Bills that are completed, or “marked up” by various legislative committees are placed on legislative schedules called “Calendars.” Legislation that is reported from a committee is assigned by the Speaker one of several calendars, three of which are of particular interest to pro-life efforts. Not all bills that are reported by committees and placed on calendars are called up or reported to the House.
The calendars list bills in the chronological order that they were reported to the House by the various committees.
1. The Union Calendar – Rule XIII Clause 1: “A Calendar of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, to which shall be referred all bills raising revenue, general appropriations bills, and bills of a public character directly or indirectly appropriating money or property.” All legislation dealing with raising, authorizing or spending money is assigned to this calendar.
2. The House Calendar – Rule XIII (Second): “A House calendar, to which shall be referred all bills of a public character not raising revenue nor directly or indirectly appropriating money or property.” Non-money measures and other measures dealing with internal House matters are put on this calendar.
3. Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees. Clause 3 of Rule XXVII: “A Member may present to the Clerk a motion in writing to discharge a committee from consideration of a public bill or resolution which has been referred to it thirty days prior … When a majority of the total membership shall have signed the motion, it shall be entered on the Journal, printed with the signatures thereto in the Congressional Record, and referred to the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees.” This “Discharge Calendar” lists all motions to discharge committees through special procedures. This calendar is not often used.