JOURNAL

Legislation.
    An account of the proceedings of a legislative body.

The Constitution of the U.S., Art. I, s.V, directs that 'each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings; and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, require secrecy.'

The constitutions of the several states contain similar provisions.

The journal of either house is evidence of the action of that house upon all matters before it.

Mar. Law.
    The book kept on board of a ship or other vessel which contains an account of the ship's course, with a short history of every occurrence during the voyage. Another name for logbook. Common Law.
    A book used among merchants in which the contents of the waste-book are separated every month and entered on the debtor and creditor side, for more convenient posting in the ledger.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.