Clerk of the House - Chief administrative officer of the House. Same as Secretary of the Senate. Closed Rule - A rule granted by the House Rules Committee which prohibits amendments to a particular bill during House floor action. Cloture - The procedure by which a filibuster can be ended in the Senate. Committee of the Whole - To expedite its business, the House may resort to this parliamentary device, which enables it to act with a quorum of 100 instead of the normally required 218.
All debate is confined to the pending bill.
Companion Bills - Identical bills introduced in each house for the purpose of expediting passage by substituting the one that passed first for the other. Concurrent Resolution - Must be passed by both houses, does not require the President's signature and does not have the force of law. Conference Committee - A special committee formed to reconcile differences between differing versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate. Conference Committee members are appointed from the committees of jurisdiction in each House. Congressional Budget Office - Created by the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.