View source for "Christmas tree" bill

A '''"Christmas tree bill"''' is informal nomenclature for a [[bill]] on the [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[floor]] that attracts many, often unrelated, floor [[amendment|amendments]], or [[rider|riders]]. The amendments which adorn the bill may provide special benefits to various groups or interests.<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/christmas_tree_bill.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>

An example is the National Defense Authorization Act; since the bill is a must-pass issue, as it provides for funding for [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], members of the [[Democratic]] party have tried to tag the bill with various other amendments supporting the [[homosexual agenda]]. Bills that would be politically dangerous for members of Congress to be on record as voting against are thus especially likely to become "Christmas tree" bills.

==References==
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[[Category:United States Government Word Definitions]]
[[Category:United States Senate Terms]]