State Legislative Terms
State Legislative Terms:Amendment:
Can be offered in committee or during legislative session. They are changes to the language in a bill.
Bill:
Legislation already introduced.
Calendar:
The list of bills eligible for consideration before each legislative body. There is a House Calendar and a Senate Calendar prepared for each legislative session day.
Caucus:
Has multiple uses. Most often used to refer to the caucus meetings held by legislators of each party separately during legislative sessions.
Chamber:
Multiple uses. It can mean Chamber of Commerce. It is also used to refer to the legislative chambers used by both the House and Senate for session.
Coalition:
This is a group of allied individuals and associations with the same position on an issue. They often formally lobby together and hire additional PR firms and lobbyists.
Committee:
Legislative body that handles assigned issues prior to consideration by the full legislative body.
Conference Committee:
A small legislative body assigned to work out conflicts in legislation that has passed both houses of the legislature without complete agreement. Most commonly used in reference to appropriations bills.
Constitution:
The over-riding law of Colorado. Many “Constitutional issues”¯ arise during the debate of legislation.
First Reading:
The Constitution requires legislation to be “read”¯ several times before the full House and Senate. The First Reading is ceremonial and serves to put the bill on the calendar.
Floor:
Refers to either House or Senate session. When a bill is actively being considered it is “on the floor.”¯
House:
The House of Representatives.
House Side:
The south side of the State Capitol.
Joint Budget Committee:
This is a bi-partisan committee of the Legislature that crafts the state budget.
Rostrum:
The podium at the front of the House and Senate Chambers from which the leader presides over session.
Second Reading:
In both the House and Senate, the second time a bill is considered “read.”¯
Senate:
The State Senate.
Senate Side:
The north side of the Capitol.
Session:
The time spent when all legislators meet together in their respective bodies to consider legislation.
Statute:
Existing law.
TABOR:
The Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. It limits the growth of state revenues.
The Capitol:
The State Capitol Building in Denver.
Third Reading:
The final reading before passage of a bill before either chamber.
Veto:
The expression of opposition by the Governor, which cancels the action of the legislature. Veto's can be over-ridden by a 2/3 vote of both houses - these rarely occur.
