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

Committee Report (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee Report   Financial Services Hearing on Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Report   Committee Report: Document accompanying measure reported from a committee, containing an explanation of the provisions of the measure, arguments for its approval, and certain other matters. A committee report is both an … Read more

Regular Meeting Day (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Regular Meeting Day Senate Rule XXVI requires that all committees designate at least one day a month on which it will meet to transact business. Additional meetings may be called by the chairman or by demand of a majority of a committee’s members. Also see … Read more

Supplemental, Minority, and Additional Views (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Supplemental, Minority, and Additional Views Statements in a committee report, presenting individual or group opinions on the measure. Views of individual committee members or groups of committee members are required to be included if a member or members request permission to include them. Minority views … Read more

Proxy Voting / Polling (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Proxy Voting / Polling The practice of permitting a member to cast the vote of an absent colleague. Proxy voting is permitted only in Senate committees if committee rules allow them. Senate Rule XXVI provides that proxies may not be voted when the absent senator … Read more

How Witnesses Are Selected to Testify Before Congress

In many instances, witnesses who testify before Congress were invited to do so. In other cases, witnesses have offered to testify. The other ways in which witnesses are selected to testify before Congress are by recommendation and under subpoena. photo credit: bhanu.t On occasion, congressional committees consider or request recommendations made by individuals and organizations … Read more