Legislation
The Legislative Process
"All Legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States,which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."
- Article I, Section 1, of the United States Constitution
The chief function of the United States Congress is the making of laws. The legislative process comprises a number of steps, but it is important for every American to understand how his or her government operates and be engaged in that process. Therefore, much of this page is devoted to providing information concerning the legislation introduced and considered on the floor of the House of Representatives.
To help you understand the information and how it interrelates, a very brief overview of the legislative process within the House of Representatives is presented below, along with links to allow you to search through current House proceedings. However, there are many aspects and variations of the process which are not addressed here. Please note that a much more in-depth discussion and presentation of the overall process is available through How Our Laws Are Made, provided by the Library of Congress.
Background on the Legislative Process
Forms of Congressional Action
The Committee System
House Floor Consideration and Voting
Important Historical Documents
What's Happening in the House Right Now
Current House Proceedings
The Whip Notice
Monthly Calendar
House of Representatives Roll Call Votes
Congressman Campbell's Committee Assignments