CRS Reports

How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction

This report presents a brief description of the five methods used to bring proposed legislation to the House floor for consideration.

Mar 26, 2001

Federalism and the Constitution: Limits on Congressional Power

Mar 21, 2001

Executive Orders: Issuance and Revocation

Executive orders and proclamations are used extensively by Presidents to achieve policy goals, set uniform standards for managing the Executive Branch, or outline a policy view intended to influence the behavior of private citizens. The Constitution does not define these presidential instruments, and does not explicitly vest the President with the authority to issue them. Nonetheless, such orders are accepted as an inherent aspect of presidential power, and, if based on appropriate authority, they have the force and effect of law. This report discusses the nature of executive orders and proclamations, with a focus on the scope of presidential authority to execute such instruments and judicial and congressional responses thereto.

Mar 19, 2001

Farm Program Spending: What's Permitted Under the Uruguay Round Agreements

This report discusses farm income and commodity price support proposals that might succeed the programs due to expire in 2002. A key question being asked of virtually every new proposal is how it will affect U.S. commitments under the 1994 Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA), which commitsthe United States to spend no more than $19.1 billion annually on domestic farm supports most likely to distort trade. The URAA spells out the rules for countries to determine whether their policies are potentially trade distorting, and to calculate the costs.

Mar 13, 2001

The President's Reorganization Authority: Review and Analysis

Among the initiatives being promoted with the beginning of the Administration of President George W. Bush is that of renewing the President's lapsed authority to submit reorganization plans to Congress. The general rationale offered for renewing this authority is that it would provide additional flexibility and discretion to the President in organizing the executive branch to promote "economy and efficiency" as well as his political priorities. The regular legislative route for considering presidential proposals involving organizational changes is deemed by reorganization authority supporters as being unduly slow and cumbersome. Thus, the proposal to permit the President to submit reorganization plans subject to mandatory congressional consideration with "fast track" procedures is viewed by the reorganization proposal's proponents as a necessary reform for good government. Critics of the reorganization plan authority reject the arguments and assumptions behind the proposal and defend the efficacy and legitimacy of the regular legislative process for executive reorganization proposals. This report addresses three specific issues: (1) the historical basis and use of the President's reorganization authority; (2) the factors contributing to the lapse of the President's reorganization authority in 1984, (1) and (3) thoughts on the future of reorganization in the executive branch. 1. It is worth noting that the Reorganization Act of 1977, as amended, remains "on the books," but is not presently operative for execution as it expired on December 31, 1984. See Appendix for Reorganization Act Amendments of 1984, 98 Stat. 3192; and Appendix 2 for Executive Reorganization, chapter 9 of Title 5 of the U.S. Code.

Mar 8, 2001

Overview of the Authorization-Appropriation Process

Mar 5, 2001

The Role of the President in Budget Development

Mar 5, 2001

Allocations and Subdivisions in the Congressional Budget Process

This report briefly explains how the annual budget resolution sets forth total spending and revenue levels, which are then allocated to the appropriate House and Senate committees, which in turn help Congress determine how best to enforce spending once a budget resolution is adopted.

Mar 5, 2001

Critical Infrastructures: Background and Early Implementation of PDD-63

Feb 27, 2001

Special Order Speeches: Current House Practices

Feb 8, 2001

Expedited Procedures in the House: Variations Enacted Into Law

Congress enacts expedited, or fast-track, procedures into law when it wants to increase the likelihood that one or both houses of Congress will vote in a timely way on a certain measure or kind of measure. These procedures are enacted as rulemaking provisions of law pursuant to the constitutional power of each house to adopt its own rules. The house to which a set of expedited procedures applies may act unilaterally to waive, suspend, amend, or repeal them.

Jan 29, 2001

Ordering a Rollcall Vote in the Senate

Jan 24, 2001

Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate

Jan 17, 2001

Federal Statutes: What They Are and Where to Find Them

Jan 16, 2001

The Endangered Species Act: Consideration of Economic Factors

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides for the listing and protection of species that are found to be “endangered” or “threatened” – species that might become extinct. The listing of a species as endangered triggers the prohibitions in the Act against “taking” (killing or harming) individuals of the protected species, unless a permit is obtained to take individuals incidental to an otherwise lawful proposed action, or an exemption for the proposed action is obtained. Unauthorized taking of a listed species can result in civil or criminal penalties. These prohibitions and potential penalties can affect various activities, including development and use of land, with attendant economic impacts.

Jan 5, 2001

Medicaid, SCHIP, and Other Health Provisions in H.R. 5661: Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000

While largely comprised of Medicare provisions, the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 ( H.R. 5661 ), a compromise agreement between House and Senate committees and the leadership, includes a number of important changes to Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It also includes major provisions amending other programs. The provisions of H.R. 5661 are incorporated, by reference into H.R. 4577 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2001. H.R. 4577 was passed by the House and Senate on December 15, 2000 and was signed into law on December 21 ( P.L. 106-554 ). Among the major Medicaid modifications are several provisions affecting disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments provided to hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of uninsured and Medicaid enrollees. The agreement increases the disproportionate share hospital allotments for states. It also extends a special DSH payment rule for public hospitals in California to qualifying facilities in all states, and provides additional funds to certain public hospitals not receiving DSH payments. In addition to these DSH provisions, the bill replaces cost-based reimbursement with a prospective payment system for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs). The agreement also modifies proposed rules governing upper payment limits on inpatient and outpatient services provided by certain types of facilities, and requires that the final regulations be issued by the end of 2000. One major SCHIP provision extends the availability of unused funds from FY1998 and FY1999 and redistributes these unused funds among both those states that spend and those that do not spend their full original allotments for these years. Current law requires that these unused funds be distributed only to those states that spend their allotments. Among other major provisions, the agreement requires that outreach efforts be implemented to identify individuals who may be eligible for Medicaid payment of Medicare cost-sharing and to notify these persons of the availability of such assistance. It increases the authorization of annual appropriations for the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant under Title V. In addition, the bill extends for 1 year, to FY2003, the authority for grants to be made for both the Special Diabetes Program for Type I Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians and increases total funding for FY2001 through FY2003. Finally, the agreement provides an additional FY2001 direct appropriation for the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund. For information on the Medicare provisions, see CRS Report RL30707(pdf) , Medicare Provisions in H.R. 5661: Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000.

Jan 4, 2001

Forest Fire Protection

Dec 5, 2000

Congressional Authority to Standardize National Election Procedures

Recent events surrounding the Presidential election have led to increased scrutiny of voting procedures in the United States. This report focuses on the constitutional authority and limitations that might be relevant to attempts by Congress to standardize these and other procedures.

Nov 27, 2000

The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor

The House of Representatives follows a well established routine on the opening day of a new Congress. The proceedings include election of the Speaker, swearing in its members, election of administrative officers, and adoption of rules of procedure. Also, resolutions assigning its members to committees may be adopted. The House must take these actions at the beginning of each new Congress because it is not a continuing body. Article 1, Section 2 of Constitution sets terms for Members of the House at two years. Thus, the House ends at the conclusion of each two-year Congress and must reconstitute itself at the beginning of a new Congress. This report focuses on the floor activities of the House during its first formal session in a new Congress, and serves as a guide for participating in or watching those proceedings.

Nov 1, 2000

Appropriations for FY2001: Legislative Branch

Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations.

Sep 11, 2000

Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress

Jul 31, 2000

The Vietnam-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement

Jul 20, 2000

House Committee Organization and Process: A Brief Overview

Feb 10, 2000

Salaries and Allowances: The Congress

Nov 22, 1999

The Committee Markup Process in the House of Representatives

This report discusses aspects of the process by which House committees mark up and report legislation. Among the subjects discussed are: selecting the text to be marked up, offering and debating amendments, and making motions to conclude debates during markups. The report also discusses relevant rules and practices concerning motions, quorums, votes, points of order, and parliamentary inquiries.

Nov 1, 1999

Overview of the Congressional Budget Process

Oct 21, 1999

Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview

This report briefly discusses federal funding gaps. The routine activities of most federal agencies are funded annually by one or more of the 13 regular appropriations bills. When action on the regular appropriations bills is delayed, a continuing resolution (CR) is used to provide interim funding. During the past 48 years, CRs have been enacted for all but four fiscal years (FY1953, 1989, 1995, and 1997). For some fiscal years, a series of as many as six CRs have been enacted.

Oct 18, 1999

Federal Land Management Agencies’ Permanently Appropriated Accounts

Oct 13, 1999

House Committee Markups: Commonly Used Motions and Requests

Aug 19, 1999

Appropriations for FY2000: Legislative Branch

Jun 28, 1999