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Finding Facts, Reviews, and More
Researching U.S. Federal Legislation
Page 3 of 9
Step Three: Floor Action
If the bill is released, it then goes on the chamber calendar (a list of bills awaiting action). In the House, the Rules Committee may call for the bill to be voted on quickly, limit the debate, or limit or prohibit amendments. Undisputed bills may be passed by unanimous consent, or by a two-thirds vote if members agree to suspend the rules.
The bill now goes to the floor of the House for consideration and begins with a complete reading of the bill
(sometimes this is the only complete reading). A third reading (title only) occurs after any amendments have been added. If the bill passes by simple majority (281 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate.
In the Senate, the bill goes
to the floor for consideration upon release. Bills are voted on in the Senate based on the order they come from the committee; however, an urgent bill may be pushed ahead by leaders of the majority party. When the Senate considers the bill, they can vote on it indefinitely.
When there is no more debate, the bill is voted on. A simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill.
Resulting Publications and Locations:
Sources in italics are available only to students, faculty, and staff of the U of M unless accessing from a U of M campus library.
Must-Have Information for Floor Action Publications
Calendars - Also called "Floor Calendars"
- House
WILSON Gov Pub (US Ref) (Non-Circulating) Call No: Y 1.2/2:
Row L
Library has: 98th Congress (1982)- to present
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Senate
WILSON Gov Pub (US Docs) Call No: Y 1.3/3:
Row 82
Library has: 93rd Congress (1973)- to present
- House/Senate Calendars
Current Congress only
Debates - Congressional Record
Roll Call Votes
- CQ Weekly
104th Cong. (1995) - present
CQ labels this part of their web site "Floor Votes", but the individual entries show that they are roll call votes.
-
Clerk of the House
101st Cong. (1989) - present
- Secretary of the Senate
101st Cong. (1989) - present
Must-Have Information for Floor Action Publications
- Where given, row numbers lead to the exact shelving location the Government Publications Library - look for large numbers on the end of each shelving row. Rows are numbered in a clockwise direction around the room.
- The University Law Library also has most of these publications.
Back to Resulting Publications
Back to page 2
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