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Act - A bill that was passed by both houses and signed or passed into law; or, the final version of a bill as passed by one chamber of the legislature.

Agree to disagree - When a conference committee is unable to reach an agreement, allowing a second report from that committee to be signed by fewer members of the committee.

Appropriations - Funding for government programs.

Authorizations - Establish or create a government program.

Amendment - A suggestion to change something in a bill, including omitting or adding words or entire sections.

Bicameral - Pertaining or of both legislative bodies (the House and Senate).

Bill - A draft of a proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body and the law enacted from such a draft.

Bipartisan - Pertaining or of both political parties (Democrat and Republican).

Caucus - A closed meeting of party members within a legislative body to decide on questions of policy or leadership, or a group within a legislative or decision-making body seeking to represent a specific interest or influence a particular area of policy.

Committee - A group of senators or representatives that meets to discuss bills, hold hearings and make recommendations to a larger group.

Committee of the whole - All House members sitting as one committee to debate and pass legislation.

Concur - When one house agrees with another house's amendments.

District - The geographic area from which a legislator is chosen; the geographic area a legislator represents.

Effective date - The date a law must be followed. Executive branch - The section of the state government that includes the Governor,

Filibuster - A delaying tactic used by Senate members seeking to defeat a bill, usually done through extended debates.

Governor - A state's highest official elected every four years. The Governor signs bills into law, presents a state budget

Hearing - A meeting of a committee or legislative body during which experts, citizens or others with interest in an issue are allowed to speak.

House - A legislative or deliberative assembly.

Judicial branch - The branch of the government responsible for the administration of justice.

Law - A bill passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, or a vetoed bill that the Legislature overrode.

Legislative branch - The branch of the state government that includes the House and Senate.

Legislation - A proposed law, act or bill; a bill that has become law.

Legislature - All members of the House and Senate combined, as a group. Responsible for creating laws.

Lobbyist - A person or group involved in trying to influence legislation in favor of a certain interest or cause. Many industries, such as farming, banking, health care and others, employ lobbyists to promote their own causes.

Motion - A formal proposal to the legislature, including a request for a vote on an issue, a resolution or a suggestion on how a legislative body should proceed. Motions are made during formal meetings.

Override - Accomplished when a body of the legislature votes to pass a law the Governor earlier vetoed.

Page - A young person who runs errands, delivers messages and serves for a day in the legislature.

Partisan - Pertaining to a specific political party.

Petition - A formal request from the public that includes signatures in favor of an idea.

Recess - A short break of a pre-determined amount of time.

Sine die - Literally, 'without a day'; pertains to the end of the legislative session each year when no date has been set to reconvene.

Veto - An act of the Governor to refuse to sign a bill into law.

Information from Kansas Legislature and dictionary.com.