Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process

Preface About the Authors Chapter 1: Congress and Lawmaking The Constitutional Context Functions of Rules and Procedures Rules and Policymaking in Congress Congressional Decision Making The House and Senate Compared Pressures on Members Chapter 2: The Congressional Budget Process Authorization-Appropriations Process Establishing a Congressional Budget Process Evolution of Statutory Budget Procedures Case Study: The Government Shutdown of 2013 Chapter 3: Preliminary Legislative Action Categories of Legislation Bill Referral Procedure Consideration in Committee The Committee Chair's Role Committee Hearings The Markup Committee Markup Procedures The Report Bypassing Committees Chapter 4: Scheduling Legislation in the House The House Legislative Calendars Minor and Noncontroversial Measures Privileged Legislation Major Legislation Promises of Openness by the Majority Party Legislation Blocked in Committee Final Scheduling Steps Chapter 5: House Floor Procedure Debate Voting Consideration of Major Legislation Final Procedural Steps Opposition Tactics Chapter 6: Scheduling Legislation in the Senate Legislative and Calendar Days Calendars and Rule XIV Motion to Proceed to Consider a Bill Bills Taken Up by Unanimous Consent Bills Privileged for Consideration Clearance Holds Executive Businesses Major Scheduling Considerations Chapter 7: Senate Floor Procedure Debate and the Filibuster Cloture The Amending Process Principle of Precedence and the Amendment Trees Unanimous Consent Agreements and the Amending Process Strategic Uses of Amendments Quorum and Voting Procedures Procedural Change in the Senate Chapter 8: Resolving House-Senate Differences Procedural Methods for Reaching Agreement Amendment Exchange Between the Chambers Preconference Considerations Conference Committee Process Presidential Approval or Veto Case Study: A Procedural Sketch: The Surface Transportation Conference, 2012 Chapter 9: Legislative Oversight Oversight: An Overview Techniques of Oversight Impeachment Oversight Trends and Incentives Lack of Consensus on Oversight Chapter 10: A Dynamic Process Observations About Lawmaking Centralization of Authority in the Speakership Congress and the Information Age Resurgence of Sharp Partisanship Glossary of Selected Congressional Terms Selected Bibliography Selected Internet Sources Index