Publications of the U.S. Senate

Publications of the U.S. Senate

Publications of the U.S. Senate

May 21, 2014 (98-503)

The U.S. Senate produces several publications relating to the legislative functions of the Senate. They include, but are not limited to, publications dealing with rules and procedures, bills, anticipated and past legislative activities, committee matters, and chamber proceedings. This report provides a brief description of these publications.

Chamber Activity Publications

The Senate Journal is the official record of the Senate used to chronicle all actions such as motions offered, bills introduced, amendments offered and agreed to, votes, quorum calls, etc. As required by the Constitution, the Journal records the official actions of the Senate for each legislative day, and is published on a periodic basis. At the beginning of each legislative day, the Senate votes to approve the Journal of the preceding legislative day.

The Senate Executive Journal is the official record of the Senate, which chronicles actions relating to advice and consent matters such as nominations, treaties, and impeachments.

The Congressional Record includes the daily proceedings and debates in the Senate (and House) chambers. The proceedings of the Senate are reflected in the text that is prepared by the official reporters of the Senate, who record verbatim each word spoken. Members are also permitted to submit materials and speeches for inclusion in the section of the Record reserved as Extension of Remarks, and are provided an opportunity to "revise and extend" remarks attributed to them the day prior to printing. The Record reports all votes, bills introduced, bills reported from committee, and a wealth of other Senate, committee, and non-legislative information.

The Calendar of Business (Senate Calendar) is issued each day the Senate is in session, and includes resolutions and motions eligible for floor consideration; unanimous consent agreements; legislative action on appropriation bills; and bills at the conference stage. (See CRS Report 98-429, The Senate's Calendar of Business, by [author name scrubbed].)

The Executive Calendar serves as the calendar used to track the Senate's business while the chamber is in executive session. Executive business—that is, nominations and treaties—are placed on this calendar. (See CRS Report 98-438, The Senate's Executive Calendar, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].)

Procedural Publications

The Senate Manual is compiled by the Committee on Rules and Administration and contains the standing rules, standing orders, and laws pertaining to the Senate. The Senate Manual is usually published each Congress and includes the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Ordinance of 1787, and the Constitution.

The Standing Rules of the Senate are published periodically and include the 43 rules of the chamber. The standing rules are compiled by the Committee on Rules and Administration, and are also included in the Senate Manual.

Riddick's Senate Procedure contains a compilation of Senate procedures, precedents, and practices. This digest, which is organized alphabetically by topic, was originally compiled by Floyd M. Riddick, parliamentarian emeritus, and updated in 1992 by then parliamentarian Alan S. Frumin.

For additional information on procedural publications, see CRS Report 98-308, Senate Legislative Procedures: Published Sources of Information, by [author name scrubbed].

Committee Publications

Published Hearings Transcripts include the proceedings of Senate committee hearings and may be published by the committee that held the hearings.

Committee Prints are produced in various forms for committee business, such as drafts of legislation, committee rules, and analyses in support of legislation.

Committee Reports prepared by committees and published by the Senate provide a narrative account of a study or the reasons for an approved measure. They include the history and explanation of a committee-approved measure, funding ramifications, and changes made in existing law.

Other Publications

Senate Documents contain original or historical documents of importance for Senate business, such as messages of the President.

Report of the Secretary of the Senate is compiled biannually by the Secretary of the Senate, and includes expenditures, receipts, and other costs incurred by the Senate.

Acknowledgments

This report was originally written by Faye M. Bullock, formerly a Technical Information Specialist at CRS. The listed author updated the report and is available to answer questions concerning its contents.