From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms
Enacting Clause
Key phrase in bills beginning “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives . . .” A successful motion to strike it from legislation kills the measure.
1 USC § 101 specifies:
The enacting clause of all Acts of Congress shall be in the following form: “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.”
Also see § 9.60, Versions of Legislation, in Congressional Deskbook; § 5.23, Enacting Clause, in Legislative Drafter’s Deskbook.
More
- List of enacting clauses – Wikipedia
- “The Amending Process in the House of Representatives,” CRS Report 98-995 (49-page PDF
) - “Floor Consideration of Conference Reports in the Senate,” CRS Report 98-737 (8-page PDF)
- “House Committee Markups: Manual of Procedures and Procedural Strategies,” CRS Report R41083 (220-page PDF)
- “Conference Committee and Related Procedures: An Introduction,” CRS Report 96-708 (15-page PDF)
- “From Slip Law to United States Code: A Guide to Federal Statutes for Congressional Staff,” CRS Report R45190 (17-page PDF)
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CongressionalGlossary.com, from TheCapitol.Net
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