Table – The decision of a standing committee to put off considering a measure.
Task Force – A title sometimes given to a panel of members assigned to a special project, study, or investigation. The House Budget Committee uses task forces in place of subcommittees. Ordinarily, these groups do not have authority to report measures to their respective houses.
Third Reading – Final passage stage for a bill.
Three-Day Rule – (1) In the House, a committee report on a measure must be available for at least three calendar days before the measure may be considered. (2) In the House, a conference report must be printed in the Congressional Record at least three calendar days before it may be considered. (3) In both houses, a committee member is entitled to three calendar days in which to submit separate views on a measure for inclusion in the committee report. (4) In the House, the printed hearings on a general appropriations bill must be available for at least three calendar days before the bill may be considered. (5) In the House, measures on the consent calendar may not be called unless they have been on the calendar at least three legislative days. (6) In both houses, a majority of a committee’s members may call a special meeting of the committee if the chairman fails to do so within three calendar days after three or more of the members formally request such a meeting.
Tie Vote – When the votes for and against a proposition are equal, it loses. The President of the Senate may cast a vote only to break a tie. Because the Speaker is invariably a member of the House, he is entitled to vote but usually does not. He may choose to do so to break, or create, a tie vote.