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Whither the Role of Conference Committees: An Analysis

Description: This report discusses several reasons for, and implications of, ping ponging amendments back-and-forth between the chambers instead of forming conference committees to achieve bicameral agreement on legislation. This report also provides summary observations, including why the exchange of amendment pattern has seemingly evolved to become a more important feature of bicameral lawmaking activity.
Date: August 12, 2008
Creator: Oleszek, Walter
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Role of the House Minority Leader: An Overview

Description: This report discusses the role of the House minority leader. The primary goal of the minority leader is to recapture majority control of the house. The minority leader performs important institutional and party functions.
Date: December 12, 2006
Creator: Oleszek, Walter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Creation of Executive Departments: Highlights from the Legislative History of Modern Precedents

Description: This report describes the principal elements of legislative process used to establish these executive branch entities. Legislative histories of the organic acts of these Cabinet departments are set out in narrative form in the body of the report, and in tabular format in the appendix.
Date: July 12, 2002
Creator: Carr, Thomas P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Casework in a Congressional Office

Description: This report and its appendices present a general overview of congressional office procedures associated with handling casework and the assistance provided by a Member of Congress to help constituents in their dealings with federal agencies. It discusses options for assisting Members’ constituents and the role of Members and staff in providing casework services.
Date: July 12, 2001
Creator: Pontius, John S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Emergency Electronic Communications in Congress: Proposals and Issues

Description: The events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax incidents have prompted some observers to suggest creating an emergency electronic communications system for Congress to ensure continuity of its operations. On July 25, 2003, Representative James R. Langevin introduced H.R. 2948. The bill would direct the Comptroller General of the United States to enter into arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Librarian of Congress for conducting a study on the feasibili… more
Date: August 12, 2003
Creator: Seifert, Jeffrey W. & Petersen, R. Eric
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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"Fast Track" Congressional Consideration of Recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission

Description: The recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission will automatically take effect unless, within a stated period after the recommendations are submitted to the House and Senate, Congress adopts a joint resolution of disapproval rejecting them in their entirety. Congressional consideration of this disapproval resolution is not governed by the regular rules of the House and Senate, but by special expedited or “fast track” procedures laid out in statute. This report des… more
Date: May 12, 2005
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Appropriations Bills: What is Report Language?

Description: When the Senate or House Appropriations Committee reports an appropriations bill to the full Senate or House, respectively, the committee typically publishes a committee report explaining the bill. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of what these reports entail and the language used within them.
Date: January 12, 2005
Creator: Streeter, Sandy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Child Welfare Issues in the 108th Congress

Description: This report discusses child welfare services that seek to protect children who have been abused or neglected or who are at risk of maltreatment. It also point out child welfare financing and other child welfare issues.
Date: January 12, 2005
Creator: Stoltzfus, Emilie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The U.S.-Australia Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation

Description: This report describes a treaty signed by the United States and Australia on Defense Trade Cooperation in September 2007 that would facilitate defense trade and cooperation between the two nations. On the strategic level, the treaty would further develop ties between two very close allies who have fought together in most of America's conflicts, including most recently in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Date: December 12, 2007
Creator: Vaughn, Bruce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Horse Slaughter Prevention Bills and Issues

Description: In 2006 two Texas plants and one in Illinois slaughtered nearly 105,000 horses for human food, mainly for European and Asian consumers. In 2007, court action effectively closed the Texas plants, and a new state ban in Illinois closed the plant. Meanwhile, activists have continued to press for legislative bans appropriated funds and user fees for inspection of horses for human food.
Date: August 12, 2008
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Enron Collapse: An Overview of Financial Issues

Description: The sudden and unexpected collapse of Enron Corp. was the first in a series of major corporate accounting scandals that has shaken confidence in corporate governance and the stock market. This report briefly examines the accounting system that failed to provide a clear picture of the firm's true condition, the independent auditors and board members who were unwilling to challenge Enron's management, the Wall Street stock analysts who failed to warn investors of trouble ahead, the rules governin… more
Date: August 12, 2004
Creator: Jickling, Mark
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues for the 109th Congress

Description: Over the past two decades, the Latin America and Caribbean region has made enormous strides in terms of political and economic development. Legislative and oversight attention to Latin America and the Caribbean in the 109th Congress has focused on continued counternarcotics efforts; trade issues; challenges to democracy, especially in Venezuela; efforts to bring political stability and ameliorate poverty in Haiti; efforts to foster political change in Cuba; and cooperation on migration and bord… more
Date: September 12, 2006
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.; Cook, Colleen W.; Hornbeck, J. F.; Ribando, Clare M.; Taft-Morales, Maureen; Veillette, Connie et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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