Congressional Research Service Reports - 35 Matching Results

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The Federal Minimum Wage and American Samoa

Description: This report discusses the federal minimum wage in American Samoa. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the minimum wage for the islands is fixed by a commission established by the Secretary of Labor. The minimum wage for fish processing is currently $3.26 an hour. Were Congress to extend the general (federal) minimum wage to American Samoa (and raise it to $7.25 an hour, as is currently proposed), the fish processing industry might absorb the increase, change the way it processes tuna, or… more
Date: April 8, 2008
Creator: Whittaker, William G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Authority to Limit Military Operations

Description: This report begins by discussing constitutional provisions allocating war powers between Congress and the President, and presenting a historical overview of relevant court cases. It considers Congress's constitutional authority to end a military conflict via legislative action. The report discusses Congress's ability to limit funding for U.S. participation in hostilities, examining relevant court cases and prior measures taken by Congress to restrict military operations, as well as possible alt… more
Date: September 8, 2011
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.; Garcia, Michael John & Nicola, Thomas J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Closing a Congressional Office: Overview and Guide to House and Senate Practices

Description: Turnover of membership in the House and Senate necessitates closing congressional offices. The closure of a congressional office requires an outgoing Member of Congress to evaluate pertinent information regarding his or her staff; the disposal of personal and official records; and final disposition of office accounts, facilities, and equipment. In the past several years, the House and Senate have developed extensive resources to assist Members in closing their offices. This report, which will b… more
Date: September 8, 2010
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pope Francis and Selected Global Issues: Background for Papal Address to Congress

Description: This report provides Members of Congress with background information on Pope Francis and a summary of a few selected global issues of congressional interest that have figured prominently on his agenda. The background section on Pope Francis includes a biographical sketch of his life as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, followed by a brief overview of his papacy thus far. The report then identifies some--but not all--of the global issues of concern to Pope Francis. Those include environmental stewardship, … more
Date: September 8, 2015
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare; Reese, Shawn; Straus, Jacob R.; Werner, James D. & Mix, Derek E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committees: Categories and Rules for Committee Assignments

Description: This report briefly examines Senate Rule XXV and party conference rules that address committee assignments. It includes a table for A, B, and C committees with an overview of limitations and procedures.
Date: January 8, 2005
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committee Rules in the 114th Congress: Key Provisions

Description: This report first provides a brief overview of Senate rules as they pertain to committee actions. It then provides tables that summarize selected, key features of each committee's rules in regard to meeting day, hearing and meeting notice requirements, scheduling of witnesses, hearing quorum, business quorum, amendment filing requirements, proxy voting, polling, nominations, investigations, and subpoenas. In addition, the report looks at selected unique provisions some committees have included … more
Date: February 8, 2016
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Legislative Process on the Senate Floor: An Introduction

Description: This report discusses the legislative process on the senate floor; the right of extended debate that permits filibusters that can be brought to an end if the Senate invokes cloture, usually by a vote of three-fifths of all Senators.
Date: November 8, 2002
Creator: Carr, Thomas P. & Bach, Stanley
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Obtaining a Record Vote on the House Floor

Description: The House of Representatives uses two kinds of votes in which the names and positions of individual Members are recorded: (1) the recorded vote, used chiefly in Committee of the Whole, though also in order in the House, and (2) the yea and nay vote, in order only in the House proper. Both kinds together are referred to as record votes or, more informally, as “roll call votes,” and both are normally taken by electronic device. This report illustrates forms commonly used for obtaining each kind o… more
Date: December 8, 2006
Creator: Beth, Richard S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House Office of Congressional Ethics: History, Authority, and Procedures

Description: This report describes the history and rationale behind the creation of the House Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), its operations, and its relationship with the House Committee on Ethics, and options potentially available for Congress if further amendments to the House ethics process are desired.
Date: March 8, 2013
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Insourcing Functions Performed by Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues

Description: This report provides a brief overview of key legal issues related to recent insourcing initiatives. Recent Congresses and the Obama Administration have taken numerous actions to promote "insourcing," or the use of government personnel to perform functions that contractors previously performed on behalf of federal agencies. Among other things, the 109th through the 111th Congresses enacted several statutes requiring the development of policies and guidelines to ensure that agencies "consider" us… more
Date: June 8, 2011
Creator: Manuel, Kate M. & Maskell, Jack
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents

Description: This report provides a list of executive orders and presidential directives pertaining to information and computer security. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities challenge governments, businesses, and individuals worldwide. Attacks have various targets, depending upon whether the attacker was seeking military intelligence, conducting diplomatic or industrial espionage, engaging in cybercrime, or intimidating political activists; additionally attributing an attack to a specific location can be difficul… more
Date: September 8, 2015
Creator: Tehan, Rita
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor

Description: 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 those participating in or watching these proceedings.
Date: November 8, 2010
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change

Description: This report discusses controversy regarding the franking privilege, which allows Members of Congress to transmit mail matter under their signature without postage. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the franking privilege served a fundamental democratic role, allowing Members of Congress to convey information to their constituents about the operations of government and policy matters before Congress. Conversely, it also provided a mechanism for citizens to communicate their feelings and concer… more
Date: September 8, 2008
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-115th Congresses

Description: This report documents, in tabular form, House committee party ratios for 18 Congresses -- covering the period from the 98th Congress (1983-1985) through February 2017, the first part of the 115th Congress (2017-2019).
Date: November 8, 2018
Creator: Eckman, Sarah J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction

Description: This report briefly outlines the background of ethics enforcement in the House of Representatives, including the creation of both the Select Committee on Ethics and the Committee on Ethics. The report also focuses on various jurisdictional and procedural changes that the committee has experienced since 1967 and discusses the committee's current jurisdiction and procedures.
Date: March 8, 2011
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House Committee Hearings: Preparation

Description: Committee hearings afford Representatives an opportunity to gather information on, and draw attention to, legislation and issues within a committee's purview; conduct oversight of programs or agencies; and investigate allegations of wrongdoing. This report identifies many of the tasks that need to be performed by full committees and, in most cases, subcommittees in advance of a hearing. Some of these tasks are required by House or committee rules; others are common committee practice.
Date: March 8, 2001
Creator: Sachs, Richard C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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House Committee Hearings: Scheduling and Notification

Description: Each House committee has authority to hold hearings whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned (Rule XI, clause 2(m)(1)(A)). Regardless of the type of hearing, or whether a hearing is held in or outside of Washington, hearings share common aspects of planning and preparation. this report discusses the issues a committee faces in deciding whether to schedule a hearing.
Date: March 8, 1999
Creator: Hardy-Vincent, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Legislative Procedures: Published Sources of Information

Description: The Senate publishes its rules, precedents, and other related information so that Senators and their staff have convenient access to the Senate’s legislative procedures and can gauge how those procedures are likely to apply in various situations. Information about the Senate’s legislative procedures is published in four official documents. This report discusses these documents.
Date: June 8, 2007
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Senate Committee Party Ratios: 98th-115th Congresses

Description: This report provides, in tabular form, Senate committee party ratios for 18 Congresses, covering the period of the 98th Congress (1983-1985) through April 2017, the first part of the 115th Congress (2017-2019).
Date: November 8, 2018
Creator: Eckman, Sarah J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design

Description: This report describes how world geography influences U.S. military strategy. Of particular importance to U.S. policymakers is preventing the emergence of a regional hegemony in one part of Eurasia.
Date: November 8, 2018
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Presidential Appointments, the Senate's Confirmation Process, and Proposals for Change, 112th Congress

Description: The responsibility for populating top positions in the executive and judicial branches of government is shared, with the President having the power of appointment and the Senate having the power of advice and consent. This report provides a brief background on advice and consent issues, an overview of the appointment process in both the executive and legislative branches, and a brief discussion of recent concerns about the system. Next, the report explores the events in the 112th Congress leadi… more
Date: July 8, 2011
Creator: Carey, Maeve P. & Palmer, Betsy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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