High School Home

Meet the Clerk

Learn more about Lorraine C. Miller, the 35th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, and her role in facilitating the legislative process.

For Teachers

Looking to bring the U.S. House of Representatives into your High School classroom? Visit our For Teachers section for resources, activities, and lesson plans that complement the material on this site.

Glossary

Advocate
A person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person or cause.
Amendment
An alteration or addition to a motion or bill.
Bicameral Legislature
A lawmaking body with two branches or chambers.
Bill
A form or draft of a proposed statute presented to legislature but not yet passed into law.
Bipartisan
Consisting of, or supported by, members of two parties, particularly two major political parties.
Cabinet
An advisory board to the President, consisting of the heads of the thirteen executive departments of the federal government.
Capitol
The Washington, D.C. building used by the U.S. Congress for its sessions.
Chairman
The presiding officer of a group or committee.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Legislation within the United States that outlawed racial segregation in schools, public spaces, and work places.
Cold War
Conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR) from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s. The conflict arose because both countries wanted to be the most powerful in the world.
Committee
A group of Representatives or Senators who study national problems and suggest solutions.
Conference Committee
A group of members  from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate tasked with resolving disagreements about bills.
Congressional District
A division of a state containing approximately 600,000 people represented by one Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressional Record
The daily record of House Floor debate and votes.
Constituents
The residents of a district represented by a Member of Congress.
Dean of the House
The longest serving Member in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Delegate
A representative of a United States territory elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Delegates do not participate in votes but do serve on committees. There are delegates from five territories—the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands—in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic Caucus
A yearly meeting of all House Democrats.
Electoral College
A group of people who represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the election of the President of the United States.
Electronic Voting System
Using voting stations around the House Chamber and Member voting cards, it records roll call votes in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Engrossed
The final version of proposed legislation passed by one chamber of Congress.
Enrolled
Legislation that has been passed by both chambers of Congress, signed by their presiding officers, and sent to the President for his signature.
Federal Government
The central government of the United States that includes the three branch of government—legislative, executive, and judicial.
Great Depression
The worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and ended in the late 1930s. It started in the United States and is often associated with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929.
Hearing
A meeting or session of a committee of Congress, usually open to the public, in which testimony and arguments regarding legislation are presented.
Hopper
A box into which a proposed legislative bill is dropped. Once the bill has been dropped in the hopper it is officially introduced to the House.
House Journal
The official register of House floor action as ordered by the Constitution.
House Officers
The Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, Chief Administrative Officer, and the Chaplain of the House.
House Rules
The rules created by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and enforced by the House Parliamentarian. The rules dictate how Members should behave while on the House Floor.
House Rules Committee
The committee responsible for limiting what can be said about and done to a bill on the House floor. It is often referred to as the "traffic cop" of Congress.
Incorporated Territories
Regions or districts of the United States not admitted as states but that have their own legislatures and the potential to become a state.
Incumbent
Current holder of a public office.
Jim Crow
State and local laws in the United States between 1876 and 1965 that called for segregation of schools, public places, public transportation, restrooms, and restaurants.
Joint Session of Congress
A meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. These meetings occur in the House Chamber, typically for addresses from the President or foreign dignitaries.
Markup
To change or alter the language of a bill.
Members-elect
People elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives who have not yet been administered the Oath of Office.
Provisions
Conditions or stipulations added to a bill.
Public Policy
The set of policies that form the foundation of public laws.
Quorum
The number of Members required to be present in order for Congress to conduct official business (218 in the House, 100 in Committee of the Whole, 51 in the Senate).
Republican Conference
A yearly meeting of all House Republicans.
Resident Commissioner
A representative from Puerto Rico, elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Resident Commissioner does not participate in votes, but does serve on committees.
Resolution
A measure expressing opinions on policies or issues or dealing with the internal affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
Roll Call Votes
A call of the roll in the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate to determine whether a quorum is present or to vote on a question.
Rostrum
A platform for public speaking. In the House, this is the place from which the Speaker of the House presides.
Session
The period during which Congress assembles to conduct business.
Subcommittee
A subgroup of Members of a committee in either the House of Representatives or the Senate that meets to discuss and research possible laws.
Table
A motion to stop action on pending legislation and lay it aside indefinitely.
Unincorporated Territories
Regions or districts of the United States that are not admitted as states but that have their own legislature and no potential to become a state.
Veto
The constitutional procedure by which the President can deny approval of a bill or joint resolution, preventing it from being enacted into law. It can be overridden by a two-thirds passing vote in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Viva Voce Roll Call
A roll call taken verbally.
Voting Card
A card, unique to each Member, used to vote with the Electronic Voting System.