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Reference Center
Official links, civic shortcuts, and plain-language explanations for understanding Congress and voting resources.
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USA.gov Voting & Elections
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USA.gov Absentee Voting
Dedicated federal resource for absentee and mail voting basics, with links to state instructions.
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Congress.gov
The authoritative federal source for bill text, actions, sponsors, committees, and legislative status.
Open Congress.govCongressional reference
Reference library
Plain-language notes for common congressional terms you’ll see in bill listings, committee pages, and legislative timelines.
Bill basics
Bill prefixes
The prefix tells you what kind of legislative item it is and which chamber introduced it.
| Prefix | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. | House bill | A bill introduced in the House of Representatives. |
| S. | Senate bill | A bill introduced in the Senate. |
| H.Res. | House simple resolution | Affects House rules or expresses House sentiment; does not go to the President. |
| S.Res. | Senate simple resolution | Affects Senate rules or expresses Senate sentiment; does not go to the President. |
| H.Con.Res. | House concurrent resolution | Involves both chambers; generally does not go to the President. |
| S.Con.Res. | Senate concurrent resolution | Involves both chambers; generally does not go to the President. |
| H.J.Res. | House joint resolution | If passed by both chambers, typically goes to the President, or can propose constitutional amendments. |
| S.J.Res. | Senate joint resolution | Same idea as H.J.Res., introduced in the Senate. |
Committees
Committee types
Committees are usually grouped into a few core categories. These labels explain how a committee is formed and the type of work it handles.
Standing
Permanent committees with legislative jurisdiction, hearings, oversight responsibilities, and bill development work.
Select / Special
Often created to investigate, study, or focus on issues that cross jurisdictions or do not fit neatly into a standing committee.
Joint
Committees made up of Members from both chambers, often focused on studies or administrative and oversight work.
Conference
Temporary committees usually formed to reconcile House and Senate versions of a measure.
Congress basics
Congress numbers and sessions
A Congress number groups time in the federal legislature. Each new Congress begins after a federal election cycle.
Congress number
Example: H.R. 1234 (119th) means the bill was introduced during the 119th Congress.
How long it lasts
A Congress lasts two years and is typically divided into two annual sessions. Bills usually do not carry over after a Congress ends.
Procedure terms
Common bill timeline terms
These are terms you’ll often see in actions, committee updates, and status timelines.
Reported
A committee has finished considering a bill and sent it back to the full chamber with a recommendation.
Markup
A committee session where members debate, amend, and revise legislation before deciding whether to advance it.
Cloture
The Senate process used to end debate and move toward a vote. Bills can stall if cloture cannot be invoked.
Laid on the table
A parliamentary action that sets aside a measure or motion without further debate.
Measures
Resolutions and bill versions
Different measure types have different paths and legal effects.
Simple resolution
Applies to one chamber and does not go to the President. Usually styled H.Res. or S.Res.
Concurrent resolution
Involves both chambers and generally does not go to the President.
Joint resolution
Functions more like a bill and typically goes to the President, or proposes constitutional amendments.
Engrossed vs. enrolled
Engrossed includes amendments passed by one chamber. Enrolled is the final version passed by both chambers and sent to the President.
Final actions
Vetoes and reconciliation
Some process terms matter most near the end of a bill’s path or during budget-related packages.
Pocket veto
Occurs when the President does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns before the bill can automatically become law.
Reconciliation
A special budget-related process often used for major tax and spending legislation with clear budget impacts.
LL signals
Impact and Trending
These are experimental indicators for scanning and sorting. They are not value judgments.
Impact
A heuristic estimate of potential significance from 0 to 100.
Trending
A heuristic estimate of current momentum or attention from 0 to 100.
How to use them
Higher scores mean more signal, not good or bad. Always read the details and latest actions.