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HOW OUR LAWS ARE MADE
Revised and Updated by Charles W. Johnson
Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives
Presented by Mr. Ney
June 30, 2003


ENTIRE DOCUMENT Plain Text (170K)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword
 
I. Introduction
II. The Congress
 
III. Sources of Legislation
 
IV. Forms of Congressional Action
Bills - Joint Resolutions - Concurrent Resolutions - Simple Resolutions
 
V. Introduction and Referral to Committee
 
VI. Consideration by Committee
Committee Meetings - Public Hearings - Markup - Final Committee Action - Points of Order with Respect to Committee Hearing Procedure
 
VII. Reported Bills
Contents of Reports - Filing of Reports - Availability of Reports and Hearings
 
VIII. Legislative Oversight by Standing Committees
 
IX. Calendars
Union Calendar - House Calendar - Private Calendar - Corrections Calendar - Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees
 
X. Obtaining Consideration of Measures
Unanimous Consent - Special Resolutions or "Rule" - Consideration of Measures Made in Order by Rule Reported from the Committee on Rules - Motion to Discharge Committee - Motion to Suspend the Rules - Calendar Wednesday - District of Columbia Business - Questions of Privilege - Privileged Matters
 
XI. Consideration and Debate
Committee of the Whole House - Second Reading - Amendments and Germaneness Rule - The Committee "Rises" - House Action - Motion to Recommit - Quorum Calls and Rollcalls - Voting - Electronic Voting - Pairing of Members - System of Lights and Bells - Recess Authority - Live Coverage of Floor Proceedings
 
XII. Congressional Budget Process
 
XIII. Engrossment and Message to Senate
 
XIV. Senate Action
Committee Consideration - Chamber Procedure
 
XV. Final Action on Amended Bill
Request for a Conference - Authority of Conferees - Meetings and Action of Conferees - Conference Reports - Custody of Papers
 
XVI. Bill Originating in Senate
 
XVII. Enrollment
 
XVIII. Presidential Action
Veto Message - Line Item Veto
 
XIX. Publication
 
Slip Laws - Statutes-at-Large - United States Code
Appendix
 
Select List of Government Publications - Earlier Printings

Last update: 01/07/2005 02:49:22