Government Glossary
Germaneness
The requirement that an amendment be closely related—in terms of the precise subject or purpose, for example—to the.
Plain-English Meaning
The requirement that an amendment be closely related—in terms of the precise subject or purpose, for example—to the text it proposes to amend. House rules require amendments to be germane; Senate rules apply this restriction only in limited circumstances. In the Guide to Government, this term should be read in context: who has authority, what process applies, what official record shows the decision, and what limits or rights are involved.