Committee Glossary | Floor Glossary

LEGISLATIVE GLOSSARY

ACT A bill which has been approved by both houses of the General Assembly and has become a law either with or without the Governor's signature. Acts adopted in each session of the General Assembly are annually published in the Session Laws of Colorado and then compiled, edited, and published in the Colorado Revised Statutes.
ADHERE A parliamentary procedure whereby, in response to some conflicting action by the other house, one house votes to stand by its previous action.
ADJOURNMENT The ending of a legislative business day or a legislative session. A legislative house can either end its business day by adjourning until a stated time on another day or until the time fixed by its rules for reconvening. Constitutionally, neither legislative house may adjourn for longer than 72 hours without the consent of the other. When the General Assembly ends its legislative session, the final action is adjournment sine die ("without day").
ADOPTED "Adopted" is synonymous with the term "carried".
AMENDING CLAUSE Language at the beginning of each section of a bill that amends, adds, or repeals a section or specific portions of a section of the Colorado Revised Statutes or the Session Laws.
AMENDMENT A change made in a bill, resolution, or memorial offered by an individual member either in committee or on the floor of the legislative house. Amendments made to a bill or resolution by a committee are contained in the committee report on the bill or resolution
APPEAL A parliamentary procedure for testing and possibly changing the decision of a presiding officer
APPROPRIATION CLAUSE Language in a bill that authorizes the spending of funds to implement the bill.

APPROPRIATION BILL A bill authorizing the spending of public money.
BILL A proposed law by a member of the legislative house that is presented to the General Assembly to amend or repeal an existing law or to create a new law.
BILL BACK Colored paper back enclosing a bill that bears the bill number, sponsor, and dated history of the bill through both houses.
BILL SUMMARY A brief statement of the content of the bill.
CALENDAR A listing of the bills, resolutions, and memorials ready for introduction or for floor consideration on second or third reading. The calendar for the Senate also includes board or commission confirmations ready for Senate action. The calendar also lists meetings of committees scheduled for that day or for the next several days, as well as conference committees that are to report.
CALL OF THE HOUSE A request that all members of the legislative house be present for action on a pending motion. While a call is on, no member of the legislative body may leave the chamber, and the sergeant-at-arms are requested to bring absent members back to the chamber. A call may be raised by a majority of those members present in the chamber.
CASH FUND A fund created in the state treasury where money is deposited in lieu of being deposited in the state general fund.
CAUCUS A private (although not necessarily closed) meeting of members. The caucus is most often members of a political party, where party positions on pending legislation may be determined.
CITATION A specific reference in a bill to another portion of existing law or to another portion of the bill itself.
COMMITTEE A group of persons chosen to perform specific functions. legislators use a number of different committee formats:

A committee of reference is a committee to which legislation is referred for consideration.



A conference committee is composed of assigned members from each legislative house meeting together to work out language acceptable to both houses on a measure where an agreement could not be reached through committee or floor amendments. A majority of the members of each legislative house must agree before the conference committee report may be submitted to the Senate and House. Neither house is obligated to accept the report, but the alternative could be the failure of the legislation for that session.



Joint committees or interim committees are composed of members from each legislative house and sometimes of nonmembers. Interim committees generally meet during the period between sessions, and joint committees meet during session or between sessions.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE When either legislative house meets to debate bills calendared for second reading, the house is acting as a committee of the whole.
COMMITTEE REPORT A statement by a committee of reference on its recommendation concerning a bill. A committee can recommend that a bill be reported favorably, with or without amendments, or be postponed indefinitely.
CONCURRENCE Action taken by one legislative house when it accepts the amendment or amendments adopted by the other legislative house.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION A proposal to amend the state constitution, to recommend the holding of a constitutional convention, or to ratify proposed amendments to the federal constitution. Concurrent resolutions are treated like bills, except they do not have the same time frame for introduction and action, and do not become law unless approved by a majority vote at the next general election.
C.R.S. Abbreviation for Colorado Revised Statutes, which is the compilation of Colorado laws.
DIGEST Annually published summary of all bills enacted and concurrent resolutions passed by the General Assembly during the legislative session, including bills that were vetoed by the Governor or that became law without the Governor's signature.
DIVISION A vote taken by having those members in the affirmative on a question first rise and be counted and then having those members in the negative rise and be counted. A division may be used when the chair is in doubt on a voice vote or when called for by any member.
EFFECTIVE DATE The date a law becomes effective or binding. The date is either specified within the law or, in the absence of such date, the law becomes effective on the date on which the governor signs the bill or allows it to become law without his signature.
ENACTING CLAUSE The phrase "Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado" that is required under the Constitution to be at the beginning of every act. An amendment or motion to strike the enacting clause "kills" a proposed law.
ENGROSSED BILL A bill that has passed second reading in the legislative house of origin.
ENROLLED ACT A bill that both houses of the General Assembly have agreed to pass as law. The enrolled act is signed by the constitutional officers of the House and Senate and transmitted to the Governor for consideration.
FISCAL NOTE A statement of the estimated amount of increase or decrease in revenue or expenditures and the present and future fiscal implications of a piece of pending legislation. Each piece of legislation with fiscal implications must have a fiscal note attached upon favorable recommendation by a committee of reference.
GAVEL An acronym for "Give a vote to every legislator" which is a reference to the 1988 amendment to sections 20 and 22a of the Constitution that related to actions on bills by committees and that prohibited caucus positions on bills.
GENERAL ORDERS Another name for Second Reading.
GRANDFATHER CLAUSE A provision in a bill which exempts a person from a proposal's coverage based on the person's present status.
HB Abbreviation for a bill introduced in the House. See "BILL".
HCR Abbreviation for a concurrent resolution introduced in the House. See "CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION".

HJM Abbreviation for a joint memorial introduced in the House. See "JOINT MEMORIAL".

HJR Abbreviation for a joint resolution introduced in the House. See "JOINT RESOLUTION".
HM Abbreviation for a memorial introduced in the House. See "MEMORIAL".
HOUSEKEEPING BILL A bill of no significance beyond codifying or updating laws applying to an agency and primarily used to eliminate obsolete sections.
HR Abbreviation for a resolution introduced in the House. See "RESOLUTION".
INTERIM The period between regular sessions.
INTRODUCTION The first time a bill, resolution, or memorial is read.
JOINT MEMORIAL Expression of the General Assembly's sympathy on the death of certain persons or a request for the United States Congress to take a certain action.
JOINT RESOLUTION Action by the General Assembly pertaining to the transaction of business of both houses, establishing investigating committees composed of members of both houses, or expressing the will or sentiment of both houses on any matter.
JOURNAL The official record of the proceedings of each legislative house during the session. The journals record only formal actions of the General Assembly and its committees, as well as the titles of bills introduced and considered by committees and the voting history of members on bills that passed on the floor. The journal is not a verbatim record.
LAID OVER A parliamentary procedure whereby consideration on a measure is postponed to a later time.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL There are two distinct organizations which are both referred to as the Legislative Council.

The Legislative Council is an eighteen member body of the General Assembly comprised of six members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, six members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, the President, and the majority leaders and the minority leaders of the House and Senate.



The Legislative Council is the name of the nonpartisan research staff of the General Assembly. This office staffs committees of the General Assembly, conducts research, prepares fiscal notes, provides revenue projections, and performs centralized support services

LEGISLATIVE DAY Each calendar day after the session starts and each calendar day until adjournment is counted as a legislative day, even though the General Assembly may not meet on a particular day during the session.
LINE ITEM An item that appears in an appropriation bill on a separate line, apart from the overall funding of an agency.

LINE ITEM VETO The veto by the Governor of a separate line item appropriation in an appropriation bill.
LOBBYIST A person (except members and authorized staff) who seeks to encourage the passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation. The term derives from the fact that lobbyists usually frequent the lobbies adjacent to the chambers of the Senate and the House either seeking to talk with members as they walk to and from the chambers or awaiting legislative action that might affect their interest. Individual citizens may also "lobby" the members on matters of concern to them. Lobbyists are required to register with the Secretary of State.
LONG BILL The common name for the annual general appropriation bill.

MEMORIAL Expression of one legislative house's sympathy on the death of certain persons or the request for the United States Congress to take a certain action.
OVERRIDE Action by the General Assembly in passing a bill (or a vetoed item or section of an appropriation bill) over the veto and objections of the Governor. An override requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds in each legislative house.
P.I. An acronym for "postpone indefinitely", which is action taken by a committee in determining that a bill should not be referred favorably. When a bill is postponed indefinitely, it is "killed".
PINK BOOK A pocket-sized directory listing addresses, home and work phone numbers, occupations, and committee assignments. It also lists names, addresses, and phone numbers of House and Senate employees.
PRECEDENT Interpretation of rulings by presiding officers on specific rules; also unwritten rules which are established by custom.
PRESIDENT The presiding officer of the Senate annually designated by the majority party in caucus and then elected by the body. The President appoints the members of all committees and designates the chairman and vice-chairman of each committee; refers bills and other legislation to committees; presides over meetings of the Senate; recognizes those members who wish to speak; accepts motions; and designates temporary presiding officers who serve in the President's absence.
PREVIOUS QUESTION A motion to close debate and bring the pending question to an immediate vote.
PRIME SPONSOR The member introducing legislation in each house. The prime sponsor's name appears first not only on the original bill but in all printed versions of the bill and is included on all references to the bill.
PRINTED BILL The bill as introduced before any amendments are made.
QUORUM A majority of the members elected to a legislative house. The Constitution requires a quorum for the transacting of legislative business; however, a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members
RECALL Action by one house of the General Assembly seeking the return of a bill from the other house or from the office of the Governor. Recall is requested in writing by sending a message to the other house or to the Governor.
RECEDE To withdraw from a position on a matter.
RECESS The period that a legislative house is not in session after once having been convened. Recess includes stated periods, such as those for lunch, and informal periods, when the members await the presiding officer's call to return. An informal recess may be necessitated by a caucus to determine a political party position, to await the report of a special orders calendar, or while the House awaits the arrival of the Senate for a joint session.
RECORDED VOTE A vote taken by machine or roll call and recorded in the journal. The constitution requires the "yeas" and "nays" of the individual members to be recorded on third and final passage of all legislation.
RED BOOK A pamphlet with a red cover prepared after every regular session of the General Assembly that contains a list of all sections of the Colorado Revised Statutes that have been repealed, amended, recreated, or added by laws enacted at that regular session and at any extraordinary session held since the publication of the last red book.
REENGROSSED BILL A bill that has passed third reading in the legislative house of origin.
REREVISED BILL A bill that has passed third reading in the second legislative house.
RESOLUTION Action by one legislative house relating solely to that house. Resolutions may pertain to the transaction of the business of that house, establish investigating committees composed of members of that house, or express the will or sentiment of that house on any matter.
REVISED BILL A bill that has passed second reading in the second legislative house.
RISE AND REPORT The motion to end second reading. The motion "rise and report and beg leave to sit again" indicates the intention to continue second reading at a specified time later in the day.
SAFETY CLAUSE The clause at the end of a bill eliminating the need to subject that bill to referendum by the people. The safety clause originates in the initiative and referendum provisions of the state constitution, which provide that laws shall be referred to the people, except those "necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety ...".
SB Abbreviation for a bill introduced in the Senate. See "BILL".
SBSO An acronym for "submitted by subject only", which is a reference to a bill request that is not accompanied by the material necessary to draft the bill.
SCR Abbreviation for a concurrent resolution introduced in the Senate. See "CONCURRENT RESOLUTION".
SEBEC An acronym for "strike everything below the enacting clause", which is a reference to an amendment that strikes everything in the current version of the bill and replaces it with a new version of the bill.
SECOND READING The time when a bill is being considered by the committee of the whole of either legislative house.
SESSION LAWS The annual publication of all acts and selected resolutions and memorials adopted at a session of the General Assembly.
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE A clause providing that it is the stated intention of the General Assembly that the remainder of the law stand if a court declares one portion of the law invalid.
SHORT TITLE An abbreviated form of the bill's title that appears on the status sheet.
SINE DIE "Without day". The adoption of a joint resolution by the two houses to fix the hour of adjournment. Sine die is the action that concludes a session of the General Assembly.
SJM

Abbreviation for a joint memorial introduced in the Senate. See "JOINT MEMORIAL".
SJR Abbreviation for a joint resolution introduced in the Senate. See "JOINT RESOLUTION".
SM Abbreviation for a memorial introduced in the Senate. See "MEMORIAL".
SPEAKER The presiding officer of the House of Representatives who is annually designated by the majority party in caucus and then elected by the body. The Speaker appoints the members of all committees and designates the chairman and vice-chairman of each; refers bills and other legislation to committees; presides over meetings of the House; recognizes those members who wish to speak; accepts motions; and designates temporary presiding officers who serve in the Speaker's absence.
SPECIAL ORDERS CALENDAR A list of bills that are given priority over other bills for consideration on second reading. Near the end of the legislative session, a special orders calendar supplements the bills on the daily calendar to make a fuller agenda. Unless otherwise stated, the special orders calendar is good for one day, but, in recent sessions, a bill placed on the special orders calendar has retained its place until reached or passed over by motion.
SR Abbreviation for a resolution introduced in the Senate. See "RESOLUTION".
STATUTE

A particular law enacted by the legislature.

Colorado Revised Statutes is the current publication of all the laws of the state of Colorado of a general and permanent nature, as compiled, edited, arranged, and prepared for publication by the revisor of statutes. (See section 2-5-101, C.R.S.)



SUNSET The periodic review of statutes controlling advisory committees and agencies exercising the state's power for regulation. Committees and agencies under sunset are terminated automatically by specific dates unless their life has been extended by legislative action. (See sections 2-3-1203 and 24-34-104, C.R.S.)
SUNSHINE LAW A reference to the three parts contained in article 6 of title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, relating to public access to government: A public official disclosure provision; the regulation of lobbyists; and open meetings.
SUPPLEMENTS The compilation of all laws enacted after publication of the bound volumes of the Colorado Revised Statutes or their replacement volumes. The supplements are published annually after each regular session of the General Assembly to include laws passed at that session.

Beginning in 1997, the Colorado Revised Statutes will be republished annually in a softbound format instead of bound volumes and supplements.

THIRD AND FINAL READING The time when a bill is being considered by the entire legislative house for final passage. Passage is determined by a recorded vote of the members.

TITLE The statement clearly expressing the subject matter of the bill, resolution, or memorial.
TRIBUTE Nonlegislative action that does not require introduction or floor action. Tributes usually take the form of expressing the congratulations, recognition, appreciation, greetings, or sentiment of the General Assembly.
VETO Action by the Governor for disapproving a bill. The vetoed bill, with a statement by the Governor of his objections, is returned to the legislative house of origin or to the Secretary of State if the General Assembly has adjourned sine die. If the General Assembly is still in session when the governor vetoes a bill and if the bill is repassed by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house, the veto is overridden, and the act becomes law despite the Governor's objections.
VETO MESSAGE The message the Governor sends in the form of a letter to the General Assembly giving the reasons for vetoing a bill.
VOICE VOTE A vote taken orally. A voice vote will be used for adoption of amendments and some matters, although a roll call can be obtained even on these if five members, by a show of hands, demand a recorded vote.
VOTE An expression of the collective judgment of the House or the Senate. A voice vote will be used for adoption of amendments and some matters, although a roll call can be obtained even on these if five members, by a show of hands, demand a recorded vote.