Search Results

open access

A Joint Committee on Intelligence: Proposals and Options from the 9/11 Commission and Others

Description: This report first describes the current select committees on intelligence and briefly covers the former Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. It then sets forth proposed characteristics for a Joint Committee on Intelligence, their differences, and their pros and cons; it also discusses alternatives for congressional oversight in the field. This report will be updated as events dictate.
Date: August 25, 2004
Creator: Kaiser, Frederick M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Pakistan-U.S. Relations

Description: This report summarizes important recent developments in Pakistan and in Pakistan-U.S. relations, including: high-profile political assassinations in early 2011; the Raymond Davis affair involving a CIA operative accused of murder in the city of Lahore; and the May killing of Osama bin Laden in the city of Abbottabad, among others. The report also summarizes key issues in the bilateral relationship.
Date: August 25, 2008
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Legislative Branch Revolving Funds

Description: Legislative branch revolving funds support the "business-type activities" of the House, Senate, and legislative branch agencies. This report traces the establishment, use, and recent development of these funds. Where available, the current status of funds is provided, using standard federal government budget object classifications.
Date: August 25, 2010
Creator: Brudnick, Ida A. & Straus, Jacob R.
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: August 25, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
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

Amendments in the Senate: Types and Forms

Description: This report briefly describes the various types of amendments that take place in the Senate. It has sections describing distinctions among amendments, degrees of amendments, forms of amendments, and the scope of amendments.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Calendars of the House of Representatives

Description: This report describes the use of "calendars" in the House of Representatives, referring to (1) lists of measures and motions eligible for consideration and (2) documents that contain the eligible motions and information about the status of legislation.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Delegates to the U.S. Congress: History and Current Status

Description: This report provides historical background on the development of the position of delegate to Congress and on the rights of a delegate once seated. Delegates, representing territories that had not yet achieved statehood, have served in the House since the late 1700s. In the 20th century, the concept of delegate grew to include representation of territories where the United States exercises some degree of control but were not expected to become states.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

General Debate in Committee of the Whole

Description: This report discusses general debate, which is a period of time set aside for debating the merits of the bill as a whole, the state of current law on the subject of the bill, the need for new legislation, the various provisions of the bill, and possible amendments to it.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Schneider, Judy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

House Committee Hearings: Arranging Witnesses

Description: This report briefly discusses the selection of witnesses for House committee hearings. House committees and subcommittees pay careful attention to which viewpoints will be represented, who should testify, and the order and format for presenting witnesses. Witnesses do not have an inherent right to appear at a hearing but must be invited by a committee or subcommittee in order to testify; committees and subcommittees may also subpoena reluctant witnesses to appear at a hearing.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

House Committee Hearings: Preparation

Description: This report contains a checklist that identifies many of the tasks that need to be performed for committee hearings. Committee hearings provide 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 mismanagement or wrongdoing.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

House Committee Hearings: Scheduling and Notification

Description: This report briefly discusses scheduling and notification requirements, and practices for House committee hearings.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Pairing in Congressional Voting: The House

Description: This report discusses the practice of "pairing" for votes in the House of Representatives. Under certain procedural circumstances, a Member who is absent during a vote on the House floor may arrange with a Member on the opposite side of a specific question (who will be present) to announce that the Member who is present is forming a "pair" with the absent Member, thus allowing the absent Member to have his intended vote recorded.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Quorum Requirements in the House: Committee and Chamber

Description: This report discusses minimum quorum requirements established by House Rule XI, clause 2 for eight areas of committee activity.
Date: August 25, 2015
Creator: Davis, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen