Policy Glossary

Relating to the statistical calculation of risks and premiums for insurance.

The percentage of total covered medical expenses paid by a health insurance plan on average, used to compare benefit generosity across plans.

The degree to which a proposed policy can realistically be implemented and enforced by government agencies given available resources, capacity, and institutional structure.

The body of law governing the activities of administrative agencies, including rulemaking, adjudication, and enforcement of regulatory statutes.

Latin for 'friend of the court'; a non-party that files a brief to offer information, expertise, or perspective relevant to a case.

The federal statute (5 U.S.C. §§ 551–559) governing how federal agencies propose and establish regulations and providing for judicial review of agency actions.

Congressional legislation that authorizes the expenditure of federal funds for specific government programs and agencies, typically passed annually.

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, indicating the yearly interest rate charged on borrowed funds.

Assessment shock occurs when there is a sudden large increase in property assessments, impacting taxes owed by property owners.

Legislation that establishes or continues a federal program and sets a ceiling on the amount of funding that may be appropriated for it.

A draft of a proposed law presented to a legislature for enactment. A bill becomes law once passed by both chambers (where applicable) and signed by the executive.

Federal funds provided to states with broad latitude to spend within a general program area, as opposed to categorical grants which restrict use to specific purposes.

Congressional Budget Office, a federal agency that provides budgetary and economic information to Congress.

A doctrine (now overruled by Loper Bright, 2024) where courts deferred to an agency's reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute it administered.

CHIP stands for the Children's Health Insurance Program, providing health coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid.

A circuit breaker in the tax context refers to a mechanism that limits the amount of property taxes a homeowner must pay based on their income or property value.

A Senate procedure to end debate (filibuster) on a bill. It requires a three-fifths supermajority (60 votes) to invoke.

The process by which a bill or proposal is assigned to a specific legislative committee for review, hearings, and markup before a floor vote.

A stopgap measure passed by Congress to fund government operations at existing levels when a new appropriations bill has not been enacted before the fiscal year deadline.

A systematic process for estimating the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives by comparing total expected costs against total expected benefits.

The management of data availability, usability, integrity, and security in an organization.

Latin for 'about minimal things'; refers to matters so minor that a court or agency need not concern itself with them.

The amount by which government expenditures exceed revenues in a given fiscal year. Accumulated deficits form the national debt.

A retirement plan structure in which an employer guarantees a specific monthly benefit at retirement, typically based on salary and years of service.

A retirement plan structure in which contributions are fixed (e.g., a 401(k)), but the final benefit depends on investment performance.

DHS stands for the Department of Homeland Security, a federal agency focused on public security.

Federal expenditures set through the annual appropriations process by Congress, covering programs not mandated by permanent law.

A constitutional guarantee (5th and 14th Amendments) that government will not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures and substantive justification.

EMS stands for Emergency Medical Services, which provide urgent medical care.

A government program that guarantees benefits to any individual meeting specific eligibility criteria, independent of annual appropriations (e.g., Social Security, Medicare).

A 14th Amendment guarantee requiring states to apply the law equally and not discriminate against similarly situated individuals without sufficient justification.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, a federal law that regulates employer-sponsored retirement plans.

An approach to policy or practice that relies on empirical research and data to guide decisions, as opposed to ideology, tradition, or anecdotal experience.

To free from an obligation or rule that others must follow.

FDIC stands for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures deposits at banks and thrift institutions.

The constitutional division of governmental powers between the national (federal) government and the states, each sovereign within their respective domains.

A legislative tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate indefinitely, typically requiring 60 votes to overcome.

The projected net effect of a proposed policy or legislation on government revenues and expenditures, typically over a defined period.

A vote taken by all members of a legislative chamber (the full House or Senate) on a bill or amendment, as opposed to a vote limited to a committee.

The total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period, used as the primary measure of economic size.

The total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period, used as the primary measure of economic size.

A legal action requiring a detained person to be brought before a court to determine whether their detention is lawful. Often called 'the great writ.'

A homestead generally refers to a dwelling and the surrounding land that serves as a household's primary residence.

Latin for 'in the place of a parent'; a legal doctrine allowing an institution (e.g., a school) to act in a parental role for a minor.

A court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing a specific act, often used to prevent irreparable harm while litigation is pending.

Judicial review is the power of courts to examine the actions of legislative and executive branches for their constitutionality.

A formally drafted document that proposes a specific change to existing law or introduces new legislation for consideration by a governing body.

A prescribed maximum or minimum level established by law or policy.

A canon of statutory interpretation holding that Congress must speak clearly when it intends to grant an agency authority over questions of vast political or economic significance.

Federal expenditures required by existing law (e.g., Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) that are not subject to the annual appropriations process.

A legislative session where a committee reviews, amends, and votes on a bill before it advances to the full chamber for a floor vote.

A program or benefit eligibility requirement based on the applicant's income, assets, or financial need, restricting access to those below a defined threshold.

Latin for 'guilty mind'; the criminal intent or knowledge required for a finding of criminal liability, distinguishing intentional wrongdoing from accident.

A doctrine holding that a court cannot decide a case if the controversy has been resolved or the relief sought is no longer available.

The total outstanding obligations of the federal government, representing the accumulation of annual deficits less any surpluses over time.

A required connection or link between two elements, often used to describe the connection between a regulation's means and its objectives, or between a state and a taxpayer.

A constitutional principle limiting Congress's ability to transfer its lawmaking power to executive agencies, requiring an 'intelligible principle' to guide agency discretion.

The standard federal rulemaking procedure under the Administrative Procedure Act requiring agencies to publish proposed rules, accept public comments, and issue a final rule with responses.

Old-Age and Survivors Insurance program that provides benefits to retirees and their families.

OCC stands for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a U.S. federal agency overseeing national banks.

A financial strategy to counterbalance a cost or liability.

A concise document summarizing the analysis of a policy issue, presenting options or recommendations to inform decision-makers.

A structured approach that outlines the principles, objectives, mechanisms, and implementation pathways for addressing a policy problem.

An internal or external document that provides analysis, context, and recommendations on a specific policy question, typically addressed to a decision-maker.

The legal doctrine under which federal law supersedes conflicting state law under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Short for public, often used to describe state-sponsored or community services.

A government-run health insurance plan offered alongside private insurance options, intended to increase competition and expand coverage access.

A Congressional budget procedure that allows certain fiscal legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority (51 votes), bypassing the 60-vote cloture threshold.

A rule issued by a government agency under authority delegated by statute. Regulations have the force of law and are published in the Federal Register or equivalent state register.

The process by which federal or state agencies create legally binding regulations, typically subject to public notice and comment requirements under the APA.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, a U.S. government agency that regulates securities markets.

The constitutional structure dividing government authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent concentration of power.

A healthcare financing system in which a single public entity (typically the government) collects all healthcare fees and pays for all healthcare costs.

The legal doctrine shielding governments from being sued without their consent, derived from the English common law maxim that 'the king can do no wrong.'

SSA stands for the Social Security Administration, which administers the nation's social insurance program.

Any individual, group, or organization that has an interest in or is affected by a particular policy decision, program, or outcome.

The legal requirement that a plaintiff must have suffered a concrete, particularized injury fairly traceable to the defendant's conduct to bring a claim in federal court.

The legal doctrine requiring courts to follow prior precedent when deciding cases with similar facts and legal questions.

A formal written law enacted by a legislative body (e.g., Congress or a state legislature), as opposed to regulations issued by agencies or common law established by courts.

A clause in a law that sets a specific date on which the law (or a provision of it) automatically expires unless affirmatively renewed by the legislature.

TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal program providing financial aid to families with low income.

A mandatory financial charge imposed by a government to fund public services.

Tax delinquency is the failure to pay taxes owed to a government by the due date.

A loss of revenue from a tax deduction, exclusion, or credit that benefits a particular activity or group, often described as a 'subsidy through the tax code.'

An arrangement where one party holds property for the benefit of another.