Chapter 10
Glossary
Every odd phrase you’ll see in a bill’s history or on a ballot, in plain English.
Adjourned sine dieThe final adjournment of a session, with no date set to return. On the floor →
AdoptedApproved, for an amendment or resolution. On the floor →
Amendment (H-8001, S-5212)A proposed change to a bill, numbered by the chamber that filed it. Bills & amendments →
AppropriationA law that spends money. Appropriations bills are exempt from the funnel. The Legislature →
Appropriations subcommitteeA joint House-Senate panel that writes one area of the budget. The Legislature →
As HSB 785In Funnel’s history, an action taken on the study bill before it got its current number. Bills & amendments →
Assistant leaderA deputy to a party’s leader in one chamber; helps count votes. The Legislature →
At riskFunnel status: a funnel deadline is less than a week away and the bill hasn’t met it. The funnel →
Attached toA bill linked to its companion in the other chamber so one can be substituted for the other. Bills & amendments →
CalendarThe list of bills eligible for floor debate. On the floor →
Carried overStill alive after the first session of a General Assembly. Bills & amendments →
CaucusAll members of one party in one chamber, who meet privately each session day to plan; also Iowa’s neighborhood party meetings. The Legislature →
Chief Clerk of the HouseRuns the House’s daily business: Journal, records, calendars, lobbyist registration. The Legislature →
Code editor directiveTells the Code editor to renumber or move something without changing what it says. Code, costs & scores →
Code section (§321.285)One numbered part of the Code: section 285 of chapter 321. Code, costs & scores →
Committee reportA committee’s recommendation on a bill, such as “recommending passage” or “recommending amendment and passage”. The Legislature →
Companion billThe same bill filed in both chambers. Bills & amendments →
ConcurAccept the other chamber’s changes to a bill. On the floor →
Condition of the JudiciaryThe Chief Justice’s annual speech to the Legislature. The Legislature →
Condition of the StateThe Governor’s annual speech to the Legislature in January, with a budget proposal. The Legislature →
Conference committeeMembers of both chambers who negotiate a compromise version of a bill. On the floor →
Constitutional majorityA majority of all members: 51 in the House, 26 in the Senate. Needed to pass a bill. On the floor →
ConventionA party meeting that picks nominees when a primary is inconclusive or for a special election. Elections →
Correctional impact statementEstimate of how a bill would change prison populations and costs. Bills & amendments →
DeferredAction postponed. On the floor →
Departmental bill requestA bill a state agency asks the Legislature to pass, posted before session with an LSB number. Bills & amendments →
Died when the session endedFunnel status: didn’t pass before the General Assembly ended. Bills & amendments →
Do passA committee’s recommendation that a bill pass. The Legislature →
Effective dateWhen a law takes effect: usually July 1, sometimes immediately. The Legislature →
Eggs and issuesWeekend breakfast forums where legislators take questions from constituents. The Legislature →
Enacting clause“Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa”; a strike-everything amendment replaces everything after it. Bills & amendments →
EnrolledThe final version passed by both chambers, signed by their presiding officers and sent to the Governor. Bills & amendments →
Ethics committeeHandles complaints about legislators’ conduct. The Legislature →
ExcusedAbsent with permission; not counted as a no vote. On the floor →
Expenditure limitationThe rule that the budget can’t exceed 99% of the revenue estimate. The budget →
ExplanationThe plain summary printed at the end of a bill. Funnel shows it as “What’s in it”. Bills & amendments →
Explanation of voteA written note in the Journal explaining how a member voted or would have voted. On the floor →
Fiscal noteNonpartisan estimate of a bill’s cost to the state. Code, costs & scores →
Fiscal Services DivisionThe part of the Legislative Services Agency that writes fiscal notes and tracks the budget. Code, costs & scores →
Fiscal year (FY)The state’s budget year, July 1 to June 30, named for the year it ends. The budget →
ForumA public meeting back home where legislators take questions, usually on weekends during session. The Legislature →
FunnelOne of two deadlines each session that bills must meet to stay alive. The funnel →
General AssemblyIowa’s Legislature, and also the two-year period it serves (the 91st, 92nd…). The Legislature →
General FundThe state’s main account, paid for mostly by income and sales taxes. Code, costs & scores →
GermaneOn topic. Amendments must be germane to the bill. On the floor →
HF / SFHouse File / Senate File: a bill. Bills & amendments →
HJR / SJRJoint resolution, mostly used to propose constitutional amendments. Bills & amendments →
HSB / SSBHouse or Senate Study Bill: a committee draft. Bills & amendments →
Immediate messageSending a bill to the other chamber right away. On the floor →
Indefinitely postponedKilled without a direct vote on the bill. On the floor →
InsistRefuse to drop a change the other chamber has rejected; leads to a conference committee. On the floor →
Interim committeeStudies an issue between sessions. The Legislature →
Iowa ActsThe laws passed in a year, before they’re folded into the Code. Code, costs & scores →
Iowa CodeEvery state law in force, arranged by chapter and section. Updated each year. Code, costs & scores →
Is amended to read as followsBill wording that rewrites an existing Code section. Code, costs & scores →
Is repealedBill wording that removes a section or chapter from the law. Code, costs & scores →
Item vetoThe Governor striking individual items from a spending bill while signing the rest. The budget →
Joint RulesRules both chambers adopt together, including the funnel deadlines (Joint Rule 20). The funnel →
Journal (H.J., S.J.)The official daily record of each chamber, including every roll call. On the floor →
Laid on the tableSet aside indefinitely; it can be “taken from the table” later. On the floor →
Leadership electionsEach party caucus picks its leaders right after the November election. The Legislature →
Legislative CouncilLegislative leaders who run the Legislature between sessions. The Legislature →
Lobbyist declarationA public statement that a lobbyist’s client is for, against or undecided on a bill. Money & lobbying →
LSALegislative Services Agency: nonpartisan staff who draft bills and analyze them. The Legislature →
LSB numberA bill’s drafting number before it’s introduced. Bills & amendments →
Message from House/SenateOfficial notice that the other chamber passed or changed a bill. On the floor →
Minority impact statementEstimate of a criminal-law bill’s effect on minority Iowans. Bills & amendments →
Motion to reconsiderA request for a new vote, often used to hold a bill in place. On the floor →
NEW SECTIONBill wording that adds a section to the Code. Code, costs & scores →
NOBANotes on Bills and Amendments: Fiscal Services’ write-ups of budget bills. Code, costs & scores →
Not germaneRuled off topic, so it can’t be considered. On the floor →
Opening dayThe first day of session: the second Monday in January. The Legislature →
Out of orderRuled against the rules, so it can’t be considered. On the floor →
PageA high school student who works in the chamber during session. The Legislature →
Party-line voteMost of each party voted opposite ways. On the floor →
Per diemDaily expense pay for legislators, which ends at 110 days (first session) or 100 days (second). The Legislature →
Placed on calendarApproved by committee and eligible for floor debate. On the floor →
Pocket vetoWhen the Governor doesn’t act within 30 days on a bill passed at the end of session, it’s vetoed. The Legislature →
Point of orderA challenge that something breaks the rules. On the floor →
Prefiled billA bill submitted before session starts. Legislators’ prefiled bills get numbers on the first day. Bills & amendments →
President pro temporePresides over the Senate when its President is away. The Legislature →
Projected winnerFunnel: civicAPI has called the race. “Apparent winner” means every county is in and the leader is ahead by 5+ points. Elections →
Ranking memberThe minority party’s lead member on a committee. The Legislature →
RecedeDrop a change the other chamber rejected. On the floor →
Referred toSent to a committee. The Legislature →
Refuse to concurReject the other chamber’s changes to a bill. On the floor →
RenumberedA study bill reintroduced with a new HF or SF number after committee approval. Bills & amendments →
Retention electionA yes-or-no vote on keeping a judge. Elections →
Revenue Estimating ConferenceNonpartisan panel that forecasts state revenue; spending is limited to 99% of its estimate. The budget →
Roll callA recorded vote listing how each member voted. On the floor →
Secretary of the SenateRuns the Senate’s daily business: Journal, records, calendars, lobbyist registration. The Legislature →
Sergeant-at-ArmsKeeps order in the chamber and galleries. The Legislature →
SessionOne year of a General Assembly. The Legislature →
Speaker of the HouseThe House’s presiding officer and most powerful member, chosen by the majority party. The Legislature →
Speaker pro temporePresides over the House when the Speaker is away. The Legislature →
Special electionAn election to fill a vacant seat mid-term. Parties nominate at conventions. Elections →
Special sessionA session called outside the regular one, usually by the Governor. The Legislature →
SponsorThe legislator or committee that introduced a bill or filed an amendment. Bills & amendments →
Standing appropriationSpending set in the Iowa Code that continues each year without a new budget bill. The budget →
Standing committeeA permanent committee on one subject, like Education or Judiciary. The Legislature →
Strike everythingAn amendment replacing the whole bill. Bills & amendments →
SubcommitteeUsually three legislators who hold the first public meeting on a bill. The Legislature →
Substituted forA chamber takes up the other chamber’s companion bill in place of its own. Bills & amendments →
SuccessorA new version of a bill under a new number, replacing the original. Bills & amendments →
Supplemental appropriationA change to the budget for the fiscal year already under way. The budget →
Suspension of rulesSetting aside the normal rules, usually to move quickly; takes extra votes. On the floor →
Time certainDebate scheduled for a specific time. On the floor →
Two-thirds67 in the House and 34 in the Senate; needed to override a veto. On the floor →
Unfinished business calendarWhere bills that were debated but not finished wait. On the floor →
Veto overridePassing a bill over the Governor’s veto with two-thirds of each chamber. The Legislature →
WhipA party leader who counts votes and keeps members together. The Legislature →
WithdrawnPulled by its sponsor. On the floor →
Yeas and naysYes and no votes. On the floor →