Glossary of common California government terms, part II

It probably does not come as a surprise, but those working in and around California’s Capitol use a number of terms or “lingo” to describe aspects of the legislative and executive branch processes. The following is the second of a two-part compilation of some of the more common terms used in California state government:

Part I can be found here.

Impeachment – The process of impeaching an elected official by the State Assembly. The trial to remove the elected official is conducted by the State Senate.

Implied Repeal – When a court determines that, by implication of the language used, a statute or part of a statute has effectively been repealed by another provision.

Inactive File — A bill can be placed on the Inactive File on the Assembly Floor or Senate Floor at either the bill author’s request or because of a procedural motion.

Incumbent – The current legislator holding the seat to which they were elected.

Informational Hearing – When a legislative committee conducts a hearing to gather information, usually about the subject matter of a possible bill.

Initiative – This is the People’s power to make a law through the state Constitution or by statute.

Insert – Add a provision or language into a legislative measure.

Intent Bill – This is a bill that merely expresses the intent of the Legislature with any other substantive language.

Intent Statement – A statement of legislative intent contained in a bill.

Interim Recess – This begins when the Legislature adjourns the first year of its 2-year Session.

Interim Study – This occurs when the subject matter of a bill is considered by a legislative committee while the Legislature is conducting its recess.

Intern – An individual who usually works for free or academic credit in a legislative office.

Introduction – A legislative measure must be introduced before being acted upon. Once introduced, it is read the first time.

Introduced Bill – The version of a bill at the time of introduction.

January 10 Budget – This refers to the Governor’s initial budget proposal, which is due per the Constitution by January 10.

JLBC (Joint Legislative Budget Committee) – This is a joint committee with an equal number of Assembly Members and Senators. It is the duty of the committee to ascertain facts and make recommendations to the Legislature concerning the State Budget, the revenues and expenditures of the state, and the organization and functions of the state and its departments, subdivisions, and agencies, with a view to reducing the cost of the state government and securing greater efficiency and economy.

Joint Author – A legislator may add his or her name in support of a legislative measure by being a joint author of the measure and having his or her name on the same top line as the Lead Author.

Joint Committee – A committee that is comprised of an equal number of Senators and Assembly Members.

Joint Recess – This is the time period in which both the Assembly and Senate are on recess at the same time.

Joint Resolution – A measure adopted by both houses of the Legislature to express an opinion about a federal matter.

Joint Rules – The rules adopted by the Senate and the Assembly to govern matters of both houses of the Legislature.

Joint Session – This occurs when both houses of the Legislature meet together, usually to hear a formal address by a distinguished guest (e.g., the Governor’s annual state-of-the-state).

Journal — This is the official record of the proceedings of the Senate and Assembly.

Judicial Review – The process by which the judicial branch reviews the validity of a legislative or executive branch action.

Laws – All of the rules that are provided by the Constitution, statutes, and regulations.

Laid on the Table – A motion to prevent a measure or amendment from moving forward.

LDC – The Legislative Data Center that is operated by the Office of Legislative Counsel.

Lead Author – A legislator whose name is listed first on a legislative measure.

Lease Revenue Bonds – Debt that is repaid by lease payments made by state agencies, such as for construction of a prison or courthouse.

Leg Counsel – (pronounced “ledge counsel”) – A shortened version reference to the Office of Legislative Counsel.

Leg Info – (pronounced “ledge info”) – A shortened version reference to the official website managed by the Office of Legislative Counsel which is the official website for information on California legislative measures.

Legalese – The term to describe language in a statute that is unnecessarily legalistic (e.g., heretofore) and is generally not used in today’s legislative drafting.

Legislative Advocate – Another term for a lobbyist who focuses on the legislative branch of government.

Legislative Analyst (LAO) – The Legislative Analyst, who is a legislative appointee, and his or her staff provide thorough, nonpartisan analysis of the budget submitted by the Governor. The LAO also analyzes the fiscal impact of other legislation and prepare analyses of ballot measures published in the state ballot pamphlet.

Legislative Counsel (OLC) – The attorneys for the Legislature and Governor who provide legal advice and drafting legislative measures and amendments to them.

Legislative Counsel Opinion – An official oral or written decision issued by the Opinion Unit on behalf of the California Legislative Counsel.

Legislative Counsel’s Digest – This refers to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest which provides an objective, brief explanation of existing law and what a bill proposes to change in existing law.

Legislative Day / Session Day – A day the Legislature is in Session.

Legislative Drafting – The process used to draft legislative measures.

Legislative Index – Compiled by the Office of Legislative Counsel, this publication

Legislative Intent – What the Legislature intends by enacting a particular bill.

Legislative Intent Statement – A statement of legislative intent contained in a bill.

Legislative Liaison – A member of the executive branch who serves as a conduit between the legislative and executive branches.

Legislative Measure – There are three types of legislative measures in the California Legislature: bill, resolution, and constitutional amendment.

Legislative Oversight – When the Legislature conducts an oversight hearing with one ore more committees.

Legislative Process – The procedures used to move measures through the lawmaking process in the legislative branch.

Legislative Session – This refers to the 2-year Legislative Session.

Legislative Unit – The group of individuals who work in the Governor’s Legislative Unit as the liaison to the legislative branch.

Legislator – An individual who serves in the Legislature as an Assembly Member or Senator.

Legislature – The 2 houses of the Legislature – Assembly and Senate.

Letter to the Journal – This type of letter is submitted by a legislator to the Assembly Daily Journal for an AB or to the Senate Daily Journal for an SB in order to state legislative intent or provide additional information on a bill.

Liberally Construe – A statute may include a provision instructing the courts to interpret a statute’s provisions liberally so as to best effectuate the intent of the Legislature.

Lift a Call – A call must be lifted in order for a final vote to be recorded.

Line-Item Veto / Blue Pencil — This is a term to refer to the Governor’s constitutional authority to line-item veto (i.e., reduce or eliminate) items of appropriation in budget or appropriation bills.

Local Assistance (LA) – These are expenditures made for the support of local government or other locally administered activities.

Lobbyist – An individual who advocates, usually on behalf of another, for legislative or administrative action in the legislative or executive branches of government.

Local Preemption – When the state law precludes a local ordinance from conflicting with the state law.

Local Statute / Special Statute – A statute that does not have uniform operation.

LORA – The Legislative Open Records Act, which is the legislative branch’s equivalent to the state’s Public Records Act, allowing access to legislative documents by the public.

Lower House – A term that refers to the State Assembly.

Lt. Governor – The elected Lieutenant Governor of California who is also the President of the State Senate.

Majority Floor Leader – Elected by the Assembly’s majority party, this position is the right-hand person to the Speaker.

Majority Leader – Elected by the Senate’s majority party, this position is the right-hand person to the President pro Tempore.

Majority of those Present and Voting – A vote requirement for most motions made in committee or on the floor.

Majority Vote – The minimum vote threshold required by the state Constitution for passage of a bill.

Mason’s Manual – This is the default set of procedural rules that are referenced by both the Assembly and Senate Rules if their respective house rules do not cover a specific item.

Matter of Statewide Concern – If the Legislature determines that a measure is of “statewide concern,” then the state law will be imposed upon both general law cities and charter cities.

May Revise / May Budget Revision — The Governor is required to update his or her January budget proposal after the April tax receipts are available. Occurring May 14, it is an updated estimate of revenues and expenditures that replaces the estimates contained in the Governor’s budget submitted in January.

Measure – One of the three types of legislative measures in the California Legislature.

Member – This refers to an elected member of the California Legislature – either a state Senator or state Assembly member.

Member-elect – When a legislator has been elected, but not yet sworn into office.

Message from the Governor / Assembly / Senate – An official communication from the chief executive or the other house which is placed in the Assembly or Senate Daily Journal.

Minority Leader / Republican Leader – Elected by the Assembly’s minority party members and the Senate’s minority party members, this is the leader of the Republican Party in Senate and Assembly.

Mock up — This is an unofficial copy of a bill with proposed amendments so that interested parties and other legislators can examine the bill as it will be amended.

Model Act – A suggested example of a law intended for multiple jurisdictions to adopt.

Motion – Making a request for action in a legislative committee proceeding or on the floor.

MOU – A memorandum of understanding negotiated by the executive branch with a union of state employees, for example, that is approved by the Legislature.

Move a Call — This refers to a parliamentary procedure that delays the announcement of the vote on a measure. A call must be lifted in order for a final vote to be recorded.

Move the Previous Question – A procedural motion to cut off debate and hold a vote.

Move to Re-refer – A procedural motion to send a bill back to committee from the Floor or from one committee to another committee.

Move to Strike – A procedural motion to remove an item from the agenda or Daily File.

Municipal Affair – A state law that is a municipal affair cannot be imposed upon a charter city. The opposite of a matter of statewide concern.

Named Act – A statute that has been named for someone, not a legislator, such as a constituent (e.g., “Megan’s Law”).

New Laws Report – Compiled by the Office of Legislative Counsel, this publication

No Vote – A negative vote or a vote against a measure or motion.

Nomination – The Governor nominates certain positions in the executive branch of state government that are confirmed by the State Senate.

Non-concur / Concur – To non-concur is when the house of origin refuses to approve the amendments made to a legislative measure by the other house. Concur is when the house of origin approves the amendments made to a measure in the other house and the measure returns for a final vote.

Non-debatable – When a motion is not open to debate or discussion.

Nonfiscal Bill – A bill that will not be re-referred to the fiscal committee in either house.

Nongeneral Legislation – A bill that is not of a general nature. Nongeneral legislation could present a conflict of interest for a legislator because he or she may have a personal financial interest in the legislation.

Nonpartisan – An office designated as not listing a partisan affiliation, such as the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Non-substantive Bill / Amendments – A bill or amendments to a measure that make only minor or technical changes (i.e., they lack substance).

Non-voting Member – An individual who is appointed to a board or commission, but does not have authority to cast a vote.

Notwithstanding Clause – A provision in a bill or statute that provides, “Notwithstanding __ (existing statute), the following applies… It means to ignore the cited statute and only read the current provision.

OAH – Office of Administrative Hearings, which conducts hearings by ALJs on administrative matters, such as a hearing on a license revocation for a licensed professional.

OAL – Office of Administrative Law, which ensures that executive branch agencies and departments follow the procedural rules required by the APA.

Oath of Office – The officially prescribed oath that must be taken by elected official in California.

Officers of the Assembly or Senate – These are the individuals usually elected at the start of a 2-year legislation, including the Speaker, Chief Sgt. at Arms, President pro Tempore, Chief Clerk, and Senate Secretary.

Officers of a Committee – These positions are the chair, vice chair, and secretary (Assembly) or assistant (Senate).

Official State Designation – In the Government Code, there is a listing of officially-designated state items, such as the state rock, flower, bird, sport, etc.

Omnibus Bill — This is a major piece of legislation that contains numerous provisions.

On Call — A measure that has been heard but did not garner enough votes for passage is then placed “on call” while the author attempts to garner additional votes.

On File – This term is used to describe a bill that is listed in the Daily File as eligible for floor action.

One-day Wait – The usual requirement for a bill that was just amended to be on File for one day before being eligible for a vote.

One-Time Cost – This is a proposed or actual expenditure that is non-recurring (usually only in one annual budget) and not permanently included in baseline expenditures.

Operative Date – When a statute is operative, which is usually January 1 following the year of enactment, but can be a date in the future, which is referred to as a “delayed operative date.”

Order of Business – The order of considering matters on the Senate or Assembly Floors.

Order of Enumeration – In the California Legislature, it is the order of actions by a bill, which is amend, add, then repeal.

Other House – The second house in which a legislative measure is considered after a measure passes its house of origin.

Out of Order – This describes when an action is not in order or not properly before the committee or the body.

Override – A vote by one or both houses to reject the Governor’s veto of a bill.

Oversight Hearing – When a legislative committee conducts a hearing to review the actions or inactions usually of an executive branch agency or department.

Pardon – The power of the Governor to restore some rights lost after conviction of a crime.

Parliamentary Inquiry – This occurs when a legislator asks the committee chair or presiding officer a procedural question.

Partisan – Something of a nature that enjoys support from just one political party..

Pass / Passed / Passage – A legislative measures successfully moving through a committee or the floor.

Pass and Retain – A bill author can request that a pending measure not be taken up at that moment, but that they can return to this measure the next day.

Pass on File — A bill author can request a measure pending on the Assembly or Senate Floor to not be taken up but retain its place on the Daily File.

Pass Temporarily – A bill author can request a pending measure be temporarily not taken up, but that they return to this measure later in the same floor session.

Penalty – When a law is violated, there is usually a criminal or civil penalty assessed for the violation.

Per diem – A Latin term used to describe expenses payments made to elected or appointed officials.

Personal Staff – The professional non-elected individuals who work for individual Members of the California Legislature.

Petition – A formal request from legislators; or when citizens sign their name to a document requesting official governmental action.

Pilot Program – When the Legislature authorizes a new, temporary statute for a specified period of time.

Placeholder Bill – Another term for an intent or spot bill used to introduce a bill, but save a place for substantive language to be inserted at a later date.

Plus Section – One or more sections of a bill placed at the end that are not codified and provide types of statements (e.g., an urgency clause).

Pocket Signature – Another term for the ability for the Governor to allow a bill to become law without the Governor’s signature.

Point of Information – A formal request from a legislator seeking clarification from the committee chair or presiding officer.

Point of Order – This occurs when a legislator raises an issue with a committee chair or presiding officer of a possible violation of procedural rules.

Point of Personal Privilege – This occurs when a legislator raises an objection with a committee chair or presiding officer under the belief that their reputation has been attacked.

Policy Committee – These are the non-fiscal standing committees of the Assembly and Senate.

Policy Committee Deadline – This is the deadline for bills to pass their policy committee.

Postpone – A legislative measure or vote can be postponed to a future hearing or time.

PRA – The Political Reform Act of 1974 adopted by the voters as Proposition 9. It could also refer to the Public Records Act, as well as a private right of action.

Precedent – A term used to describe the custom and practice or order previously followed.

Preemption – When federal law prevents a state law from conflicting with it, or when the state law precludes a local ordinance from conflicting with the state law.

Preprint Bill – A bill published while the Legislature is in recess as a means of reviewing a proposed bill. It is rarely used today.

President of the Senate – The Lt. Governor per the state Constitution has this role.

President pro Tempore / Pro Tem / PT – This person is elected by the Senate and leads the Senate in all aspects.

Presiding Officer – This is the individual who presides over the Assembly or Floor Sessions.

Presumption – A provision of law that must be overcome and shown not to be true.

Previous Question – A procedural motion to close debate.

Principal Co-author – A higher level of co-author.

Private Right of Action – A provision of a statute that permits an individual to file a civil lawsuit to enforce the statute’s provisions.

Privileges of the Floor – A procedural motion on the floor to allow persons on the Floor of the Assembly or Senate.

Prospective – A bill’s provisions are presumed to apply to future conduct. The opposite is retroactive.

Proviso – A provision in a statute that imposes a condition.

Public Records Act – California law that allows the public access to government documents.

Put Over — A measure can be put over to a subsequent hearing either at the request of the author or the committee.

Quasi-judicial – This term describes when an executive branch agency acts like the judicial branch, such as when it conducts administrative hearings or enforcement actions.

Quasi-legislative – This term describes when a legislative branch agency acts like the legislative branch, such as when it conducts a rulemaking project.

Quorum – A majority of a committee or the floor, which is legally required to conduct official business.

Quorum Call – When legislators are called to the floor to establish a quorum so that the floor session can officially begin.

Rainy Day Fund – Another term for the Prop. 2 reserve fund enacted by the voters to set aside often one-time personal income tax revenues received as a result from the exercise of stock options and receipt of capital gains.

Reading of a Bill – One of the three required public presentations of a bill before the chamber.

Reading on the Floor – The practice is prohibited on the Floor, but a legislator can seek permission to read a document on the Floor, if their request is approved.

Reapportionment / Redistricting – The process of choosing districts lines for legislators.

Recall – This is the People’s power to remove an elected official from his or her office.

Recess – This is either a temporary break in official legislative activity (e.g., a floor session or committee hearing), or when the Assembly and Senate are on a specified break (e.g., interim recess).

Reconsideration — This occurs when a measure or motion has not been successful the author of maker of the motion is afford another opportunity to have his or her bill or motion considered.

Reenactment Rule – California requires reenactment of the entire Code section when any amendment is made to it.

Referendum – This is the People’s power to repeal a statute enacted by the Legislature.

Referral – An action to send a bill to committee.

Regulation – The subject of rulemaking activity by an executive branch agency or department. It is meant to implement, interpret, or make specific a statute.

Regulatory Advocate – Another term for a lobbyist who focuses on the executive branch of government.

Regulatory Process / Rulemaking Process – The procedures used to move regulations through the rulemaking process in the executive branch.

Regular Rulemaking – The most common type of regulatory project undertaken by an executive branch entity. The procedural requirements are set forth in the Administrative Procedure Act in the Government Code.

Regular Session – The usual 2-year Legislative Session, as opposed to a special session.

Relating Clause – This provision of a legislative measure explains the general topic of a measure, such as “relating to taxation.” The Government Code requires it for every bill.

Repeal – Removing an item from an existing bill, statute, or regulation.

Repealer / Sunset — This is a provision in a bill that specifies a date when the statutory provision(s) is repealed.

Rescind – A procedural motion to undo a prior legislative action (e.g., rescind a vote).

Resignation – An elected or appointed official may relinquish their position.

Resolution – There are three types of expressions of the Legislature – house, concurrent, and joint resolutions.

Resolution Chapter – When a joint resolution, concurrent resolution, or constitutional amendment passes the Legislature, the Secretary of State gives that measure a resolution chapter number.

Retroactive – When a bill’s provisions are clearly intended to apply to past conduct. The opposite is prospective.

Reversion – This occurs with the return of the unused portion of an appropriation to the fund from which the appropriation was made.

Roll Call – This occurs when a vote in committee or on the floor is taken.

Rule Waiver — This refers to when a specific Assembly Rule, Senate Rule, or Joint Rule is waived, which requires a formal request and approval.

Rulemaking – An executive branch agency or department engages in rulemaking to add, amend, or repeal a regulation.

Rules – The Legislature’s Joint or individual house rules for their internal proceedings.

Ruling of the Chair / Presiding Officer – A decision by the presiding officer regarding a procedural matter.

Saving Clause – This is generally when a statute is repealed, a saving clause protects existing rights or pending proceedings.

Schedule – The detail of an appropriation in the Budget Bill or Act that shows its distribution to each of the programs.

Second House – The other house in which a legislative measure is considered after a measure passes its house of origin.

Second Reading – When a bill has been amended or passes out of a committee, it is read the second time.

Section – This could refer to a section of a bill, or a Code section.

Section 41 – A reference to this section of the California Revenue & Taxation Code that requires compliance with this section for any new tax expenditure program or expansion.

Select Committee – A special committee focused on a single topic.

Senate – The upper house of the California Legislature which is comprised of 40 members elected for 4-year terms.

Senate Rules – The rules adopted by the Senate to govern its internal matters.

Senate Secretary – The top staff member of the State Senate.

Senator – A member of the upper house, or State Senate, of the California Legislature.

Seniority – When a legislator’s time of service is taken into account, such as in naming members of a committee.

Separation of Powers – The judicial doctrine that each of the three branches of state government have they separate and distinct roles and cannot engage in the activities given to a different branch of government.

Session – This refers to an Assembly or Senate Floor session when they meet in their respective chambers. It also refers to the 2-year Legislative Session.

Session Day – A day that the Assembly or Senate is in session, which is usually Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings.

Session Report – The two party leaders in the Assembly and Senate are required to provide a report at the end of the 2-year session regarding an update on their goals that were set forth at the beginning of the 2-year session.

Severability Clause – A provision of a bill that allows some of its provisions to remain in effect while others are declared invalid.

Short Committee – This refers to when there is less than a majority of the committee members present.

Short Title – Usually refers to a title of law that was named after a former legislator (e.g., the Brown Act).

Signing Message – A statement made by the Governor when signing a bill.

Sine Die – When the Legislature adjourns its 2-year session on November 30 pursuant to the state Constitution.

Single Subject Rule – A bill in the Legislature or an initiative by the People can “embrace but one subject.”

Simple Majority – The bare minimum in a committee or on the Floor for passage of a motion or measure.

Speaker – The highest position in the California Assembly who is elected by a majority of the Assembly as its leader.

Speaker pro Tempore – The individual appointed by the Speaker to take his or her place usually when presiding over Floor sessions.

Speakerize – This refers to when the Assembly Speaker actively lobbies for or against a measure on the Assembly Floor with the expectation that all colleagues of the same party vote together on the measure.

Speaking on Condition of the File – A time where a legislator can speak to something that they believe should be addressed but is not on the current agenda contained in the Daily File.

Special Consent – In the Senate, a procedural motion is made to approve a series of measures that both political parties agree can be passed by a single vote. It is usually for measures that do not have any opposition. It is similar to the Assembly’s Batching.

Special Funds – These are funds created by statute, or administratively per Government Code Section 13306, used to budget and account for taxes, licenses, and fees that are restricted by law for particular activities of the government.

Special Interest Bill – This bill has a sponsor that is a particular interest group.

Special Order of Business – When a legislative measure is designated to be heard in committee at a specified time.

Special Session / Extraordinary Session– The Governor may call the Legislature into special or extraordinary session to consider legislation proposed in the gubernatorial proclamation.

Special Statute / Local Statute – A statute that does not have uniform operation.

Special Tax – A tax imposed for a single purpose (e.g., on firearms manufacturers for fund hospitals). The opposite of a general tax.

Sponsor — This refers to the legislator, private individual or interest group who developed a piece of legislation and advocates for its passage.

Sponsored Bill – This bill usually comes from an interest group or individual as the sponsor.

Spot Bill — This is the term used to describe a measure that contains a non-substantive change. It is usually a placeholder measure that will be amended at a later date.

Staff – The professional non-elected individuals who work for the California Legislature.

Standing Committee – The 33 Assembly and 22 Senate policy and fiscal committees.

State Appropriations Limit / “Gann Limit” – The constitutional limitation on the maximum amount of tax proceeds that state or local governments may appropriate in a fiscal year. The limit is based on 1986-87 fiscal year appropriations, and is adjusted annually.

State Auditor – This person heads the State Auditor’s Office, which conducts audits of local and state programs and agencies at the request and funding of the Legislature.

State Designation – In the Government Code, there is a listing of officially-designated state items, such as the state rock, flower, bird, sport, etc.

State-of-the-State – The annual report required by the Governor to the Legislature on the state of California.

State Mandated Local Program – This describes when a bill imposed a required program to be administered by a local agency or school district.

Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) – Also known as Form 700, which must be annually filed by elected and appointed official disclosing economic interests that could present a potential conflict of interest.

State Preemption – When federal law prevents a state law from conflicting with it.

Status – The current status of a legislative measure.

Statute – An enacted bill adds a new statute, or amends or repeals a statute in California.

Statutes Other than Codes – Another term for describing uncodified statutes.

Statutory Construction – The process by which the judicial branch interprets a statute.

Subcommittee – This is a smaller committee under a standing committee, such as the budget subcommittees in the Senate and Assembly. It also refers to when a standing committee begins its hearing without having yet established a quorum, which is needed to take a vote.

Substantially-amended Bill – When a bill is deemed substantially amended, it is usually re-referred to a policy committee by the Assembly Speaker or Senate Committee on Rules.

Substantive Bill / Amendments – A bill or amendments to a measure that make material changes (i.e., they are substantive).

Substitute Amendment – An amendment offered as an alternative to the motion before the committee or the body for consideration, which is used in order to take the place of the current motion.

Summary Schedules – These are the various schedules in the Governor’s Budget Summary that summarize state revenues, expenditures, and other fiscal and personnel data for the past, current, and budget years.

Sunrise Process – The process used by the Legislature to determine whether a business or profession, or a new regulatory department, should be create in state law.

Sunset Review Process – The process used by the Legislature to determine whether a business or profession, or existing regulatory department, should remain in statute.

Sunset / Repealer — This is a provision in a bill that specifies a date when the statutory provision(s) is repealed.

Sunset Date – The date specified in a bill or a statute when a law will expire.

Supplemental Appropriation – An additional appropriation that is added to an existing amount of funding.

Supplemental File – Used during the last day of house of origin deadline or end of session for bills on concurrence by creating a supplement to the already printed Assembly or Senate Daily File for that day.

Suspend a Member – The Legislature may by a 2/3 vote suspend a Member from the Assembly or Senate by a Floor vote.

Suspend the Rules – When the Legislature votes to create a one-time exemption from legislative procedural rules.

Suspense File — This is the process used in the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees for holding bills in place over a specified dollar amount.

Table – When a motion or legislative measure is set aside by an official action taken.

Table of Sections Affected – Compiled by the Office of Legislative Counsel, this publication

Taken Off Calendar — This occurs when a measure is no longer on a committee’s upcoming hearing schedule.

Tax Expenditure Program (TEP) – Provisions of state tax law that provide an exemption, exclusion, deduction, credit, etc. from regular income or tax.

Tax Levy – This is a bill that changes the base, rate, or burden of a tax. A tax levy bill takes effect immediately once enacted.

Technical Corrections Bill – This bill makes a technical correction in the law.

TEP – A tax expenditure program, which is an exemption, credit, exclusion, etc. from the normal tax system.

Term / Term of Office – The length of the elected official’s term in office.

Third House — This is another term for lobbyists or governmental advocates.

Third Reading – When a bill is read the first and final time, it is taken up for consideration and voted on by the body.

Thirty-day Wait – The state Constitution requires a bill to wait 30 days after introduction before the bill can be officially acted upon.

Three Party Deal – This refers to a budget deal among the Assembly, Senate, and Governor.

Three Readings – The California Constitution requires each bill to be read on three separate occasions.

Three Sets – An author is allowed to set his or her bill for a maximum of three times for a committee hearing. If the author sets and postpones the hearing three times, the bill cannot be set again without a rule waiver.

Title – A required part of every bill that contains the Code and section(s) to be added, amended, or repealed, as well as a Relating Clause.

Tombstone – The now-prohibited practice of naming a statute after a legislator.

Trailer Bill – These are the bills that are required to enact statutory changes related to implementation of the budget.

Triple Referral – This refers to when a measure has been referred to three policy committees by the Rules Committee.

Trigger / Trigger Cut – Most often used in the budget context when a reduction is spending is “triggered” by a reduction in revenue.

Two Party Deal – This refers to a budget deal between the Assembly and Senate.

Two-year Bill — This is when a bill that did not pass out of its house of origin before the specified deadline in the first year of the two-year legislative session and is carried over to the second year of the Session. If the bill does not clear the second year deadline, then the measure has officially failed passage.

Unbacked Bill – This bill does not yet have an author and no “backing” (also called a “jacket”) for introduction.

Uncodified Statute – An enacted bill that adds, amends, or repeals a statute that is not contained in one of California’s 29 Codes.

Unanimous Consent – When the entire house agrees to take a specified action.

Unconstitutional – When a statute or regulation violates the state or federal Constitution.

Underground Regulation – The term used to describe a “regulation” that is being used by an executive branch agency that was not adopted pursuant to the APA.

Unfinished Business File – This is the section of the Senate or Assembly Daily File where bills appear if they are on concurrence or they were vetoed.

Uniform Act – The main objective is that as many jurisdictions as possible will adopt the same act so that they all contain substantially the same provisions.

Upper House – A term that refers to the State Senate.

Urgency Clause — This is a provision in a bill that states the bill will take effect immediately upon enactment. The clause must specify a reason for the need to take effect immediately.

Urgency Statute – A bill that was enacted that contained an urgency clause so the statute took effect immediately upon enactment.

Usual Current Expenses – The term used in the state Constitution for budget measures appropriating funds for the functioning of state government.

Validation Bill – These acts are intended to validate the organization, boundaries, acts, proceedings, and bonds of the state and counties, cities, and specified districts, agencies, and entities.

Veto — The Governor has the power to veto a bill, which prevent the bill from taking effect.

Veto Override – When the Legislature overrides the Governor’s veto of a bill.

Vice Chair / Madam Vice Chair / Mr. Vice Chair – This is the appointed second in charge of a legislative committee.

Voice Vote – When the Assembly or Senate takes an official action by calling the ayes and noes for a collective vote on the Floor. It is most commonly used when adopting amendments to a measure by unanimous consent.

Vote Add – A legislator who chooses to add their vote to the roll call in committee or on the Floor.

Vote Card – A listing of committee or house members with their likely votes to be cast on a specific measure.

Vote Change – A legislator is generally allowed to change his or her vote in committee or on the Floor until the final vote is recorded. In the Assembly, legislators can change their vote after the final vote was announced so long as it does not affect the outcome of the measure.

Vote Explanation – On occasion, a legislator will submit a letter to the Daily Journal to explain why they did or did not vote on a measure.

Whip – Members designated for each of the two political caucuses of each house to assist with floor activities.

Withdraw from Committee – A procedural motion made on the Floor to remove a bill from committee and place it on the Floor for consideration.

W.O.R.F. — This is an acronym for the phrase “without reference to file.” A measure that is not listed in the official agenda of the Assembly or Senate would have to be taken up “without reference to file”, which requires suspending the orders of the day.

Workload Budget / Baseline Budget – This is the “budget year cost of currently authorized services, adjusted for changes in enrollment, caseload, population, statutory cost-of-living adjustments, chaptered legislation, one-time expenditures, full-year costs of partial year programs, costs incurred pursuant to Constitutional requirements, federal mandates, court-ordered mandates, state employee merit salary adjustments, and state agency operating expense and equipment cost adjustments.”

While there are hundreds of terms used in the California legislative process, including many more used in the state budget process, the aforementioned ones are some of the lingo used regularly in Capitol proceedings.