This system will be undergoing maintenance April 18th between 9:00AM and 12:00PM CDT.

Search Results

open access

Proposals to Reform “Holds” in the Senate

Description: This report examines, over a more than three decade period, a wide range of proposals to reform holds. In general, the objective of these recommendations is not to abolish holds but to infuse more accountability, uniformity, and transparency in their use and to make it clear that holds are not a veto on the majority leader's prerogative of calling up measures or matters.
Date: December 20, 2007
Creator: Oleszek, Walter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning International Security Agreements Concluded by the United States

Description: This report looks at issues arising from disputes between Congress and the executive branch. It begins by providing a general background on the types of international agreements that are binding upon the United States, as well as considerations affecting whether they take the form of a treaty or an executive agreement. Next, the report discusses historical precedents as to the role that security agreements have taken, with specific attention paid to past agreements entered with Afghanistan, Ger… more
Date: June 7, 2012
Creator: Garcia, Michael John & Mason, R. Chuck
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Membership of the 112th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 112th Congress (2011-2012). 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: June 14, 2012
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Regulatory Reform Legislation in the 112th Congress

Description: In the 112th Congress, a number of bills have been introduced that would, if enacted, change current requirements in the federal rulemaking process. This report describes each of those bills, notes whether similar legislation has been introduced or acted upon in the past, summarizes the comments of those supporting and opposing the proposed legislation, and provides other relevant information.
Date: May 25, 2011
Creator: Copeland, Curtis W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Assistance

Description: This report discusses U.S. aid to Pakistan including an overview of current developments, a discussion of aid rendered before and after 9/11, the objectives of requesting aid during FY2012, and various issues that Congress needs to consider relating to this topic.
Date: July 28, 2011
Creator: Epstein, Susan B. & Kronstadt, K. Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Omnibus Appropriations Acts: Overview of Recent Practices

Description: This report discusses Omnibus appropriations acts, which have become a significant feature of the legislative process in recent years as Congress and the President have used them more frequently to bring action on the regular appropriations cycle to a close. Following a discussion of pertinent background information, this report reviews the recent enactment of such measures and briefly addresses several issues raised by their use.
Date: August 25, 2010
Creator: Tollestrup, Jessica
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Egypt in Transition

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the transition underway after the resignation of Egyption president, Hosni Mubarak, as well as information on U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. U.S. policy toward Egypt has long been framed as an investment in regional stability, however, U.S. policy makers are now grappling with complex questions about the future of U.S.-Egypt relations.
Date: August 23, 2011
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2010 (74th-111th Congresses)

Description: This report discusses how lame duck sessions occur, and the background of the lame duck sessions between 1940 and 2010. A “lame duck” session of Congress occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the term of the current Congress ends.
Date: August 30, 2011
Creator: Beth, Richard S. & Tollestrup, Jessica
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Protection of Classified Information by Congress: Practices and Proposals

Description: This report discusses safeguards in place to protect conterolled information and proposals for change of some of the mechanisms in place. Congress uses classified national security and other controlled information to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities, particularly overseeing the executive, appropriating funds, and legislating public policy.
Date: August 31, 2011
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff

Description: Written for congressional staff, this report identifies and provides details on how to obtain official government sources of information on the legislative process and the rules and procedure of the House and Senate. References to selected CRS products are also provided, as well as a listing of selected titles for supplementary reading.
Date: July 27, 2011
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report gives an overview of fuel use by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and its pursuit of numerous initiatives for reducing its fuel needs and changing the mix of energy sources that it uses. The report includes an extensive background on DOD fuel use including how the DOD uses and buys fuel, challenges and risks associated with the DOD's fuel use, DOD energy initiatives, and past legislation that addressed DOD energy use; it also presents issues for Congress and legislative action t… more
Date: June 26, 2012
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe; Blakeley, Katherine & O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management

Description: This report describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included.
Date: July 5, 2011
Creator: Petersen, R. Eric
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

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. In each case, the information was supplied by the agency itself and is current as of the date of publication. Entries are arranged alphabetically in four sections: legislative branch; judicial branch; executive branch; and agencies, boards, and commissions.
Date: July 12, 2012
Creator: Crane-Hirsch, Audrey Celeste
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Membership of the 112th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 112th Congress (2011-2012). 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: March 1, 2011
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress

Description: This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a relatively inexpensive Navy surface combatant equipped with modular "plug-and-fight" mission packages. The Navy's proposed FY2012 budget requests funding for the procurement of four LCSs. Current issues for Congress concerning the LCS program include changes or potential changes to the composition of LCS mission modules announced by the Navy in January 2011, the combat survivabilit… more
Date: April 18, 2011
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

No-Fly Zones: Strategic, Operational, and Legal Considerations for Congress

Description: This report discusses the establishment of no-fly zones and several related issues for Congress surrounding the strategy, including international authorization, congressional authorization, operations, and costs of establishing and maintaining no-fly zones.
Date: April 4, 2011
Creator: Gertler, Jeremiah; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Daggett, Stephen; Dale, Catherine; Elsea, Jennifer K. & Grimmett, Richard F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

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
open access

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 17, 2011
Creator: Carey, Maeve P. & Palmer, Betsy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report gives an overview of fuel use by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and its pursuit of numerous initiatives for reducing its fuel needs and changing the mix of energy sources that it uses. The report includes an extensive background on DOD fuel use including how the DOD uses and buys fuel, challenges and risks associated with the DOD's fuel use, DOD energy initiatives, and past legislation that addressed DOD energy use; it also presents issues for Congress and legislative action t… more
Date: July 20, 2012
Creator: Schwartz, Moshe; Blakeley, Katherine & O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Continuing Resolutions: Latest Action and Brief Overview of Recent Practices

Description: This report is divided into two segments. The first section provides the most recent information on the FY2011 continuing resolution (CR). The second segment focuses on the (1) history and recent trends, including the nature, scope, and duration of CRs during the past 35 years; (2) CR types by duration; (3) major substantive legislative provisions included in some CRs; and (4) funding gaps.
Date: April 6, 2011
Creator: Streeter, Sandy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen