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HOUSE
HOW OUR LAWS ARE MADE
Revised and Updated by Charles W. Johnson
Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives
January 31, 2000
ENTIRE DOCUMENT Plain Text (156K)

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 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

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