3/4/2010 - Procedure Points "Fast-Track" Procedures Under the War Powers Act Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States reserves to the Congress the power to declare war. When juxtaposed with the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief of the military, particularly in light of modern changes in the nature of conflicts, there have been conflicts between the two branches over the ability to commit U.S. forces to a prolonged conflict. This War Powers Resolution was intended to re-assert Congress' superiority in matters of war, and this document describes the procedural mechanisms established by the resolution.   more...

6/11/2009 - Procedure Points How to Submit an Amendment for Pre-Printing in the Congressional Record The Democratic Majority has announced that it will require every "first degree" amendment to one of the general appropriations bills to be pre-printed in the Congressional Record. The following are instructions for submitting amendments for pre-printing.   more...

2/28/2008 - Procedure Points The “Medicare Trigger” — How Does it Work in the House? Title VIII of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (P.L. 108-173) requires an annual report to Congress regarding the financial condition of Medicare.    more...

6/25/2007 - Procedure Points The "New" Earmark Point of Order for Appropriations Conference Reports On June 18, 2007, the House adopted H.Res. 491 by unanimous consent, correcting problems with the enforceability of the Democrats’ current point of order on earmarks (clause 9 of Rule XXI). It partially restores the enforceability of the earmark rule to where it was in the 109th Congress by providing a point of order against a conference report to accompany a regular general appropriations bill (debatable as a question of consideration) for the failure to include a list of “air dropped” earmarks in the joint statement of managers.   more...