Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process

by Oleszek, Walter J.

• ISBN13: 9780871877031
• ISBN10: 0871877031
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-08-01
• Publisher: Cq Pr

Summary

Veteran Hill observer Walter J. Oleszek discusses the organizational and political environment of the contemporary Congress and how its rules shape domestic and foreign policy. This book is the definitive work on congressional lawmaking today, providing a detailed look into the interplay of rules, procedures, precedents, and strategies, and focusing on the changes evolving from the 104th Congress.

Author Biography

Walter J. Oleszek is a senior specialist in American national government at the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress

Table of Contents

Tables, Figures, and Boxes	x	(3)
Preface	xiii
Chapter 1 CONGRESS AND LAWMAKING	1	(24)
The Constitutional Context	1	(3)
Congress: An Independent Policy Maker	4	(1)
Functions of Rules and Procedures	5	(5)
Rules and Policy Making in Congress	10	(7)
Congressional Decision Making	17	(5)
Summary	22	(3)
Chapter 2 THE CONGRESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT	25	(26)
The House and Senate Compared	25	(6)
Leadership Structure of Congress	31	(7)
Pressures on Members	38	(7)
Congress in Flux	45	(3)
Summary	48	(3)
Chapter 3 THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET PROCESS	51	(40)
Authorization-Appropriations Process	54	(12)
Prelude to Budget Reform	66	(1)
The 1974 Budget Act	67	(10)
Evolution of the Budget Process	77	(10)
Summary	87	(4)
Chapter 4 PRELIMINARY LEGISLATIVE ACTION	91	(34)
Categories of Legislation	92	(4)
Bill Referral Procedure	96	(7)
Consideration in Committee	103	(3)
Committee Chairman's Role	106	(3)
Hearings	109	(3)
The Markup	112	(6)
The Report	118	(3)
Summary	121	(4)
Chapter 5 SCHEDULING LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE	125	(36)
The House Legislative Calendars	126	(1)
Minor and Noncontroversial Bills	127	(7)
"Privileged" Legislation	134	(1)
Major Legislation	135	(3)
Role of the Rules Committee	138	(13)
Legislation Blocked in Committee	151	(4)
Final Scheduling Steps	155	(2)
Summary	157	(4)
Chapter 6 HOUSE FLOOR PROCEDURE	161	(37)
Adoption of the "Rule"	165	(1)
Committee of the Whole	166	(2)
General Debate	168	(4)
The Amending Process	172	(11)
Voting	183	(5)
Final Procedural Steps	188	(6)
Summary	194	(4)
Chapter 7 SCHEDULING LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE	198	(28)
Flexible Scheduling System	200	(3)
Noncontroversial Bills	203	(2)
Major Legislation	205	(8)
Scheduling Procedures Compared	213	(2)
Senate Leadership and Unanimous Consent	215	(2)
Breakdowns in Scheduling	217	(5)
Summary	222	(4)
Chapter 8 SENATE FLOOR PROCEDURE	226	(45)
"Legislative" and "Calendar" Days	229	(1)
Daily Order of Business	229	(2)
Debate in the Modern Senate	231	(4)
Bills Considered by Unanimous Consent	235	(3)
The Amending Process	238	(10)
Bills Without Unanimous Consent	248	(15)
Procedures to Circumvent Committees	263	(3)
Summary	266	(5)
Chapter 9 RESOLVING HOUSE-SENATE DIFFERENCES	271	(29)
Agreement Without a Conference	272	(2)
Why Conference Committees?	274	(2)
Conference Committee Process	276	(18)
Presidential Approval or Veto	294	(3)
Summary	297	(3)
Chapter 10 LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT	300	(24)
Techniques of Oversight	304	(11)
Oversight Trends	315	(3)
Lack of Consensus on Oversight	318	(2)
Summary	320	(4)
Chapter 11 A DYNAMIC PROCESS	324	(9)
Glossary	333	(16)
Selected Bibliography	349	(8)
Index	357