Gag Rule – A pejorative term for any type of special rule reported by the House Rules Committee that proposes to prohibit amendments to a measure or only permits amendments offered by the reporting committee.
Galleries – The balconies overlooking each chamber. From different seating areas in the galleries, the public, news media, staff, and others may observe and listen to the floor proceedings.
General Accounting Office – A congressional support agency often referred to as the investigative arm of Congress. It evaluates and audits federal agencies and programs in the U.S. and abroad on its own initiative or at the request of congressional committees, their chairmen and ranking minority members, or, occasionally, other members.
General Appropriation Bill – A term applied to each of the thirteen annual bills that provide funds for most federal agencies and programs and also to the supplemental appropriation bills that contain appropriations for more than one agency or program. The Constitution does not require annual appropriations, but Congress has funded most agencies and programs annually since the first Congress.
General Legislation – The Senate term for legislation provisions as distinguished from appropriations provisions.
Germane – Basically, on the same subject as the matter under consideration. A House rule requires that all amendments be germane. In the Senate, only amendments proposed to general appropriations bills and budget resolutions or under cloture must be germane.
Ghost Voting – In the House, when someone other than a member casts the member’s vote on the floor or records the member as present. In 1980, the House adopted a rule explicitly prohibiting the practice.
Grandfather Clause – A provision in a measure, law, or rule that exempts an individual, entity, or a defined category of individuals or entities from complying with a new policy or restriction.
Grants-in-Aid – Payments by the federal government to state and local governments to help provide for assistance programs or public services.