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Congressional Procedure
A Practical Guide to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress: The House of Representatives and Senate Explained
By Richard A. Arenberg
Additional Resources
Pocket Constitution
Previous: Chapter 3. Committees
Chapter 4 – House Floor
A. Introduction
B. Scheduling of Legislation
C. House Rules Committee
D. Special Rules
E. Privileged Business
F. Motion to Suspend the Rules
G. Debate
H. Amendment on the House Floor
I. Voting
J. Motion to Recommit
K. Final Passage
Chapter 4. House Floor
4. A. Introduction
- Pocket Constitution
- Constitution, Article I, Section 5
- Published Schedules of the House and Senate
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- House
- House Floor Activities, Clerk of the House
- Floor Summary and House Live, Clerk of the House
- Live and on-demand video access to the Floor proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives, Clerk of the House
- Speakers Office
- House Committee on Rules
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF
)
House Floor
- House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison, CRS Report RL30945 (19-page PDF)
- Electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives: Frequently Asked Questions, CRS Report R44243 (9-page PDF)
- Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2023, CRS Report RL30857 (16-page PDF)
- Speaker of the House Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, House
- Speaker of the House Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, BioGuide
- The Legislative Process on the Senate Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 96-548 (20-page PDF)
- Chamber (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Floor / Aisle / Candy Desk / Gallery (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Quorum (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Congress Seating Charts
- “House Rules Changes Affecting Floor Proceedings in the 117th Congress (2021-2022),” CRS Report R46790 (11-page PDF)
4. B. Scheduling of Legislation
- Calendars and Schedules on Congress.gov
- Published Schedules of the House and Senate
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- Calendar of Business (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Discharge Calendar / a Committee / Petiton / Resolution (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Union Calendar (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Private Calendar / Private Bill (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Revenues (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Committee on Rules
- House of Representatives Schedule
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- The Legislative Process on the Senate Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 96-548 (20-page PDF)
- Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress, CRS Report R42843 (18-page PDF)
Congress.gov: Calendars and Scheduling
- Calendars of the House of Representatives, CRS Report 98-437 (5-page PDF)
- “The House Consensus Calendar: Establishment, Principal Features, and Practice in the 116th Congress (2019-2020),” CRS Report R46485 (19-page PDF
) - “The House Consensus Calendar: Principal Features and Practice in the 117th Congress (2021-2022),” CRS Report R47625 (16-page PDF)
- House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison, CRS Report RL30945 (19-page PDF)
- How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction, CRS Report RS20067 (10-page PDF)
- The Discharge Rule in the House: Principal Features and Uses, CRS Report 97-552 (11-page PDF)
- Discharge Petitions, Agenda Control, and the Congressional Committee System 1927-1976, Princeton University (40-page PDF )
- House Standing Committees’ Rules on Legislative Activities: Analysis of Rules in Effect in the 114th Congress, CRS Report R41605 (75-page PDF)
- “House Rules Changes Affecting Floor Proceedings in the 117th Congress (2021-2022),” CRS Report R46790 (11-page PDF)
4. C. House Rules Committee
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- Closed Rule / Modified Closed Rule / Special Rule / Open Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Committee on Rules
- About the Committee on Rules—History and Processes
- House of Representatives Schedule
- Howard W. Smith (D-VA), Congressional BioGuide, Encyclopedia Virginia
- Sam Rayburn (D-TX), House History, Congressional BioGuide, Encyclopedia Brittanica, Humanities Texas
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-118th Congresses, CRS Report R40478 (32-page PDF)
- Considering Measures in the House Under the One-Hour Rule, CRS Report 98-427 (6-page PDF)
Rules Committee Hearing H.R. 1, November 2017
- House Rules Committee Hearings on Special Rules, CRS Report 98-313 (7-page PDF)
- Special Rules and Waivers of House Rules, CRS Report 98-433 (5-page PDF)
- “House Rules Changes Affecting Committee Procedure in the 117th Congress (2021-2022),” CRS Report R46804 (17-page PDF)
4. D. Special Rules
- Germane / Germaneness (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Closed Rule / Modified Closed Rule / Special Rule / Open Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Committee of the Whole (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Congressional Record, Congress.gov
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- Debt Limit Legislation: The House “Gephardt Rule”, CRS Report RL31913 (17-page PDF)
- Blue-Slipping: The Origination Clause in the House of Representatives, CRS Report RS21236 (4-page PDF)
- House Rules Committee Hearings on Special Rules, CRS Report 98-313 (7-page PDF)
Welch: Cut the debt ceiling hypocrisy
- Special Rules and Waivers of House Rules, CRS Report 98-433 (5-page PDF)
- Special Rules and Options for Regulating the Amending Process, CRS Report 98-612 (6-page PDF)
- Privileged Business on the House Floor, CRS Report 98-315 (5-page PDF)
- How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction, CRS Report RS20067 (10-page PDF)
- House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison, CRS Report RL30945 (19-page PDF)
- Amendments in the House: Types and Forms, CRS Report 98-613 (7-page PDF)
- A User’s Guide to the Congressional Record, CRS Report 98-265 (6-page PDF)
- “House Rules Changes Affecting Floor Proceedings in the 117th Congress (2021-2022),” CRS Report R46790 (11-page PDF)
4. E. Privileged Business
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- Privilege / Privileged Questions / Question of Privilege (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Budget Resolution (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Calendar of Business (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Committee of the Whole (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Discharge Calendar / a Committee / Petiton / Resolution (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Official Objectors / Passed Over Without Prejudice (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Motion to Recommit / Recommit to Committee / Table / Lay on the Table (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Private Calendar / Private Bill (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Ethics Committee
- House Judiciary Committee
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- S.1542 – Private Relief for James Doyle Act
- Discharge Petitions and the House Discharge Rule, CRS Insight IN10910 (3-page PDF)
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- Questions of the Privileges of the House: An Analysis, CRS Report R44005 (64-page PDF)
- Privileged Business on the House Floor, CRS Report 98-315 (5-page PDF)
- Questions of Privilege in the House, CRS Report 98-411 (6-page PDF)
- Calendars of the House of Representatives, CRS Report 98-437 (5-page PDF)
- Procedural Analysis of Private Laws Enacted: 1986-2013, CRS Report RS22450 (12-page PDF)
- Private Bills: Procedure in the House, CRS Report 98-628 (3-page PDF)
- A History of the Committee on the Judiciary 1813–2006, H.Doc. No. 109-153, GPO
- Private Legislation, from A History of the Committee on the Judiciary 1813–2006 (6-page PDF)
- Procedural Distinctions Between the House and the Committee of the Whole, CRS Report 98-143 (5-page PDF)
- Committee of the Whole: An Introduction, CRS Report RS20147 (10-page PDF)
4. F. Motion to Suspend the Rules
- Suspend the Rules / Suspension of the Rules (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Quorum (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- Quorum Requirements in the House: Committee and Chamber, CRS Report 98-870 (7-page PDF)
- The Budget Reconciliation Process: House and Senate Procedures, CRS Report RL33030 (122-page PDF)
- Commonly Used Motions and Requests in the House of Representatives, CRS Report RL32207 (20-page PDF)
The House of Representatives in comparison to the Senate
- Suspension of the Rules in the House: Principal Features, CRS Report 98-314 (5-page PDF)
- Suspension of Rules in the House: Measure Sponsorship by Party, CRS Report 97-901 (4-page PDF)
- How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction, CRS Report RS20067 (10-page PDF)
- Considering Legislation on the House Floor: Common Practices in Brief, CRS Report R43424 (12-page PDF)
4. G. Debate
- Mace (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Committee of the Whole (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Point of Order (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
Symbolism in the House Chamber
- Considering Legislation on the House Floor: Common Practices in Brief, CRS Report R43424 (12-page PDF)
- Suspension of the Rules in the House of Representatives, CRS Report RL32474 (53-page PDF)
A Curator’s Tour of the U.S. House Chamber
- Suspension of the Rules in the House: Principal Features, CRS Report 98-314 (5-page PDF)
- Committee of the Whole: An Introduction, CRS Report RS20147 (10-page PDF)
- Procedural Distinctions Between the House and the Committee of the Whole, CRS Report 98-143 (xx-page PDF)
4. H. Amendment on the House Floor
- Amendment / “Bigger Bite” Amendment (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Amendment Tree / Filling the Tree (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Closed Rule / Modified Closed Rule / Special Rule / Open Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Germane / Germaneness / Pastore Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Point of Order (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Precedents of the House of Representatives / Cannon’s / Deschler’s / Hinds’ / House Practice (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Substitute / Substitute Amendment / Queen-of-the-Hill Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- Parliamentarians of the House
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- The Budget Reconciliation Process: House and Senate Procedures, CRS Report RL33030 (122-page PDF)
- The Amending Process in the House of Representatives, CRS Report 98-995 (49-page PDF)
House Honors Outgoing Parliamentarian John Sullivan
- Floor Procedure in the House of Representatives: A Brief Overview, CRS Report 97-236 (5-page PDF)
- Amendments on the House Floor: Summary of Major Restrictions, CRS Report 98-426 (7-page PDF)
- “Offering an Amendment on the House Floor: Current Practice,” CRS Report R47314 (22-page PDF)
- House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison, CRS Report RL30945 (19-page PDF)
- Amendments in the House: Types and Forms, CRS Report 98-613 (7-page PDF)
- Special Rules and Options for Regulating the Amending Process, CRS Report 98-612 (6-page PDF)
4. I. Voting
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- Public Debt / Debt Ceiling / Debt Limit (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Closed Rule / Modified Closed Rule / Special Rule / Open Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Whip, Majority Whip, Minority Whip (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Electronic Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Rise / Rise and Report (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Voice Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Standing Vote / Division Vote (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Substitute / Substitute Amendment / Queen-of-the-Hill Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Quorum (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Roll Call Votes, Clerk of the House
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- House Voting Procedures: Forms and Requirements, CRS Report 98-228 (9-page PDF)
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
- Congressional Staff: Duties and Functions of Selected Positions, CRS Report RL34545 (16-page PDF)
- Congressional Staff: CRS Products, CRS Report R44688 (7-page PDF)
House Passes Senate Health Care Bill
- House Leadership: Whip Organization, CSR Report RS20499 (3-page PDF)
- Party Leaders in the House: Election, Duties, and Responsibilities, CRS Report RS20881 (6-page PDF)
- Congressional Roll Call and Other Record Votes: First Congress Through 108th Congress, CRS Report RL30562 (18-page PDF)
- Queen-of-the-Hill Rules in the House of Representatives, CRS Report RS20313 (7-page PDF)
H.R. 1424 House Roll Call Vote on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
- Rules and Practices Governing Consideration of Revenue Legislation in the House and Senate, CRS Report R41408 (26-page PDF)
- Debt Limit Legislation: The House “Gephardt Rule”, CRS Report RL31913 (17-page PDF)
- Legislative Procedures for Adjusting the Public Debt Limit: A Brief Overview, CRS Report RS21519 (15-page PDF)
4. J. Motion to Recommit
- Motion to Recommit / Recommit to Committee / Table / Lay on the Table (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
- The Motion to Recommit in the House of Representatives, CRS Report R44330 (14-page PDF)
Chairman Diane Black (R-TN); Response to Motion to Recommit
- The Motion to Recommit in the House of Representatives: Effects, Recent Trends, and Options for Change, CRS Report RL34757 (32-page PDF)
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
4. K. Final Passage
- Congressional Leadership and Committees
- Budget Resolution (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Committee of the Whole (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Motion to Recommit / Recommit to Committee / Table / Lay on the Table (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Reading of Bills (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- House Rules and Manual, GPO
Budget Bill Moves Toward Final Passage in Senate
- Enrollment of Legislation: Relevant Congressional Procedures, CRS Report RL34480 (10-page PDF)
- The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, CRS Report 95-563 (18-page PDF)
Next: Chapter 5 – Senate Floor
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