Short for of the floor motion for acceptance of the joint committee's favorable report and passage of a bill, as in "I move acceptance and passage." The motion is made by the member bringing a bill up for debate for the first time.
A special committee of Senate and House leaders convened to settle disputes over referrals of bills to committees.
To end a committee meeting or a legislative session (see also Sine Die). Requires a motion and a second. The motion is not debatable.
To approve an amendment, motion, or resolution.
A list of proposed actions to be taken at an upcoming committee meeting,. Must be published at least one day before the scheduled meeting.
A list of all business before the Senate (including agency and task force reports and communications from the governor) that needs either to be referred to committee or that has been reported out of committee an is ready for the calendar and printing. The Senate agenda is not distributed except to senators.
To change the language of a bill, resolution, or motion.
A written proposal to change the language of a bill or resolution, prepared by the Legislative Commissioners' Office. Each amendment is identified by an LCO number and given a letter of designation (such as, House or Senate "A") by the presiding officer when formally introduced on the floor. The letter designation is sometimes referred to as a "schedule", as in House amendment schedule "A".
The majority and minority staff members who log in amendments and distribute photocopies of them to members of their respective caucuses.
A request that the members of the full body overrule the presiding officer's decision to a question of parliamentary procedure. Requires a motionand a second and can be debated.
Short for Auditors of Public Accounts. Two legislative appointeesof different political parties who serve four-year terms. Their office audits the accounts of state government agencies and institutions that receive, spend, or administer state funds.
A written proposal to change existing law or enact a new law prepared by the Legislative Commissioners' Office.
A description of the legal effect of a bill in non-legal language prepared by the Office of Legislative Research.
A loose-leaf book containing copies of all bills referred to a committee, compiled for each committee member by committee staff.
Number given to each bill by the House or Senate clerk when it is first introduced in a legislative session. Senate bills are numbered 1 to 4999; House bills are numbered 5000 and up.
A central location providing copies of bills, files, legislative bulletins, bill lists, and House and Senate calendars.
The stage in the legislative process that a bill has reached at a given time. A summary of a bill's status shows al the action taken on the bill up to the moment the status is requested.
The common name for the state Register and Manual. A compendium of state facts published annually by the secretary of the state.
A statutory body, chaired by the governor, that allocates money to projects authorized for bonding by the General Assembly. Members represent the executive and the legislative branches. They usually meet monthly. Bond funds authorized by the legislature cannot be spent without the commission's approval.
The bill or bills authorizing state borrowing for specified purposes, usually capital projects.
A motion for final action to defeat a bill in committee. The term derives from the fact that defeated bills are returned to the committee's bill box until the end of the session.
Used to show the words in an existing law that a bill or amendment proposes to delete. Brackets are placed before and after the deleted word or group of words.
Usually refers to the annual proposal specifying appropriations for the state agencies for the coming fiscal year. Bills that change the statutes to implement the budget may also be called "budget bills".
The fund to which any state surplus remaining after the close of the fiscal year is transferred. Limited to a maximum of 5% of the net General Fund appropriations for the fiscal year in progress.
Short for Legislative Bulletin. The document showing the schedule for legislative sessions, committee meetings, public hearings and other events and containing notes of interest to legislators and staff. It is published daily when the General Assembly is in session.
The sessional staff member that compiles the Bulletin.
Bills awaiting action by the full Senate or House.
Various items requiring legislative attention, such as agency reports, communications from the governor, and bills requiring purely procedural rather than substantive action, such as referral to committee, reading into the record, or printing for the calendar.
The daily list of bills awaiting action by the full Senate or House.
The staff members in the Senate and House clerks' offices who compile the calendars.
The number each bill receives when it is placed on the calendar for the first time. Bills are renumbered in chronological order based on when they go onto the calendar. Thus, a low calendar number indicates a bill that has been awaiting action since early in the session.
The announcement by the House or Senate clerk of the item about to be debated, usually by number, title, and reporting committee (for a bill) or by number, letter, and sponsor (for an amendment).
Members of the legislative staff who provide security for the Capitol, the Legislative Office Building, and grounds.
Term used to refer to appropriations or bond authorizations for local purposes advocated by legislators on behalf of particular constituents or groups.
(1) A group of legislators made up of all members of a particular political party or a group within a party.
(2) A private meeting of such a legislative group.
Partisan staff.
(1) The room where the House or the Senate meets.
(2) The House or Senate itself.
The action by which one committee sends a bill to another committee.
The Senate. The name comes from the arrangement of senator's seats.
A petition for the payment or refund of money by the state or for permission to sue the state. Most claims are decided by the claims commissioner, who is a gubernatorial appointee. But the General Assembly must approve the commissioner's recommendations for payments that exceed $7,500, that allow someone to sue the state, or that waive the time limits for filing claims.
To formally include a legislator's name on the list of a bill's amendment's introducers.
A committee's action to draft a new bill based on the provisions of two of more proposed bills.
The explanation the legislative commissioners attach to a bill or resolution favorably reported by a committee to the Senate or House when they make any change in it other that correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, or typographical errors. The statement must describe each change, state where it was made, and give a reason for each change.
A fully drafted bill based on a proposed bill.
The date set in the rules by which committees must vote on which proposed bills they want the Legislative Commissioner's Office to draft in formal statutory language.
The committee clerk's record of each bill referred to the committee.
The staff member assigned to each committee responsible for maintaining its records, filing committee notices, monitoring public hearings, and performing administrative tasks for the committee.
A group of designated senators and representatives with authority to raise and consider legislative proposals dealing with a subject area set forth in the Joint Rules. Committee members are appointed for a full two-year term. Joint standing committees tend to carry over from one biennium to the next.
A group of designated senators and representatives, similar to a joint standing committee but without the authorization to report bills directly to the Senate or House.
The staff who assist the committee chairmen and members. Usually consists of at least a clerk, an assistant clerk, and a secretary.
A committee of senators and representatives appointed by the presiding officers of their respective houses to resolve conflicts when the Senate and House pass different versions of the same bill. The committee usually consists of three members from each house. The report of a committee of conference must be adopted by both houses without amendment or the bill fails.
To make an exact copy of a bill with appropriate stamps indicating its status. Conformed copies are made by the clerk of the house where the bill originated from the duplicate copy kept on file in the clerk's office. Conformed copies are made when the original bill is misplaced.
A group of bills that all members of a committee or house agree to pass without debate with one roll call vote. A single member may have a bill removed from the consent calendar merely by asking.
A proposed change to the state constitution adopted by a resolution and submitted to the voters, If a resolution containing the amendment passes by a three-fourths majority of each house, the proposed amendment appears on the ballot at the next statewide election. If the resolution passes by a simple majority, it must be submitted to the next General Assembly and passed again before it can be submitted to the voters.
A bill approving the transfer of state property.
As in, "The bill is dead." Means a bill is defeated or otherwise removed from consideration for the rest of the session.
A budget shortfall between an agency's appropriation and the amount it needs to spend in a fiscal year.
A bill making additional appropriations to state agencies that need more funds to complete a fiscal year.
Instructions in an amendment to remove designated wording, lines, or sections from a bill.
A bill one house must consider for the second time because the other house passed a different version of it.
A motion to take separate votes on parts of a bill that involve unrelated subjects. The motion is debatable as to the form of the division.
Officers of the General Assembly appointed by the Senate or House who serve as messengers under the direction of the clerks.
A calendar designation indicating that a bill is ready for floor debate.
(1) To write a bill, resolution, or amendment.
(2) A written version of a bill, resolution, or amendment.
A bill without much content raised or reported out by a committee to meet a deadline specified in the rules in order to allow time to formulate and later substitute a more substantive bill.
Short for emergency certification, see below.
The date the bill becomes a law. Unless otherwise designated, all bills that amend the statutes are effective October 1 in the year passed. All special acts are effective upon passage.
A procedure by which the speaker and president pro tempore jointly propose a bill and send it directly to the House or Senate, floor for action without any committee referrals or public hearings.
The standard language found at the beginning of every bill: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened.: In resolutions, the enacting clause reads: "Resolved by this Assembly"
The final printed version of an enacted bill or resolution prepared by the Legislative Commissioners' Office.
Action by which one committee refers a bill to another committee with a recommendation favoring the bill's passage.
Joint committee's recommendation to the full General Assembly that it pass a bill (also known as "JF").
Formally introduce a bill or propose an amendment by giving a signed copy to the House or Senate clerk.
Printed version of bill ready for consideration by the full House or Senate.
Number given to each bill reported out of a committee and printed and ready for House or Senate action. If a new version of a bill is printed because of amendments by one house, it receives a new file number. Files are numbered from one ("1"), regardless of whether they are House or Senate bills.
Bill status notation indicating that a committee has sent a bill to the Legislative Commissioners' Office for transmittal either to another committee or the Senate or House floor.
Compilation of all the file copies, provided in binders on each member's desk.
Any action that the General Assembly or one of its committees takes to dispose of a bill or resolution for the remainder of the session.
Committee that approves certain budget transfers and appropriations when the General Assembly is not in session. It consists of the governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, comptroller, and five members of the Appropriations Committee representing majority and minority parties and appointed by Senate and House leaders.
The nonpartisan staff office responsible for assisting the legislature in its analysis of tax proposals, the budget, and other fiscal issues.
Statement prepared by the Office of Fiscal Analysis of the cost or savings resulting from a bill or amendment. Required for every bill or amendment considered by the House or Senate.
A written explanation in addition to the fiscal note required for proposed Senate amendments that would reduce state revenues or increase state expenditures. The statement must explain the decrease in expenditures or the source of increased revenues required to balance the state budget.
The state's budget year which runs from July 1 to June 30.
(1) The full Senate or House, as in "sending a bill to the floor."
(2) Also used to indicate who is allowed to speak at a particular time as in "having the floor."
A parliamentary device used in the Senate to hold bills. The "foot of the calendar" is a special category at the end of the calendar. Bills may be placed or removed from the foot only by a special motion.
A bill written in statutory from ready for action by a committee.
The money used for expenditures authorized by the budget and not otherwise restricted by the statute.
The characteristic that fulfills the parliamentary requirement that substitute bills and amendments relate to the same subject as the original proposal.
The list of bills on the calendar that the House intends to take up on a particular session day.
Bills introduced by legislative leaders of the governor's party at the request of the governor's request.
League of Women Voters volunteers who conduct tours of the Capitol and Legislative Office Building.
To amend a bill to remove its key provisions; to weaken a bill drastically.
(1) Either of the two chambers of the General Assembly.
(2) When capitalized, short for the House of Representatives.
A bill introduced by a member of the House of Representatives. House bills are numbered from 5000.
An officer elected by the House with administrative and procedural responsibilities for keeping track of House business.
The chamber where a bill is introduced and which debates and votes on the bill first.
A motion asking that a matter be given priority over other business, sometimes without following all the normal procedural steps.
A motion to send a bill directly to the other house or governor without allowing the normal time for possible reconsideration.
A bill that changes statutes to put into effect or "implement" the provisions of the adopted state budget. Implementers are often referred to by the agency or department most affected, as in "Education Implementer."
Motion to pass a bill in the same form as already passed in the other chamber.
Provides information on bill status, committee meetings, and public hearings to legislators and the public.
The period between regular sessions of the General Assembly.
A high school or college student who works for the General Assembly during the session in return for school credit. The program is run by a special Legislative Internship Committee.
To formally present a proposal for consideration in the General Assembly.
Short for joint favorable report.
The date by which each committee must report out bills or resolutions for further consideration by other committees or the full General Assembly. The committee deadlines are listed in the Joint Rules and all reports must be submitted to the Legislative Commissioners' Office by 5:00 p.m. on the dates listed.
A report compiled by the committee clerk on a standard form for each favorably reported bill. Among other things, the JF report summarizes public hearing testimony and lists organizations that support and oppose the bill.
Short for joint favorable substitute; an amended bill reported favorably by a committee.
See, COMMITTEE, JOINT STANDING
Short for joint favorable report. A joint committee's recommendation to the full General Assembly that it pass a bill.
A committee motion to give a favorable report to a new version of a particular bill. Also known as "JFS".
A committee motion to report out a bill with a recommendation that it not pass.
The official record of the events and actions that occur in the Senate and House on each session day. There are separate journals for the Senate and House.
The House and Senate employees responsible for compiling the daily journals.
A 17-member non-partisan commission composed of legislators, judges, attorneys, and a professor of law. The Commission reviews proposals for law revision and judicial decisions impacting on Connecticut law and recommends appropriate revisions. The Commission office consists of staff attorneys and support staff.
The nonpartisan lawyers who draft bills, resolutions. and amendments. Each committee has an LCO attorney or attorneys assigned to it.
A number assigned to each item drafted in LCO. Each version of a bill and each amendment has a different LCO number. The number is used to identify versions of a bill or amendments to a bill before they receive their number or letter designations.
The two part-time attorneys of different political parties appointed by the General Assembly who head the Legislative Commissioners' Office. They advise the legislature and review the final drafts of each favorably reported bill. They serve staggered four-year terms.
The nonpartisan office headed by the legislative commissioners consisting of all the LCO attorneys and their support staff. They provide bill and amendment drafting services and publish the annual public and special acts and the Connecticut General Statutes.
The handbook published annually by the Legislative Management Committee that contains information concerning the General Assembly, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of legislators; committee assignments; and legislative rules, guidelines and regulations.
The documentation of the process of passing a law that includes public hearing testimony and floor debate. Used when researching legislative intent.
Used by courts to interpret statutes when the actual wording of the law is ambiguous or unclear. It consists of members' statements made during debate on a bill. Sometimes members make statements about a bill's meaning during debate specifically to establish legislative intent.
The Senate president pro tempore, majority, and minority leaders and the speaker and majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives.
An employee of a state agency assigned to monitor legislation affecting the agency and to assist legislators and their staffs in dealing with that agency.
The reference library and library staff available to legislators and legislative staff. Among other things, it contains all legislative research reports, legislative documents, copies of state and federal statutes, court opinions, and state and federal regulations.
(1) Short for the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, a 26-member legislative committee chaired by the House speaker and the Senate president pro tempore. The committee oversees the operations of the General Assembly, including personnel, budget, and buildings and grounds. It also raises and reports on bills and resolutions affecting laws governing the legislative branch.
(2) The nonpartisan staff responsible for administering legislative organization, operations, and facilities under the committee's direction.
The procedure by which a bill becomes a law.
A book published annually by the House and Senate clerks that shows action taken on each bill and resolution introduced in the General Assembly in the previous session.
A nonpartisan office providing committee staffing, policy research, bill analyses, and public act summaries. Each committee except Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding is assigned its own OLR researcher.
Legislative Information Network, a computer system providing management tools, documents preparation, and searchable databases.
Numbers that appear in the margins of each bill, resolution, and amendment. Used as reference points in discussing the wording in legislation and in drafting amendments.
Printed listing of bill titles, numbers, suggested committees referrals, and statements of purpose, for bills filed in the Senate and House clerks' offices. Acceptance of a list of bills by the House constitutes each bill's first reading and automatically refers the bills to their designated committees. In the Senate, bills must also appear on the Senate agenda.
Numbers belonging to bills that have been raised and has a public hearing according to the rules that can be used for a proposal that the committee wishes to JF that has not been raised or heard. Sometimes called a "good number."
Person required to register with the Ethics Commission who spends or is paid at least $2,000 a year to influence legislation. Lobbyists are required to wear blue badges stating their names and whom they represent. They may not enter either chamber; the areas immediately outside the entrances to them; or the Legislative Commissioners', the Legislative Research, or Fiscal Analysis offices.
The regular five-month session of the General Assembly held in each odd-numbered calendar year.
The announcement the presiding officer makes when closing the automatic roll call voting machine. Members may still vote after the machine is locked and before the tally is announced by seeking recognition from the presiding officer and announcing their votes.
The announcement the presiding officer makes to indicate that members may begin recording their votes on the automatic roll call voting machine by pushing the "yes" or "no" button on their desks.
Anything the legislature requires, but usually used to mean a state-initiated constitutional, statutory, or executive action that requires a local government to establish, expand, or modify its activities in such a way as to necessitate additional local spending. All bills that include a local mandate must be referred to the Appropriations Committee unless the referral is waived by a two-thirds vote of each house. Whenever a bill contains a mandate, the fact is recorded as a municipal impact in the fiscal note.
A process used in Senate whereby, at the beginning of each session, the majority leader reads out loud the actions proposed to be taken on each bill on the calendar that day. Comparable to the House "Go List.'
A manual of parliamentary procedure that, together with the rules of the General Assembly, governs the manner in which the legislature transacts its business. Whenever Mason's Manual conflicts with the rules adopted by the General Assembly, the rules take precedence.
A calendar designation indicating that a committee has reported a bill favorably despite a finding by the legislative commissioners that it is unconstitutional or already law.
A calendar designation for a bill that was referred to a committee from the floor and reported back to the chamber.
Staff members serving under the direction of the clerks who are responsible for carrying messages to members and distributing documents.
A formal request for a particular action.
The part of a fiscal note that describes the financial effect of a proposal on municipalities.
The number of "yes" votes needed to pass a particular measure. The number depends on the number of members present and voting, and may differ depending on the nature of the measure. Always announced by the House clerk as part of the vote tally.
A designation that appears in parentheses before a section of a proposal that, if passed, would be a completely new section of the statutes rather than a change in an existing one. Used instead of printing the new section in all capital letters.
Substitute bill reported by a committee after being referred from the floor. Such a bill is reprinted and given a new file number.
A method of defeating a bill in committee that, unlike a motion to box, does not require a roll call vote.
Executive or judicial appointments that must be approved by the General Assembly.
Legislative employees not assigned to work solely for a caucus who provide nonpolitical services to the members of the General Assembly. Nonpartisan staff work in the Legislative Management, Legislative Commissioners', Legislative Research, Fiscal Analysis, Program Review, and Law Revision offices; for the Capitol Police; and as permanent committee administrators.
Short for other expenses. The line item in agency budgets that includes expenditures for items other than personnel.
(1) A research report written by the staff of the Office of Legislative Research.
(2) Another name for an OLR bill analysis.
Refers to a bill being on consent calendar, as in "The bill is on consent."
The sequence in which business is normally transacted each day in each chamber. The order for each chamber is specified in the House and Senate rules.
The designation of a special time and date for considering a particular bill. Bills that are the order of the day are taken up at the specified time and date regardless of their place on the calendar.
A type of "absence voting" by which two members who, had they been present for a vote, would have voted on opposite sides. When they agree to pair themselves they indicate their respective positions on the issue and the fact that their absences did not effect the outcome. The Senate rules provide for pairing.
A question from a member to the presiding officer concerning proper procedure or the parliamentary status of a matter under consideration at that moment.
Staff hired by the House and Senate caucuses.
Short for "passed, retaining its place on the calendar." The action of passing over a bill but allowing it to keep its position on the calendar relative to other bills. Bills not pass retained fall into the bottom of the calendar. In practice PR'd bills are held until the next session day.
To suspend consideration of a particular bill for a short time, for example to await an amendment or the answer to a question. PT'ed bills are usually taken up later on the same day.
The full-time employees who administer the House and Senate clerks offices.
A member's request for recognition to make announcements, personal statements, or introductions.
A method by which a member can, by collecting the requisite number of legislators' signatures, require a committee either to have a proposed bill fully drafted and hold a public hearing on it or to report a bill to the floor. Bills petitioned to the floor are often shown on the calendar as unfavorable reports.
A copy of a proposed, raised, or committee bill distributed by a committee.
The parliamentary device used to require a committee, the House, or the Senate to observe its own rules and follow established parliamentary practice. Points of order are raised by individual members and decided by the presiding officer. The presiding officer's decision may be overruled by a majority vote of the full body.
The term used in circumstances where the discharge of a legislator's duty would affect his or her financial interest (or that of the spouse or other family members) unless that interest is virtually inconsequential or is not distinct from the interest of a substantial segment of the general public. If an action would create a potential conflict, the member can be excused from voting or he can prepare a written statement for the journal or minutes explaining why he is able to act fairly, and file a copy with the Ethics Commission.
A prior ruling or established custom on which a presiding officer may rely in dealing with points of order and parliamentary inquiries. General Assembly precedents are compiled by the Office of Legislative Research and published at the beginning of each two-year term by the Legislative Management Committee.
The presiding officer of the Senate, usually the lieutenant governor.
The majority of the votes on a particular measure. Only someone who voted on the prevailing side may move for reconsideration.
Each bill favorably reported by a committee must be printed and assigned a file number before it can appear on the calendar.
A permanent bipartisan committee that conducts in depth investigations of issues, programs, or state agencies. The chairmen are members of different parties. The committee has a nonpartisan staff.
A bill introduced by an individual legislator at the beginning of a session, not fully drafted. In even-year sessions, the subjects of proposed bills are restricted to fiscal matters.
A fully drafted bill, resolution, or amendment not yet formally introduced.
A fully drafted version of a revised bill not yet acted on by a committee.
A bill passed by both chambers of the legislature that amends the general Statutes.
A meeting which members of the public and representatives of state agencies have the opportunity to testify to a legislative committee on bills, resolutions, or issues before the committee. Requirements for public hearings are set forth in the Joint Rules.
A quorum in a legislative body is normally a majority of the entire membership of the body. If there are vacancies, that fact is not considered. Thus, a quorum of a legislative body that has 100 seats would be 51 (more than half of 100), even if some seats are vacant. However, it is also common in a legislative body to have a rule that the lack of a quorum does not affect the proceedings unless a point of order is raised.
A racial and ethnic impact statement is a statement prepared by the Office of Legislative Research and the Office of Fiscal Analysis to indicate whether or not the bill or amendment would have a disparate impact on the racial and ethnic composition of the correctional facility population and an explanation of that impact.
Common name for the Budget Reserve Fund.
A fully drafted bill introduced by a committee that is not based on a proposed bill.
The designated leaders of the minority party on a joint committee. Each committee has a House and Senate ranking member designated by the minority leader of each house.
Slang term for a bill or amendment that a member or group thinks is bad. When a member must support such a measure for political reasons, he is said to "swallow a rat."
The process of giving a bill a first reading by presenting a list of bills with their committee referrals to the chamber of origin. No debate is required for this procedure.
A technical term for three stages of a bill's passage. The first reading is the initial committee referral, the second occurs when the bill is reported to the floor and tabled for the calendar and printing, and the third when the bill is debated and voted on. At none of these stages is the bill's text actually read aloud.
To pass an amendment a second time after it has been rejected by the other house.
To request the return of a bill from the other house or the governor to correct a technical error.
A temporary suspension of a House or Senate session or a committee meeting with the intention of resuming before adjournment.
The House or Senate's decision to return a bill to a committee that previously reported it out. A bill that is recommitted is dead.
Motion for a second vote on a question. Must be made by a member who voted with the majority the first time. A committee may reconsider an item only at its next regular meeting. House rules impose a similar requirement for House reconsideration. The Senate rules allow reconsideration on the same day as the original vote or on the next day. An item can be reconsidered only once in a session. Except for the last three days of the session, unless the rules are suspended, a bill must be held by the clerks until the end of the following session day for possible reconsideration.
To reassemble, usually after a recess.
To send any item of legislative business to a committee.
Refer a bill or resolution to a committee from the full House or Senate.
Short for the Legislative Regulation Review Committee. The bipartisan committee that reviews and approves all state agency regulations.
One of the two annual sessions of the General Assembly held in each biennium.
A rule adopted by a state agency to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describe its procedure or practice requirements. Agency regulations have the force of law, must be adopted according to procedures described in the law, and must be approved by the Legislative Regulation Review Committee.
To defeat, usually used to refer to action on an amendment.
A motion made in the Senate to take an item previously held at the end of the calendar and return it to its place for action that day.
To revoke an existing law.
The section of a bill, usually at the end, that revokes one or more sections of existing law by listing only their statutory citations.
See JF DEADLINE.
To print a new file copy of a bill after it has been amended for the other house or revised by a committee after being referred from the floor. Reprints receive new file numbers. Normally, the Senate reprints bills amended by the House but the House does not reprint bills amended by the Senate.
A committee decision to schedule a public hearing on a proposed bill.
A statement by the General Assembly that is not a law. Used to approve nominations or labor contacts, place constitutional amendments on the ballot, or express the legislature's collective opinion.
A projection of state revenues for the coming fiscal year prepared by the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee that must be included in the state budget.
The electronic voting machines used to record members' votes in the House and Senate.
The record of the individual votes of each member of the House or Senate or a committee on a particular question. All House and Senate roll call votes are printed in their respective journals. Any vote that constitutes final action on a bill must be taken by roll call.
The General Assembly's written governing legislative activity. The rules are adopted at the beginning of each session. Joint activities are governed by the joint rules adopted by both houses. Each house also adopts its own separate rules.
The informal process by which a small group of designated legislators and staff reviews bills (1) before they are reported out of a committee and (2) before they are considered on the floor. Each House and Senate caucus has a separate screening process. The results of the majority party's screening are the House Go List and the Senate markings.
To endorse a motion made by another member. Required for further consideration of the motion.
A bill introduced by an individual senator or first filed with the Senate clerk. Senate bills are numbered 1 through 4,999.
An officer elected by the Senate with administrative and procedural responsibilities for keeping track of Senate business.
A day when either house of the General Assembly meets or holds a regular or technical session.
Temporary staff hired to work only for the session.
The three-month session held during even-numbered years.
The place where those wishing to testify at a public hearing write their names to determine the order of their appearance before the committee. There is usually a separate sign-up sheet for legislators and agency heads who wish to testify.
Term used when a legislator adds his name as a co-sponsor of a bill or amendment; as in "Did Representative Smith sign on to this?"
Latin for "without day," meaning a final adjournment. A motion used to close an annual session of the General Assembly. It terminates all unfinished business.
Calendar designation showing that a bill awaiting action has been on the calendar for two of the required three session days.
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, elected by the members.
A law that has a limited application or is of limited duration, not incorporated into the Connecticut General Statutes.
A meeting of the General Assembly called for a particular purpose. A special session may be called by the governor or by a majority of legislators.
The announcement of the special session giving its date, time, and purpose.
A joint committee that has been divided so that House and Senate members can act separately. The rules allow a committee to split only at the request of the majority of the committee members present representing either house.
The originator of a legislative proposal, either a legislator or a committee.
A Senate vote taken whenever the presiding officer doubts the result of a voice vote. A standing vote does not require that the votes of individual senators be permanently recorded.
Another term for double-starred, meaning an item has been on the calendar for the required three session days and is ready for action.
Another name for a law. "The statutes" are the General Statutes of Connecticut.
The action by a committee to send an item to another committee without a recommendation.
To remove all a bill's provisions and substitute an entirely new proposal.
A portion of a whole committee. Usually refers to sub-groups of the Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees.
(1) A public hearing held by a committee on a group of proposed bills all relating to the same subject.
(2) A committee hearing on a particular subject to seek ideas for legislation.
The term used in connection with legislators and matters of private interest or gain to them. A legislator has a substantial conflict of interest if he has reason to believe he, his spouse or dependent child, or a business with which he is associated, will experience a direct monetary gain or loss as a result of his official action. If an action would create a substantial conflict, the official is prohibited from taking it.
Term applied to an adopted amendment that alters the substance of a bill. Under the rules, once a substantive amendment has been adopted, further action on a bill must be suspended until the amended bill has been reexamined by the legislative commissioners and reprinted as a new file. After each amendment is adopted in the House, the speaker rules whether it is substantive or technical.
An amended bill reported by a committee. Indicated by a small "s" in front of its bill number.
Commonly used procedure that allows an amendment's introducer to explain its effect instead of having the clerk read the announcement aloud. Requires permission of the full body, which the introducer usually seeks as part of his motion to adopt the amendment.
To waive the rules to accomplish a particular purpose. The motion requires a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.
The formal order for a bill reported out of committee to be printed in the files and appear on the House or Senate calendar. This step also serves as the bill's second reading.
A written record of a roll call vote.
A special group authorized to study a particular issue and report back to the General Assembly. Its members often include legislators.
Nonsubstantive, especially when applied to an amendment.
An annual bill to correct grammatical or typographical errors in the statutes.
A brief formal convening of the House or Senate held purely to advance bills on the calendar and make pro forma referrals. There is no debate or voting on bills. It usually lasts a few minutes and involves only two members and the clerk.
Another name for the veto session.
A written word-for-word record of the proceedings of a committee's public hearing, or the House or Senate debates. No transcripts are made of committee meetings.
Short for the Special Transportation Fund. A separate budget account funded by fuel and transportation-related taxes and motor vehicle fees. It pays for the departments of Motor Vehicles and Transportation and its revenues provide backing for state bonds used for state and local highway improvement projects.
A recommendation from a committee that a bill be defeated.
Used to show new language a bill or amendment proposes to insert into existing law. The proposed insertion is underlined.
Used as the effective date for certain bills.. Means the act takes effect the day the governor signs it.
A special act that retroactively legalizes a previous action or failure to act by the state, a local government body, a corporation, or anyone else.
A bill or resolution that is susceptible to being amended to accomplish another purpose, often either more controversial or larger in scope than the original bill. A vehicle to which many amendments are attached is sometimes called an omnibus.
The governor's rejection of a bill. A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the membership of each house.
A special session of the General Assembly held usually about six weeks after the regular session to consider whether to override gubernatorial vetoes.
A vote to draft is a vote taken to have a proposed bill drafted in full as a committee bill.
A vote taken by a call for Yeas and Nays that does not require recording members' individual votes. Usually used to pass amendments and adopt motions. It cannot be used for taking a final action on a bill.
The open area of the House chamber between the speaker's dais and the first row of legislators' desks. Used for guests and staff, who must remain there while roll call votes are in progress and the roll call machine is open.
A motion to remove an amendment or a motion from consideration. Must be made by the proposer. A member who seconds a motion may also withdraw his second. Motions to withdraw may only be made before the vote.
A preliminary draft of a bill, resolution, or an amendment. Often circulated to interested parties before being filed and still subject to revision. Stamped as such by the Legislative Commissioners' Office.
Short for yield the floor. One legislator's giving the floor to another member during debate.