on for the final time in each chamber. The third reading vote is recorded. Veto Action the Governor takes to prevent enactment of a across the desk bill passed by the General Assembly. At the next session the General Assembly may override the Governors veto with a 3/5 vote in each chamber. Definitions are taken directly or adapted from Legislative Lingo and The Maryland House of Delegates: Your Voice in Annapolis, produced by the Department of Legislative Services, Maryland General Assembly, Annapolis, MD. Maryland’s Legislative Process A Guide for Individuals Concerned about the Health of Maryland’s Children and Adolescents, Second Edition The Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health Promotion and Disease Prevention © 2001 Home \| About the Council \| Projects \| Funding \| Publications and Reports \| Resources \| Site Map \| Contact Us