ELECTION—The process of choosing government officials by a vote of the citizens.

ENACT—To pass a law.

ENACTING CLAUSE—A clause required by the Texas Constitution to precede the body of each bill. The enacting clause follows the caption and must read as follows: “Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas:”.

ENGROSSED—The stage in a bill’s legislative progress when it has been passed by the chamber in which it was filed and all amendments to the bill have been incorporated into the text of the bill, which is then forwarded to the second house for consideration.

ENROLLED—The stage in a bill’s legislative progress when it has been passed by both chambers of the legislature in identical form and is prepared for signature by the presiding officers of both houses. If the bill is not passed in identical form by both houses, any changes made by the opposite chamber must be accepted by the originating chamber or a conference committee report must be adopted by both chambers before the bill may be enrolled.

EX OFFICIO—Used to refer to a member of a governmental body who holds his or her position on that body as the result of holding another governmental position.