HOUSE PROTOCOL:

A Guide on Process and Procedure in the House of Representatives

Class #1 - Introduction to the Legislative Process

I. Sources of Legislation:

A. Member - personal idea, campaign promise
B. Constituent or Interest groups
C. Senate
D. Committees
E. Administration
F. Television and newspapers
G. You

II. Purpose:

A. Establish Member's position
B. Constituent relations/public relations
C. Enactment of law

III. Drafting Legislation:

A. Types:
1. private - deals with monetary claims against the Federal government which, under law, can not be recovered in a court, and exemptions for individuals from certain immigration and naturalization requirements.
2. public - affects a national or otherwise significant interest (public legislation covers everything that is not private).

B. Forms (see addendum #1):
1. Bill
2. Joint Resolution
3. Concurrent Resolution
4. Simple Resolution

C. Who Can Help? (see addendum #2):
1. Congressional Research Service - American Law Division (x7-6006)
2. Legislative Counsel (x5-6060)
3. Parliamentarian (x5-7373)

D. Developing Legislation File
1. Source - where did the idea originate?
2. Talking points (pro and con) and summary
3. Names and telephone numbers of all contacts (i.e committee, leadership, Leg. Counsel)
4. Copies of legislation
5. Letters of support/opposition
6. Newspaper articles

IV. Sponsorship and Cosponsorship:

A. Sponsorship
1. Alone or with others?:
2. Prime sponsor first (Ms. X, for herself, Mr. Y, and Mrs. Z)

B. Adding Cosponsors:
1. At any time (At time of introduction or after the bill has been introduced).
2. Only prime sponsor may add cosponsors, unless prime sponsor dies; then by unanimous consent of Members.
3. Done by using a cosponsor form (see addendum # 3); dropped in the hopper; any number of cosponsors. MUST be signed by prime sponsor.
4. Additional cosponsors are listed in subsequent reprintings of bill (and in legis on date they are submitted). The bill is reprinted if there are at least 20 additional cosponsors since last printing and prime sponsor makes written request. Bills are also reprinted after committee reports.

C. Deleting Cosponsors:
1. Member may delete his/her name as cosponsor by unanimous consent.
2. Prime sponsor may, by unanimous consent, delete a name that has been erroneously listed.

D. Addition or deletion of cosponsors may NOT be made after the last committee has reported the bill.

V. Introducing Legislation:

A. Original sponsor must sign

B. Title - Valuable promotional tool, may help clarify legislation's intent

C. Timing
1. too early gives opposition time to organize
2. too late, not enough time to educate and build coalitions

D. Reserving a number
1. Contact the Bill Clerk (x5-7598)

E. Senate Companion bill?

VI. Committee Referral:

A. The Speaker refers bills through the Parliamentarian
B. Referrals must be made to assure that each committee which has jurisdiction over the subject matter of any provision will have responsibility for considering that provision. As a result, bills are often referred to more than one committee.
C. Types of multiple referrals:
1. Split referrals - Made at the time of introduction. No time limits placed on committees receiving referral.
2. Sequential referral - Request must be made before committee having initial referral files its report. Based on reported bill and on introduced bill. Generally has a time limit.
3. Scope of referral - May be referral of entire bill, specified provisions, or "such matters as fall within the jurisdiction" of the committee.

D. Subcommittee referral done by each committee according to each committee's rules

VII. Coalition Building:

A. Leadership (see addendum#4)
B. Committees (see addendum #5)
C. Interest groups at home and on the Hill (addendum #6)

VI. "Getting the word out:"

A. Dear Colleagues (see addendum #7)
B. One-minutes and special orders (see addendum #8)
C. Congressional Record remarks (see addendum #9)
D. Talk radio (see addendum #10)**
E. Press release and op-eds **

** D & E should be done with the assistance of your press secretary

2/97

HOUSE PROTOCOL:

A GUIDE TO PROCESS AND PROCEDURE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Addendum #1)

EXPLANATION OF CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENT DESIGNATIONS

H.R. = House of Representatives. This designation is used for a bill. It becomes law when passed in identical forms by both Houses and is signed by the President. Ex. H.R. 584

H.J.Res. = House Joint Resolution. By tradition, it is treated like an H.R. numbered bill though limited in scope (generally used to change a minor item in existing law, handle a matter of urgency, or for constitutional amendments). It becomes law when passed in identical forms by both Houses and is signed by the President (except in the case of constitutional amendments - needs 2/3 vote in both Houses - does not need President's signature). Ex. H.J.Res. 2

H.Con. Res. = House Concurrent Resolution. It is used to express a legislative point of view of both Houses or carry out the administrative business of both Houses. It does NOT require Presidential approval. It does NOT become law. Ex. H.Con. Res. 16

H.Res. = House Resolution. It is used to express the opinion of the House on an issue or to carry out the administrative or procedural business of the House. It does NOT become law. Ex. H.Res. 145

In the Senate comparable forms are:

"S. "

"S.J.Res. "

"S.Con.Res. "

"S.Res. "

H.Rpt. = House Report. It generally serves as an explanation of a bill or resolution reported out of a committee. By tradition, conference reports are filed only in the House and are designated as House Reports. Ex. H. Rpt. 104-131

H.Doc. = House Document. It is generally a message from the President. Ex. H.Doc.105-26

P.L. = Public Law. After a bill or joint resolution is signed by the President, it is assigned a law number. Ex. P.L. 104-24

Legislation is numbered in sequential order (numbers can be reserved through the Bill Clerk)