Improving The Flow Of Information: SLA Public Policy Table of Contents
Improving the Flow of Information
SLA Public Policy Program
SLA Public Policy Network
Interassociation Cooperation
SLA Public Policy ObjectivesThe United State Congress and the Legistive Process
Structure of the U.S. Congress
From the Hopper to the President's DeskCommunicating With Your Elected Officials
Planning a Meeting
Drafting a LetterObtaining Government Information
U.S. Legislative Information
Other U.S. Government Resources
Resources for Other Governments
Private Sector Resources for Government Information
Databases
Telephone ResourcesGlossary of Legislative Terms and Phrases for the United States Congress
FOREWORD
You Can Make a Difference! As the information industry becomes more complex, government increasingly is becoming involved at every level. Because our ability to manage our special libraries and meet the information needs of our organizations will be impacted by the outcome of policy debates, we must play an active role in the formulation of laws and regulations. The Special Libraries Association's Public Policy Program seeks to inform and educate government officials from all levels of government around the globe on issues that are pertinent to the special libraries community. This requires your participation. You can help in several ways:
- Stay informed by regularly checking the SLA's Website at www.sla.org.
- Provide input to SLA's Public Policy Committee, Board of Directors, and staff about the issues that matter the most to you.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory developments in your area and report them to SLA headquarters.
- Disseminate SLA's position on issues to your elected and appointed leaders.
- Encourage your colleagues to participate.
As proponents of the information community, we share a responsibility to inform and persuade our government officials. Therefore, we urge you to read this book carefully and get involved. You can make a difference.
IMPROVING THE FLOW OF INFORMATION
Public Policy is a process we all experience to some degree. Even if our exposure to it is limited to merely paying taxes, we have still experienced a very basic level of communication with our government. However, if we are to make government work for us, then we must educate ourselves and our elected officials.
The problem many of us face is the intimidation of communicating with representatives of our government. More accurately, we are often intimidated when we believe someone is more knowledgeable than us. While government officials and their staff may be well-educated, they are, by and large, generalists. They may know a little about a lot of things, but they don't know everything. And this is why we often have an advantage over our elected leaders when discussing an important issue.
Government officials DO know as much or more than we do about the operations of government. It's their job to know the day-to-day happenings in the national legislature or in a government agency. But that is one of the reasons why we should communicate with them: so that we may gain a greater understanding of how and why public policy is developed. The other, more important reason for communication with government officials is to pass along our knowledge and our experience so that they may assess the potential impact of pending legislation or regulations on the public.
SLA Public Policy Program
What really makes an association's Public Policy program work? COMMITMENT. It requires a capable staff that will provide timely and accurate information to the membership. But it also requires an educated, motivated membership that is willing to learn, communicate, and be involved in the legislative process.
SLA's Public Policy
staff monitors issues of concern to the special libraries community. Working with the association's Public Policy Committee, chapter and division chairs, and a network of members, the Chief Policy Officer develops policies for promoting the interests of the SLA membership. In order to maintain regular communication between and among interested members, updates on legislative and regulatory activity are provided. When action is required, SLA staff notifies the membership and asks for support in communicating the views of the special libraries community to lawmakers.
While SLA staff is an important participant in this process, the membership plays a vital role in affecting the outcomes of key legislative or regulatory battles. Only an educated, involved membership can successfully advance the association's Public Policy initiatives. SLA members should commit to maintaining an awareness of, and involvement in, SLA Public Policy activities.
SLA Public Policy Staff
The association's Public Policy program is managed by the Chief Policy Officer. Responsibilities for this permanent staff position include:
- communicating with the membership and SLA staff to develop consensus policy regarding issues of concern to information professionals.
- researching and monitoring legislative and regulatory activity relevant to the profession.participating in issue coalitions that will advance the common agendas of organizations with similar goals.
- sending updates on issues that impact the profession or initiatives that require input from the membership.
- encouraging SLA members to communicate with government officials.
The SLA Public Policy Advisory Council
Five members appointed for overlapping terms of three years each. Membership shall include at least one person whose focus is international, and at least one person who has expertise in intellectual property/copyright or holds a J.D. or equivalent degree.
The Advisory Council shall:
1. Recommend policies and programs to the Chief Executive Officer regarding the activities of governments and international quasi-governmental organizations that affect special libraries and information centers, information management, and/or information professionals, including but not limited to matters of information commerce (including copyrights, sale and licensing of information, patents, and trademarks);
2. Recommend actions to implement such policies and programs to Association Staff.
3. Communicate with Association members and sub-units regarding such policies and programs.
Association Office contact is the Chief Policy Officer.
The SLA Public Policy Network
The success of the SLA Public Policy program depends on member involvement. One of the primary methods for ensuring this success is the Public Policy Network. What was originally intended as a communication link between staff and the Public Policy liaisons at the chapter and division levels has expanded to include all interested members. This network serves to consult SLA staff and the Public Policy Committee regarding the concerns of information professionals worldwide. In turn, members of the network are asked to communicate elected leaders or appropriate regulatory agencies when necessary.
| The SLA Public Policy Listserv An outgrowth of the Public Policy Network that has successfully improved member involvement is the Public Policy Listserv. Essentially an electronic mail forum, the Public Policy Listserv allows subscribers to:
The process for subscribing to the Public Policy Listserv is simple:
To communicate with the listserv audience, send an e-mail to the listserv [sla-gr@listserv.sla.org]. |
The need for a strong Public Policy Network is clear. The members of the Public Policy Committee and the Network, as well as individual members concerned about government policies and legislation, should remember these guidelines:
- SLA is engaged in an exchange of information. Our efforts are to help government officials understand the issues before them and the impact their actions will have on the library and information community.
- SLA, as a 501(c)(3) educational institution, is restricted in the amount of lobbying it can do. The rules Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in this area are more restrictive now than they have been in the past. However, they are always open to interpretation. It is therefore critical that all legislative endeavors be channeled centrally through the President or Executive Director, both of whom, under SLA policy, are the only individuals who can officially speak on behalf of the association. In essence, if the Board of Directors has not taken a position on a particular issue, it is imperative that either the President or Executive Director be consulted.
If comments or statements are based on Board-approved issues, discuss them with the Public Policy staff for clarification. This also enables headquarters staff to be aware of chapter/division activities.
SLA, through its Public Policy Program, is an active proponent of special librarians. Association members and staff submit comments on regulations and legislation crucial to information professionals. SLA is represented at hearings and meetings, which direct the course of government action regarding information. The Association takes an active role in recommending legislation and activities, which assist information professionals.
Any member interested in joining the SLA Public Policy Network should contact SLA staff.
Interassociation Cooperation
SLA's Public Policy Program often works in conjunction with the efforts of other library/information associations and related companies. These coalitions serve to organize the efforts of groups with similar public policy goals so that a unified message can be conveyed to government officials. This type of cooperation is especially important for SLA, because of its limited lobbying role.
While the nature and scope of coalitions can change with time, SLA regularly cooperates with four other major library organizations:
- American Association of Law Libraries
- American Library Association
- Association of Research Libraries
- Medical Libraries Association
SLA's Public Policy Objectives
The SLA Public Policy Program has evolved to become an interactive effort between staff and the membership. Staff serves to inform the membership of government activity in the issue areas of concern to the information profession. Without the proactive support of the membership, however, success would not be possible.
The SLA Public Policy Platform serves as a flexible plan for advocating the interests of the membership. The Public Policy Platform allows staff and the membership to determine the specific goals and immediate policy needs of the association. Rather than restricting activity to mere support for or opposition to government activity, the platform allows for development of policy. Members and staff can work together to support proposed policies or create alternatives that will benefit the information management profession. While the platform refers to the five primary areas of concern to the information profession, it also allows staff to respond to urgent developments within those issue areas without formal approval by the Board of Directors.
| SLA Public Policy Platform The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is an international organization of information professionals. Its mission is to advance the leadership role of its members in putting knowledge to work in the global information society. Government bodies and related international organizations play a critical role in establishing the legal and social framework within which SLA members conduct information services. Because of the importance of governments and international organizations to its membership, SLA maintains an active Public Policy program. SLA supports government policies that:
With regard to the actions of government bodies and related international organizations in the policy areas listed above, the Association shall:
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UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
This section is a simple, non-technical overview of the steps involved in the American federal lawmaking process. The reader should take into consideration that most bills never become laws. However, understanding the procedures for movement of legislation in Congress is extremely helpful in Public Policy. Please note that any reference to the "House" denotes the U.S. House of Representatives, one of the two legislative bodies that make up the U.S. Congress. The words "houses" or "chambers" refer to Congress as a whole, both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Structure of the U.S. Congress
The United States Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning that it is divided into two separate legislative bodies. Based on the British parliamentary legislature, Congress consists of one body that is closely tied to the people, and another body that is more detached from the public. The result of this division is a legislature that is responsive to the needs and demands of its constituents, but deliberative enough to withstand emotional and/or irrational pressures.
Each state is represented by two senators and a group of representatives in the House based on the states' respective populations. If a state has a large population, it will have more representatives in the House than a state with a small population. While every United States citizen is represented by the two senators from their state, they are only represented by one member of the House elected from their congressional district.
"The World's Most Deliberative Body"
The Senate is composed of 100 members, two from each of the fifty states. The size of this body would only change if the total number of states were to change. Senators are elected to six-year terms. Because of the length of their terms and the scope of their constituencies, members of the Senate are, by definition, less responsive to the needs and demands of the public. This allows the Senate to determine the best interests of the nation, rather than yield to public pressure on any issue.
A senator must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the state from which the Senator is chosen. Basically one-third of all senators are up for re-election every two years. Of the two senators in each state, the one who was elected first is referred to as the "senior" senator. The other is referred to as the "junior" senator. Each senator has one vote.
"The People's House"
The House of Representatives is composed of 435 members, all elected to two-year terms. Members of the House represent districts with basically equal populations. The Constitution originally limited the number of representatives to not more than one for every 30,000 citizens. However, the American population has grown to the point that this requirement is impracticable. Today, each member of the House represents over 500,000. Since members of the House are elected to two-year terms and typically represent far fewer citizens than Senators represent, the House is generally more responsive to the needs and demands of the people. This is one of the reasons why all tax and spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives.
A representative must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and, when elected, be a resident of the state from which the representative is chosen. Each representative has one vote.
In addition to the representatives from each of the states, there is a Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Delegates from the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The Resident Commissioner and the Delegates have most of the prerogatives of representatives; however, they cannot vote on matters before the House.
The Functions of Congress
After the biennial election of the House and one-third of the Senate, Congress convenes in January of the following year. A congress lasts for two years, divided into two sessions lasting one year each.
The chief function of Congress is making laws. Unlike some other parliamentary bodies, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative functions and powers, with the exception that only the House may initiate tax and spending bills.In addition, the Senate has the function of advising on and consenting to treaties and certain nominations by the President. Congress also participates in oversight functions, monitoring the activities of government agencies and departments. If a President or other elected official faces impeachment charges, the House of Representatives presents the charges. Its function is similar to that of a grand jury. The Senate acts as the court in any impeachment proceeding.
Congress also has the responsibility of counting electoral votes after a presidential election. Both houses meet in joint session on the sixth day of January to perform this function. If no candidate receives a majority of the total electoral votes, the House elects the President from the top three candidates in the popular vote. The Senate elects the Vice President from the top three candidates in the popular vote.
Forms of Congressional Action
Legislative business in Congress starts with the introduction of a proposal in one of four forms:
Bills: Most legislative proposals before Congress are in the form of bills and are designated as H.R. (House of Representatives) or S. (Senate) according to the chamber in which they originate. Each proposal is accompanied by an assigned number based on the order of introduction from the beginning of each two-year congressional term. "Public bills" deal with general questions and become public laws if approved by Congress and signed by the President. "Private bills" deal with individual matters such as claims against the government, immigration and naturalization cases, land titles, etc., and become private laws if approved and signed.
Joint Resolutions: Designated H.J. Res. or S.J. Res., joint resolutions generally require the approval of both houses and the signature of the President and have the force of law if approved. There is no real difference between a bill and a joint resolution. The latter is generally used in dealing with limited matters, such as a single appropriation for a specific purpose.
Concurrent Resolutions: Designated H. Con. Res. or S. Con. Res., concurrent resolutions must be passed by both houses but do not require the signature of the President and therefore do not have the force of law. Concurrent resolutions generally are used to make or amend rules applicable to both houses or to express the sentiment of the two houses.
Simple Resolutions: Designated H. Res. or S. Res., simple resolutions deal with matters entirely within the prerogatives of one house or the other. They require neither passage by the other chamber nor approval by the President and do not have the force of law.
From the Hopper to the President's Desk
Introducing a Bill
Any member of the House of Representatives may introduce a bill or resolution by placing it in a box called the hopper. A Senator, however, usually introduces a bill or resolution by gaining recognition from the presiding officer. If any Senator objects to the introduction of a bill or resolution, the introduction is postponed until the next day.
Once the bill is introduced, it is numbered, referred to the appropriate committee, labeled with the sponsor's name, and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) where it is printed. Copies are available shortly thereafter in the document rooms of both chambers.
Committee Action
Perhaps the most important phase of the U.S. legislative process is the action by committees. Proposed legislation receives the most intense scrutiny and consideration during consideration by committees. The general public is also given the opportunity to express concerns about or support for proposed legislation during the committee hearing process.
Each committee has jurisdiction over certain subject matters of legislation and all measures affecting a particular area of the law are referred to that committee. Sometimes, however, jurisdiction is shared or divided between two or more committees. When this happens, each committee claiming jurisdiction holds hearings and has an opportunity to alter the legislative language of the bill.
After the bill is referred, it is placed on the committee's calendar. If the bill is considered to be important, and particularly if it is controversial, the full committee will schedule a date for public hearings. It is more likely, however, that the committee will refer a bill to the appropriate subcommittee for hearings and recommendations.
Committees rarely give a bill an unfavorable report. Failure of a committee to act on a bill is equivalent to killing it. Members of House and Senate, though, may initiate a discharge petition to force a bill out of committee without that committee's approval. Attempts to discharge a measure from a committee's control rarely succeed.
Each hearing by a committee and subcommittee is required to be open to the public except when the committee or subcommittee determines (in open session and with a majority present) that disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other matters to be considered would endanger the national security or would violate a law or a rule of the House or Senate.
After hearings are completed, the subcommittee usually will consider the bill in a session known as the markup session. The bill is then sent back to the full committee where more hearings and revisions may occur. The full committee may approve the bill and recommend its chamber to pass the proposal, or it may allow the bill to die from inaction.
Floor Action
Once a bill is reported out of committee, it is then placed on the calendar to be considered by the full House or Senate.
There are five legislative calendars in the House, which are issued in one cumulative calendar and entitled Calendars of the United States House of Representatives and History of Legislation. For descriptions of the five types of legislative calendars, please see the Glossary section of this handbook.
There is only one legislative calendar in the Senate and one executive calendar for treaties and nominations.
In the House, all measures are placed on the calendars in the order in which they are reported. However, certain measures pending on the House and Union Calendars are more important and urgent than others, and may he called up for floor debate out of order by obtaining from the Committee on Rules a special resolution or rule for their consideration. Some bills are privileged and go directly to the floor.
In the Senate, urgent or important bills are taken up by a majority vote. The Majority Leader, in consultation with the Minority Leader and others, schedules the bills that will be taken up for debate.
If a bill passes both houses in identical form and without need for modifications, the bill is sent to the President for his signature. However, this rarely occurs.
Once a bill passes in one house it is sent (often with amendments ) to the other to follow the committee process all over again. When the bill passes the second house, it is sent back to the first house (the originating house) where the bill is to be modified in concurrence with both houses. Often the second house makes only minor changes. If these changes are agreed to by the other chamber, the bill is then sent to the President.
However, if the second house significantly alters the bill, the measure is usually "sent to conference" to work out the conflicting versions. The chamber that has possession of the papers (engrossed bill, engrossed amendments, messages of transmittal) requests a conference and the other chamber must agree to it.If the second chamber does not agree, the bill dies.
If the second house has already passed a related bill, both versions go straight to conference.
When conferees reach an agreement, they prepare a conference report with their recommendations and/or compromises. The report is then submitted to each chamber. Conference reports must be voted up or down by both houses and cannot be changed.
When the bill has been approved by both bodies in identical form, a copy of the bill is enrolled for presentation to the President.
Presidential ActionIf the President approves the bill, he signs it and usually writes the word "approved" and the date, although the Constitution requires only that the President sign it. The bill may become law without the President's signature by virtue of the constitutional provision that if the bill is not returned with objections within ten days (excluding Sundays) after it has been presented to the President, it will become a Law as if he had signed it. However, if the President takes no action on a bill and the Congress has adjourned (prior to the Constitutional ten-day mandate), the legislation is considered to be pocketed, which effectively "kills" it.
Notice of the President's signature is usually sent to the chamber in which the bill originated. The originating chamber informs the other, although this action is not necessary. The action is also noted in the Congressional Record.
Congress can override a presidential veto and enact a bill
This requires a two-thirds vote of those present, who must number a quorum and vote by roll call. Quorum is met when the majority of the membership is present. (Only 100 members are required when the House is sitting as the Committee of the Whole.)
A bill becomes a law on the date it is signed by the President (or when the President's veto is passed over), unless it expressly provides a different effective date.
COMMUNICATING WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
The purpose of communicating with public officials/legislators is to assist them in arriving at a position, which supports your cause. To do so, you must convey the impact and mission of your work in the city, state, or congressional district. Another important purpose is to discuss, or educate, the official and key staff on how certain issues affect you and others in your industry or profession. Overt correspondence aimed at changing their minds is usually less effective.
Don't assume the attitude of "Why bother? My words won't make a difference." A well-written letter or an arranged meeting can and does make a difference. A government official cannot be aware of all the ramifications of each piece of legislation, so your experiences, observations, and views on how the proposed legislation will affect you can be of assistance. Always keep in mind, however, that your story will not be the only one presented or considered. Don't expect a commitment before all of the facts have been collected.
Remember, it is important to contact key officials early during the deliberations on a piece of legislation. However, the ideal time to get to know your elected representative is before you need assistance.
Be sure to express your thanks or criticism to the official. Feedback will tell a public official that his/her action was significant in its effects on you or your profession, and may influence his/her general perspective on future issues of importance. Your views are important and do count.
When possible, keep abreast of legislative and regulatory issues occurring nationally and locally. Develop a knowledge of the potential outcomes and ramifications of decisions made by legislators and government officials. Share your views with staff at SLA headquarters. Without your direct involvement, Public Policy cannot succeed.
Planning a Meeting
Arrange appointments with your elected officials during legislative recesses. Most spend national holidays and other extended breaks at home for meeting with local leaders and constituents. You can also schedule meetings with your elected representatives if you are visiting your nation's capital. However, have a purpose for making the appointment and let him/her know the reason prior to your arrival. Bring prepared materials on your subject matter that you can leave with the representative or his staff. Be sure that the information is easily understandable and avoid using professional jargon or buzzwords. These people are very busy and will not have the time to digest every point you might think is important.
Do not be offended if your appointment is with a member of staff. Some staffers wield a great deal of power. Most are generalists, so educate them on issues that affect you. In return, they can educate the members. Getting to know legislative staff can help your cause.
While there are several approaches to setting up a meeting with a government official, you should consider the following:
- Organize a group of individuals representing your cause who will meet with the official. A group wields more "power" than an individual.
- Send a letter to the public official to request the meeting. In the letter, explain who you are and who you (or your group) represent and the reason you want to meet. Do not say you want to "drop by", but have a specific reason for meeting. You can certainly pay a courtesy call on your Representative/Senator if you will be in Washington, D.C., but make it clear you want to discuss a specific issue(s).
- Follow up with a telephone call to the office of the person with whom you desire a meeting. Direct your call to the Appointments Secretary.
- After a date has been set for the meeting, follow up with a thank you letter confirming the meeting and enclose briefing materials.
- Participate in a planning session before the actual meeting. This will be a time to meet the other members of the group if you don't know each other and it will help organize the goals of the group. If there is not one already, designate a "leader" who will watch the time and keep the discussion on track.
- Be prepared for the meeting and have some "talking points" for yourself and the group. Speak with one voice. Explain your (or the group's) concerns and let your Representative/Senator know how you would like to see the issue(s) resolved. Have examples on how the issue will affect your profession. Anecdotes are always helpful and put the issues on a more personal level for the legislator.
- Follow up your meeting with a thank you letter. 8. If you are an SLA member, please let staff at headquarters know of your meeting and share any correspondence with them.
Drafting a Letter
Your written communication with a government official must compete with hundreds of other messages received daily. A clearly and concisely prepared letter gives an added edge in capturing the reader's attention.
When writing to a U.S. Senator, address the letter as follows:
The Honorable (full name)A Representative is addressed as follows:
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510Dear Senator (last name):
The Honorable (full name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515Dear Representative (last name):
There is no need to know the room number of either a Senator or Representative. The post office delivers mail on Capitol Hill by the name of the member or committee rather than the room number because congressional staff members and whole offices tend to move frequently. Note that the House and Senate have different zip codes.
In framing your letter:
- Keep to one subject. A multi-subject letter tends to dilute the message.
- Describe the legislation. When writing about specific legislation, refer to the measure by its bill number and then by its title or subject. Frequently, there is more than one bill before Congress dealing with the same issue. Do not assume the member or his/her staff is aware of this legislation.
- Be brief. Focus your remarks on the central issue and leave out peripheral information.
- Try to keep all correspondence on a single page and never use more than two pages.
- Be factual. Do not use arguments that cannot be sustained.
- Personalize your message. Avoid form letters. Legislators want to hear the opinions of their constituents, but they also want to know that you put some thought and effort into your letter.
- Be positive. A negative attitude will most frequently result in a loss. Never demand or insist that a legislator vote for or against a certain bill. This does not mean that you cannot suggest or recommend alternatives, but state your reasons.
- Identify yourself. If possible, write on business letterhead using your official title. If you cannot do that, use personal stationery and make it clear that you are a constituent and why you are concerned about the bill or the issue.
- Print clearly. Be sure that your name and address are legible somewhere on the letter so that a response can be sent.
- Concentrate on your elected representatives. The Senators of your state and Representative of your district vote for you in Congress and need to know your concerns.
- If your letter concerns a bill to fund a government program, send copies of your letter to authorizing committees. It is important that you let both the Chairman and Ranking Member of the subcommittee who would consider such an authorization know your concern.
- Remember to sign the letter, but also include your name printed legibly. Include your address--home or business--and phone number where you can be reached during the day.
A Typical Letter:
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OBTAINING GOVERNMENT INFORMATIONWhile SLA strives to provide timely and accurate information on government activity to its members, all are encouraged to seek out resources directly from government agencies and legislatures. The U.S. Government provides an exhaustive collection of data and information on myriad topics of interest to information professionals, in both paper and electronic form.
Following are examples of U.S. Government resources that provide valuable information on government activity.
U.S. Legislative Information
The House of Representatives and the Senate each maintain separate document rooms. Bills, reports, and related materials originating from one house may only be obtained from the document room serving that house. Public laws can be obtained in both locations.
Congressional documents may be obtained by visiting the document rooms. They are also available by mail, and individuals can request up to six different items per mailing. However, only one copy of each document may be obtained.
The requests can be sent to:
Senate Document Room B-04 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 224-786
House Document
Room B18 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3456
e-mail: hdocs@hr.house.gov.
| Web Access Bill text, summaries, and statuses, committee reports and other legislative information may also be obtained through THOMAS, the Library of Congress legislative database (http://thomas.loc.gov) |
Other U.S. Government Sources
Government Printing Office (GPO)
Washington, D.C. 20402
Telephone: (202) 512-1800.
Web Access: http://www.access.gpo.gov.
Congress established the Government Printing Office in 1860 to serve its printing and binding needs, as well as those of the executive branch. Today, GPO disseminates federal information to the public through both the depository library program and the publications sales program.
The Depository Library Program was established based upon three principles:
- With certain specified exceptions, all government publications shall be made available to depository libraries;
- Depository libraries shall be located in each state and congressional district in order to make government publications widely available; and
- These government publications shall be available for the free use of the general public.
More than 1,400 libraries in the United States and its territories serve as depository libraries and provide access to government documents and publications in various formats, including paper, microfiche, and electronic.
GPO has approximately 12,000 publications in its sales program which are obtainable in a number of ways. To order by mail, list each publication by title (and if known, GPO stock number). Payment can be made by check, money order, credit card (VISA or MasterCard and include date of expiration), or Superintendent of Documents Deposit Account (see below).
Orders should be sent to:
Superintendent of Documents
P.O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
To order by telephone, call (202) 512-1800 between 7:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Eastern time and use a credit card or deposit account. Orders by fax may be sent to (202) 512-2250. Orders may also be placed on the GPO Access web site, which is shown above.
It is possible to set up a Superintendent of Documents Deposit Account with a minimum of $50.
Contact:
Receipts and Processing Branch
STOP SSOR
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, DC 20402
Telephone: (202) 512-1800
In addition, there are GPO bookstores in most major metropolitan areas in the United States. Each store carries many of the government's most popular publications, along with selections of other books tailored to suit the interests of the store's clientele. Here are some examples of GPO documents that are of great value:
Code of Federal Regulations
Frequency: A quarter of the title revised annually Format: Legislative compilation The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) codifies final regulations having general applicability and legal effects that have previously appeared in the Federal Register. They are arranged by subject, in 50 titles (over 190 volumes). The annual revision incorporates new regulations and drops superseded rules so that the CFR reflects regulations in effect at the time of printing. Several indexes and tables accompany the set.
Federal Register
Frequency:Daily, Monday through Friday, except on official holidays
Format: Daily Record
The Federal Register is the official announcement of regulations and legal notices issued by federal agencies. These include: presidential proclamations and executive orders, proposed and final federal agency regulations having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other federal agency documents of public interest. It also functions as an update to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Daily and monthly indexes and an accompanying publication, List of CFR Sections Affected, assist in its use.
Congressional Record
Frequency: Daily, including weekend sessions, except official holidays
Format: Daily Record
The Congressional Record is the primary source for the text of House and Senate floor debates and the official source for recorded votes. The "Daily Digest" section includes summaries of action in each chamber, committee hearing, bills signed, and committee meetings scheduled for the following, day. Indexes are issued twice a month. The subject Indexes can be used to identify bills by subject, and the "History of Bills and Resolutions" portion tracks action on specific bills.
CRS Review
Frequency: 10 issues per year
Format: Magazine
This publication of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress is a compilation of selected policy research and analysis for the U.S. Congress and summarizes CRS products on various policy issues.
Digest of Public General Bills and Resolutions
Frequency: Irregular
Format: Magazine
This publication furnishes a brief synopsis of each public bill and resolution that has been introduced into Congress at the time of publication. Indexes provide retrieval by sponsor, co-sponsor, identical bills, short title, and subject.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
Frequency: Weekly with quarterly, semiannual, and annual indexes
Format: Periodical
This weekly periodical is the source for such information as the dates on which the President signed or vetoed legislation. In addition, it provides transcripts of presidential messages to Congress, executive orders, and speeches and other material released by the White House.
How our Laws are Made
Updated periodically, this pamphlet outlines the stages in the legislative process and explains the uses of various publications that track that process.
| Web Access: These documents and other materials may also be accessed or ordered via the GPO Access web site (http://www.access.gpo.gov). GPO Access contains over 50 databases, including: The Code of Federal Regulations, The Federal Register, Congressional Calendars, Supreme Court Decisions, General Accounting Office (GAO) Reports, and the United States Code. |
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: (703) 487-4779
FAX: (703) 321-8547
Web Access: http://www.fedworld.gov
The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) is located within the Department of Commerce and serves as a clearinghouse for government-produced scientific, technical, and engineering information. A self-sustaining agency, its operations are paid for by sales income.
Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), signed into law on July 4, 1966, by President Lyndon Johnson, established the right of the people to know about the activities and operations of the executive branch of the government. The act provides all citizens-individuals or corporate, regardless of nationality-with access to information about the federal government without having to demonstrate a need or reason for such a request.
Under FOIA, the burden of proof for withholding any material is on the government. FOIA applies to documents held by agencies in the executive branch of the federal government, which includes cabinet departments, military departments, government corporations, government controlled corporations, independent regulatory agencies, and other establishments in the executive branch.
The act does not apply to elected officials of the federal government-which includes the President, Vice President, Senators and Representatives, or the federal judiciary. It also does not apply to private companies, persons who receive federal contracts/grants, tax-exempt organizations, or state or local governments.
The Privacy Act of 1974 provides safeguards against an invasion of privacy through the misuse of records by a federal agency. The act allows citizens to learn how records are collected, maintained, used, and disseminated by the federal government. It also permits individuals to gain access to most personal information about themselves maintained within federal agencies. Agencies subject to FOIA are also subject to the Privacy Act.
The House Government Operations Subcommittee on Government Information, Justice and Agriculture issued A Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records. The guide is intended to serve as a general introduction to FOIA and the Privacy Act. This can aid individuals who are unfamiliar with the laws to understand the process and to make a request. The guide can be obtained from the House Document Room at the address show above. It is also for sale by the Superintendent of Documents at the U.S. Government Printing Office.
Resources for Other Governments
Canadian Government Web: http://canada.gc.ca
Canadian Parliament Web: http://www.parl.gc.ca
Prime Minister's Office Switchboard: (613) 992-4211
Information for Other National Legislatures:
Web: http://www.soc.umn.edu/~sssmith/Parliaments.html
Embassies Around the Globe
Web: http://www.embpage.org
United Nations
Web: http://www.un.org
UN Staff Directory Line: (212) 963-1234
UN Public Inquiries Line: (212) 963-4475
UN Non-Governmental Organizations Line: (212) 963-7234
Private Sector Sources for Government Information
Bowker's Code of Federal Regulations Indexing Service
R.R. Bowker Division/Reed Elsevier
Order Department
P.O. Box 31
New Providence, NJ 07974
Telephone: (800) 521-8110
Company Web: http://www.reedref.com
Frequency: Annual, with quarterly cumulative supplements
Format: Reference guide
By using this reference tool, one can gain access to the Code of Federal Regulations' (CFR) more than 190 volumes by: CFR title. legal topic, key word (with cross references), statute, and government agency. Coverage begins with the 1986 CFR.
Federal Register Index
Congressional Information Service, Inc.
4520 East-West Highway, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20814
Telephone: (800) 638-8380
Company Web: http://cispubs.com
Frequency: Weekly, with monthly, quarterly and semiannual cumulations
Format: Reference guide
This annotated index provides numerous points of access to the Federal Register, such as: subject; personal, organizational, and corporate name; issuing agency; authorizing legislation; geographic area; Code of Federal Regulations' (CFR ) section number; and agency docket number. Also, a listing of deadlines, effective dates, and hearings is maintained.
CIS Index to the Code of Federal Regulations
Congressional Information Service, Inc.
4520 East-West Highway, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20814
Telephone: (800) 638-8380
Company Web: http://www.cispubs.com
Frequency: Annual
Format: Reference guide
This Code of Federal Regulations' (CFR) index is arranged by: subject; geography-by political entities containing federally regulated activities and by proper name of physical entities administered by the government (national parks, monuments, etc.); descriptive headings for various portions of the CFR; and reserved headings either anticipated for future use or no longer in use. In addition, there is an administrative history of the CFR. (The 1977-79 indexes were published by Information Handling Services; the 1980 index by Capitol Services International; and the 1981-to-date indexes by Congressional Information Services, Inc.)
The Congressional Digest
Congressional Digest Corporation
3231 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 333-7332
Frequency: Monthly; yearly index published with December issue
Format: Magazine
Each issue features pro-con discussion by members of Congress on a current legislative problem, such as school prayer, space weapons policy, criminal sentencing policy, and the federal budget deficit. An overview of each issue, including any recent congressional action, precedes the discussions.
Congressional Index
Commerce Clearing House, Inc.
4025 West Peterson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60646
Telephone: (800) 835-5224
To Order: (800) 248-3248
Web Access: http://www.cch.com
Frequency: Weekly while Congress is in session.
Format: Loose-leaf service
This loose-leaf service reports the status of all pending legislation. There are indexes by subject, sponsor, and companion and identical bill number. Congressional action on reorganization plans, treaties, and nominations is indicated. Publication includes biographical information on Senators and Representatives, lists of members of all committees, and maps of congressional districts.
Congressional Monitor
Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
1414 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: (202) 887-8500
Company Web: http://www.cq.com
Frequency: Monday through Friday when Congress is in session
Format: Newsletter
This is a daily report on present and future activities of congressional committees, complete with current day floor action. The subscription price includes Congress Daily, a news summary of current events on Capitol Hill, Congress in Print, a weekly listing of committee publications, and occasional supplements (also as available separately). Subscribers also receive access to a hotline question and answer service and a 24-hour tape recording featuring highlights of the day's activities on Capitol Hill. Also available: Congressional Record Scanner, a daily abstract of the Congressional Record, and Weekly Congressional Monitor, a weekly edition.
Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report
Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
1414 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: (202) 887-8500
Company Web: http://www.cq.com
Frequency: Weekly, with special supplements and annual Almanac
Format: Magazine
This is a weekly summary of congressional action and developments. There are sections on committee and floor action, a table indicating the status of major legislation, and charts showing recorded votes in both chambers. Most issues include articles providing background information on topics of legislative interest. The annual Congressional Quarterly Almanac is a comprehensive review of the legislative session.
National Journal
National Journal, Inc.
1730 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 857-1400
Frequency: Weekly
Format: Magazine
Articles in this magazine provide commentaries on a variety of topics including congressional and presidential elections, defense, trade, environment, and health. Weekly features such as "At a Glance" provide a checklist of major issues. Other columns such as "Washington Update" and "Opinion Outlook" report on trends and policies in the government and politics.
Roll Call: The Newspaper of Congress
900 Second Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone: (202) 289-4900
Frequency: Twice weekly for 48 weeks per year
Format: Newspaper
Web Access: http://www.rollcall.com
Roll Call claims to be the "only newspaper written for, of, and about the U.S. Congress." It contains human interest stories and information on social events involving members of Congress and staff. Roll Call also highlights legislative activity, member and staff news, political reports, and updates on Capitol Hill administrative activities.
Databases
Databases are a rapidly evolving field. The follow is not meant to serve as a comprehensive listing of services offering government information. For the same reason, no material has been provided on subscription fees, on-line rates, or access information. For details, contact the appropriate database producer at the address or phone number provided.
ClS/lndex
Congressional Information Service, Inc.
4520 East-West Highway, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20814
Telephone: (301) 654-1550
(800) 638-8380
Company Web: http://www.cispubs.com
Abstracts of congressional publications such as hearings, reports, documents, and committee prints are available in this database. Testimony by hearing witnesses can be tracked by the individuals' names. "ClS/Index," which is the electronic version of the ClS/lndex to Publications of the U.S. Congress, provides coverage from 1970 through the present.
Congressional Tracking System
Washington On-Line
4200 Wilson Boulevard, 10th Floor
Arlington, VA 22003
Telephone: (202) 543-9101
This database provides full texts of legislation, histories of bills, members' voting records, congressional schedules and calendars, and campaign finance information. Coverage is from 1985 through the present.
CQ Washington Alert Service
Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
Washington Alert Service
414 22nd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: (202) 887-6258
Company Web: http://www.cq.com
Material on congressional bill status, floor actions, legislative histories and complete text of all bills introduced, schedules, roll-call votes, lists of new committee publications, and the full text of the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report are some of this database's highlights. Time spans covered vary depending upon the category of information sought.
Electronic Legislative Search System (ELSS)
Commerce Clearing House, Inc.
Marketing Department
4025 West Peterson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60646
Telephone: (800) 835-5224
To Order: (800) 248-3248
Web Access: http://www.cch.com
Abstracts of federal legislation introduced during the current legislative session are provided. Some of this database's retrieval points are bill number, sponsor, bill status, public law number, effective dates, congressional vote totals, and subject.
LEXIS/NEXIS
Mead Data Central, Inc.
3445 Newmark Drive
Miamisburg, OH 45343
Telephone: (513) 865-5858
(800) 227-4908
Company Web: http://www.lexis-nexis.com
Each of these databases provides full-text coverage of several publications useful in tracking legislation and regulations. Both offer the Congressional Record, the Federal Register, and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), as well as the full texts of bills from the current Congress, digest information on bills from previous Congresses, and statistical forecasts of the chances of passage of pending legislation. Among NEXIS highlights are the National Journal, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, pending bill status, floor and committee votes, congressional members' voting records, and committee schedules. In its General Federal Library. LEXIS provides access to the U.S. Code, public laws, and numerous federal judicial decisions.
Washington On-line
Legi-Tech Corp.
1029 J Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 447-1886
In addition to tracking bills and providing histories of legislation, this service contains information on lobbyist activities, voting records, political contributions, and committee and floor votes.
WESTLAW
West Publishing Co.
620 Opperman Drive
Eagan, MN 55123
Telephone: (612) 687-7000
(800) 937-8529
Company Web: http://www.westpub.com
While WESTLAW was designed primarily as a legal reference database, many of its files contain material useful to anyone tracking legislation or regulations. The Congressional Record is available in full text, as is the Federal Register and the current Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Also available in full text are executive documents and federal laws. Congressional bills, legislative histories, committee reports, abstracts, and passage of forecasts are provided.
Telephone Resources
At times, information is needed on legislation so current that the facts needed will not yet be available in any printed source. Or there may be occasions when only one elusive date, bill number, or page number is needed. The offices listed below can provide certain specific facts as explained in each entry. However, when this information is needed on a regular basis, or when in-depth coverage of an issue is needed, it is essential to consult the published sources that have been listed on the previous pages.
Because government telephone numbers change rather frequently, a comprehensive listing has not been provided. However, the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress does provide a packet titled "Hotlines and Other Useful Government Telephone Numbers." For more information, call (202) 707-5700.
Switchboard in the U.S. Capitol
House: (202) 225-3121
Senate: (202) 224-3121
The switchboard will connect you to the main number for any members' office, committees, or subcommittees, but not to individual staff members.
Status of Legislation
(202) 225- 1772
The Office of Legislative Information (LEGIS) on Capitol Hill will respond to telephone inquiries from the public, providing up-to-date information on current legislation. Congressional staff can provide the following information: bills introduced by any member of Congress, bills introduced on any subject, or the status of any piece of legislation. A maximum of six items identified by bill number can be handled per call.
Daily Calendar Information
Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate provide recorded messages of the proceedings on the floor of each chamber every day they are in session. The numbers to call for these recordings are:
Senate:
For scheduling information and floor action:
(202) 224-8601 (Republican)
(202) 224-8541 (Democratic)
House:
For recordings of major floor action updated as it occurs:
(202) 225-7430 (Republican)
(202) 225-7400 (Democratic)
For records of a party's legislation program and the future legislative schedule:
(202) 225-2020 (Republican)
(202) 225-1600 (Democratic)
Federal Register
Finding Aids Office: (202) 523-5240
Public Information Office: (202) 523-5227
The Finding Aids Office at the Federal Register can identify the location and date of recent items appearing in the Federal Register and can assist in using the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Public Information Office can send Single copies of the Federal Register until the supply is exhausted, and can supply up to 10 pages of photocopies for a fee.
White House Information
Executive Office Switchboard: (202) 456-1414
White House Comment Line/Presidential Messages: (202) 456-1111
Email to the President: president@whitehouse.gov
Offices in the White House can be reached by calling the switchboard.
White House Records
(202) 456-2226
The Office of the Executive Clerk at the White House can provide information on when a bill was signed or vetoed and give the dates of presidential messages, executive orders, and other official presidential actions.
GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE TERMS AND PHRASES FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
ACT: Legislation that has been passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President, thereby becoming a public law.
ADVICE AND CONSENT: The Senate's constitutional role in consenting to or rejecting the president's nominations to executive branch and judicial offices, and treaties. Confirmation of nominees requires a simple majority vote in the full Senate. Treaties must be approved by a two-thirds majority or senators present and voting.
AMENDMENT: A proposal of a member of Congress to revise or change a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, treaty, act, or the Constitution. Conference reports and certain motions are not amendable.
APPROPRIATIONS BILL: A bill that provides the actual funding for government programs which have been authorized by Congress and the President. Appropriations bills by law must originate in the House of Representatives.
AUTHORIZATION BILL: A bill that provides congressional approval for the establishment or continuation of a government program. An authorization usually is a prerequisite for an appropriation or other type of budget authority.
BILLS: The primary vehicle used by Congress to enact laws. Bills originating in the House are designated by "H.R." (i.e., H.R. 956), while those in the Senate are designated by "S." (i.e., S. 21). In both houses, bills are also assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced during a session. A bill becomes law if:
- passed in identical language by both houses and signed by the president;
- or passed over a presidential veto; or
- if the president fails to sign it within ten days after he has received it while Congress is in session (see POCKET VETO).
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED: Members of the House or Senate may formally present measures to their respective chambers by delivering them to a clerk when their house is in session. Both houses permit any number of members to join in introducing a bill or resolution. The first member listed on the measure is the sponsor; the other members listed are its cosponsors.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED: After a bill or resolution is introduced, it is normally sent to one or more committees that have jurisdiction over its subject. Jurisdiction is defined by House and Senate rules and by precedents.
BUDGET: A document sent by the President to the Congress (usually in January) estimating federal expenditures and revenues for the ensuing fiscal year.
BUDGET RESOLUTION: A concurrent resolution that sets forth guidelines on various budget totals and functional allocation. In essence, it is based on the President's proposed budget plans for the next fiscal year. It does not need to go to the President for his signature.
CALENDAR: A list of measures or other matters that are eligible for floor consideration in a chamber of Congress. Most calendar items have been favorably reported by committees. The House has five calendars; the Senate has two. A place on a calendar does not guarantee consideration. Each house decides which measures and matters it will take up, when, and in what order.
CAUCUS: A common term for the official organization of each party in each house. However, caucuses are also informal groups of senators or representatives who share legislative interests.
CHAIR: Highest ranking majority member of a committee.
CHAMBER: Meeting place for members of either the House or the Senate. References to either "chamber" (or both "chambers") of Congress are interchangeable with references to either "house" (or both "houses") of Congress. (See House)
CLERK OF THE HOUSE: Chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives. This individual is a staff person, not a member of either chamber. (See Secretary of the Senate)
CLOTURE: The process of closing off debate on a bill or resolution in the Senate. It requires the signatures of 16 senators in order for it to be introduced on the Senate floor. One hour after the Senate meets on the second calendar day after the motion has been introduced, it is considered as a yea-and-nay vote. If three-fifths of all senators (sixty if there are no vacancies) vote for the motion, final action on the debated matter must take place by the end of thirty additional hours of consideration.
COMMITTEE JURISDICTION: The legislative subjects and other functions assigned to a committee by rule, precedent, or statute. Because each house has a relatively small number of standing committees, many of them have immense jurisdictions. This is one reason for the creation of numerous subcommittees.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: Common name for the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. Consists of all members of the House of Representatives. Measures from the Union Calendar must be considered in this format.
COMMITTEE REPORT ON A MEASURE: A document crafted by a committee when it reports a measure to its parent chamber. Explains the purpose of the measure, provides a description of the provisions and amendments, and presents arguments for its approval.
COMPANION BILLS: Identical bills introduced in both houses.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION: A measure that requires approval by both houses but is not sent to the president for approval, and therefore cannot have the force of law. Concurrent resolutions deal with the prerogatives or internal affairs of Congress as a whole.
CONFERENCE: A meeting between members of both houses in order to reconcile differences over provisions of a bill which were previously passed in both chambers.
CONFEREES: The members from each house appointed to a conference committee. Conferees are expected to support the positions of their houses despite their personal views but, in practice, this does not always occur. Each house may appoint as many conferees as it wishes, and house conferees often outnumber their Senate colleagues. However, each house has only one vote in a conference. Therefore, unanimity is the required outcome.
CONFERENCE REPORT: A document submitted to both houses that contains a conference committee's agreements for resolving differences on a measure. It must be signed by a majority of the conferees from each house, and must be accompanied by an explanatory statement. Both houses prohibit amendments to a conference report, and require it to be accepted or rejected in its entirety.
CONFIRMATION: A Senate action by which a nomination is approved.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: The daily printed report (when Congress is in session) of debate and proceedings in both the House and Senate chambers.
CONSENT CALENDAR: A listing of bills that already appear on the Union or House Calendars. Members of the House must request that such bills be placed on the Consent Calendar. Customarily, these bills are non-controversial and are called on the first and third Mondays of each month.
CONTINUING RESOLUTION: An appropriations measure that provides emergency funding for federal agencies and programs when the regular appropriations acts have not been passed by Congress and/or signed into law by the president in time for the next fiscal year. A continuing resolution must be approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the president.
COSPONSOR: A member of Congress who has joined one or more other members in the same chamber to sponsor a measure introduced in that chamber.
DEFERRAL: Action by the executive branch to delay (or defer) spending appropriated money.
DEGREES OF AMENDMENT: Designations that indicate the relationships of amendments to a bill and to other amendments. In general, an amendment offered directly to the text of a bill is a first-degree amendment; an amendment to that amendment would be a second degree amendment. Both houses normally prohibit third degree amendments.
DISCHARGE CALENDAR: A listing of motions to discharge a bill from a committee. Such motions are called the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
DISCHARGE RULE: A House rule that provides a procedure for removing a bill from a committee. The discharge rule is rarely used and is a difficult method for bringing a piece of legislation to the House floor for a vote. A petition must be signed by 218 members before any such motion can be considered. If this is achieved, a motion to discharge the relevant committee is considered. If the motion is approved, the bill in question can be debated and considered for approval.
ENGROSSED BILL: The final copy of a bill that has been passed by one house.
ENROLLED BILL: The final, official version of a bill that has been passed in identical form by both houses of Congress.
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR: A list of non-legislative items such as treaties, confirmations, and presidential documents that are pending approval in the Senate.
EXECUTIVE ORDER: A unilateral proclamation by the president that has a policy-making or legislative impact.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: A meeting of either a House or Senate Committee in either chamber which only members of that group can attend.
FILIBUSTER: The use of obstructive and time-consuming parliamentary tactics by a member or a minority of members to delay, modify, or defeat proposed legislation or rules changes. The Senate's rules permitting unlimited debate and the extraordinary majority required to end debate make filibustering a particularly effective tool in that chamber. The rules of debate are much stricter in the House, making filibusters ineffective and short-lived.
FISCAL YEAR: The U.S government's annual accounting period, beginning on October 1 and ending on September 30 of each year.
FLOOR: Literally, the floor of the chamber in which either house meets. When members are attending a meeting of their house, they are said to be "on the floor."
FRANKING PRIVILEGE: The right of members of Congress to send official business mail postage-free.
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO): A support agency that serves as the investigative arm of Congress. Provides reports to members and staff on audits and evaluations of federal agencies and programs.
GERMANE: Subject matter pertaining to the measure under consideration. A House rule requires that all amendments be germane. In the Senate, only amendments proposed to general appropriation bills and budget resolutions or under cloture must be germane.
GERRYMANDERING: The manipulation of legislative district boundaries to benefit a particular party, politician or minority group.
HOPPER: A box on the Clerk's desk in the House chamber into which members deposit bills and resolutions to introduce them.
HOUSE CALENDAR: A listing of public bills and joint resolutions that do not involve raising revenue or appropriating money or property.
IMPEACHMENT: The first step for removing the president, vice president or other federal civil officers from office. An impeachment is a formal charge of treason, bribery or other crime. The House has the power to make a charge of impeachment (by simple majority vote), while the Senate has the power of trying the charges and convicting (by two-thirds vote of all senators present).
IMPOUNDMENT: An executive branch action or inaction that delays or withholds the expenditure or obligation of budget authority provided by law. The president must inform Congress of all such actions. In turn, Congress may approve or reject impoundments.
JOINT COMMITTEE: A committee comprised of a specified number of members (from both political parties) of both the House and Senate.
JOINT RESOLUTION: (See forms of Congressional Action)
JOINT SESSION: (See SESSION)
LOBBY: To attempt to persuade members of Congress to propose, pass, modify, or defeat legislation or change or repeal existing laws. A lobbyist attempts to promote his or her preferences or those of a group, organization or industry. (For SLA's policy on such activity, see p. xx).
MAJORITY LEADER: The floor spokesperson for the majority party in either the House or Senate. He/she is elected by party colleagues. In the Senate, the Majority Leader serves as head of the party; in the House, this individual is second in command to the Speaker of the House.
MARKING UP A BILL (MARKUP) A review and revision of legislation in a committee or subcommittee in preparation for House or Senate consideration. If extensively amended, the legislation may be introduced as a separate bill with a new number prior to consideration by either chamber.
MINORITY LEADER: The floor spokesperson for the minority party in either the House or the Senate. (See Majority Leader)
MULTIPLE REFERRAL: The practice of referring a measure simultaneously to two or more committees for concurrent consideration.
NOMINATIONS: Presidential appointments which must be confirmed by the Senate.
OVERRIDE A VETO: (See Presidential Action)
OVERSIGHT: Congressional review of 1)the way in which federal agencies implement laws to ensure that they are carrying out the intent of Congress; 2) the efficiency of implementation and effectiveness of the law.
POCKET VETO: The indirect veto of a bill as a result of the president withholding approval of it until after Congress has adjourned. If the president takes no action on a bill while Congress is in session, the measure becomes a law ten days (excluding Sundays) after it is received. However, if Congress adjourns its annual session during that ten-day period, the measure dies even if the president does not formally veto it.
POINT OF ORDER: A parliamentary term used to object to an alleged violation of a rule and demand enforcement of the rule. The nature of the violation must be explained by the objecting member. Proceedings are halted until the chair makes a ruling.
PRIVATE CALENDAR: A listing of bills dealing with individual matters such as claims against the government, immigration, and land titles. The Private Calendar is called the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE: The U.S. Vice President. As designated by the Constitution, the Vice President serves as the presiding officer of the Senate and only votes in the case of a tie.
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE: The presiding officer of the Senate in the Vice President's absence. This individual is selected by his/her colleagues and traditionally has been a Senator from the majority party who has the longest continuous service. (See President of the Senate)
QUORUM: The minimum number of members required to be present for the transaction of business. Under the Constitution, a quorum in each house is a majority of its members: 218 in the House and 51 in the Senate. By House rule, a quorum in the Committee of the Whole is 100
RANKING MEMBER: Member wielding highest seniority in the minority party on a committee or subcommittee.
RECESS: Action ended in either chamber committee or subcommittee that monitors general activities and programs of federal agencies. As a general rule, this committee or subcommittee is the one charged with the authorization for that agency's programs and operations. (See authorization bill)
REPORT: Document expressing a committee's actions, findings, and recommendations on a particular bill or issue. When a committee has examined legislation and has sent it to the parent chamber for consideration, the process is called, "reporting a bill."
RESCISSION: An item in an appropriations bill that cancels (or rescinds) budget authority which was previously appropriated but not yet spent.
RIDER: Usually a non-germane amendment to a bill. It is a practice done primarily in the Senate (where germaneness rules are more flexible) to get a legislative initiative passed more easily. This procedure bypasses the traditional route of how a bill becomes a law.
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE: Chief administrative officer of the Senate. This individual is a staff person, not a member of either chamber. (See Clerk of the House)
SELECT OR SPECIAL COMMITTEE: Committee established for a specific purpose, usually of an investigative nature. It lacks legislative authority and is usually limited to a specific time frame.
SENIORITY SYSTEM: A collection of long-standing customary practices under which members with longer continuous service than their colleagues in their house or on their committees receive various kinds of preferential treatment.
SERGEANT AT ARMS: Individual charged with maintaining order in each chamber under the presiding officer's supervision. This individual is a staff person, not a member of either chamber.
SESSION: This term has a number of meanings. Each Congress is comprised of two sessions with each session beginning at noon on January 3. The end of each session concludes with an adjournment sine die (See adjournment sine die). Joint session refers to a meeting attended by members of both chambers (Also see executive session).
SPEAKER: The presiding officer of the House of Representatives who is the leader of the majority party and is next in line after the vice pesident to succeed to the office of the president. Also known as the Speaker of the House.
SPONSOR: Member who introduces a bill or resolution.
STANDING COMMITTEE: A permanent legislative committee established by the rules of either chamber.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL: Appropriations which are added to an agency's budget after the initial funding process is complete.
TREATY: A formal document containing an agreement between two or more sovereign nations. The Constitution authorizes the president to make treaties, but he must submit them to the Senate for its approval by a two-thirds vote of the senators present. Unlike legislative measures, a treaty rejected by the Senate does not die at the end of a Congress. It may be considered in future Congresses unless the president withdraws it or the Senate votes to return it to him.
UNION CALENDAR: A listing of bills and joint resolutions that appropriate money or raise revenue.
U.S. CODE: A consolidation and codification of the permanent laws of the United States. It is updated annually.
VETO: (see from Hoppers Desk)
WHIP: The majority or minority party member in each house who acts as assistant leader, helps plan and generate support for party strategies, encourages party discipline, and advises his leader on how his colleagues intend to vote on the floor. Whips are elected by their party caucuses.
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