How Our Laws Are Made

Revised and Updated by Charles W. Johnson
Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives
Presented by Mr. Ney
June 30, 2003

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 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
• 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