germaneness

noun

The fact of being related to the matter at hand: applicability, application, appositeness, bearing, concernment, materiality, pertinence, pertinency, relevance, relevancy. See relevant/irrelevant.

To be germane, or relevant, an amendment to legislation must have something to do with the rest of the bill it seeks to amend. House rules require that all amendments be germane. The rules of the Senate are different, and senators can attach favored amendments onto completely unrelated bills. These are sometimes called “riders” because they ride along on the larger bill. The Senate requires germaneness only for amendments to general appropriations bills and after cloture, the end of debate, has been voted on a bill. The Senate might also require germaneness as part of a unanimous consent agreement that sets the conditions under which a bill can be debated and voted upon.

See also Riders to bills

IN BRIEF: n. - Pertinence by virtue of a close relation to the matter at hand.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: pertinence by virtue of a close relation to the matter at hand

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