The
Congressional Deskbook is the comprehensive guide to Congress,
now in its Fifth Edition. This 15 chapter
publication explains the legislative and congressional budget processes along with all aspects of Congress.
Softcover, $47 ISBN 10: 1587330970
ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-097-1
ISSN: 1531-0116
OCLC: 60514840
Dimensions: 8.2 x 10.85 x 1.5
Weight: 3.5 pounds Available from your bookseller or online
This comprehensive guide to
Congress is ideal for anyone who wants to know how Congress really works, including federal executives,
attorneys, lobbyists, media and public affairs staff, government affairs, policy and budget analysts, congressional office staff and students.
Clear
explanation of the legislative process, budget process, and
House and Senate business
As the name Congressional Deskbook
implies, this book is meant to be kept close at hand for answering
the variety of questions that arise daily in monitoring, interacting
with, and studying Congress. The book is organized for daily use in
answering questions, but it may be read in sections, by chapters, or
in its entirety, as the reader chooses.
Chapter One attempts to create an image of what it is like to be a member of
Congress. It describes the competition that imbues every aspect of the
institution and the fragmented life of a member.
Chapters Two, Three, and Four guide the reader through some of the major pressures
affecting members of Congress. These pressures come from campaigns and elections, constituency,
media, the president and executive branch, the courts, lobbyists, and the ethics
environment. The chapters provide an overview of the laws and congressional rules that
affect members, staff, and the individuals who interact with them.
Chapters Five and Six explain the support structures of Congress. They identify components
of the expense allowance system, staff positions and responsibilities, the work of
support offices, and features of the Capitol and congressional office buildings. These chapters
orient the reader to congressional staff roles and offer a guide to finding one's way
around Capitol Hill.
Chapter Seven describes the organization of Congress. It addresses not only the structures
of the committee system and of the leadership hierarchy, but also how committee
assignments are made and leaders are selected. It describes the early organization activities
of the House and Senate following a general election.
Chapter Eight describes the legislative process in detail. It explains hearings and committee
markup strategies and methods of obtaining floor consideration of legislative initiatives.
Amendments between the chambers and conference procedures are explained. The
chapter describes options available to leaders and members throughout the legislative
process, and provides guides for keeping track of events at each major stage of the legislative
process.
Chapter Nine demystifies the federal budget process. It includes discussion of the president's
role in budgeting, the congressional budget process, authorizations, and appropriations.
It explains the terminology, concepts, and procedures of the budget process, such as
reconciliation.
Chapter Ten discusses procedures and powers in Congress's relations with the executive,
the judiciary, and the states and localities. It also explains some of the ways in
which Congress deals procedurally with defense and foreign policy. Topics in this chapter
include confirmation of presidential appointees to executive and judicial posts, the role of
legislative history, fast-track procedures, the War Powers Act, alternative procedures for
selection of a president and vice president, constitutional amendments, and unfunded
mandates.
Chapters Eleven and Twelve identify and explain the use of congressional documents.
Subjects include the forms and versions of legislation, laws and implementing executive
documents, official rules and procedure manuals, and party and administrative publications.
Chapter Thirteen identifies numerous private and governmental information
resources, and provides descriptions of print and electronic resources, web addresses, and
telephone contacts for obtaining additional information on resources. Numerous tips on
research will facilitate a reader's work.
Chapter Fourteen guides the reader in researching members and committees, monitoring
floor action, and tracking legislative action.
A case study in Chapter Fifteen ties the legislative process, legislative documents, and
other topics in the book together as it takes a measure enacted into law in the 106th Congress
through the legislative steps from inception to public law. Document excerpts are displayed,
and explanatory texts and annotations accompany each excerpt.
A cumulative, expanded glossary complements the individual glossaries and definitions
that appear in individual chapters. Appendices One through Seven provide extensive
telephone and room listings for members, committees, and leaders on Capitol Hill. All
of the web sites listed throughout the book are cumulated in a table. This list is followed by
an index to the book.
"The Deskbook is a highly readable,
timely and comprehensive resource on Congressional
operations and procedures. It is a consistently
reliable tool for any student of Congress and any
legislative practitioner, regardless of their level of
experience." -- Martin B. Gold,
Covington & Burling,
Washington, DC
"The Congressional Deskbook is
perfect for anyone who wants to understand how Congress
works. It is concise, clarion clear and comprehensive all at
once. It is spare and crisp -- but it never oversimplifies. It is written in
lay language, but it never 'dumbs it down.' The Congressional Deskbook is
a unique tool, one that I use regularly."
-- David
Hawkings, Senior Editor, Congressional Quarterly
"The Congressional Deskbook is almost too good to be true. The breadth and depth of its coverage of Congress and
of the institution's innumerable rules and practices are truly
extraordinary. Most importantly, such detail is
presented in an exceedingly accessible and efficient fashion.
I have no doubt that the Deskbook will become an indispensable
teaching tool and reference volume in my teaching and research
pursuits."
-- Sarah Binder, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, The George Washington University
"It is hard to imagine an interested citizen or policy practitioner who would not learn something from the Congressional Deskbook."
-- Steve
Frantzich, Professor,
Department of Political Science,
U.S. Naval Academy
"The Congressional Deskbook is
a treasure trove of practical information on the U.S.
Congress. It can be used effectively as a basic text on the
operations of the legislative branch and as a reference guide
for answers to simple and complex questions about the first
branch of government. An essential resource for those working
within, reporting on, lobbying, or just trying to understand
our very complicated and essential national legislature."
-- Thomas E.
Mann, W. Averell
Harriman Chair and Senior Fellow,
The Brookings Institution
"The Congressional Deskbookputs between two covers what would take most people
hundreds of hours to track down separately (let alone
decipher). It pulls it all together by using concrete examples
and documents to make things easily understandable--no
mean feat given the labyrinthine ways of Congress."
-- Don
Wolfensberger, Former
staff director, House Rules Committee
"The Congressional
Deskbook is the perfect one-stop reference tool for
anyone seeking information on the legislative branch
of government. Beyond the valuable information about how
Congress works and how bills become laws, the
Congressional Deskbooktakes the reader inside the
Capitol, explaining the customs and power structure.
If you want to know how House and Senate leaders are
chosen or if you are searching for a list of those who
have lain in state or in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda or
how federal spending decisions are made, this reference
book has all that plus more." -- Gebe Martinez,
Reporter covering Congress and politics, The Houston
Chronicle
"I first came
across the Congressional Deskbook in the spring of 2004 and
can't imagine getting along without it in the future.
The Deskbookcontains an amazing amount of highly useful
information for anyone who deals with Congress or wants to
fully understand its workings. It has clear and
pertinent information on legislative procedure and
organization, how to contact members of Congress, committees,
and subcommittees, and includes a chapter on the budget
process, a chapter on "How to Monitor and Research Congress,"
and a comprehensive glossary of legislative terms. The Congressional Deskbook is of great value to academicians,
public administrators at all levels of government, politically
engaged citizens, lobbyists, and policy advocates. I know
of no other book that explains the people, politics, policy,
and procedures of Congress so completely, clearly, and
skillfully. The authors are to be commended and thanked
for giving us an all-in-one-place fabulous guide to Congress." -- David H. Rosenbloom,
Distinguished
Professor of Public Administration, School of Public Affairs,
American University
"The
Congressional Deskbook is an excellent and user-friendly
compilation of helpful information about Congress that
provides valuable insight into the legislative processes on
Capitol Hill. I use it in my government relations practice,
and it is required reading in the graduate school course I
teach on business representation and lobbying." -- William LaForge,
Winstead Sechrest & Minick,
Washington, DC
"A valuable,
detailed, and highly functional synthesis of information about
the legislative branch. Summing Up: Highly recommended.
All collections." --
CHOICE
(click for full review)
"[A]n excellent resource for
individuals seeking to learn or expand their knowledge of
Congress and our system of lawmaking. What's best about the
book is that it puts so much valuable information into one
place and provides hundreds of additional resources, should
the reader desire to learn more."
--
Wisconsin
Lawyer (click for full review)
"No personal, professional, academic, or community library political
science collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of the Congressional
Deskbook...."
-- Midwest Book Review
Introduction Chapter 1. Being a Member of Congress
Chapter 2. Pressures on Congress: Campaigns and Elections
Chapter 3. Pressures on Congress: Constituents, Media, President, and Courts
Chapter 4. Pressures on Congress: Lobbying and Congressional Ethics
Chapter 5. Supporting Congress: Allowances and Staff
Chapter 6. Supporting Congress: The Capitol Complex
Chapter 7. Organizing Congress: Members, Leaders, and Committees
Chapter 8. Legislating in Congress: Legislative Process
Chapter 9. Legislating in Congress: Federal Budget Process
Chapter 10. Legislating in Congress: Special Procedures and Considerations
Chapter 11. Congressional Documents: Overview, Legislation, and Laws
Chapter 12. Congressional Documents: Committee, Chamber, Party, and Administrative Publications
Chapter 13. Legislative Research: Private and Government Information Providers
Chapter 14. Legislative Research: How to Monitor and Research Congress
Chapter 15. Putting It All Together: A Working Example
Back of the Book Glossary Appendices Table of Web Sites Principal Index Terms Index
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments About the Authors Preface Introduction
Chapter 1. Being a Member of Congress 1.00 Introduction 1.10 Who . . . Gets . . . What! 1.20 Congress, the Political Institution 1.30 A Member of Congress as Politician, Policymaker, and Parliamentarian 1.40 Obligations and Perquisites 1.50 Ever-Changing and Unpredictable Schedules 1.51 Example of a Senior House Member's Daily Schedule 1.52 Example of a Freshman House Member's Daily Schedule 1.53 Excerpt from House's Daily Schedule (GOP Source) 1.54 Excerpt from House's Daily Schedule (Democratic Source) 1.55 Floor Discussion of Schedule Changes 1.60 Family Life 1.70 Staying in Congress
Chapter 2. Pressures on Congress: Campaigns and Elections 2.00 Introduction 2.10 Campaigns and Elections 2.11 2008 Congressional Election Information 2.12 Members' Support for Candidates 2.13 Reapportionment and Redistricting 2.20 Election Laws 2.21 Federal Election Commission Web Site
Chapter 3. Pressures on Congress: Constituents, Media, President, and Courts 3.00 Introduction 3.10 Constituency Pressure 3.11 Example of Constituent Outreach 3.12 Example of Member's Newsletter 3.13 Example of Privacy Act Release Form 3.14 Constituent Service Reflected in Member's Newsletter 3.15 Case Work Outreach 3.16 "Pork Barrel Politics" 3.17 Tips for Contacting Members of Congress 3.18 Addressing Correspondence to Members of Congress 3.19 Constituent Outreach Meetings 3.110 Advertising Constituents' Access to a Member 3.111 Example of Community Holiday Event 3.112 Constituent Services and Courtesies 3.20 Media Pressure 3.21 Member's Web Site 3.22 Media Galleries 3.23 Sample Senate Press Release 3.24 Media Guidance for a Major Committee Hearing 3.30 Executive-Branch Pressure 3.31 Members of Congress Who Served as President 3.32 Former Members of Congress Appointed by President Bush to Executive Positions 3.33 White House Legislative Affairs 3.34 Presidential Support for His Party's Members 3.35 State of the Union Address 3.40 Judicial-Branch Pressure
Chapter 4. Pressures on Congress: Lobbying and Congressional Ethics 4.00 Introduction 4.10 Lobbying Pressures 4.11 Grass-roots Training 4.12 Example of Grass-roots Campaign 4.13 Meeting Tips for a Lobbyist 4.20 Lobbying Laws 4.21 Resources on Lobbying 4.22 Lobbying Disclosure Form 4.30 Congressional Ethics 4.31 House Financial Disclosure Form
Chapter 5. Supporting Congress: Allowances and Staff 5.00 Introduction 5.10 Pay and Allowances of Members 5.20 Salary, Earned Income, and Benefits 5.30 House Allowances for Staff, Office, and Other Expenses 5.40 Senate Allowances for Staff, Office, and Other Expenses 5.41 Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account 5.50 Franking Privilege 5.60 Personal Staff 5.61 Staff Salary Data 5.62 Congressional Staff Organizations 5.70 Committee and Subcommittee Staff 5.80 House of Representatives Committee Funding 5.90 Senate Committee Funding 5.100 Congressional Fellowships and Internships 5.110 Administrative Offices of the House 5.111 Chaplains and Guest Chaplains 5.112 Selling Products and Services to Congress 5.113 Congressional Pages 5.120 Administrative Offices of the Senate 5.121 Architect of the Capitol 5.122 Office of the Attending Physician 5.123 Capitol Police 5.130 Legislative-Branch Support Agencies 5.131 Requesting GAO Assistance 5.140 Government Printing Office 5.150 Congressional Accountability Act 5.160 General Services Administration 5.170 Congressional Liaison Offices 5.171 Liaison Offices on Capitol Hill 5.172 Duties of a Congressional Liaison Office 5.173 General Counsel Offices 5.180 Office of Management and Budget 5.190 Outside Groups 5.191 Congressional Spouse Organizations
Chapter 6. Supporting Congress: The Capitol Complex 6.00 Introduction 6.10 U.S. Capitol and Grounds 6.11 The Lantern and Flags 6.12 Current Projects at the Capitol 6.13 Statues in National Statuary Hall 6.14 Those Who Have Lain in State or in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda 6.15 Resources on the Capitol 6.20 Guide to Public Buildings on Capitol Hill 6.21 Capitol Hill Map 6.22 Capitol Security 6.23 The Capitol's Second (Principal) Floor 6.24 House Office Buildings 6.25 Senate Office Buildings 6.30 Bells and Lights: Senate and House Signals
Chapter 7. Organizing Congress: Members, Leaders, and Committees 7.00 Introduction 7.01 Constitutional Provisions Related to the Composition and Organization of Congress 7.10 Members of Congress 7.11 Senate Classes 7.12 Membership Changes, 110th Congress, First Session 7.13 Party Switchers 7.14 Selected Characteristics of the 110th Congress
7.15 Senators in the 110th Congress Who Previously Served in the House of Representatives 7.16 Former Governors Serving in the 110th Congress 7.17 Numbers of Former State and Local Elected Officials Serving in the 110th Congress 7.18 Members of Congress Who Subsequently Served on the Supreme Court 7.19 Former Judges Serving in the 110th Congress 7.110 Members of the 110th Congress Who Were Pages 7.111 Members of the 110th Congress Who Have Served as Congressional Staff 7.112 Vice Presidents Elected to Senate 7.20 Terms and Sessions of Congress 7.21 Terms of Congress 7.22 Lame-Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935–2006 7.23 Résumé of Congressional Activity, 109th Congress 7.24 Joint Meetings and Joint Sessions 7.30 Early Organization Meetings 7.31 Representative Early Organization Schedule: 108th Congress 7.40 Party Leadership 7.41 Party Control of Congress, 80th through 110th Congresses 7.42 House Leadership Structure, 110th Congress 7.43 The Parties' Whip Structures 7.44 Senate Leadership Structure, 110th Congress 7.50 Committees and Subcommittees 7.51 House and Joint Committee Ratios in the 110th Congress 7.52 Senate Committee Ratios in the 110th Congress 7.53 Member Press Release 7.54 Example of a Senior Committee Member's Activities 7.55 House Committee Chairs and Ranking Minority Members and Their Tenure 7.56 House Committee Assignment Request Form 7.57 Categories of Committees in the House of Representatives 7.58 Senate Committee Chairs and Ranking Minority Members and Their Tenure 7.59 Categories of Committees in the Senate 7.60 Informal Groups and Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) 7.61 Selected Caucuses and Informal Groups 7.70 Commissions and Boards
Chapter 8. Legislating in Congress: Legislative Process 8.00 Introduction 8.01 Legislative Process Flowchart 8.02 House Rules Citations 8.03 Senate Rules Citations 8.04 Selected Procedures: House and Senate Rules 8.10 Types of Measures 8.11 Legislation Glossary 8.20 Drafting and Introducing Legislation 8.21 House Cosponsorship Form 8.22 Sample "Dear Colleague" Letter 8.30 Referral of Legislation to Committee 8.31 Sample Jurisdictional Agreement 8.32 Sample of House Referral 8.40 Committee Hearings 8.41 Committee Hearings Schedule 8.42 Keeping Up with House and Senate Committee Hearings 8.43 Sample Truth in Testimony Form 8.44 Celebrity Witnesses 8.45 Field Hearing Announcement 8.50 Committee Markup 8.51 Committee Markup and Reporting Glossary 8.52 Keeping Up with House and Senate Committee Markups 8.60 Committee Reports 8.61 Reading the Cover Page of a House Committee Report 8.62 House Committee Reports: Required Contents 8.63 Senate Committee Reports: Required Contents 8.70 House Floor: Scheduling and Privilege 8.71 House Calendars 8.72 Daily Starting Times in the House 8.80 House Floor: Methods of Consideration 8.90 Rules Committee and Special Rules 8.91 Special Rules Glossary 8.92 Announcement on Amendments Prior to a Rules Committee Meeting 8.93 Reading a Special Rule 8.100 Consideration of a Special Rule on the House Floor 8.110 Committee of the Whole: Debate 8.111 The Mace 8.112 House versus Committee of the Whole 8.113 Who Is Allowed on the House Floor? 8.114 Committee of the Whole and the House: Stages of Action 8.120 Committee of the Whole: Amendment Process 8.121 Amendment Process Glossary 8.122 Basic House Amendment Tree 8.123 Keeping Up with the House Floor: Scheduling and Proceedings 8.130 House Floor: Voting 8.131 House Voting Glossary 8.140 House Floor: Motion to Recommit and Final Passage 8.141 Approval Terminology 8.150 House and Senate Compared 8.151 Comparison of Selected House and Senate Procedures 8.160 Senate Scheduling 8.161 Keeping Up with the Senate Floor: Scheduling and Proceedings 8.170 Legislative and Calendar Days; Morning Hour and Morning Business 8.180 Senate Calendars and Legislative and Executive Business before the Senate 8.190 Holds, Clearance, and Unanimous Consent 8.191 Who Is Allowed on the Senate Floor? 8.200 Time Agreements and Motions to Proceed on the Senate Floor 8.201 Example of a Senate Unanimous Consent Time Agreement 8.202 Comparing a House Special Rule and a Senate Time Agreement 8.210 Consideration and Debate on the Senate Floor 8.211 Longest Senate Filibusters 8.220 Senate Amendment Procedure 8.230 Cloture in Senate Floor Proceedings 8.231 Steps to Invoke Cloture 8.232 Senate Procedures under Cloture 8.240 Senate Floor: Motion to Reconsider and Final Passage 8.250 Voting in the Senate 8.260 Reconciling Differences between House-Passed and Senate-Passed Legislation 8.261 Reconciling Differences Glossary 8.262 Keeping Up with Reconciling House-Senate Differences 8.270 Amendments between the Houses 8.280 Conference Committees 8.281 Size of Conference Committees 8.282 Authority of Conferees 8.283 Conference Signature Sheet 8.290 Presidential Action on Enacted Measures 8.291 Vetoes and Veto Overrides: Presidential Clout 8.300 Publication of Public Laws
Chapter 9. Legislating in Congress: Federal Budget Process 9.00 Introduction: Congress's "Power of the Purse" 9.01 Congress's Constitutional "Power of the Purse" 9.02 Federal Budgeting Concepts and Terminology 9.10 Key Budget Process Laws 9.11 Budget Enforcement Act Procedures 9.20 The Budget Cycle 9.30 Budget Enforcement Framework 9.40 Presidential Budget Process 9.41 Typical Executive Budget Process Timetable 9.42 Office of Management and Budget Publications 9.43 Volumes Containing and Explaining the President's Annual Budget 9.44 Program and Financing Schedule in President's Budget Appendix 9.50 Congressional Budget Process 9.51 Congressional Budget Process Timetable 9.52 Completion Dates of Budget Resolutions 9.53 Congressional Budget Process Flowchart 9.54 Functional Categories in a Congressional Budget Resolution 9.55 Membership on the House and Senate Budget Committees 9.60 Spending, Revenue, and Debt-Limit Legislation 9.61 Budgeting for Direct and Guaranteed Loans 9.70 Spending Legislation 9.71 Differences between Discretionary and Direct Spending 9.80 Authorization and Appropriation Processes 9.81 Limitations, Earmarks, and General Provisions 9.82 New Appropriations Subcommittee Organization 9.83 Sequence of Appropriations Measures through Congress 9.84 Examples of Appropriations Subcommittees' Requirements for Member Requests 9.90 Revenue Legislation 9.91 Tax Expenditures 9.92 Revenue Estimates 9.100 Debt-Limit Legislation 9.110 Reconciliation Legislation 9.120 Implementation of the Budget by Executive Agencies 9.130 Apportionment 9.140 Transfer and Reprogramming 9.150 Impoundment: Deferrals and Rescissions 9.160 Budget Process Glossary
Chapter 10. Legislating in Congress: Special Procedures and Considerations 10.00 Introduction: Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Federalism 10.10 Congress and the Executive 10.20 Congress and the Executive: Legislation 10.21 Letter Opposing Legislation (from the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce) 10.22 Presidential Letter 10.30 Congress and the Executive: Ratification of Treaties, and Foreign Policy 10.40 Congress and the Executive: Rulemaking 10.41 Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking 10.50 Congress and the Executive: Appropriations 10.51 Legislative Veto 10.60 Congress and the Executive: Management 10.61 Program Performance Information Resources 10.70 Congress and the Executive: Oversight and Investigation 10.71 Examples of Oversight Letters 10.72 Executive Privilege 10.73 Legislative History 10.74 Hearings May Affect Public or Private Practices 10.75 Committee Investigations and Witness Protections 10.76 Example of Subpoena to Executive Branch Official 10.77 Seeking to Compel Testimony 10.80 Congress and the Executive: Appointments 10.81 Confirmation Procedure 10.90 Congress and the Executive: Presidential Election and Succession 10.91 Electoral College 10.92 Presidential and Vice Presidential Succession 10.100 Congress and the Executive: Impeachment 10.110 Congress and the Courts 10.120 Congress and the Courts: Exercising Congressional Powers 10.121 Nominations to Federal Courts 10.122 Gathering Information on a Judicial Nominee 10.123 Congressional Response to Court Decisions 10.130 Congress and Foreign Policy 10.140 Congress and Foreign Policy: Declaring War and Committing Troops 10.150 Congress and Foreign Policy: Treaties and International Agreements 10.151 Fast-Track Procedures 10.160 Congress and Foreign Policy: Legislation, Appropriations, and Nominations 10.170 Congress and Foreign Policy: Nonbinding Actions 10.171 Letter to Foreign Leader 10.180 Congress and Federalism 10.190 Congress and Federalism: Exercising Congressional Powers 10.200 Congress and Federalism: Financial Support for State and Local Governments 10.201 States' Washington Offices and State and Local Governments' National Organizations 10.202 Unfunded Mandates 10.210 Congress and Federalism: Amending the Constitution 10.220 Congress and Federalism: Extending the Franchise
Chapter 11. Congressional Documents: Overview, Legislation, and Laws 11.00 Introduction 11.10 Finding and Obtaining Congressional Documents 11.11 THOMAS Web Site 11.12 GPO Access Web Site 11.13 House of Representatives Web Site 11.14 Senate Web Site 11.15 Recorded Congressional Information 11.20 Legislation: Bills and Joint Resolutions 11.30 Legislation: Simple and Concurrent Resolutions 11.40 Versions of Legislation 11.50 Laws and Their Implementation by the Executive 11.51 Excerpt from a Public Law 11.52 Excerpt from the Statutes at Large 11.53 Excerpt from the U.S. Code
Chapter 12. Congressional Documents: Committee, Chamber, Party, and Administrative Publications 12.00 Introduction 12.10 Committee Documents 12.11 Excerpt from a House Committee Calendar 12.12 Example of a Committee Print 12.13 Example of a House Legislative Activity Report 12.20 Floor Documents 12.21 Calendars of the United States House of Representatives and History of Legislation 12.22 Senate Calendar of Business 12.23 Senate Executive Calendar 12.30 Congressional Rules and Precedents 12.40 Official Rules Publications of the House 12.50 Official Rules Publications of the Senate 12.60 Other Congressional Sources of Information on Rules and Procedures 12.61 Byrd and Dole Historical Documents 12.70 Party Publications 12.80 Administrative Documents 12.81 Selected Congressional Documents about Members of Congress
Chapter 13. Legislative Research: Private and Government Information Providers 13.00 Introduction 13.10 Legislative-Branch Agencies and Offices 13.20 Directories 13.30 Information Sources: A Selective List 13.40 Web Search Tips 13.41 Search Engine Tips 13.42 Additional Search Tips 13.43 Email Alert and News Services 13.50 Media, Policy, and Opinion on the Web 13.51 Selected Media Web Sites 13.52 Selected Policy Institutes and Think Tanks 13.53 Selected Journals of Opinion 13.54 Selected Academic Journals 13.60 For Further Reading: Books by and about Congress
Chapter 14. Legislative Research: How to Monitor and Research Congress 14.00 Introduction 14.10 How to Follow Floor Proceedings in the House 14.11 House Floor Plan 14.12 View of the Speaker's Dais and Wall of the House 14.13 View of the Speaker's Dais, Floor of the House, and Galleries 14.20 How to Follow Floor Proceedings in the Senate 14.21 Senate Floor Plan 14.22 View of the Senate Rostrum, or Presiding Officer's Dais 14.30 How to Research Committees 14.40 How to Research Members 14.50 Checklist of Jobs to Undertake in the Office: Tracking Legislative Action
Chapter 15. Putting It All Together: A Working Example 15.00 Key Legislative Documents Depicting the History of Financial Services Modernization Legislation in the 106th Congress 15.01 Bill as Introduced in the House
15.01a Sample--Bill as Introduced in the House 15.02 Bill as Reported
15.02a Sample--Bill as Reported 15.03 Banking and Financial Services Committee Report
15.03a Sample--Banking and Financial Services
Committee Report 15.04 Banking and Financial Services Committee Supplementary Report
15.04a Sample--Banking and Financial Services
Committee Supplementary Report 15.05 Commerce Committee Report
15.05a Sample--Commerce Committee Report 15.06 Special Rule from the Rules Committee 15.06a
Sample--Special Rule from the Rules Committee 15.07 Rules Committee Report 15.07a
Sample--Rules Committee Report 15.08 Statement of Administration Policy (House) 15.08a
Sample--Statement of Administration Policy (House) 15.09 Legislation as Passed the House 15.09a
Sample--Legislation as Passed the House 15.10 Legislation as Received in the Senate 15.10a
Sample--Legislation as Received in the Senate 15.11 Legislation as Introduced in the Senate 15.11a
Sample--Legislation as Introduced in the Senate 15.12 Senate Committee Report 15.12a
Sample--Senate Committee Report 15.13 Statement of Administration Policy (Senate) 15.13a
Sample--Statement of Administration Policy (Senate) 15.14 Legislation as Passed the Senate 15.14a
Sample--Legislation as Passed the Senate 15.15 Legislation Received in the House from the Senate 15.15a
Sample--Legislation Received in the House from the Senate 15.16 Side-by-Side Comparative Print 15.16a
Sample--Side-by-Side Comparative Print 15.17 Conference Chair's Letter to Conferees 15.17a
Sample--Conference Chair's Letter to Conferees 15.18 Conference Committee Amendment Proposed 15.18a
Sample--Conference Committee Amendment Proposed 15.19 Conference Report 15.19a
Sample--Conference Report 15.20 Joint Explanatory Statement 15.20a
Sample--Joint Explanatory Statement 15.21 Special Rule from the Rules Committee for Consideration of the Conference Report 15.21a
Sample--Special Rule from the Rules Committee for Consideration of the Conference Report 15.22 Enrolled Measure 15.22a
Sample--Enrolled Measure 15.23 Public Law 15.23a
Sample--Public Law
Michael L. Koempel is a senior specialist in American national government at the Congressional
Research Service, a department of the Library of Congress. He worked previously
for Congressional Quarterly Inc., and on the staffs of a U.S. representative and a
state governor. Mr. Koempel holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a
law degree from The Catholic University of America, and is admitted to practice law in
the District of Columbia.
Judy Schneider is a specialist on Congress at the Congressional Research Service, a
department of the Library of Congress, and an adjunct scholar at The Brookings Institution.
She worked previously for Senate and House committees, including the Senate
Select Committee to Study the Senate Committee System. Ms. Schneider was selected as
a Stennis Fellow for the 108th Congress, and received the Women in Government Relations
(WGR) Distinguished Member Award in 2004. Ms. Schneider is a frequent speaker
and lecturer on Congress and legislative procedures. She holds bachelor's and master's
degrees from The American University.
Contributing Authors
Chapter 10 (Congress and federalism) Eugene Boyd is a public policy analyst at the Congressional Research Service,
where he specializes in issues relating to federalism, intergovernmental relations,
the federal grant system, and urban policy. He has also published articles
on congressional actions affecting state and local governments. Mr. Boyd holds
a bachelor's degree in urban studies from Virginia Commonwealth University
and has undertaken graduate studies in city and regional planning at Howard
University.
Chapters 13 Peggy Garvin is an information consultant and author of The
United States
Government Internet Manual, an annual reference book from Bernan Press, and
Real World Research Skills, published in 2006 by TheCapitol.Net. She has
worked with government information, libraries, and information technology
over her twenty-year career with the Congressional Research Service and in the
private sector. Ms. Garvin earned her Master of Library Science degree from
Syracuse University.
Chapter 9 Bill Heniff Jr. is an analyst in American national government at the Congressional
Research Service, where he specializes in the budget and legislative
processes. He holds a doctorate in government and politics from the University
of Maryland.
Robert Keith, who has worked at the Congressional Research Service since
1974, is a Specialist in American National Government. He specializes in legislative
procedure and the federal budget process, focusing particularly on the
development and consideration of budget resolutions, reconciliation bills,
authorization and appropriation acts, revenue and debt-limit legislation, and
proposals to change the budget process.
Chapter 10 (Congress and the executive)
Henry B. Hogue earned his doctorate in public administration from The
American University. His subsequent areas of study and publication have
included the presidential appointment process, presidential recess-appointment
authority, electronic government, and topics related to federal executive organization
and management. Dr. Hogue is an analyst at the Congressional Research
Service.
The views expressed in this book are those of the individual authors. They do not represent
the views of their employers or of TheCapitol.Net.
"In this book we share our observations and experiences with readers who study Congress,
who work there as members or staffers, who cover the institution as journalists, or
who try to influence it as advocates, lobbyists, or citizens. Scores of books and studies
about Congress are published each year. Some address legislative or budget procedures.
Others detail documents that are generated on Capitol Hill or catalogue available Internet
resources. Some explore an aspect of congressional history, or tell the story of Congress
through a biography, voting patterns, leadership styles, or individual legislation. This book
owes much to earlier books and studies. In some ways, it is a synthesis of these publications;
in other ways, it is a complementary volume.
We decided that another book on Congress was not
superfluous, but should provide as much practical information on the
operations of this institution as possible in one volume. In this
book, we cover legislative, budget, and special procedures; how
various procedures relate to each other; the forms and impact of
political competition on Capitol Hill; overviews of the election,
lobbying, and ethics laws and rules that regulate congressional
behavior; the work of congressional, committee, and administrative
offices; the variety of congressional documents; and how to conduct
research on Congress."
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Softcover: 716 pages
ISBN 10: 1587330970
ISBN 13: 978-1-58733-097-1
ISSN: 1531-0116
OCLC: 60514840
Published 2007
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Judy Schneider is a specialist on Congress at the Congressional Research Service, a
department of the Library of Congress, and an adjunct scholar at The Brookings Institution.
She worked previously for Senate and House committees, including the Senate
Select Committee to Study the Senate Committee System. Ms. Schneider was selected as
a Stennis Fellow for the 108th Congress, and received the Women in Government Relations
(WGR) Distinguished Member Award in 2004. Ms. Schneider is a frequent speaker
and lecturer on Congress and legislative procedures. She holds bachelor's and master's
degrees from The American University. 
