All Access Pass: Frankfort

Amend (motion to): An action to modify the contents of a bill or question under consideration; the motion to amend is in order at any time prior to final passage, unless the previous question has been ordered. 

Bill: 

Chamber: A legislative, judicial or deliberative assembly. 

Committee: A group of legislators, usually members of the same house, assigned to consider some issue or question and submit a report on its recommendations for action by the body which created it. 

Committee Chair: The legislator who iin charge of a committee and its proceedings.

Companion Bill: A bill which is identical to one that has been introduced in the opposite chamber. 

Committee Substitute: A bill offered by a committee in lieu of a bill it has considered; technically, the committee substitute is an amendment to the original bill. 

Consent Calendar (or consent orders): A list of bills having had one (or two) reading(s), and on which members in attendance are presumed to vote yes unless they indicate a negative vote prior to the call of the roll. 

Floor: The area of a legislative chamber which is occupied by the members and staff of the body. Only legislators, staff, and invited guests are allowed on the floor.

Floor Amendment: An amendment filed with the clerk to be considered on third reading of the bill to which it has been filed.

Gallery: The area of a legislative chamber from which the proceedings may be viewed by spectators; usually a balcony or other raised area. Some parts of the Gallery are reserved for press, and some are reserved for family and guests of legislators.

Hearing: A meeting, usually of a committee, at which testimony on a question or issue is accepted, whether from the public generally or from invited witnesses. 

House: One body of deliberation in a legislature; customarily a shortened name for the House of Representatives. Kentucky has 100 members. 

Interim: The period of time between sessions of a legislature. The legislature can meet during this time, but cannot vote or pass laws.

Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS): The official title of statute law in Kentucky; each bill creates, amends, or repeals a section of the KRS.

Lobbyist (Legislative Advocate or Agent): A person, usually under hire, engaged in representing a particular interest or group of interests before the legislature; commonly referred to as a lobbyist. 

Majority Party: The political party whose members occupy at least one more than half of the total membership of the body. 

Minority Party: The political party with members fewer than half plus one of the total membership of the body. 

Move the Clincher: A motion in the Kentucky House of Representatives that prevents an action from being reconsidered. 

Quorum: The number of members of a legislative body which must be present to transact business. 

Reading: Each bill to be enacted in Kentucky must have three readings, at length, in each chamber (house and senate).  

Recess: Intermission during a daily session, usually for caucus or committee meetings. 

Senate: The second, smaller body of deliberation in a legislature. Kentucky has 38 senators.

Sine Die: (Latin) Adjournment without a day. This action ends a session, since no time is set for reconvening. 

Sponsor (Co-Sponsor): The legislator(s) responsible for presenting an item of legislation to the body.

State Representative: An elected official who represents a specific state district and works to support the interests of their constituents. 

State Senator: An elected official who represents a specific state district and works to support the interests of their constituents. 

Suspend the Rules: Action to negate the application of a particular rule of procedure; the rule and purpose must be stated in the motion to suspend.

Vote: A decision on a question by a member of a deliberative body, either affirmative or negative.