“Equal Protection: Strict Scrutiny of Racial Classifications,” CRS Report In Focus IF12391, June 30, 2023 (5-page PDF) “Discretionary Spending Caps in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023,” CRS Insights IN12168, June 28, 2023 (5-page PDF) “Accommodation and Contempt of Congress: Two Oversight Case Studies,” CRS Insight IN12184, June 26, 2023 (5-page PDF) “The Eighteenth Amendment … Read more
“The Debt Limit,” CRS In Focus IF10292, April 26, 2023 (5-page PDF) “House Rules Changes Affecting Committee Procedure in the 118th Congress (2023-2024),” CRS Report R47525, April 26, 2023 (16-page PDF) “From Slip Law to United States Code: A Guide to Federal Statutes for Congressional Offices,” CRS Report R45190, April 25, 2023 (11-page PDF) “Appropriations … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Official Title / Short Title / Popular Title / Popular Name Nat King Cole — Mona Lisa Official Title: Statement of a measure’s subject and purpose, which appears before the enacting clause. Popular Title: The informal, unofficial name or the short title by which a … 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 Enacted / Enacted into Law Once legislation has passed both chambers of Congress in identical form, been signed into law by the President, become law without his signature, or passed over his veto, the legislation is enacted. Legislation to be enacted into law must pass … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Legislative Session That part of the Senate’s daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto). In the House, no legislative business is conducted during morning hour. Also see Calendar of Business; Executive Calendar; House Calendar; Private Calendar; Union Calendar; … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Custody of the Papers / Papers Custody of the Papers: Possession of an engrossed measure and certain related basic documents that the two houses produce as they try to resolve their differences over the measure. To reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of … Read more
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 … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Law / Public Law / Private Law Law: An act of Congress that has been signed by the president or passed over his veto by Congress. Public bills, when signed, become public laws, and are cited by “Pub. L.” or the letters PL and a … Read more
From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Presidential Signature / Presidential Signing Statements A proposed law passed by Congress must be presented to the president, who then has 10 days to approve or disapprove it (Article. I. Section. 7.). The president signs bills he supports, making them law. He vetoes a bill … Read more