FLOOR GLOSSARY


ADOPTED - "Adopted" is synonymous with the term "carried".

AMENDMENT - A change made in a bill, resolution, or memorial offered by a 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.

CALENDAR - A listing of the bills, resolutions, and memorials ready for introduction or for floor consideration on second or third reading. 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. The calendar for the Senate also includes board or commission confirmations ready for Senate action.

CALL OF THE HOUSE/SENATE - A request that all members of the legislative chamber 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 sergeants-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.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - When either legislative chamber meets to debate bills calendared for second reading, the chamber is acting as a committee of the whole.

COMMITTEE REPORT/COMMITTEE AMENDMENT - 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. It is customary for the House to refer to committee reports and for the Senate to refer to committee amendments.

CONSENT CALENDAR - A procedure used in the Senate which allows for certain bills to be passed on second reading or third reading, final passage of noncontroversial memorials and resolutions other than concurrent resolutions, and confirmation of noncontroversial gubernatorial appointments through an expedited process in which substantial debate does not occur and in which a slate of bills, resolutions, memorials, or confirmations are passed with a single vote. A bill may be placed on the consent calendar in the sole discretion of the majority leader, after consultation with the minority leader and the appropriate committee chair, if a bill passes out of committee by a unanimous vote, if a bill has no recommended committee amendments, if all the committees of reference recommend that a bill be placed on the consent calendar or if the majority leader determines that a bill is noncontroversial in nature. Noncontroversial memorials, resolutions, and confirmations may be placed on the consent calendar in the sole discretion of the majority leader, after consultation with the minority leader and the appropriate committee chair, if applicable. Items placed on the consent calendar are printed in the Senate calender for at least 48 hours prior to consideration. There is a process allowed for a member to request that an item be removed from the consent calendar.

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 or her 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. Proposed initiated measures also must include an enacting clause.

ENGROSSED BILL - A bill that has passed second reading in the legislative house of origin.

GENERAL ORDERS - Another name for Second Reading.

IMMEDIATE RECONSIDERATION - A motion, based on either House Rule 35 or Senate Rule 18, that allows a committee, the House, or Senate to question an action taken by a committee, the House, or Senate. In the Senate, the motion must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side and no later than 2 legislative days after the vote on the action was taken. In the House, the motion must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side the same day or by 12 o'clock noon the next actual day of session.

INTRODUCTION - The first time a bill, resolution, or memorial is read.

JOURNAL - The official record of the proceedings of each legislative chamber 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 motion whereby consideration on a measure is postponed to a later time.

LAY ON THE TABLE - A motion used to dispense with an issue without voting on it.

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE - A provision within the rules of procedure under which a member may speak upon personal matters. (See House Rule 22 (a) and Senate Rule 37 (b).)

POINT OF ORDER - A motion calling attention to an alleged breach of procedural rules.

PREVIOUS QUESTION - A motion to close debate and bring the pending question to an immediate vote.

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.

RECESS - The period that a legislative chamber 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 final passage of all legislation.

REENGROSSED BILL - A bill that has passed third reading in the legislative chamber of origin.

REREVISED BILL - A bill that has passed third reading in the second legislative chamber.

REVISED BILL - A bill that has passed second reading in the second legislative chamber.

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.

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 a 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 chamber.

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.

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

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. In the Senate, 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.




Committee Glossary

ADOPTED - "Adopted" is synonymous with the term "carried".

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.

APPROPRIATION CLAUSE - Language in a bill that authorizes the spending of funds to implement 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 also lists meetings of committees scheduled for that day or for the next several days, as well as conference committees that are to report. The calendar for the Senate also includes board or commission confirmations ready for Senate action.

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.

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 Each Legislator", which is a reference to the 1988 amendment to sections 20 and 22a of the state Constitution that related to actions on bills by committees and that prohibited caucus positions on bills.

IMMEDIATE RECONSIDERATION - A motion, based on either House Rule 35 or Senate Rule 18, that allows a committee, the House, or Senate to question an action taken by a committee, the House, or Senate. In the Senate, the motion must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side and no later than 2 legislative days after the vote on the action was taken. In the House, the motion must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side the same day or by 12 o'clock noon the next actual day of session.

LAID OVER - A motion whereby consideration on a measure is postponed to a later time.

LAY ON THE TABLE - A motion used to dispense with an issue without voting on it.

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".

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..




Legislative Glossary

ACT - A bill which has been approved by both chambers 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 motion whereby, in response to some conflicting action by the other chamber, one chamber votes to stand by its previous action.

ADJOURN/ADJOURNMENT - A motion signaling the ending of a legislative business day or a legislative session. A legislative chamber 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 chamber 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").

ADMINISTRATIVE RULE - A written statement of law adopted by an administrative agency pursuant to authority granted by the General Assembly to carry out the policies and intent of a statute enacted by the General Assembly.

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 a member either in committee or on the floor of the legislative chamber. Amendments made to a bill or resolution by a committee are contained in the committee report on the bill or resolution.

APPEAL - A motion for testing and possibly changing the decision of a presiding officer.

APPORTIONMENT - The proportionate distribution of elected representatives, either among the states in the case of U.S. Congress or within the state in the case of the state legislature.

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 chamber 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's action through the legislative process.

BILL SUMMARY - A brief summary 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 also lists meetings of committees scheduled for that day or for the next several days, as well as conference committees that are to report. The calendar for the Senate also includes board or commission confirmations ready for Senate action.

CALL OF THE HOUSE/SENATE - A request that all members of the legislative chamber 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 sergeants-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 chamber meeting together to work out language acceptable to both chamber on a measure where an agreement could not be reached through committee or floor amendments. A majority of the members of each legislative chamber must agree before the conference committee report may be submitted to the Senate and House. Neither chamber 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 chamber. Some joint or interim committees may also include persons other than legislators. 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 chamber meets to debate bills calendared for second reading, the chamber is acting as a committee of the whole.

COMMITTEE REPORT/ COMMITTEE AMENDMENT - 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. It is customary for the House to refer to committee reports and for the Senate to refer to committee amendments.

CONCURRENCE - Action taken by one legislative chamber when it accepts the amendment or amendments adopted by the other legislative chamber.

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.

CONFIRMATION - The Senate's approval of a Governor's appointee.

CONSENT CALENDAR - A procedure used in the Senate which allows for certain bills to be passed on second reading or third reading, final passage of noncontroversial memorials and resolutions other than concurrent resolutions, and confirmation of noncontroversial gubernatorial appointments through an expedited process in which substantial debate does not occur and in which a slate of bills, resolutions, memorials, or confirmations are passed with a single vote. A bill may be placed on the consent calendar in the sole discretion of the majority leader, after consultation with the minority leader and the appropriate committee chair, if a bill passes out of committee by a unanimous vote, if a bill has no recommended committee amendments, if all the committees of reference recommend that a bill be placed on the consent calendar or if the majority leader determines that a bill is noncontroversial in nature. Noncontroversial memorials, resolutions, and confirmations may be placed on the consent calendar in the sole discretion of the majority leader, after consultation with the minority leader and the appropriate committee chair, if applicable. Items placed on the consent calendar are printed in the Senate calender for at least 48 hours prior to consideration. There is a process allowed for a member to request that an item be removed from the consent calendar.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT - A change to the state's constitution. A constitutional amendment may be proposed by the General Assembly in the form of a concurrent resolution, that must be adopted by both chambers of the legislature by a two-third vote. If the concurrent resolution is adopted by both chambers, it must then be approved by a majority of the voters to become effective. A constitutional amendment may also be proposed through the initiative process of the electorate. An initiated constitutional amendment must also be approved by a majority of the voters to become effective. see CONCURRENT RESOLUTION.

C.R.S. - Abbreviation for Colorado Revised Statutes, which is the compilation of Colorado statutory law.

DIGEST - Annually published summary of all bills enacted and concurrent resolutions passed by the General Assembly during the most recent legislative session, including bills that were vetoed by the Governor or that became law without the Governor's signature. The digest does not include resolutions or memorials adopted during the legislative session.

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 or her 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. Proposed initiated measures also must include an enacting clause.

ENGROSSED BILL - A bill that has passed second reading in the legislative chamber of origin.

ENROLLED ACT - A bill that both chambers 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.

EXECUTIVE ORDER - Any written or printed order, directive, or rule promulgated by the Governor either (1) in the exercise of the constitutional authority as chief executive; (2) in fulfillment of the duty to enforce state laws; (3) in the exercise of responsibilities as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and civil defense forces of the state, or (4) in the role as agent of the state legislature in exercising powers delegated by statute to administer and implement particular state laws and programs.

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.
FISCAL YEAR (FY) - A 12-month period used for fiscal purposes. The state fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30. The federal fiscal year begins October 1 and ends September 30. The year identified with a fiscal year is the year of the ending date. Therefore, state FY 96 is the 12-month period of time starting July 1, 1995 and ending June 30, 1996.

GAVEL - An acronym for "Give A Vote to Each Legislator", which is a reference to the 1988 amendment to sections 20 and 22a of the state Constitution that related to actions on bills by committees and that prohibited caucus positions on bills.

GENERAL FUNDThe primary operating fund of the state. Section 24-75-201, C.R.S., requires all moneys to go into the general fund unless otherwise specified. Also, section 24-36-114, C.R.S., requires that all interest derived from moneys in a fund be credited to the general fund unless specified otherwise.

GENERAL ORDERS - Another name for Second Reading.

GRANDFATHER CLAUSE - A provision in a bill that exempts a person or a class of persons from a proposal's coverage based on the person's or class' present status.
HBAbbreviation for a bill introduced in the House. See "BILL".
HCRAbbreviation for a concurrent resolution introduced in the House. See "CONCURRENT RESOLUTION".

HEARING - A meeting of a legislative committee in which members receive testimony from legislators, interest groups, or private citizens regarding legislation under consideration by the committee.

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 that codifies or updates laws applying to an agency and primarily used to eliminate obsolete sections.

HR - Abbreviation for a resolution introduced in the House. See "RESOLUTION".

IMMEDIATE RECONSIDERATION - A motion, based on either House Rule 35 or Senate Rule 18, that allows a committee, the House, or Senate to question an action taken by a committee, the House, or Senate. In the Senate, the motion must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side and no later than 2 legislative days after the vote on the action was taken. In the House, the motion must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side the same day or by 12 o'clock noon the next actual day of session.

INITIATIVE - A measure that, pursuant to the process authorized by the Colorado Constitution, permits qualified electors of the state to enact measures independently of the General Assembly. An initiated measure may propose an amendment to the Colorado Constitution or to the Colorado Revised Statutes.

INTERIM - The period between regular sessions of the General Assembly.

INTERIM COMMITTEE - A committee created to study a subject of interest to the General Assembly during the period in which the General Assembly is in recess. As a result or its study, the committee may publish a report, make recommendations, or propose legislation. See "COMMITTEE".

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 legislative chambers, establishing investigating committees composed of members of both chambers, or expressing the will or sentiment of both chambers on any matter.

JOURNAL - The official record of the proceedings of each legislative chamber 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 motion whereby consideration on a measure is postponed to a later time.

LAY ON THE TABLE - A motion used to dispense with an issue without voting on it.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - There are two distinct organizations that 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 common name of the Legislative Council Staff, 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 legislative 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 legislators 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.

MOTION - A legislator's formal request for consideration of a proposal for action by a legislative body.

MEMORIAL - Expression of one legislative chamber's sympathy on the death of certain persons or the request for the United States Congress to take a certain action.

OMNIBUS BILL - A bill regarding a single subject that combines many different aspects of that subject.

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 chamber.

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE - A provision within the rules of procedure under which a member may speak upon personal matters. (See House Rule 22 (a) and Senate Rule 37 (b).)

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 of each legislator. It also lists names, addresses, and phone numbers of House and Senate employees.

POINT OF ORDER - A motion calling attention to an alleged breach of procedural rules.

PRECEDENT - Interpretation of rulings by presiding officers on specific rules; also unwritten rules that are established by custom.

PRESIDENT - The presiding officer of the Senate annually designated by the majority party 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 chamber. 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 version of the bill that reflects the state of the bill as it was introduced. The printed bill does not reflect any amendments made to the bill.

PRO TEMPORE OR PRO TEM - The term is used particularly to apply to a person temporarily acting as the presiding officer of either the House or the Senate.

QUORUM - A majority of the members elected to a legislative chamber. 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.

REAPPORTIONMENT - Changing the congressional and state senate and house districts of equal population for the purposes of representation based on the latest federal census. See also "APPORTIONMENT".

RECALL - Action by one chamber of the General Assembly seeking the return of a bill from the other chamber or from the office of the Governor. Recall is requested in writing by sending a message to the other chamber or to the Governor.

RECEDE - To withdraw from a position on a matter.

RECESS - The period that a legislative chamber 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 BILLA bill that has passed third reading in the legislative chamber of origin.

REFERENDUM POWER, REFERRED MEASURE, OR REFERRED QUESTION:

1. The power of the people to approve or disapprove any law passed by the General Assembly except for laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of state and state institutions. A referendum petition may be filed within 90 days after the final adjournment of the session of the General Assembly; if filed, measure referred to voters statewide at even-year election. (See Section 1 (3) of article V of the Colorado Constitution. See also "SAFETY CLAUSE").

2. A measure sent to the voters by the General Assembly for approval of an amendment to the Colorado statutes; measure referred to voters statewide at even-year election unless the statutory change relates to state matters arising under section 20 of article X (TABOR) in which case it can be referred at the odd-year election. (See Section 1 (3) of article V and section 20 of article X (TABOR) of the Colorado Constitution).

3. A measure sent to the voters by the General Assembly for approval of an amendment to the Colorado Constitution; measure referred to voters statewide at even-year election unless the constitutional amendment relates to state matters arising under (TABOR) in which case it can be referred at the odd-year election. (See Section 2 (3) of article XIX and section 20 of article X (TABOR) of the Colorado Constitution).

4. A question sent to the voters by the General Assembly for approval of any new tax, tax rate increase, mill levy above that for the prior year, valuation for assessment ratio increase for a property class, or extension of an expiring tax, or a tax policy change directly causing a net tax revenue gain, the incurring of debt and certain financial obligations, or retaining and spending revenues in excess of the state TABOR spending limit (called a state matter arising under TABOR) without reference to specific state legislation or amendment to the constitution; the measure is referred to voters statewide at the next election (whether even- or odd-year). (See Section 1 (3) of article V and section 20 of article X (TABOR) of the Colorado Constitution).

5. A question sent to the voters as a result of a statutory enactment by the General Assembly relating to a state matter arising under TABOR, the utilization of which is conditioned on the voters answering affirmatively on the question placed on the ballot by the Secretary of State at the next election (whether even-or odd-year). (See Section 1 (3) of article V and section 20 of article X (TABOR) of the Colorado Constitution).

REREVISED BILL - A bill that has passed third reading in the second legislative chamber.

RESOLUTION - Action by one legislative chamber relating solely to that chamber. Resolutions may pertain to the transaction of the business of that chamber, establish investigating committees composed of members of that chamber, or express the will or sentiment of that chamber on any matter.

REVISED BILL - A bill that has passed second reading in the second legislative chamber.

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 or information 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 a 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 chamber.

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 a law stand if a court declares one portion of the law invalid.

BILL TOPIC - An abbreviated form of the bill's title that appears on the status sheet.

SINE DIE - "Without day". Sine die is the action that concludes a session of the General Assembly. The adoption of a joint resolution by the two chambers to fix the hour of adjournment.

SINGLE SUBJECT - A bill shall contain only one subject that shall be clearly expressed in its title. ( See Article V, section 21, of the Colorado Constitution.)

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 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.

SPECIAL SESSION (OR EXTRAORDINARY SESSION) - A session of the General Assembly convened by the Governor by a proclamation that states the reason for the special session. No business shall be transacted other than that specially named in the proclamation. The Governor may also convene the Senate in extraordinary session for the transaction of executive business. Article IV, Section 9, of the Colorado Constitution. The General Assembly may also convene a special session pursuant to Article V, section 7, Colorado Constitution.

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.)

SUNRISE - The system for reviewing the necessity of regulating an occupation or profession prior to enacting laws for such regulation. (See section 24-34-104.1, 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.

THIRD AND FINAL READING - The time when a bill is being considered by the entire legislative chamber 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 chamber 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 chamber, 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. In the Senate, 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.