Definition of Common Versions of Bills & Resolutions

Agreed to House (ATH)
Agreed to Senate (ATS)

This phrase describes concurrent or simple resolutions. These types of legislation are not "passed" in the manner of a regular bill; rather they are "agreed to" in the House or Senate.

Committee Discharge House (CDH)
Committee Discharge Senate (CDS)

This phrase describes a motion to discharge a committee from considering a bill. The motion requires a majority vote from that committee.

Considered and Passed House (CPH)
Considered and Passed Senate (CPS)

This phrase indicates that, after being debated, a bill has been voted on and passed by one of the two houses.

Engrossed Amendment House (EAH)
Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)

This phrase accompanies the final copy of a bill that has been passed by one house and certified by the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate. It includes the amendments to the text from floor action.

Engrossed in House (EH)
Engrossed in Senate (ES)

This phrase accompanies the final copy of a bill that has been passed by one house and certified by the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate.

Enrolled (ENR)

This phrase accompanies the final copy of a bill or joint resolution that has been passed in identical form by both houses. It must be certified by an officer of the house of origin (the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate) and then sent on for the signatures of the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the U.S. President.

Introduced in House (IH)
Introduced in Senate (IS)

This phrase indicates that a bill has been introduced in either the House or the Senate. In the Senate, any number of senators may introduce a single bill; in the House, a limit of 25 representatives may cosponsor a bill. Many bills are actually committee bills and therefore are introduced under the name of the (sub)committee's chairperson as a formality.

Placed on Calendar House (PCH)
Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)

This phrase accompanies a bill that is pending before committees of either house. The bill is assigned a calendar number, which determines when it will be considered by that house.

Referred with Amendments House (RAH)
Referred with Amendments Senate (RAS)

This phrase indicates that an engrossed bill has been passed from one house to the other, requesting concurrence.

Reference Change House (RCH)
Reference Change Senate (RCS)

This phrase indicates a change in the referral of a bill, which requires the unanimous consent of the members of the house in question.

Received in House (RDH)
Received in Senate (RDS)

This phrase indicates that a bill has been accepted for consideration in one house.

Referred in House (RFH)
Referred in Senate (RFS)

This phrase indicates that, after being introduced, a bill has been directed to the committees that have jurisdiction over the subject with which the bill is concerned. (Bills are referred by the Speaker in the House and the Presiding Officer in the Senate.)

Reported in House (RH)
Reported in Senate (RS)

This phrase accompanies a committee's report of its findings and recommendations to the parent house after it has examined a bill. The version of the bill as reported includes changes, if any, that have been recommended by the committee.