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.
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