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 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
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
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
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
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Recognize / Recognition To speak on the floor of the House or Senate, a member must be “recognized” by the presiding officer. In the House, the presiding officer has considerable discretion in recognition and her rulings are rarely challenged (House Rule XVII – Decorum And … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Senate The Senate, as distinct from the House of Representatives, although each body is a “house” or “chamber” of Congress. Established by the Constitution, Article I, Section 3. The size of the Senate, currently 100 members, is established by the Constitution (“The Senate of the … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Nomination / Confirmation What Should Have Happened at the Brett Kavanaugh Hearings Presidential appointments to office subject to Senate confirmation per the Constitution, Article II, Section 2. Although most nominations win quick Senate approval, some are controversial and become the topic of hearings … Read more
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
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