Do you need a translator when watching CSPAN? Do you avoid people who talk politics? Vote4Biz cuts through the poltical lingo with this helpful glossary of common capitol lingo.

Agenda: Refers to Committee agenda or Session agenda. It’s a list of legislation or issues planned for discussion.

Amendment: Can be offered in committee or during legislative session. Changes the language in a bill.

Approps: Short for “Appropriations Committee.”

Bag of Donuts: Slang for financial contribution. “I gave him a bag of donuts.”

Beaner’s: Local coffee shop used for many meetings. There’s a House Beaner’s (by the HOB) and a Senate Beaner’s (by the Farnum). Be sure you confirm which Beaner’s you’re meeting at.

Beer & Wine: Short for the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. Their building is the location of numerous legislative fundraisers.

Bill: Legislation already introduced.

Blueback: Drafted legislation prior to introduction.

Calendar: The list of bills eligible for consideration before each legislative body. There is a House Calendar and a Senate Calendar prepared for each legislative session day.

Campaign Committee: The fund established by legislators and political caucuses for the purpose of raising and spending money on elections.

Caucus: Has multiple uses. Most often used to refer to the caucus meetings held by legislators of each party separately during legislative session. Can also refer to partisan campaign funds.

Chamber: Multiple uses. Can mean the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Also used to refer to the legislative chambers used by both the House and Senate for session.

Coalition: Group of allied individuals and associations with the same position on an issue. Often formally lobby together and hire additional PR firms and lobbyists.

Committee: Legislative body that handles assigned issues prior to consideration by the full legislative body.

Conference Committee: A six person body assigned to work out conflicts in legislation that has passed both Houses without complete agreement. Most commonly used in reference to appropriations bills.

Constitution: The over-riding law of Michigan. Many “Constitutional issues” arise during the debate of legislation.

Discharge: An act taken by either the House or Senate that circumnavigates the committee process. The entire legislative body can vote to move a bill to the floor without a committee hearing or formal committee process through this measure.

Farnum: Short for Billie S. Farnum Building. This is the location of nearly all Senate offices.

First Reading: The Constitution requires legislation to be “read” three times before the full House and Senate. The First Reading is ceremonial and serves to put the bill on the calendar.

Five Day Rule: The only actual rule that cannot be broken in the legislative process. The Constitution requires legislation to be held for a minimum of 5 days by each chamber in order for it to be eligible for passage to the Governor.

Floor: Refers to either House or Senate session. When a bill is actively being considered it is “on the floor.”

Florsheim Foyer: The Lansing version of Washington’s “Gucci Gulch.” The 2^nd floor of the Capitol outside of the House and Senate Chambers.

General Orders: Only used in the Senate. AKA “G.O.” This is the final reading of legislation in the Senate.

House: The House of Representatives.

House Side: The north side of the State Capitol.

HOB: The House Office Building, where you can find the offices of most representatives and House committee hearing rooms.

Karoub: Short for “Karoub Associates.” One of the oldest and largest multi-client contract lobbying firms in Lansing. The location of many legislative fundraisers.

On the Fossils: See Florsheim Foyer above. Another slang term for referring to the area lobbyists linger outside of the House and Senate Chambers.

PAC: Short for Political Action Committee. The legal fund through which advocacy groups raise and spend funds on elections.

Quorom Call: The process of bringing legislators together for session. Signified by a ringing bell.

Romney: Short for George Romney Building. The location of the Executive Office and some other government offices.

Rostrum: The podium at the front of the House and Senate Chambers from which the leader presides over session.

Second Reading: In both the House and Senate, the second time a bill is considered “read.”

Senate: The State Senate.

Send in a Note: The action of reaching legislators during legislative session. Sergeants and pages deliver notes to legislators.

Senate Side: The south side of the Capitol.

Session: The time spent when all legislators meet together in their respective bodies to consider legislation.

Statute: Existing law.

The Board: The visual location of votes taken during session at the front of the Chamber.

The Hill: It’s usage in referring to the State Capitol is a major faux-pas in Lansing. The Hill ONLY refers to the U.S. Capitol.

Third Reading: The final reading before passage of a bill before either chamber.

Veto: The expression of opposition by the Governor, which cancels the action of the legislature. Veto’s can be over-ridden by a 2/3 vote of both houses – these rarely occur.