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Order Code 98-728 GOV
Updated December 28, 2006
A.
CRS Report for Congress
Bills, Resolutions, Nominations, and Treaties:
Origins, Deadlines, Requirements, and Uses
Richard S. Beth
Specialist in the Legislative Process
Government and Finance Division
In each chamber of Congress, four forms of legislative measure may be introduced
(or, for resolutions, submitted) and acted on: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent
resolutions, and resolutions of one house (simple resolutions). In addition, under the
Constitution the Senate acts on two forms of executive business: nominations and treaties.
This fact sheet provides a tabular comparison of the formal characteristics and uses of
these six different kinds of business. For more information on legislative process, see
[http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml].
The rules of the two houses include references to the four types of measure, but
generally take for granted the distinctions among them, which have developed in the
course of congressional history. Today, a bill or joint resolution is used when the purpose
is to make law; a joint resolution is used also for the purpose of proposing an amendment
to the Constitution. The other two forms of resolution are used for internal business of
Congress itself. (For specific examples of how each form of measure is used, see CRS
Report 98-706, Bills and Resolutions. Examples of How Each Kind is Used.) Executive
business is so called because it is transmitted by the President, who must obtain the advice
and consent of the Senate before the nomination or treaty becomes effective.
The following table compares all six of the forms of business on which Congress
acts in terms of the following characteristics:
Designation: series in which business of each form is numbered.
Origin: who may formally introduce, submit, or transmit to Congress
business of each form.
Deadline for action: point at which business of each form ceases to be
available for action (if not earlier disposed of).
Requirements for approval: institutions that must act for business of
each form to be enacted, finally agreed to, or advised and consented to.
Product or Use: result of successful action on business of each form.
Congressional Research Service - The Library of Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/crsuntaafis0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)