Main Question – A measure, motion, or proposal under consideration, as distinguished from the amendments to it.
Major Committees – The rules of the House Democratic Caucus apply this designation to certain committees and state that no Democratic representative may serve on more than one of them. As of 1993, the major committees were Agriculture; Armed Services; Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs; Education and Labor; Foreign Affairs; Energy and Commerce; Judiciary; and Public Works and Transportation.
Majority Leader – The majority party’s chief floor spokesman, elected by that party’s caucus – sometimes called the floor leader. In the Senate, the majority leader also develops the party’s political and procedural strategy, usually in conjunction with other party officials and committee chairmen. He negotiates the Senate’s agenda and committee ratios with the minority leader and usually calls up measures for floor action. In the House, the majority leader is the Speaker’s deputy and heir apparent. He helps plan the floor agenda and the party’s legislative strategy and often speaks for the party leadership in debate.
Majority Vote – Although not explicitly stated in the rules of either house, both houses decide questions by a majority vote of the members voting except when the Constitution or the rules require otherwise.
Mandatory Appropriations – Amounts that Congress must appropriate annually because it has no discretion over them unless it first amends existing substantive law.
Marking Up a Bill – Going through a measure, usually in committee, taking it section by section, revising language and penciling in new phrases. If the bill is extensively revised, the new version may be introduced as a separate or “clean” bill, with a new number.
Measure – See Bill.
Member – Generic term for one who serves in the House of Representatives or Senate; also, one who serves on a committee.
Members’ Allowances – Official expenses that are paid for or for which members are reimbursed by their houses. Among these are the costs of office space in congressional buildings and in their home states or districts; office equipment and supplies; postage-free mailings (franking); a set number of trips to and from home states or districts, as well as travel elsewhere on official business; telephone and other communication services; and staff salaries. All allowances are authorized by law, but each house determines for itself the details and regulations governing many of them.
Message – An official communication between the houses or from the President to one or both houses.
Minority Leader – The minority party’s leader and chief floor spokesperson elected by the party caucus; sometimes called the minority floor leader. With the assistance of other party officials and the ranking minority members of committees, the minority leader devises the party’s political and procedural strategy.
Motion to Recommit – A motion to send a bill back to committee; used to “kill” or delay a bill.
Multiple and Sequential Referrals – The practice of referring a measure simultaneously to two or more committees for concurrent consideration (multiple or joint referral), or successively to several committees in sequence (sequential referral). A measure may also be divided into several parts, each referred to a different committee or to several committees sequentially (split referral). In theory, this gives all committees that have jurisdiction over parts of a measure the opportunity to report on them.
Multiyear Appropriation – An appropriation that remains available for spending or obligation for more than one fiscal year.
Multiyear Authorization – (1) Legislation that authorizes the existence or continuation of an agency, program, or activity for more than one year. (2) Legislation that authorizes appropriations for an agency, program, or activity for more than one fiscal year.