Summary Writing - Numbers
When writing numbers in your highlights, always write the numeral (e.g., 1, 2, 3) as opposed to spelling out the number (e.g., one, two, three). Here is an example: HB 531 from New Hampshire during the 2009 session. This is a group of highlights from the summary (bolded for emphasis):
- -Requires a judge to issue a ruling on whether to waive the parental notification requirement within 7 days from the time the petition is filed (Sec. 1).
- -Specifies that a minor must have access to a judge 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the purposes of pursuing a waiver (Sec. 1).
- -Authorizes a minor to appeal a judge's decision not to waive the parental notification requirement (Sec. 1).
- -Defines "emancipated minor" as a female under the age of 18 who is or has been married, or by court order has been released from the care, custody, or control of her parents.
When you're dealing with large numbers, particularly appropriations, there are two principal rules:
- For amounts of one million or more, the number should be listed as the initial numeral followed by the word "million" or "billion." The number should also be rounded off to the nearest hundredth, if necessary. For example, if a bill includes an amount of money that reads "$352,778,000," the number in the highlight should read "$352.78 million." If the number listed in the bill were "$4,644,000,000," the number in the highlight should read "$4.64 billion." Here is an example: HR 2346 from the U.S. Congress in 2009. This is one of the highlights (bolded for emphasis):
- -Appropriates $9.7 billion for the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other agencies for costs associated with international assistance, including, but not limited to, the following amounts (Title XI):
—$4.65 billion for bilateral economic assistance, including, but not limited to, $2.97 billion for the Economic Support Fund;
—$2.18 billion for international security assistance, including, but not limited to, $1.29 billion for the Foreign Military Financing Program;
—$1.94 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs; and
—$721 million for international peacekeeping activities.
—$2.18 billion for international security assistance, including, but not limited to, $1.29 billion for the Foreign Military Financing Program;
—$1.94 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs; and
—$721 million for international peacekeeping activities.
- For amounts less than $1 million, the number should be listed in full. For example, if an amount of "375,500" is listed in a bill, the number in the highlight should also read "375,500." Here is an example: SB 855 from Texas during the 2009 Session. This is one of the highlights (bold added for emphasis):
- -Specifies that the provisions of the bill apply to the following (Sec. 1):
—Counties located in a region that is served by a Metropolitan Planning Organization that serves 2 adjacent counties that have a population of 1 million or more ("North Texas Region");
—Counties for which an Advanced Transportation District has been established, for which no bordering county has a population of more than 200,000, and in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 1.1 million ("Alamo Region");
—Counties for which a regional mobility authority has been established, and in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 650,000 and elects all members of its governing body at large ("Capital Region");
—Municipalities that have a population of more than 550,000, have established a Regional Mobility Authority, and is located in a county that is adjacent to an international border ("West Texas Border Region");
—Counties that have a population of more than 325,000, and are located adjacent to an international border and a county that has a population of more than 550,000 ("South Texas Region"); and
—Counties that have a population of more than 300,000, and in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 250,000 and is located wholly or partly on a barrier island that borders the Gulf of Mexico ("Coastal Bend Region").
—Counties for which an Advanced Transportation District has been established, for which no bordering county has a population of more than 200,000, and in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 1.1 million ("Alamo Region");
—Counties for which a regional mobility authority has been established, and in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 650,000 and elects all members of its governing body at large ("Capital Region");
—Municipalities that have a population of more than 550,000, have established a Regional Mobility Authority, and is located in a county that is adjacent to an international border ("West Texas Border Region");
—Counties that have a population of more than 325,000, and are located adjacent to an international border and a county that has a population of more than 550,000 ("South Texas Region"); and
—Counties that have a population of more than 300,000, and in which the principal municipality has a population of more than 250,000 and is located wholly or partly on a barrier island that borders the Gulf of Mexico ("Coastal Bend Region").
When dealing with fractions of a dollar, it should be expressed in dollars rather than cents. For example, if a bill imposes a tax on something equal to five cents per purchase, it should be expressed as "$0.05" and not "5 cents." Here is an example: HB 6802 from Connecticut during the 2009 Session. This is one highlight from the summary (bolded for emphasis):
- -Increases the tax on cigarettes from $0.10 to $0.15 per cigarette beginning October 1, 2009 (Secs. 104-106).
When dealing with percentages, the rules are generally the same. However, if you encounter a rare case where legislation specifies a percentage containing more than two decimal places, do not round off the second decimal place. For example, if there is a tax on something equal to 4.446 percent, it should be expressed as "4.446 percent" in the highlight, and not "4.45 percent." The primary rule to remember with percentages is to never use the symbol (%), but instead use the word "percent." Here is an example: S 1148 from Idaho during the 2009 session. This is one highlight from the summary (bolded for emphasis):
- -Authorizes city councils and boards of county commissioners to collect an annual fee of up to $3,000 for the issuance of municipal liquor licenses, but limits annual renewal fees to 75 percent of the original license fee for city councils and 25 percent of the original license fee for boards of county commissioners (Sec. 20).
When dealing with fractions, write "three-fifths" instead of "3/5".
Oftentimes, it is necessary to express the ranges of certain numbers. When this is the case, use the phrases "at least" and "up to". For example, "at least 15 years..." to express the bottom limit and "up to 30 years..." to express the top limit.
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