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How Our Laws Are Made
"How Our Laws Are Made" (House Document 110-49); revised and updated by John V. Sullivan, Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives, July 2007.
Reference: Text directly from https://www.congress.gov
Reference: Text directly from https://www.gpo.gov
Any font (size, style, etc.) changes from the original are either purely aesthetic or highlights to identify important text.
Table of Contents
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
Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees
X. Obtaining Consideration of Measures
Unanimous Consent
Special Resolution 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
Second Reading
Amendments and the Germaneness Rule
Congressional Earmarks
The Committee "Rises"
House Action
Motion to Recommit
Quorum Calls and Roll Calls
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