Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic
Sources for Congressional Staff
Jennifer E. Manning
Information Research Specialist
July 27, 2011
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS21363
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
Summary
Written for congressional staff, this report identifies and provides details on how to obtain official
government sources of information on the legislative process and the rules and procedure of the
House and Senate. References to selected CRS products are also provided, as well as a listing of
selected titles for supplementary reading. Information is offered on the CRS legislative institutes.
This report will be updated as new information is available.
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
Contents
House/Senate Sources ................................................................................................................. 1
House Rules and Procedure......................................................................................................... 1
Senate Rules and Procedure ........................................................................................................ 2
Primers on the Legislative Process and Related Documents ......................................................... 3
CRS Sources............................................................................................................................... 4
CRS Website......................................................................................................................... 4
Selected CRS Reports ........................................................................................................... 4
Supplementary Reading .............................................................................................................. 6
Where to Get These Publications................................................................................................. 6
Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 7
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... 7
Congressional Research Service
Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
nderstanding legislative procedure and processes is essential for congressional staff. The
publications and websites listed here are key resources that congressional staff should be
U familiar with in order to understand basic legislative procedure in the House and Senate.
House/Senate Sources
Congressional staff can find official overviews and explanatory information on the House’s
“Legislative Process” website at http://clerk.house.gov/legislative/legprocess.aspx and on the
Senate’s “Legislative Process” website at http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/
d_three_sections_with_teasers/process.htm.
Available reference sources on the rules and procedure of the House and Senate are listed below.
House Rules and Procedure
Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives.
Washington: GPO, 2009.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=HMAN
This publication, often referred to as House Rules and Manual, is prepared for each Congress by
the House Parliamentarian and is issued as a House document, most recently for the 111th
Congress as H.Doc. 110-162. It includes the text of the Constitution; the rules of the House and
portions of Jefferson’s Manual of Parliamentary Practice currently pertinent to House procedure,
each with commentary summarizing applicable precedents; a portion of the Congressional Budget
Act; and other statutory provisions that operate as procedural rules. Copies are automatically
distributed to House offices.
House Practice: A Guide to the Rules, Precedents, and Procedures of the House.
Washington: GPO, 2003.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?granuleId=&packageId=GPO-HPRACTICE-
108&fromBrowse=true
This one-volume publication prepared by William Holmes Brown and updated by Charles W.
Johnson, both past House Parliamentarians, provides more current summary information on
House rules and selected precedents than Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives (see
next entry). Organized alphabetically by topic, it reflects changes in the House rules and
procedure adopted as of the 108th Congress. This is sometimes referred to as Brown’s. The Office
of the House Parliamentarian (5-7373) has a limited number of copies to distribute to House
offices upon request.
Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives, 97th Congress: A Summary of the Modern
Precedents and Practices of the House, 86th Congress-97th Congress. Washington: GPO,
1982.
Frequently referred to as Deschler’s Procedure, after a former Parliamentarian of the House, this
one-volume work summarizes House procedure and provides a cumulated, condensed version of
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
House precedents from 1959 to 1980. A 1986 supplement, Procedure in the United States House
of Representatives: Annotations of the Precedents of the House for the 97th, 98th, and 99th
Congresses, covers 1981 through 1986. Both publications are out of print. These one-volume
publications are not available on the Internet, but the full text of several related multivolume sets
of House precedents—Deschler’s Precedents of the U.S. House of Representatives, Cannon’s
Precedents, and Hinds’ Precedents—are all available in the “Precedents of the U.S. House of
Representatives” section of the Government Printing Office’s (GPO’s) website at
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=GPO&browsePath=
Precedents+of+the+U.S.+House+of+Representatives&isCollapsed=false&leafLevelBrowse=
false&ycord=132.
Senate Rules and Procedure
Senate Manual. Washington: GPO, 2010.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=SMAN
This manual, usually prepared during the second session of each Congress by the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, contains the standing rules, orders, laws, and resolutions
affecting the Senate, as well as copies of historical U.S. documents and selected statistics on the
Senate and other government entities. Issued as S.Doc. 1, copies are automatically distributed to
Senate offices. A current edition of just the Standing Rules of the Senate is available on the
committee’s website at http://rules.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=RulesOfSenateHome.
Riddick, Floyd M., and Alan S. Frumin. Riddick’s Senate Procedure: Precedents and Practices.
Washington: GPO, 1992.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=GPO&browsePath=
Riddick%27s+Senate+Procedure&isCollapsed=false&leafLevelBrowse=false&ycord=239
This publication was revised and updated in 1992 by the Parliamentarian of the Senate and
published as S.Doc. 101-28. Organized alphabetically by topic, it contains currently applicable
rulings by the presiding officer and practices related to Senate procedure. An appendix has
suggested forms for various procedures, for example, offering motions or filing conference
reports.
Senate Cloture Rule. Washington: GPO, 1985.
This committee print (S.Prt. 99-95) was prepared for the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). It includes lists of selected
filibusters, tables of cloture votes, a legislative history of the cloture rule, and a bibliography. This
publication is not available on the Internet, but congressional offices can obtain copies from CRS
(7-5700). Lists of cloture votes from the 66th Congress (1919-1920) forward are also available on
the Senate website’s “Cloture” page at http://www.senate.gov/reference/
reference_index_subjects/Cloture_vrd.htm.
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
Primers on the Legislative Process and Related
Documents
Our American Government. Washington: GPO, 2003. (H.Doc. 108-94)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-108hdoc94/pdf/CDOC-108hdoc94.pdf
This revised version of the popular introductory guide is written in a question-and-answer format
that covers a broad range of topics dealing with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of
our government. Its appendixes contain a glossary of legislative terms and a selective
bibliography. Copies of each new edition are automatically distributed to congressional offices.
Members of Congress can also obtain printed copies of the current edition from the House
Legislative Resource Center and the Senate Document Room.
The Constitution of the United States of America As Amended: Unratified Amendments:
Analytical Index. Washington: GPO, 2007. (H.Doc. 110-50)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-110hdoc50/pdf/CDOC-110hdoc50.pdf
This revised version contains the text of the Constitution, its amendments, and a useful index to
the Constitution and amendments.
Dove, Robert B. Enactment of a Law: Procedural Steps in the Legislative Process. Washington:
GPO, 1982.
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/enactment/enactlawtoc.html
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Enactment_law.htm
Prepared by the Senate Parliamentarian in 1982, this primer on the legislative process traces
procedures used in the Senate and the House of Representatives. No printed copies are available,
but it was updated online in 1997. It is available on THOMAS, the Library of Congress public
website and on the Senate website.
Sullivan, John V. How Our Laws Are Made. Washington: GPO, 2007. (H. Doc. 110-49)
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-110hdoc49/pdf/CDOC-110hdoc49.pdf
This pamphlet outlines stages in the legislative process for the generalist and explains the uses of
various publications, which track that process. It is prepared by the Parliamentarian of the House
in consultation with the Parliamentarian of the Senate. This guide is updated periodically. Copies
of new editions are automatically distributed to congressional offices and can also be obtained
from the House Legislative Resource Center and the Senate Document Room.
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
CRS Sources
CRS Website
CRS has a variety of resources and services available on legislative procedure. The CRS website
is available to Members of Congress and their staff at http://www.crs.gov. Congressional staff
may obtain useful CRS materials on “Legislative Reference Sources” page at http://www.crs.gov/
resources/Pages/LegReference-Committees.aspx and legislative procedure from the
“Congressional Operations” page on the CRS website at http://www.crs.gov/analysis/Pages/
CongressionalOperations.aspx. The latter page includes short fact sheets on House and Senate
procedure; materials on the budget process and on congressional oversight; and a legislative
glossary, the American Congressional Dictionary.
Selected CRS Reports
CRS Report 98-812, Amendments Between the Houses: A Brief Overview, by Elizabeth Rybicki
and James V. Saturno.
CRS Report 98-706, Bills and Resolutions: Examples of How Each Kind Is Used, by Richard S.
Beth.
CRS Report 98-728, Bills, Resolutions, Nominations, and Treaties: Characteristics,
Requirements, and Uses, by Richard S. Beth.
CRS Report RS20147, Committee of the Whole: An Introduction, by Judy Schneider.
CRS Report RS20794, The Committee System in the U.S. Congress, by Judy Schneider.
CRS Report 98-736, Floor Consideration of Conference Reports in the House, by James V.
Saturno.
CRS Report RS20200, General Debate in Committee of the Whole, by Judy Schneider.
CRS Report 98-777, The House Amendment Tree, by Walter J. Oleszek.
CRS Report RL30945, House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison, by Judy Schneider.
CRS Report 98-175, House Committee Jurisdiction and Referral: Rules and Practice, by Judy
Schneider.
CRS Report RS20308, House Committee Markups: Commonly Used Motions and Requests, by
Judy Schneider.
CRS Report 98-309, House Legislative Procedures: Published Sources of Information, by Betsy
Palmer.
CRS Report 98-458, Introducing a House Bill or Resolution, by Betsy Palmer.
CRS Report 98-459, Introducing a Senate Bill or Resolution, by Betsy Palmer.
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
CRS Report 98-721, Introduction to the Federal Budget Process, by Bill Heniff, Jr.
CRS Report 98-425, Invoking Cloture in the Senate, by Christopher M. Davis.
CRS Report 95-563, The Legislative Process on the House Floor: An Introduction, by
Christopher M. Davis.
CRS Report 96-548, The Legislative Process on the Senate Floor: An Introduction, by Valerie
Heitshusen.
CRS Report RL30787, Parliamentary Reference Sources: House of Representatives, by Richard
S. Beth and Megan Suzanne Lynch.
CRS Report RL30788, Parliamentary Reference Sources: Senate, by Megan Suzanne Lynch and
Richard S. Beth.
CRS Report 98-143, Procedural Distinctions between the House and the Committee of the Whole,
by Judy Schneider.
CRS Report 98-337, Senate Committee Hearings: Scheduling and Notification, by Betsy Palmer.
CRS Report 98-308, Senate Legislative Procedures: Published Sources of Information, by
Christopher M. Davis.
CRS Report 98-612, Special Rules and Options for Regulating the Amending Process, by Megan
Suzanne Lynch.
CRS Report RS22477, Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of House Bills, by Betsy Palmer.
CRS Report 98-279, Sponsorship and Cosponsorship of Senate Bills, by Betsy Palmer.
In addition to legislative procedure material, CRS offers several programs on legislative
procedure for congressional staff. Legislative staff can attend Congress: An Introduction to
Resources and Procedure, an introductory CRS program designed for and offered only to
permanent, professional congressional staff who seek a foundation for understanding the
legislative process and the resources available to monitor it. This CRS program is offered 10 or
more times a year and is the first of the CRS Legislative Process Institutes, a three-part series
providing training in the legislative process. The other parts are the Advanced Legislative Process
Institute and the Graduate Institute (the “CRS Congress”). Attendance at Congress: An
Introduction to Resources and Procedure is a prerequisite for the CRS Advanced Legislative
Process Institutes. More information on the three CRS institutes is available on the CRS website
at http://www.crs.gov/programs/Pages/eventscal.aspx or by telephone at 7-7904.
CRS also offers a monthly introductory “Legislative Concepts” class to House staff and interns in
the House Learning Center. Information is available on HouseNet (http://housenet.house.gov)
under “House Learning Center.”
Legislative staff members are also invited to attend the CRS Budget Process Institutes. The
introductory Overview of the Federal Budget Process is offered several times each year and
provides an introduction to federal budgeting procedures, particularly procedures used in
Congress. Three advanced institutes—Budget Resolutions and Reconciliation, Appropriations
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
Process, and The President and the Budget—are offered during the year at times when they are
most relevant to congressional staff. Event dates and registration forms for CRS programs and
institutes can be found on the CRS website at http://www.crs.gov/programs/Pages/eventscal.aspx.
Supplementary Reading
Congress A to Z. 5th ed. Washington: CQ Press, 2008.
Davidson, Roger H., Frances E. Lee, and Walter J. Oleszek. Congress and Its Members. 13th ed.
Washington: CQ Press, 2011.
Green, Alan. Gavel to Gavel: A Guide to the Televised Proceedings of Congress. 5th ed.
Washington: C-SPAN, 1992.
Congressional Quarterly’s Guide to Congress. 6th ed. Washington: CQ Press, 2007.
Koempel, Michael L., and Judy Schneider. Congressional Deskbook: the Practical and
Comprehensive Guide to Congress. Alexandria, VA: TheCapitol.Net, 2007.
Kravitz, Walter. Congressional Quarterly’s American Congressional Dictionary. 3rd ed.
Washington, CQ Press, 2001. Available to congressional offices in an updated and expanded
edition on the CRS website at http://www.crs.gov/pages/glossary_a.aspx.
Oleszek, Walter J. Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process. 8th ed. Washington: CQ
Press, 2010.
Tiefer, Charles. Congressional Practice and Procedure: A Reference, Research, and Legislative
Guide. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1989.
Where to Get These Publications
Many of the works on legislative procedure listed in this report are produced by the Government
Printing Office and may be purchased:
• by telephone, (202) 512-1800 or (866) 512-1800; or
• online at the GPO Bookstore website at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.
Some publications are only available from congressional sources for congressional office use,
while others listed in the “Supplementary Reading” section may be purchased from bookstores or
publishers.
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Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
Author Contact Information
Jennifer E. Manning
Information Research Specialist
jmanning@crs.loc.gov, 7-7565
Acknowledgments
KSG Intern Brooke Murphy provided research assistance for this report.
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