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Legislative Branch

On this page:
Overviews of the U.S. Congress | Legislative Process | Other Roles of the Congress | Agencies that Support Congress | Legislative Contacts | Online Links

Overviews of the U.S. Congress

About the U.S. Congress
From the U.S. Government Manual
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/legbranc/abtcong.htm

The Committee System in the U.S. Congress
Congressional Research Service, Updated May 2, 2003.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/legbranc/committee_system.pdf

Congressional Apportionment
U.S. Census Bureau. This Census 2000 Brief provides a general overview of Congressional apportionment for Census 2000. It explains the differences between apportionment and redistricting and provides historical information for changes by state and region from 1900 to 2000.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-7.pdf

Congressional Profile
Office of the Clerk. U.S. House of Representatives. Numerical profile of the current membership and partisan affiliations of the House and Senate. Also includes links to frequently asked questions, including the historical party divisions in the Congress, the number of representatives from each state, and the number of women in Congress.
http://clerk.house.gov/members/congProfile.php

The House Apportionment Formula in Theory and Practice
Congressional Research Service, October 10, 2000. This report describes apportioning congressional representation to states.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/legbranc/housefrm.pdf

The Legislative Branch
Committee on House Administration, 2000. From "Our American Government". An introductory guide to the legislative branch, providing basic facts about the makeup and powers of congress.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname= 106_cong_documents&docid=f:hd216.106

Legislative Process

See also Legislative Process in the Laws & Treaties section

How Our Laws are Made
Parliamentarian, U.S. House of Representatives. June 30, 2003. The Constitution allows each house of Congress to determine the rules of its proceedings. The 23rd edition of this brochure aids in understanding the exceedingly complex and evolving legislative process--much of it unique to each House of Congress.
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html

Enactment of a Law
U.S. Senate.
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Enactment_law.htm

Guide to Senate Legislative Process
Congressional Research Service
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Senate_legislative_process.htm

House and Senate Rules of Procedure: A Comparison
Congressional Research Service, April 19, 2001.
http://www.house.gov/rules/rl30945.pdf

The Legislative Process - Tying it All Together
U.S. House of Representatives. A brief overview of the legislative process.
http://www.house.gov/house/Tying_it_all.html

Other Roles of the Congress

Congressional Budget Process
Congressional Research Service, Updated October 21, 1999.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/legbranc/rs20368.pdf

Congressional Oversight
Congressional Research Service, updated January 2, 2001. This report describes congressional oversight of policy implementation and administration.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/legbranc/oversite.pdf

Elections: The Scope of Congressional Authority in Election Administration
General Accounting Office. March 2001. In wake of 2000 presidential election, this report reviews the federal role, and limitations thereof, in the administration of elections.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/election/d01470.pdf

Foreign Policy Roles of the President and Congress
Congressional Research Service, June 1 , 1999.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/pres/fpolicy.htm

Overview of the Authorization-Appropriations Process
Congressional Research Service, updated July 23, 2003.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/legbranc/rs20371.pdf

Highlights of House Ethics Rules
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, U.S. House of Representatives. Brief guidance on the laws and rules regulating the conduct of House members and staff.
http://www.house.gov/ethics/Highlights2003.htm

Senate Ethics Manual
Select Committee on Ethics, U.S. Senate. Compilation of texts and explanations of laws, rules, advisory opinions, and decisions regulating the conduct of Senate members and staff.
http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/manual.pdf

Offices and Agencies that Support Congress

Office of the Clerk
http://clerkweb.house.gov

Architect of the Capitol
http://www.aoc.gov

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
http://www.cbo.gov

General Accounting Office (GAO)
http://www.gao.gov

Government Printing Office (GPO)
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/about/index.html

Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov

Stennis Center for Public Service
http://www.stennis.gov/

U.S. Botanic Garden
http://www.usbg.gov/

Legislative Contact Information

Online Links to Legislative Resources

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