Richard Arenberg’s “Congressional Procedure” from TheCapitol.Net

ALEXANDRIA, VA – (October 8, 2018) – Just in time for the November midterm elections, TheCapitol.Net is pleased to announce the publication of a major new reference work, Congressional Procedure: A Practical Guide to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress, by Richard A. Arenberg. If the U.S. Constitution is the rule book, this is … Read more

Supreme Court Nominations: Presidential Nomination, the Judiciary Committee, Proper Scope of Questioning of Nominees, Senate Consideration, Cloture, and the Use of the Filibuster

Supreme Court Nominations Supreme Court Nominations:Presidential Nomination, the Judiciary Committee, Proper Scope of Questioning of Nominees, Senate Consideration, Cloture, and the Use of the Filibuster Compiled by TheCapitol.Net Authors: Denis Steven Rutkus, Elizabeth Rybicki, Betsy Palmer, Todd Tatelman, Richard S. Beth, Michael Koempel and Judy Schneider The procedure for appointing a Supreme Court Justice is … Read more

Filibuster, Cloture, Presidential Nominations, Article II Section 2 – CRS Reports

U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 2 “Voting and Quorum Procedures in the Senate,” CRS Report 96-452 (17-page PDF) “Procedures for Considering Changes in Senate Rules,” CRS Report R42929 (21-page PDF) “Proposals to Change the Operation of Cloture in the Senate,” CRS Report R41342 (26-page PDF) “Proposals to Reform ‘Holds’ in the Senate,” CRS Report RL31685 … Read more

Recent CRS Reports – Early March 2013

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources, CRS Report R42507, March 20, 2013 (95-page PDF) Social Security Administration (SSA): Budget Issues, CRS Report R41716, March 19, 2013 (20-page PDF) Public Mass Shootings in the United States: Selected Implications for Federal Public Health and Safety Policy, CRS Report R43004, March 18, 2013 (44-page PDF) The Amending Process in … Read more

Categories CRS

Adoption / Adopted / Agreed To (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Adoption / Adopted / Agreed To     U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION PRESSES TURKEY TO RETURN STOLEN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES     Adoption / Adopted: Usual parliamentary term for approval of conference report. Under House Rule XI – Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business, “Each standing committee … Read more

Dilatory Motion or Tactic (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Dilatory Motion or Tactic A motion made for the purpose of killing time and preventing action on a bill or amendment by a chamber or a committee. House rules outlaw dilatory motions, but enforcement is largely within the discretion of the Speaker or chairman of … Read more

Hold (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Hold An informal practice by which a senator informs her floor leader that she does not wish a particular bill or other measure to reach the floor for consideration. The Majority Leader need not follow the senator’s wishes but is on notice that the opposing … Read more

Table a Bill / Motion to Table (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Table a Bill / Motion to Table   Diagramming how a bill becomes a law in the U.S.   Table a Bill: Motions to table, or to “lay on the table,” are used to block or kill amendments or other parliamentary questions. When approved, a … Read more

Germane / Germaneness / Pastore Rule (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Germane / Germaneness / Pastore Rule photo credit: mRio Pertaining to the subject matter of the measure at hand. All House amendments must be germane to the bill being considered. House Rule XVI, clause 7 specifies: 7. No motion or proposition on a subject different … Read more

Filibuster / Unlimited Debate (CongressionalGlossary.com)

Filibuster / Unlimited Debate Creative Commons License photo credit: PatrickRohe When a senator is recognized to speak on a pending measure, few limitations are placed on her. Debate is generally unlimited on all pending measures. A senator may yield to another senator for a question, but the senator still controls the floor. One of the … Read more