Legal Definitions - H.

The abbreviation H. can stand for several different terms, depending on the context, primarily within legislative and historical legal documents.

• House of Representatives

  In the United States, H. often refers to the House of Representatives, one of the two chambers of the U.S. Congress. It is commonly used in legislative citations or discussions.

  • Example 1: A news article might report, "The bill, having passed the H., now moves to the Senate for consideration."

    Explanation: Here, H. clearly indicates the House of Representatives, signifying that the legislative proposal has successfully cleared that specific chamber of Congress.

  • Example 2: During a political debate, a candidate might state, "My voting record in the H. demonstrates my commitment to fiscal responsibility."

    Explanation: This usage refers to the candidate's past actions and legislative history while serving as a member of the House of Representatives.

• House Report

  When used in legislative citations, H. can also abbreviate a House Report, which is a document published by a committee of the House of Representatives detailing its findings, recommendations, or the legislative history of a bill.

  • Example 1: A legal brief might cite "H. Rpt. 107-45, p. 12" to support an argument about congressional intent behind a particular statute.

    Explanation: In this context, "H. Rpt." refers to a specific report issued by the House of Representatives, and the citation directs the reader to a particular page within that official document.

  • Example 2: Researchers studying environmental policy might consult an H. report to understand the detailed findings of a congressional committee on climate change legislation.

    Explanation: Here, an H. report provides comprehensive information and analysis from a House committee, serving as a valuable resource for policy research.

• House Bill

  In legislative numbering, H. is often part of the designation for a House Bill, indicating a bill that originated in the House of Representatives. It is typically followed by "R." and a number (e.g., H.R. 123).

  • Example 1: A legislative tracking website might show "H.R. 345, the 'Affordable Healthcare Act,' has been introduced in Congress."

    Explanation: The "H.R." prefix signifies that this particular bill (number 345) was first introduced in the House of Representatives.

  • Example 2: During a committee hearing, a representative might refer to "the provisions outlined in H.R. 789 concerning infrastructure spending."

    Explanation: This usage identifies a specific piece of legislation that began its journey through Congress in the House of Representatives.

• King Henry

  Historically, in citations of English statutes, H. was used to abbreviate the name of a king named Henry, often followed by a Roman numeral to indicate which Henry (e.g., H. VIII for Henry VIII).

  • Example: A historical legal text might refer to "1 H. VII, c. 1," indicating the first statute passed in the first year of King Henry VII's reign, chapter one.

    Explanation: This abbreviation provides a concise way to identify the monarch during whose reign a particular English statute was enacted.

• Hilary Term

  In older English legal records, particularly the Year Books (collections of legal reports from medieval England), H. stood for the Hilary Term, one of the four annual periods when courts were in session.

  • Example: A legal historian might analyze a case from "H. 15 Edw. III," meaning a case heard during the Hilary Term in the 15th year of King Edward III's reign.

    Explanation: This abbreviation helps pinpoint the specific court session during which a historical legal case was heard and recorded.

• House (Property)

  In non-legal official reports, such as tax assessments or property records, H. can simply abbreviate house.

  • Example 1: A property tax statement might list "1 H., 2 Gar." to indicate one house and two garages on the property.

    Explanation: Here, H. is a straightforward abbreviation used in official documents to denote a residential dwelling for assessment purposes.

  • Example 2: An insurance policy might detail coverage for "H. and contents," specifying what is protected under the policy.

    Explanation: In this context, H. clearly refers to the physical structure of the house itself, distinguishing it from its contents for insurance purposes.