Wharton’s rule ([h]wor-t[schwa]n).Criminal law. The doctrine that an agreement by two or more persons to commit a particular crime cannot be prosecuted as a conspiracy if the crime could not be committed except by the actual number of participants involved. • But if an additional person participates so as to enlarge the scope of the […]
parliament. The supreme legislative body of some nations; esp. (cap.), in the United Kingdom, the national legislature consisting of the monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons.
veto power. An executive’s conditional power to prevent an act that has passed the legislature from becoming law.
logrolling, n. 1. The exchanging of political favors; esp., the trading of votes among legislators to gain support of measures that are beneficial to each legislator’s constituency. 2. The legislative practice of including several propositions in one measure or proposed constitutional amendment so that the legislature or voters will pass all of them, even though
A committee established for a particular purpose or a limited time. • A legislature will ordinarily establish a special committee for a nonlegislative purpose, such as writing memorials, procuring chaplains, determining the qualifications of members, and settling election disputes. — Also termed ad hoc committee; select committee; temporary committee. [Cases: States 34. C.J.S. States §§
initiative (i-nish-ee-[schwa]-tiv or i-nish-[schwa]-tiv). An electoral process by which a percentage of voters can propose legislation and compel a vote on it by the legislature or by the full electorate. • Recognized in some state constitutions, the initiative is one of the few methods of direct democracy in an otherwise representative system. Cf. REFERENDUM. [Cases:
enroll, vb. 1. To register or transcribe (a legal document, as a deed) into an official record on execution. — Formerly also spelled inroll. 2. To prepare (a bill passed by the legislature) for the executive’s signature. Cf. ENGROSS. [Cases: Statutes 37. C.J.S. Statutes §§ 56–58.]
parliamentary manual. A code or reference, usu. a commercially published book, that contains parliamentary rules and is offered for adoption by organizations as their parliamentary authority. • The leading parliamentary manuals in print in the United States are Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised for nonlegislative bodies, and Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure for state
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conference. 1. CONVENTION(3). 2. A meeting between the two houses of a bicameral legislature. See conference committee under COMMITTEE. “It is proper for either house to request a conference with the other on any matter of difference or dispute between them. When a conference is requested, the subject of the conference should always be stated.
Hist. A legislative act creating a private corporation as opposed to a public, charitable, or educa-tional corporation. • Special charters were common until the 19th century, when legislatures enacted general incorporation laws that allowed private corporations to be formed without legislative action.