Congressional Research Service Reports - 2,681 Matching Results
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- Defense Primer: Defense Appropriations Process
- This report provides an overview of the defense appropriations process. The congressional appropriations process includes various rules and practices that Congress has adopted to distinguish appropriations measures and facilitate their consideration.
- Defense Primer: Navigating the NDAA
- This report provides an overview of the structure and organization of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
- Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress
- This report introduces the main steps through which a bill (or other item of business) may travel in the legislative process. For many bills, the process will not follow the sequence of congressional stages that are often understood to make up the legislative process. This report presents a look at each of the common stages through which a bill may move, but complications and variations abound in practice.
- Defense Primer: Congress's Constitutional Authority with Regard to the Armed Forces
- This report provides an overview of Congress's war powers under the U.S. Constitution.
- Lame Duck Sessions of Congress Following a Majority-Changing Election: In Brief
- This report describes "lame duck" sessions of Congress, which take place whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected but before the term of the current Congress ends. It specifically provides additional information on the 1954, 1994, and 2010 lame duck sessions.
- Defense Primer: Department of the Navy
- This report provides basic information on the Department of the Navy, which includes both the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also describes the Coast Guard's relationship to the Department.
- Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design
- 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.
- House Committee Party Ratios: 98th-115th Congresses
- 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).
- Senate Committee Party Ratios: 98th-115th Congresses
- 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).
- Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
- This report outlines the members of the House of Representatives who are seated on the dais during meetings in the House chamber of the Capitol.
- Guide to Individuals Seated on the Senate Dais
- This report outlines the members of the Senate who are seated on the dais during meetings in the Senate chamber of the Capitol.
- Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution
- This report discusses deeming resolutions, which are used by Congress as a substitute when budget resolution bills are not passed. It provides historical notes about how frequently deeming resolutions have been used and how they have varied, and also alternate options for budgetary enforcement.
- Protection of Executive Branch Officials
- This report discusses the possibility of protective details for executive branch officials, in response to recent attempted bombing attacks on current and former government officials.
- Congress Considers Possible Responses to the Killing of a Saudi Journalist
- This report discusses the potential responses by Congress regarding the killing of prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and former diplomatic advisor Jamal Khashoggi.
- Social Media Adoption by Members of Congress: Trends and Congressional Considerations
- This report examines Member adoption of social media platforms outside of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, such as Instagram, Flickr, and Google+, which have each been adopted by at least 2.5% of Representatives and Senators. It discusses the possible implications of the adoption of social media, including managing multiple platforms, the type of content and posting location, the allocation of office resources to social media communications, and archiving social media content.
- Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile
- This report presents a profile of the membership of the 115th Congress (2017-2018) as of October 1, 2018. 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.
- Cloture Attempts on Nominations: Data and Historical Development Through November 20, 2013
- This report discusses topics regarding cloture as a means to limit debate and overcome a possible filibuster.
- Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses Congressional gold medals which are awarded by Congress for distinguished contributions to the United States. It describes the history, selection process, award designs and production process, and issues for Congress.
- Federal Reserve: Legislation in the 115th Congress
- The Federal Reserve (Fed) is the subject of legislation being considered in the 115th Congress. This report analyzes Fed bills that have seen committee or floor action and the policy debate surrounding them. The bills contain wide-ranging changes that can be grouped into five broad categories: Fed governance, oversight and disclosure, monetary policy rules (the Taylor Rule), the Fed's emergency lending powers, and the Fed's balance sheet.
- Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Issues for Congress
- This report discusses policy issues for Congress to address regarding exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are common ways for Americans to invest. An ETF is an investment vehicle that, similar to a mutual fund, offers public investors shares of a pool of assets; unlike a mutual fund, however, an ETF can be traded on exchanges like a stock.
- IRS Will No Longer Require Disclosure of Certain Nonprofit Donor Information
- This report will first provide background on the statute and regulations regarding tax-exempt organizations' (EOs') disclosure of contributor information. Next, the report will discuss the justifications of and reactions to the new policy, including the views of proponents and opponents of the new policy. The report will then discuss the litigation Montana has filed against the policy. Finally, the report will provide considerations for Congress.
- Defense Primer: Department of the Navy
- This report provides basic information on the Department of the Navy, which includes both the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also describes the Coast Guard's relationship to the Department.
- Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design
- 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 or another.
- Foreign Relations Reauthorization: Background and Issues
- This report summarizes foreign relations reauthorization, including history, current legislation, background, and relevance.
- Debates over Exchange Rates: Overview and Issues for Congress
- This report provides information on current debates over exchange rates in the global economy. It offers an overview of how exchange rates work; analyzes specific disagreements and debates; and examines existing frameworks for potentially addressing currency disputes. It also lays out some policy options available to Congress.
- Economic and Fiscal Conditions in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- This report discusses the fiscal and economic challenges facing the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and related issues for Congress, such as: oversight of federal policies that could affect the USVI's long-term fiscal stability; further legislation that would extend or restructure long-range disaster assistance programs to mitigate those challenges and promote greater resiliency of infrastructure and public programs; and how responses to the USVI's fiscal distress could affect municipal debt markets more broadly.
- National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress
- This report discusses legislation and debates regarding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) during the 115th Congress.
- African American Members of the United States Congress: 1870-2018
- This report provides statistics on the current numbers and roles of African American Members of Congress as well as historical data on African American Members of Congress.
- The Senate "Two-Hour Rule" Governing Committee Meeting Times
- This report discusses the creation, provisions, and use of the Senate's two-hour rule for committee meetings while the Senate is in session.
- U.S. Senate Vacancies: Contemporary Developments and Perspectives
- This report discusses the procedures for filling a vacant Senate seat and provides a brief description of the most recent Senate vacancies and the election proceedings used to fill the vacancies. Various legislative proposals to alter the procedures for filling Senate vacancies are also discussed.
- Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2018
- This report provides information about congressional votes regarding their salaries from 1990-2018.
- Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables
- This report discusses Congressional salaries and action related to them in Congress from fiscal year 2010 through pay projections for fiscal year 2019. It also includes a historical table of salary levels for Members of Congress from 1992 to 2018.
- Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2016 (74th-114th Congresses)
- This report provides an overview of the "Lame Duck" sessions of Congress since 1935 and discusses how they occur, their purpose, and various characteristics and trends of the sessions.
- Conference Committee and Related Procedures: An Introduction
- This report is a brief summary of House and Senate procedures for reaching agreement on legislation. It discusses the provisions of House Rule XXII and Senate Rule XXVIII as well as other applicable rules, precedents, and practices. The report focuses on the most common and customary procedures. There are many exceptions, complications, and possibilities that are not addressed, and the House and Senate may modify or waive their procedures by unanimous consent or by other means.
- The Holman Rule (House Rule XXI, Clause 2(b))
- This report provides a history of the Holman Rule provision in House rules and an analysis of precedents that are illustrative of its possible application.
- Federal Reserve: Legislation in the 115th Congress
- This report provides an overview of the Federal Reserve and legislation related to it proposed or passed during the 115th Congress.
- Eight Mechanisms to Enact Procedural Change in the U.S. Senate
- This report highlights eight parliamentary mechanisms that might be used to implement procedural change in the Senate and links to additional reading material on the subject.
- Germaneness of Debate in the Senate: The Pastore Rule
- This report discusses the Pastore rule in the Senate which governs germaneness in debate.
- Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile
- This report presents a profile of the membership of the 115th Congress (2017-2018) as of January 3, 2018. 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.
- Women in Congress, 1917-2018: Service Dates and Committee Assignments by Member, and Lists by State and Congress
- This report provides an overview of all women who have served in Congress and includes committee assignments, dates of service, district information, and listings by Congress and state, and (for Representatives) congressional districts of the 327 women who have been elected or appointed to Congress.
- Cybersecurity: Selected Issues for the 115th Congress
- This report covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity in order to provide context and a framework for further discussion on selected policy areas. These topics include cybersecurity incidents, major federal agency roles and responsibilities, recent policy actions by Congress and the White House, and descriptions of policy issues that may be of interest for the 115th Congress.
- Banking Policy Issues in the 115th Congress
- This report provides an overview of banking related issues of interest to the 115th Congress.
- Budget Reconciliation Measures Enacted Into Law: 1980-2017
- This report identifies and briefly summarizes the 21 budget reconciliation measures enacted into law during the period covering 1980, when reconciliation procedures were first used by both chambers, through 2017.
- Guide to Committee Activity Reports: Purpose, Rules, and Contents
- This report provides a discussion of the types of information that may be included in the activity reports, variations across reports and time, and the filing process. A table provides a comparison of the committee activity reports and other congressional publications, including the types of information found in each as well as their timeframe for coverage and publication.
- Resolving Legislative Differences in the Congress: Conference Committees and Amendments Between the Houses
- This report summarizes the procedures the two houses of Congress use most frequently to resolve their legislative differences. It is based upon an interpretation of the rules and published precedents of the House and Senate and an analysis of the application of these rules and precedents in recent practice.
- National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress
- This report discusses legislation and debates regarding the National Flood Insurance Program in the 115th Congress.
- Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses Congressional gold medals which are awarded by Congress periodically for distinguished contributions to the United States. The history, selection process, award designs and production process, and issues for Congress are discussed.
- Insurance Regulation: Legislation in the 115th Congress
- This report discusses legislation related to insurance companies introduced or passed in the 115th Congress.
- Women in Congress, 1917-2018: Service Dates and Committee Assignments by Member, and Lists by State and Congress
- This report provides data on women who have served in Congress from 1917-2018. It includes committee assignments, dates of service, district information, and listings by Congress and state, and (for Representatives) congressional districts of the 327 women who have been elected or appointed to Congress.
- House Committee Chairs: Considerations, Decisions, and Actions as One Congress Ends and a New Congress Begins
- This report discusses the process of selecting House Committee chairs and covers the period from the House's early organization meetings in November to approximately March or April following the convening of a new Congress.