The Legislative Process
This term describes the minimum number of Members required to be present to conduct official business.
What is quorum?
This official act of the Governor nullifies a bill passed by the Legislature.
What is a Veto?
This part of bill is limited to five words and provides a brief overview of the nature of a bill.
What is the short title/ reference title?
This type of amendment strikes all existing language within a bill and replaces it with new language - often creating an entirely new bill.
What is a Strike-Everything Amendment?
This leadership position is responsible for keeping track of party member's votes on key legislation and presides over caucus meetings.
Who is the Majority/ Minority Whip?
As opposed to a meeting of a standing committee, at this step in the process the entire chamber meets to discuss or amend a measure.
What is Committee of the Whole (COW)?
This term describes the standard for proper, respectful and polite behavior that is expected from all staff and Members of the House.
What is Decorum?
While capitalized blue text refers to new statutory language, regular blue text indicates this type of language.
What is session law?
This type of amendment is offered during Committee of the Whole.
What is a Floor Amendment?
This is the title of the presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
At this step in the process, introduced bills are assigned to standing committees.
What is First Reading of Bills/ First Read?
This term describes an individual who communicates with public officials and testifies in standing committees for the purpose of influencing legislative action.
What is a Lobbyist?
Occurring prior to the Third Reading of Bills, this term describes the process of merging amendment language with an underlying bill.
What is engrossing?
This example of a conditional enactment clause requirements a 2/3 vote of each chamber and will take effect immediately following the Governor's signature.
What is an emergency clause?
The person selected by the members of the majority political party to be their spokesperson.
Who is the Majority Leader?
This is the date upon which most measures signed by the Governor officially become law.
Hint: It occurs 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.
What is the General Effective Date?
This is the box or depository in the Chief Clerks office in which bills, resolutions and memorials are filed for introduction.
What is the Hopper?
This term describes standard bill drafting language that is common to various subjects and designed to maintain the legal consistency and uniformity.
What is boilerplate?
What is repeal?
This leadership position is designated by the Speaker of the House to act as the body's presiding officer in the absence of the Speaker.
Who is the Speaker Pro-Tempore?
While Committee amendments are recommended to be adopted through a Do Pass as Amended recommendation, the amendment is not formally adopted until this step in the legislative process.
What is Committee of the Whole?
A formal legislative allocation of money to a state agency, budget unit or program and the authorization to spend the money for designated lawful purposes.
What is an appropriation?
What are the three components of the header in a bill summary?
What is the sponsor, the short title and the stage in the process.
Requiring a 3/4 vote of each chamber, this term describes the conditional enactment clause that must be added when amending statutory language that was approved by the voters.
What is Prop. 105?
Serving as the chief administrative officer of the House, this position is elected by a majority vote of the House of Representatives.
Who is the Chief Clerk?