dilatory: To delay.

division of the question: To break a question into two or more separate propositions.

Enacted into law: The bill has been signed by the Governor

Engrossed proposal: A proposal incorporating all adopted amendments and all approved technical corrections in the house of origin, whether or not it is reproduced as engrossed.

Enrolled proposal: A proposal that was passed, or adopted, and concurred in, incorporating any amendments and corrections that were approved by both houses.

Executive session or “exec”: A legislative committee meeting during which the committee votes, or takes “executive action,” on a bill or other proposal. The public is generally not allowed to testify at an executive session. The word “Exec” is also used to mean holding a committee vote on a proposal during an executive session.

expunge: To remove material from the record and thus undo some action.

Extraordinary session: The convening of the Legislature to accomplish specific business identified in the action calling the session. Extraordinary sessions can be called by the Assembly and Senate Committees on Organization, by petition, or by joint resolution of the Legislature.

First reading: The formal recognition by a legislative body that a bill or other proposal has been introduced.

Fiscal Estimate: An estimate of the effect of a bill on the revenues and expenses of state and local governments.

floor amendment: Any amendment offered for consideration at the 2^nd reading stage, or for committee consideration, but not drafted by the legislative reference bureau.

Floorperiod: Periods of time identified in the legislative session calendar as available for consideration of proposals by the full Assembly and Senate.

General fund: A fund that is not segregated for a particular purpose from which the state makes general expenditures for various programs.

Germaneness: The relevance or appropriateness of an amendment to the subject of a bill.

Hearing: A committee meeting at which the public is invited to testify on a proposal or issue.

history: A record of actions on a proposal.

Hold (Available for Scheduling): The Senate took up the Assembly version of the bill

indefinite postponement: A motion to kill a proposal in its house of origin for a biennial session.

informal: A temporary suspension of proceedings in the Senate.

Interim: A period of time during which the Legislature is not in session.

Introduction: The formal offering of a legislative proposal, for consideration by the house in which it is introduced, by a legislator or a legislative committee.

JCRAR or joint committee for review of administrative rules: The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. Prior to promulgation, all proposed administrative rules are referred to JCRAR following standing committee review. Additionally, JCRAR has the authority to temporarily suspend existing administrative rules.

JFC or Joint committee on finance: The Joint Committee on Finance, a joint committee that is charged with review of all state appropriations and revenues and, in particular, the biennial budget recommendations of the Governor.

joint convention or joint session: A joint meeting of the senate and the assembly.

joint hearing: A hearing held by committees of both houses.

joint resolution: A proposal requiring adopting by both houses, to: a) express the opinion of the legislature; b) change the joint rules of the legislature; c) propose an amendment to the state constitution; or d) propose or ratify an amendment to the U.S. constitution.

joint rules: The common rules of proceedings adopted by both houses.

Journal: The official records of legislative proceedings prepared by each house of the Legislature. The preparation of legislative journals is required under the Wisconsin Constitution.

Law: There are four types of law:

• The state and federal Constitutions organize the structure and principles of government and establish certain fundamental principles of law, such as the individual rights established in the Bill of Rights.
• Statutes are the compiled general laws of the state created by legislation. Individual enactments, which have been passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, are referred to as “session laws.”
• Administrative rules are regulations, standards, or policies promulgated by executive branch agencies to implement statutes and administer agency programs. Administrative rules are compiled in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
• Case law or common law is the law established by decisions of the courts.

Leadership: Officers of the Senate responsible for its operation and management of each political caucus. Examples of legislative leadership positions include the Senate president, the Senate president pro tempore, the majority and minority leaders of the senate, the assistant majority and minority leaders of the senate, and the chairperson for each caucus.

leave: Permission to be absent from one of the houses

Legislation: A proposed or enacted law or change to a law.

legislative day: Any day on which the legislature is in session.

Legislative service agencies: The nonpartisan agencies that provide legal, analytical, and technical support to the Legislature. They are the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB), Legislative Council Staff (LC), Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB), Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), and Legislative Technology Services Bureau (LTSB).

Lobby: To attempt to influence an elected official on an issue. Lobbying is strictly regulated in Wisconsin and lobbying laws are administered by the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.

member: A duly elected senator.

members present: Those members in attendance at a daily meeting of the senate.

measure: Another term for proposal.

Motion: A proposed action requiring approval by a vote of a house.

nonconcurrence: The refusal of one house to agree to a proposal, amendment, or action of the other.

Nonpartisan: Not based on, biased towards, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of a political party.

Nonstatutory law or “nonstat”: A provision in a bill or act that has a temporary application that is not continuing, and therefore is not included in statutory revisions.

Notice: A formal notification under the state’s Open Meetings Law of when and where a public meeting will occur and what issues will be addressed, provided in advance of the meeting.

offer: The formal presentation of a joint resolution, resolution, substitute amendment, amendment, or motion before a house.

Open meetings law: A state law requiring that public meetings generally be open and made accessible to the public and that public notice be provided in advance of meetings.

Open records law: A state law requiring that governmental records generally be open and made available upon request.

opinion of the attorney general: A formal reply by the attorney general to a specific request.

parlimentary inquiry: A request for an explanation of a legislative rule or proceeding.

Passage: Final approval in the first house of a bill introduced in that house if referring to action of one house and final approval of both houses of a bill introduced in either house if referring to action on both houses.

petition: A request that one of the houses take a particular course of action.

Point of order: A request that the presiding officer rule on some matter of parliamentary procedure.

precedent: A previous ruling, decision, or action used to interpret legislative rules.

president: A member of the senate, elected by the membership to preside over the senate and carry out the duties as described in the senate rules, the joint rules, and the statutes.

president pro tempore: A member of the senate, elected by the membership to carry out the duties of the president in his or her absence until the return of the present or until a president is elected.

Presiding officer: The person presiding over the Senate in a legislative session.

Privileged motions and requests: Motions and requests related to the meetings, organization, rules, rights, and duties of the Senate or Assembly and its members. Privileged motions or requests take precedence over other questions before the body.

Proposal: A resolution, joint resolution, or bill put before a house for consideration.

Public hearing: See “Hearing.”

question: A statement before the Senate for decision.

Quorum: The minimum number of members of a committee or legislative body that must be present for business to be conducted.

Recess: A temporary suspension of business during a roll call day.

Received concurred in as amended: Senate received bill and needs to concur in as amended

Recommendation: The result of a legislative committee vote on a proposal, for instance, recommending passage of or concurrence in a bill.

Reconsideration: A motion to nullify a decision and again consider and vote on the question involved.

Referral: Assignment of a proposal to a legislative committee for its review.

Regular session: The biennial session of the legislature.

Rejection: An action for the adverse and final disposition of : a) a resolution or joint resolution for the biennial session of the legislature; b) an amendment or substitute amendment with regard to one specific document; c) the application of a motion to the current situation; and d) the report of a committee.

Relating clause: The part of a proposal that identifies the general subject matter of the proposal.

rescind: An action by which one of the houses nullifies an action on a proposal so as to enable the senate to again consider a proposal from a given stage. When a motion to prevails, the senate resumes its consideration of a proposal at the stage indicated in the motion.

Resolution: A proposal: expressing the opinion of the senate; changing the rules of the senate; or confirming a nomination for appointment.

roll call day: A legislative day on which a roll call is taken.

roll call vote: A vote on which each member voting is recorded by name.

ruling: The presiding officer’s decision on a point of order.

S- and A- : Indicate Senate and Assembly jurisdiction

S-(Committee): The bill currently is in this committee

Second reading: The stage of consideration of a proposal during a floor session during which amendments to the proposal may be considered.

Senate: One of the two houses of the Wisconsin Legislature. The 33 members elected to the Senate are referred to as State Senators.

Senate Organization, Committee on: The Committee on Senate Organization, or “Senate Org,” has broad authority over the operations of the Senate and sets the calendar for the Senate.

Senate rules: The legislative rules that govern the conduct of legislative business in the senate.

Sergeant-at-Arms: The officer elected by the members of one house of the Legislature to perform and direct the police and custodial functions of that house.

Simple amendment: An amendment that makes changes in the underlying proposal if adopted. See also, “Amendment” and “Substitute amendment.”

Sine die adjournment: The final adjournment of a biennial or special session.

Special order of business: A proposal ordered by the Senate to be given consideration at a specified time and taking precedence over the regular orders of business at that time.

Special session: A session of the Legislature convened by the Governor to accomplish a special purpose.

stage: One of the formal steps in the legislative process.

Standing committee: A permanent legislative committee.

Study committee: A committee appointed by the Joint Legislative Council to examine major issues and problems identified by the Legislature. Study committees are made up of legislators and citizens who are interested in or knowledgeable about the study topic and usually do most of their work when the Legislature is in recess.

Substitute amendment or “sub”: An amendment that replaces the underlying proposal if adopted. The term more accurately describes a “substitute bill” or “substitute resolution.” See also, “Amendment” and “Simple amendment.”

Suspension of the rules: A motion to take a temporary action otherwise prohibited by rule that requires the support of two-thirds of the members present.

Table: A motion to temporarily set aside a proposal and move to other business.

Third reading: The stage of consideration of a proposal during a floor session during which bills and other proposals come up for final discussion and possible passage. No amendments may be considered at this point.

Unanimous consent: A motion asking for unanimous approval of a question without a roll call vote. If an objection is not heard, it is assumed that the request has the consent of all members present.

Veto: The action by which all or a part of a bill is rejected by the Governor.

Vetoed in part: Governor vetoed parts of the bill then enacted into law

Veto override: A vote of both houses of the Legislature to overturn a gubernatorial veto. To be successful, such a vote must receive a two-thirds vote in both houses.

Veto Sustained: Governor’s veto prevails

Voice vote: A vote taken by asking members in favor to say “aye” simultaneously and then asking those opposed to say “no” or “nay” simultaneously, with the presiding officer deciding which side prevails.