Legislative term of the day: Enacted vs Enrolled

Today we will briefly review two terms that generate confusion amongst policy novices: Enacted vs. Enrolled.

Enacted

A bill becomes "enacted" when it is signed into law by the government's chief executive and takes effect. On the county level, that executive would be the County Executive, on the state level, it would be the Governor, and on the federal level, it would be the President of the United States. You can see a bill that has been labeled as enacted in the Prince George's County Council.

Enrolled

"Enrolled" is a term that you would hear in a legislative body with a House and a Senate, so you would not see this term on the local or county level where there is only one chamber. An enrolled bill has been heard by both legislative chambers but has been amended in the opposite chamber. This would be the final version of the bill that is to be voted on and hopefully become "enacted." That may sound confusing, but to make it easier look at the amendment process below via the legislative history of a bill in the Maryland General Assembly that was passed enrolled. You can see where amendments have been made in each chamber and how it eventually obtains the status of "enrolled."