Legislative Glossary

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Alphabetical Index

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Adjournment

The last day of the legislative session.

 

Amendatory veto

A type of veto where the Governor states that he would sign the bill if certain changes are made.

 

Amendment

A legislative measure that changes a bill that has already been introduced.

Bill

A legislative initiative, drafted in proper form and introduced into the legislature. See also Legislation, House bill, Senate bill

 

Chambers

The generic term for the two groups that make up the General Assembly or legislature. See also House of Representatives, Senate

Committee

A legislative committee, made up of a subset of the House or the Senate to consider bills (proposals) on selected subjects. See also Conference committee, Standing committee, Special committee

Conference committee

A legislative committee made up of legislators from both chambers that seeks a compromise on a bill that was passed in different versions by the House and Senate. See also Committee

Conference committee report

The compromise legislation worked out and agreed upon by the conference committee. See also Conference committee

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Engrossed bill

A bill and all of its amendments that has passed its house of origin.

Enrolled bill

A bill that has passed both chambers and incorporates all amendments, if any, that have been passed by both chambers. An enrolled bill is sent to the Governor.

Fiirst Reading

The first stage of the bill process.

 

General Assembly (GA)

1) The two chambers of the Illinois Legislature – the House of Representatives and the Senate or 2) the legislative session in which the legislature is operating. See also Legislature

House Bill

A bill that was originally introduced in the House of Representatives. See also Bill, Legislation, Senate bill

House of Representatives

The chamber of the General Assembly made up of the state representatives. Also called simply the House.

House of origin

The first chamber in which a bill is introduced.

Legislation

A legislative initiative, drafted in proper form and introduced into the legislature. See also Bill, House bill, Senate bill

Legislative committee

A committee made up of members of the majority and minority caucuses that recommends bills to the full chamber.

Legislator

A generic term referring to either a Senator or a Representative. See also Representative, Senator

Legislature

The body, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, that makes the laws for the state.

Majority caucus

The Senators or Representatives from the majority party in that chamber. Also referred to as the majority.

Minority caucus

The Senators or Representatives from the minority party in that chamber. Also referred to as the minority.

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority caucus of either the House or the Senate. See also Senate President, Speaker of the House

Public Act

A bill that has been enacted into law. All Public Act numbers are in the form of
XX-YYYY. The Xs are the General Assembly in which it was enacted. The Ys are assigned in the order in which the Act is signed.

Representative

A member of the House of Representatives. See also Senator

Rules Committee

The legislative committee in each chamber responsible for assigning bills to standing and special legislative committees. The Rules Committee also reviews amendments for approval. .

Second reading

The second stage of the bill process.

Senate

The chamber of the General Assembly made up of the state senators.

Senate bill

A bill that was originally introduced in the Senate. See also Bill, Legislation, House bill

Senate President

The leader of the Senate. See also Speaker of the House, Minority Leader

Senator

A member of the Senate. See also Representative

Session

1) a day when the legislature meets or 2) the term in which the legislature is operating.

Shell bill

A bill that makes no substantive changes to Illinois law, generally introduced as a placeholder until specific bill language can be agreed upon. See also Vehicle bill

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives. Also referred to as simply the Speaker. See also Senate President, Minority Leader

Special committee

An ad hoc committee set up only during one General Assembly to deal with special topics.

Sponsor

The legislator who has a bill introduced into the General Assembly. Also referred to as the bill sponsor.

Standing committee

A permanent committee of the House or the Senate.

 

T

Third reading

The third stage of the bill process, after which a vote to pass the bill out of the chamber is taken.

Total Veto

A type of veto where the Governor vetoes the entire bill.

Vehicle bill

A bill that makes no substantive changes to Illinois law, generally introduced as a placeholder until specific bill language can be agreed upon. See also Shell bill

Veto

A procedure where the Governor disagrees with all or part of a bill that has been passed by the General Assembly and specifically refuses to sign the bill. The Governor then sends the bill back to the General Assembly. See also Amendatory veto, Total veto