Where are the differences in the House and Senate version of a bill are resolved?
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URLs │ Metadata Fields and Values │ Bills Citations │ Related Resources What are congressional bills? Congressional
bills are legislative proposals from the House of Representatives and Senate within the United States Congress. There are eight different types of bills. There are numerous different bill versions that track a bill through the legislative process from introduction through passage by both chambers (enrolled version). All final published bill versions are available from GPO. What is available? Types of Legislation Bills A bill is a legislative proposal before Congress. Bills from each house are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced, starting at the beginning of each Congress (first and second sessions). Public bills pertain to matters that affect the general public or classes of citizens, while private bills pertain to individual matters that affect individuals and organizations, such as claims against the Government. Joint Resolutions A joint resolution is a legislative proposal that requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the President, just as a bill does. Resolutions from each house are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced, starting at the beginning of each Congress (first and second sessions). There is no real difference between a bill and a joint resolution. Joint
resolutions generally are used for limited matters, such as a single appropriation for a specific purpose. They are also used to propose amendments to the Constitution. A joint resolution has the force of law, if approved. Joint resolutions become a part of the Constitution when three-quarters of the states have ratified them; they do not require the President's signature. Concurrent Resolutions A concurrent resolution is a legislative proposal that requires the approval of both houses but does not require the signature of the President and does not have the force of law. Concurrent resolutions generally are used to make or amend rules that apply to both houses. They are also used to express the sentiments of both of the houses. For example, a concurrent resolution is used to set the time of Congress' adjournment. It may also be
used by Congress to convey congratulations to another country on the anniversary of its independence. Simple Resolutions A simple resolution is a legislative proposal that addresses matters entirely within the prerogative of one house or the other. It requires neither the approval of the other house nor the signature of the President, and it does not have
the force of law. Most simple resolutions concern the rules of one house. They are also used to express the sentiments of a single house. For example, a simple resolution may offer condolences to the family of a deceased member of Congress, or it may give "advice" on foreign policy or other executive business. Common Versions of Bills
Amendment (Senate) AS An alternate name for this version is Senate Amendment Ordered to be Printed. This version contains an amendment that has been ordered to be printed. Senate Additional Sponsors (House) ASH An alternate name for this version is House Sponsors or Cosponsors Added or Withdrawn. This version is used to add or delete cosponsor names. When used, it most often shows numerous cosponsors being added. House Agreed to (House) ATH An alternate name for this version is Agreed to by House. This version is a simple or concurrent resolution as agreed to in the House of Representatives. House Agreed to (Senate) ATS An alternate name for this version is Agreed to by Senate. This version is a simple or concurrent resolution as agreed to in the Senate. Senate Committee Discharged (House) CDH An alternate name for this version is House Committee Discharged from Further Consideration. This version is a bill or resolution as it was when the committee to which the bill or resolution has been referred has been discharged from its consideration to make it available for floor consideration. House Committee Discharged (Senate) CDS An alternate name for this version is Senate Committee Discharged from Further Consideration. This version is a bill or resolution as it was when the committee to which the bill or resolution has been referred has been discharged from its consideration to make it available for floor consideration. Senate Considered and Passed (House) CPH Considered and Passed House – An alternate name for this version is Considered and Passed by House. This version is a bill or joint resolution as considered and passed. House Considered and Passed (Senate) CPS An alternate name for this version is Considered and Passed by Senate. This version is a bill or joint resolution as considered and passed. Senate Engrossed Amendment (House) EAH An alternate name for this version is Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by House. This version is the official copy of a bill or joint resolution as passed, including the text as amended by floor action, and certified by the Clerk of the House before it is sent to the Senate. Often this is the engrossment of an amendment in the nature of a substitute, an amendment which replaces the entire text of a measure. It strikes out everything after the enacting or resolving clause and inserts
a version which may be somewhat, substantially, or entirely different. House Engrossed Amendment (Senate) EAS An alternate name for this version is Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate. This version is the official copy of the amendment to a bill or joint resolution as passed, including the text as amended by floor action, and certified by the Secretary of the Senate before it is sent to the House. Often this is the engrossment of an amendment in the nature of a substitute, an amendment which replaces the entire text of a measure. It strikes out everything after the enacting or
resolving clause and inserts a version which may be somewhat, substantially, or entirely different. House Engrossed (House) EH An alternate name for this version is Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House. This version is the official copy of the bill or joint resolution as passed, including the text as amended by floor action, and certified by the Clerk of the House before it is sent to the Senate. House Engrossed and Deemed Passed by House EPH This version is the official copy of the bill or joint resolution as passed and certified by the Clerk of the House before it is sent to the Senate. See H. J. RES. 280 from the 101st Congress for an example of this bill version. House Enrolled ENR An alternate name for this version is Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate. This version is the final official copy of the bill or joint resolution which both the House and the Senate have passed in identical form. After it is certified by the chief officer of the house in which it originated (the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate), then signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tempore, the measure is sent to the President for
signature. Joint Engrossed (Senate) ES An alternate name for this version is Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate. This version is the official copy of the bill or joint resolution as passed, including the text as amended by floor action, and certified by the Secretary of the Senate before it is sent to the House. Senate Failed Amendment (House) FAH This amendment has failed in the House. House Failed Passage (House) FPH Bill or resolution that failed to pass the House. House Failed Passage (Senate) FPS Bill or resolution that failed to pass the Senate. Senate Held at Desk (House) HDH An alternate name for this bill version is Ordered Held at House Desk after being Received from Senate. This version has been held at the desk in the House. House Held at Desk (Senate) HDS An alternate name for this bill version is Ordered Held at Senate Desk after being Received from House. This version is a bill or resolution as received in the Senate from the House which has been ordered to be held at the desk, sometimes in preparation for going to conference. It is available to be called up for consideration by unanimous consent. Senate Introduced (House) IH This version is a bill or resolution as formally presented by a member of Congress to a clerk when the House is in session. House Indefinitely Postponed (House) IPH This version is a bill or resolution as it was when consideration was suspended with no date specified for continuing its consideration. House Indefinitely Postponed (Senate) IPS This version is a bill or resolution as it was when consideration was suspended with no date specified for continuing its consideration. Senate Introduced (Senate) IS This version is a bill or resolution as formally presented by a member of Congress to a clerk when the Senate is in session. Senate Laid on Table (House) LTH This version is a bill or resolution as laid on the table which disposes of it immediately, finally, and adversely via a motion without a direct vote on its substance. House Laid on Table (Senate) LTS This version was laid on the table in the Senate. See also Laid on Table in House. Senate Ordered to be Printed (House) OPH This version was ordered to be printed by the House. See also Ordered to be Printed Senate. House Ordered to be Printed (Senate) OPS This version was ordered to be printed by the Senate. For example, in the 105th Congress S. 1173 was considered at length by the Senate, returned to the Senate calendar, ordered to be printed. Then its text was inserted into its companion House bill which was passed by the Senate. Senate Previous Action Vitiated PAV This version is a bill or resolution as it was when an action previously taken on it was undone or invalidated. For example in the 102nd Congress for H.R. 2321 the Senate action discharging the Energy Committee and amending and passing the bill was vitiated by unanimous consent. The bill was amended, reported, and passed anew. Senate Placed on Calendar (House) PCH This version is a bill or resolution as placed on one of the five House calendars. It is eligible for floor consideration, but a place on a calendar does not guarantee consideration. House Placed on Calendar (Senate) PCS This version is a bill or resolution as placed on one of the two Senate calendars. It is eligible for floor consideration, but a place on a calendar does not guarantee consideration. Senate Public Print PP Any bill from the House or Senate may be issued as a public print. If a bill is issued as a Public Print more copies will be printed than are printed for an engrossed version. Public prints also number the amendments made by the last chamber to pass it. Public Prints are typically published by the Senate to show Senate amendments to House bills. They typically contain the text of a House bill, indicating portions struck, plus Senate amendments in italics. They are routinely ordered
for appropriations bills, but the Senate occasionally by unanimous consent orders public prints of other significant bills. Senate Printed as Passed PAP This version is a public print of a bill as passed. Generally, appropriation bills receive a PP designation while non-appropriation bills receive a PAP designation. See also Public Print. Senate Ordered to be Printed with House Amendment PWAH This version shows Senate amendments to a House bill. It is similar to a Public Print from the Senate, except that it does not include portions struck, only the Senate amendment in the nature of a substitute in italics. See S. 1059 from the 106th Congress for an example of this bill version on a Senate bill. House Referred with Amendments (House) RAH This version was referred with amendments to the House. House Referred with Amendments (Senate) RAS This version was referred with amendments to the Senate. Senate Reference Change (House) RCH An alternate name for this bill version is Referred to Different or Additional House Committee. This version is a bill or resolution as re-referred to a different or additional House committee. It may have been discharged from the committee to which it was originally referred then referred to a different committee, referred to an additional committee sequentially, or reported by the original committee then referred to an additional committee. See S. 1016 for an example of this bill
version on a Senate bill. House Reference Change (Senate) RCS An alternate name for this version is Referred to Different or Additional Senate Committee. This version is a bill or resolution as it was re-referred to a different or additional Senate committee. It may have been discharged from the committee to which it was originally referred then referred to a different committee, referred to an additional committee sequentially, or reported by the original committee then referred to an additional committee. See H.R. 1502 from the 105th Congress
for an example of this bill version on a House bill. Senate Received in (House) RDH An alternate name for this bill version is Received in House from Senate. This version is a bill or resolution as passed or agreed to in the Senate which has been sent to and received in the House. See the 105th Congress for an example of this bill version. House Received in (Senate) RDS An alternate name for this bill version is Received in Senate from House. This version is a bill or resolution as it was passed or agreed to in the House which has been sent to and received in the Senate. Senate Re-engrossed Amendment (House) REAH This version is a re-engrossed amendment in the House. House Re-engrossed Amendment (Senate) RES This version is a re-engrossed amendment in the Senate. See also Engrossed Amendment Senate. Senate Re-enrolled Bill RENR This version has been re-enrolled. Joint Referred in (House) RFH An alternate name for this bill version is Referred to House Committee after being Received from Senate. This version is a bill or resolution as passed or agreed to in the Senate which has been sent to, received in the House, and referred to House committee or committees. Senate Referred in (Senate) RFS An alternate name for this bill version is Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House. This version is a bill or resolution as passed or agreed to in the House which has been sent to, received in the Senate, and referred to Senate committee or committees. House Reported in (House) RH This version is a bill or resolution as reported by the committee or one of the committees to which it was referred, including changes, if any, made in committee. The bill or resolution is usually accompanied by a committee report which describes the measure, the committee's views on it, its costs, and the changes it proposes to make in existing law. The bill or resolution is then available for floor consideration. This version occurs to both House and Senate bills. House Returned to House by Unanimous Consent RHUC A bill that was returned to the House by Unanimous Consent within the Senate House Referral Instructions (House) RIH An alternate name for this bill version is Referred to House Committee with Instructions. This version is a bill or resolution as referred or re-referred to committee with instructions to take some action on it. Invariably in the House the instructions require the committee to report the measure forthwith with specified amendments. House Referral Instructions (Senate) RIS An alternate name for this bill version is Referred to Senate Committee with Instructions. This version is a bill or resolution as referred or re-referred to committee with instructions to take some action on it. Often in the Senate the instructions require the committee to report the measure forth with specified amendments. Senate Reported in (Senate) RS This version is a bill or resolution as reported by the committee or one of the committees to which it was referred, including changes, if any, made in committee. The bill or resolution is usually accompanied by a committee report which describes the measure, the committee's views on it, its costs, and the changes it proposes to make in existing law. The bill or resolution is then available for floor consideration. Senate Referred to Committee (House) RTH Bill or resolution as referred or re-referred to a House committee or committees. See 104th Congress for an example of this bill version. House Referred to Committee (Senate) RTS Bill or resolution as referred or re-referred to a Senate committee or committees. Senate Additional Sponsors (Senate) SAS Additional sponsors have been added to this version. Senate Sponsor Change SC This version is used to change sponsors. House Searching Congressional BillsYou can find and search Congressional Bills by:
General govinfo Search Tips Search ExamplesSearch for Bills by Congress Number, Bill Type, Bill Number and Bill Version - These examples will search for the Introduced in Senate version of Senate Joint Resolution from the 109th Congress with 12 as the Bill Number.
Search for Bills by Congress Number, Chamber, and Bill Number - These examples will search for Senate bills from the 109th Congress with 12 as the Bill Number.
Search for Bills by Sponsor or Cosponsor - These examples will search for Senate bills sponsored or cosponsored by Senator McConnell.
Find All Versions of a Bill - These examples will search for all versions of House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 10 from the 109th Congress.
Search for Bills Sponsored by a Congress Member from a State - These examples will search bills sponsored by Congress members from California.
Search for Bills by Title - These examples will search for bills with the word innovation in the full title or short title.
Search for Bills by Sponsor and Keyword - These examples will search for bills sponsored by Senator McConnell with the word democracy in the text of the bill.
Search for Bills by Member From a State and Keyword - These examples will search for bills sponsored by Congress members from California with the word environment in the text of the bill.
Find Related Documents On select Congressional Bills Details pages, a “Related Documents” tab will display other documents within govinfo that are related to that particular bill. Where available, these include other bill versions of the legislation; Congressional Reports for the legislation; Presidential Signing Statements and Remarks for legislation from the Compilation of Presidential Documents; Public Laws for the legislation; Statutes at Large document for the legislation; U.S. Code documents that reference the legislation. Learn more about finding related documents on govinfo. Example: Search for hr 803, click details, then the related documents tab. You will find these documents related to hr 803: other bill versions, Congressional reports, the Presidential Signing Statement, Public Law, Statutes at Large document, and documents where the legislation is referenced in the U.S. Code. Sample Congressional Bills URLsGovinfo uses the Package ID to construct predictable URLs to documents and Details pages for individual bills.
Tip: You can also use the link service and API to construct predictable links. Details Page for an Individual Bill PDF File for an Individual Bill HTML File for an Individual Bill XML File for an Individual Bill Congressional Bills Metadata Fields and ValuesMetadata fields and values can be used to increase the relevancy of your searches. The metadata fields available for Congressional Bills are listed in the table below. Metadata fields and values are used throughout govinfo for:
Metadata fields and values can be entered into the Basic Search box using field operators. The field operators available for the Congressional Bills are listed in the table below, along with examples for each metadata field. Using Field Operators Some of these metadata fields are made available for use in Advanced Search. The metadata values can be entered in the same format for the fields available on the Advanced Search Page. Using Advanced Search
Congressional Bills Citation PatternsThese patterns are available when creating searches using Congressional Bills citations. In the Basic Search box, simply use one of the citation patterns listed in the Search Examples column below. If the bill number value that you use is available on the website, the document will be returned. *all terms in italics are newly accepted search patterns
Congressional Bills Related Resources
Congressional Bills Frequently Asked QuestionsHow is added or deleted text indicated in Congressional Bills? Text that was added to or deleted from a particular version of a bill is indicated in different ways in text and PDF files. Text files include tags to mark changes in the text. See Example
Note : When multiple paragraphs have been deleted, the tags appear at the beginning and end of each affected paragraph. However, when multiple paragraphs have been added, the quotation marks appear at the beginning of each affected paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph in the series. PDF files mark changes in the text in exactly the same way that those changes appear in the printed version. See Example
What are starprint bills? Starprint bills are corrected editions of bills identifiable by stars printed at the lower left-hand corner of their title pages See an example of a starprint bill (PDF). Designation of a bill as a starprint is indicated in search results and presented in MODS metadata files. Did you know: All fields in MODS are searchable. For example, search: mods:starprintnumber:1. Is S. 309 IS from the 115th or 116th Congress? S. 309 IS was printed with the incorrect Congress designation and the Senate decided not to star print S. 309 IS. The text, XML, and PDF say “115th Congress” but the bill is from the 116th Congress. Which congressional committee resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of the same bill?A conference committee is a temporary, ad hoc panel composed of House and Senate conferees formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major or controversial legislation.
Which committee resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of the same bill quizlet?Conference committees resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.
What differences exist between the House and Senate?House members must be twenty-five years of age and citizens for seven years. Senators are at least thirty years old and citizens for nine years. Another difference is who they represent. Senators represent their entire states, but members of the House represent individual districts.
What are the differences between the House and the Senate quizlet?Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are considered for reelection every even year. Senators however, serve six-year terms and elections to the Senate are staggered over even years so that only about 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection during any election.
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