From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Executive Privilege / Qualified Privilege Mark Rozell – The Looming Battle Over Executive Privilege The phrase “executive privilege” is a shorthand reference to the “qualified privilege” of the executive to decline to respond to a request for information–documents or testimony or both–from either … Read more
Learning to research and understand legislative history is an important part of any legislator’s job. Legislative history includes the official reports that are generated in Congress throughout the course of the legislative process, such as committee reports and joint statements. photo credit: EverJean When researching case law, be aware that court decisions can frequently include … Read more
How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories Searching for Legislative Intent Learn how to research, compile and analyze the legislative history of federal laws and statutes. Our faculty demonstrate and discuss: Federal legislative history research methodologies Various document types necessary to research and compile legislative histories including: Enacted laws Bills and resolutions Floor debates Committee … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Cosponsor House and Senate measures may have numerous sponsors in addition to the member who proposes the legislation. It is common in both chambers for the key proponent of a measure (the sponsor) to send a Dear Colleague letter (in print or electronically) to other … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Precedents of the House of Representatives / Cannon’s / Deschler’s / Hinds’ / House Practice House Parliamentarian discusses congressional precedent and rules with Foxx Precedent: Previous ruling by a presiding officer that becomes part of the procedures of a chamber. Each chamber of … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Federal Register / Rulemaking / Unified Agenda In the course of its lawmaking, Congress often delegates quasi-legislative authority to executive departments and agencies so that they might effectively implement laws and carry out the broader policy determinations that Congress itself made. Departments and agencies engage … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Code of Federal Regulations / CFR The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government. It is divided into fifty titles that represent broad … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Thomas / Congress.gov (Library of Congress) Thomas The Tank Engine – Accidents Can Happen “THOMAS: In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, legislative information from the Library of Congress” THOMAS is now Congress.gov THOMAS / Thomas was launched in January of 1995, at the … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Government Printing Office / Government Publishing Office / GPO / Federal Depository Libraries The Government Printing Office (GPO) is a legislative branch agency. The name changed in 2014 to Government Publishing Office. GPO’s core mission of “Keeping America Informed,” dates to 1813 when Congress determined … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Government Accountability Office / GAO / Comptroller General The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan legislative agency that works for Congress. Often called the “congressional watchdog,” GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. The head of GAO, the Comptroller General … Read more