Words explained

Plain meanings of legal and government words used in measures and votes. Each one links to its source.

Ad valorem: Latin for "according to value." An ad valorem tax is a percentage of what something is worth. Texas property taxes are ad valorem taxes: they are based on the appraised value of a home, land or business property. Florida property taxes are ad valorem taxes too.
Appraisal: An estimate of what property is worth. In Texas, county appraisal districts set the value that property taxes are based on.
Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Artificial intelligence (AI): Computer systems that do tasks that usually need human judgment, such as recognizing images, understanding language or making predictions. Laws about AI often cover how it is used, tested, disclosed or limited.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bail: Money or conditions a court sets so a person charged with a crime can leave jail while waiting for trial, to make sure they come back to court.
Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Bond: A way to borrow money. A government sells bonds to raise money now and promises to pay it back with interest over time. Bonds repaid from taxes often need voter approval.
Capital gains: The profit from selling something you own, such as stock or real estate, for more than you paid. A capital gains tax is a tax on that profit.
Cash on hand: The money a campaign committee has in the bank at the end of a reporting period, as shown in its latest report to the Federal Election Commission.
CBO cost estimate: The Congressional Budget Office's estimate of how a federal bill would change government spending and revenue. CBO is nonpartisan.
Cloture: A U.S. Senate vote to end debate on a measure, which usually needs 60 votes. It is how the Senate ends a filibuster.
Constitutional amendment: A change to a constitution. In Texas the Legislature proposes an amendment with a joint resolution passed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber. It takes effect only if a majority of the people voting on it approve it. In Florida, an amendment needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass.
Continuing resolution: A temporary law that keeps government agencies funded, usually at the previous year's levels, when the regular yearly spending bills are not finished by the start of the fiscal year.
Endowment: A fund that is invested so its earnings pay for a purpose over time, while the main amount is kept.
Estate tax: A tax on the property of a person who has died, paid from the estate before what is left passes to the heirs. Compare inheritance tax.
Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Federal Register: The official daily publication of the U.S. government for agency rules, proposed rules, public notices and presidential documents.
Federalism: The sharing of power between a national government and state governments. Each level has its own powers, and some powers are shared. Counties and cities get their powers from their state.
Filibuster: Using long debate or other delay to block or slow a vote in the U.S. Senate.
Fiscal note: A short estimate attached to a Texas bill or resolution of how much it would cost or save the state and local governments. It is written by the Legislative Budget Board, which is nonpartisan staff.
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Franchise tax: A Texas state tax on businesses for the privilege of doing business in Texas, based mainly on a business's margin. Businesses under a set revenue threshold owe no tax.
Homestead exemption: A homestead is the home you own and live in as your main residence. A homestead exemption removes part of its value from property tax, so tax is charged on a smaller amount. Texas school districts must offer one; other local governments may offer more. In Florida, the Constitution currently sets a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 (the second $25,000 does not apply to school taxes).
Inheritance tax: A tax on property a person receives from someone who has died, paid by the person who inherits it. Compare estate tax.
Joint resolution: In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.
Legislature: The elected body that makes laws. In Texas it has a House of Representatives (150 members) and a Senate (31 members). In Florida it has a House of Representatives (120 members) and a Senate (40 members).
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Political action committee (PAC): A committee that raises and spends money to support or oppose candidates. PACs that give directly to federal candidates have contribution limits and report to the Federal Election Commission.
Property tax: A tax on land, buildings and some business property, based on its value. In Texas it is set and collected by local governments (cities, counties, school districts and special districts), not by the state.
Proposition: The name for a measure on a Texas ballot, numbered Proposition 1, 2, and so on. A "For" vote supports the measure; an "Against" vote opposes it.
Public comment: A chance for anyone to tell a government agency what they think about a proposed rule or plan before it is final. Agencies must consider the comments they receive.
Quorum: The minimum number of members who must be present for a body to do official business.
Referendum: A vote by the public on a law or measure. Texas statewide propositions are how voters decide on constitutional amendments.
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Sales tax: A tax added to the price of goods and some services when they are bought.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Sponsor and cosponsor: The sponsor is the member who introduces a bill and leads it. Cosponsors are other members who sign on to show support.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.
Suspension of the rules: A fast way the U.S. House passes measures that have broad support. Debate is limited, no changes are allowed, and it needs a two-thirds vote.
Veto: The power of a president or governor to reject a bill passed by the legislature. Lawmakers can override a veto with a large enough vote (two-thirds of each chamber in Congress).