Congressional Research Service Reports - 118 Matching Results

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Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief

Description: This report provides basic information on congressional salaries and allowances and recent developments. First, the report briefly summarizes the current salary of Members of Congress; limits or prohibitions on their outside earned income, honoraria, and tax deductions; options for life and health insurance; and retirement benefits. Second, the report provides information on allowances available to Representatives and Senators to support them in their official and representational duties.
Date: December 30, 2014
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Secret Sessions of the House and Senate: Authority, Confidentiality, and Frequency

Description: This report discusses secret, or closed, sessions of the House and Senate, which exclude the press and the public. They may be held for matters deemed to require confidentiality and secrecy--such as national security, sensitive communications received from the President, and Senate deliberations during impeachment trials. Although Members usually seek advance agreement for going into secret session, any Member of Congress may request a secret session without notice.
Date: December 30, 2014
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Commissions: Costs and Cost-Saving Strategies

Description: This report discusses the congressional commissions, which are temporary advisory bodies, usually established by statute, that provide independent advice to Congress, make recommendations for changes in public policy, study or investigate a particular problem or event, or perform a specific duty.
Date: December 19, 2014
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Oversight Manual

Description: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) developed the Congressional Oversight Manual over 30 years ago. Over the years, CRS has assisted many Members, committees, party leaders, and staff aides in the performance of the oversight function: the review, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of public policy.
Date: December 19, 2014
Creator: Dolan, Alissa M.; Halchin, Elaine; Garvey, Todd; Oleszek, Walter J. & Ginsberg, Wendy
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies

Description: This list of about 200 congressional liaison offices is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: December 17, 2014
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey C.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Constitutional Points of Order in the Senate

Description: In general, the Senate's presiding officer does not take the initiative in enforcing Senate rules and precedents. Instead, a Senator may raise a point of order if he or she believes the Senate is taking (or is about to take) an action that violates the rules. In most circumstances, the presiding officer rules on the point of order on advice of the Parliamentarian; that ruling is typically subject to an appeal on which the Senate votes (unless the appeal is tabled or withdrawn). Pursuant to Rule… more
Date: December 17, 2014
Creator: Heitshusen, Valerie
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: Evolution of a Strategic Review

Description: The quadrennial homeland security review is a process in which DHS examines the nation's homeland security strategy; the report provides an explanation of this process. Neither the review process nor the report to Congress is a strategy, instead the 2014 QHSR (both the process and report) are part of the constant reevaluation of the nation's homeland security and part of the process by which the combined National and Homeland Security Staff develops the next iteration of the national security s… more
Date: December 12, 2014
Creator: Reese, Shawn
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 113th Congress

Description: The Department of Homeland Security has statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes since the 109th Congress. The 113th Congress has extended this authority through December 13, 2014. Congressional policymakers have debated the scope and details of reauthorization and continue to consider legislation establishing an authority with longer duration. This report contains information on the implementation of, policy issues, policy options, and Congressional action rela… more
Date: December 12, 2014
Creator: Shea, Dana A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Closing a Congressional Office: Overview of 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. This report is designed to address questions that arise when a congressional office is closing.
Date: December 5, 2014
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the Senate Floor

Description: The Senate follows a well-established routine on the opening day of a new Congress. The proceedings include swearing in new members, administrative business, and the election of the president pro tempore, the constitutionally mandated officer elected to preside over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. This report contains information on what is contained in the well-established routine.
Date: December 5, 2014
Creator: Amer, Mildred L.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Proposed Train and Equip Authorities for Syria: In Brief

Description: This report reviews the authority granted in H.J.Res. 124 and explores similarities and differences among the H.J.Res. 124 authority, the President's requests, and other proposals that may be considered by Congress, including during anticipated consideration of FY2015 full-year appropriations or defense authorization (H.R. 4435/S. 2410) legislation.
Date: December 3, 2014
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M. & Belasco, Amy
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Assistance Programs in China

Description: This report examines U.S. foreign assistance activities in the People's Republic of China (PRC), undertaken by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The report also discusses related foreign operations appropriations, policy history, and legislative background. International programs supported by U.S. departments and agencies other than the Department of State and USAID, as well as Department of State public diplomacy programs, are not covered in th… more
Date: December 2, 2014
Creator: Lum, Thomas
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Committee Markup Process in the House of Representatives

Description: This report focuses on the markup stage of the legislative process in committee. It discusses the selection of the text to be marked up, the procedures for proposing and debating amendments to that text, the voting and quorum procedures that govern markups, and the final stages of ordering the marked-up text reported to the House for its consideration.
Date: November 28, 2014
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Speaking on the House Floor: Gaining Time and Parliamentary Phraseology

Description: This report discusses the House rules and precedents that structure Members' opportunities to speak on the floor about pending legislation. Under some circumstances, Members arrange to speak on legislation by communicating with the leaders of the committee that reported the bill. Sometimes the arrangements can be made on the floor during the debate, and at other times they are made prior to floor consideration. The committee leaders from both sides of the aisle manage the consideration of a bil… more
Date: November 27, 2014
Creator: Rybicki, Elizabeth
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Export-Import Bank Reauthorization: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report addresses frequently asked questions about Ex-Im Bank, grouped in the following categories: congressional interest and the Ex-Im Bank reauthorization debate; market context; international context; organizational structure and management; programs; statutory requirements and policies; risk management; budget and appropriations; implications of a sunset in authority; and historical and current approaches to reauthorization.
Date: November 26, 2014
Creator: Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias; Carpenter, David H.; Levit, Mindy R. & Taylor, Julia
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources

Description: This report discusses House and Senate rules and guidelines, laws, and regulations affecting congressional casework, as well as the role of caseworkers. It also provides sample outlines and document templates for implementing and managing congressional casework.
Date: November 24, 2014
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Membership of the 113th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 113th Congress (2013-2014). Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.
Date: November 24, 2014
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Foreign Affairs Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO): Background and Current Issues

Description: Some members of Congress are examining foreign affairs funding designated as Overseas Contingency Operations because of its possible use for the overseas Ebola crisis, efforts to combat the Islamic State, and other budgetary reasons. This report contains information on the background of overseas contingency operations and current funding and issues.
Date: November 19, 2014
Creator: Epstein, Susan B.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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