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 I have a basic question: what is the difference between a "bill," a "resolution," "a joint resolution," and a "concurrent resolution," and which of these does the President have to sign in order for them to become law? Minot, North Dakota - 5/3/00 Answer
Why are there only 13 appropriations bills to cover the entire federal government? Why are certain agencies lumped together when they're not related, as in the Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary Appropriations Bill? Cary, North Carolina How can I find out which agencies are covered in which appropriations bills? Atlanta, Georgia - 5/3/00 Answer
It seems to me that this Congress has talked more about amending the Constitution than
any in recent memory. Is that true, and what is the process for changing the Constitution? Seattle, Washington - 6/9/00 Answer
Where can I get basic legislative information: status of a bill, sponsorship of legislation,etc.? Melbourne, Florida - 7/31/00 Answer
How can I find out what the House and Senate are debating on the floor currently, and
what legislation they plan on taking up in the near future? Plantation, Florida Where can you read copies of bills and amendments? Hartford, Connecticut - 9/7/00 Answer
After the House and Senate have passed a bill, what happens to it? Does it go straight to the President? If not, how long do they have to get it to the President? Catonsville, Maryland - 1/24/01 Answer
"Sense of the Congress" resolutions don't make sense to me -- I'm told they don't have the force of law. Why do they
bother passing a bill that can't possibly be enforced?
Bethesda, Maryland - 3/28/01 Answer
Can you explain the differences between an engrossed bill and an enrolled bill and when it is correct to call it "an act?" San Diego, California 5/3/01 Answer
Members are constantly being told to "go to the Cloakroom." What is it, where is it, and what goes on in there? Bar Harbor, Maine - 5/3/00 Answer
Why is it against the rules in both the galleries of the House and Senate to write or read anything? What is it about these activities that the House and Senate find unacceptable? Brunswick, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
Why is the Capitol sometimes lit up at night and sometimes not? Washington, D.C. - 5/3/00 Answer
I understand that the Supreme Court met in the Capitol building for much of the 19th Century. Is that so, and was the courtroom preserved? Can tourists see it? Glen Burnie, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
I noticed that the statue on top of the Capitol dome faces East. Why doesn't she face the mall and the Monuments? What is her story? Reno, Nevada - 7/31/00 Answer
Has there ever been gunfire on the House or Senate floor? Brewton, Alabama - 10/27/00 Answer
I would like to know more about the tradition of having a Capitol Christmas Tree and lighting ceremony.Colorado Springs, Colorado - 12/13/00 Answer
The Capitol was 200 years old in November. Why no hoopla? Vero Beach, Florida - 12/28/00 Answer
Why do they call the Appropriations Chairmen, the "College of Cardinals?" Arlington, Virginia - 5/3/00 Answer
How is the membership of a House/Senate conference committee determined, and how do they conduct their business? Pico Rivera, California - 5/3/00 Answer
Are most committee chairmen from the South? Rockville, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
Does Congress still rely on the seniority system as much as it used to for committee chairmanships, office space assignments, leadership posts, etc? Baltimore, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
On some congressional committees the majority has a huge advantage and on others there is a more equal division of seats. How are the numbers of Republicans and Democrats on each committee determined? London, England - 5/3/00 Answer
What powers do congressional committees have to offer immunity to witnesses in exchange for their testimony? What is the process for granting immunity? Is there precedent for the immunity granted by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee during its campaign finance hearings? Cincinnati, Ohio - 5/3/00 Answer
Why is a committee chairman always referred to as the "powerful" chairman of whatever committee? What makes a chairman powerful?
Rocky River, Ohio - 5/8/00 Answer
Why doesn't Congress make greater use of joint committees, especially for investigations? Avon, Connecticut - 5/8/00 Answer
Under what authority can a committee of Congress investigate presidential pardons and issue subpoenas for witnesses? What happens if the witnesses refuse to comply? Beckley, West Virginia - 3/9/01 Answer
The origination clause of the Constitution (Article I, section 7) grants the House the sole prerogative to originate revenue legislation. Yet I have heard Senators say they must wait for an appropriations bill to come over from the House. Must spending bills also originate in the House? How important is the power to originate in the actual process? Albuquerque, New Mexico - 5/3/00 Answer
Why is the Senate called "Senate" and the House of Representatives, "House"? Why are the terms House and Congress used interchangeably? And why are Members of the House called Congressmen, but Senators aren't? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 5/3/00 Answer
Why do we have 100 Senators and 435 Members of the House? Can these numbers be changed? Butte, Montana - 5/3/00 Answer
I am not a U.S. citizen and I have often wondered what is the essential difference between the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives? Perth, Scotland - 5/3/00 Answer
I noticed the Senate just started saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. The House has
been saying it for years. Why the time lag? Chestertown, Maryland - 5/19/00 Answer
I have wondered for years about the seating arrangements on the House and Senate floor. Does seniority determine who sits where? Auburn, Washington - 6/30/00 Answer
Where and when did the First Congress meet? How many days were they in session and how does that compare to the current Congress? Levelland, Texas - 11/21/00 Answer
What are the salaries for the leaders of Congress? Do they get more than the rank and file member? How do their salaries compare to the Cabinet and to Justices? Perth, New York - 5/3/00 Answer
Who are the new leaders of the 107th Congress now that the party control has switched in the Senate? Texarkana, Texas - 6/14/01
Answer
How long does it take for a new Senator or Representative to learn the complex rules of floor activity? Do they get training before they take office? Madison, Wisconsin - 5/3/00
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What happens to a candidate's campaign funds when they resign, retire, or drop out of a campaign? And can they pay themselves a salary while running for office? Coatesville, Pennsylvania - 5/3/00 Answer
How do Members of Congress decide how to vote? What influences them the most? Toms River, New Jersey - 5/3/00 Answer
What percentage of the Congress is married? Divorced? Peoria, Illinois - 5/3/00 Answer
How many Members of the 106th Congress were once Governors of their state? Auburn, Washington - 5/3/00 Answer
What is the so-called "arrest clause" in the Constitution that gave Senator Robert C. Byrd
(D-WV) immunity to avoid a traffic ticket recently? McLean, Virginia - 5/3/00 Answer
What occupations, besides the law, have Members of Congress held prior to their election? Specifically, are there any scientists or doctors? Berkeley, California - 5/3/00
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Why is it that so few Members are ever present on either the House or Senate floor at any given time? New York, New York - 5/3/00 Answer
How many Members of the 106th Congress are Rhodes Scholars? Augusta, Maine - 5/3/00
Answer
Who are the most senior Members of the House and Senate, and for how long have they
served? Sterling Heights, Michigan - 5/12/00 Answer
What are the religious affiliations of Members of the 106th Congress? Sterling Heights, Michigan - 6/6/00 Answer
How can I find out how my Member of Congress voted on a specific issue? Carpentersville, Illinois - 6/13/00 Answer
How can I find out the vote margin by which Members of Congress were elected? Which current Member won with the highest percentage? Lexington, Kentucky - 6/22/00 Answer
How can I find out which special interest groups contributed campaign money to which Members of Congress, and how much was given? San Diego, California - 7/31/00 Answer
How would I find biographical information on former Members of Congress? Auburn, Alabama - 7/31/00 Answer
Which Members of Congress are physicians, and what are their specialties? Clarksville, Maryland - 8/9/00 Answer
Which Members of Congress are Masons? Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - 8/18/00 Answer
I am interested in knowing how an average citizen could track the spending habits of their Senators and Congressmen -- how they spend the money they get to run their offices, where they travel on public funds, what gifts they accept, etc. Pierre, South Dakota - 9/5/00 Answer
When are Members of Congress considered vested and eligible to receive a pension? And how much is that pension? Monticello, Arkansas - 9/28/00 Answer
How many people have served in Congress since it began in 1789? Is there a list available
of all their names, their length of service, and their occupation before coming to Congress? Windham, Connecticut - 1/17/01 Answer
What are the annual salaries of Senators and Congressmen? Ithaca, New York - 1/23/01 Answer
Could you provide some demographic descriptions for the 107th Congress, like age, gender, race? San Antonio, Texas - 2/5/01 Answer
Several Members of Congress have died recently. What is the greatest number of vacancies caused by death in one Congress? How are the vacant seats filled? Atlanta, Georgia - 6/6/01 Answer
What are the qualifications to run for office in the House of Representatives? In the Senate? Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - 7/20/01
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Are there any currently serving Members in Congress who do not have a college degree? Which colleges or universities have produced the most Members of Congress? Kennesaw, Georgia - 7/23/01
Answer
What is the breakdown of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in the Congress? Newport Beach, California - 7/23/01 Answer
What is meant by saying a politician is "on the right" or "on the left?" Upper Arlington, Ohio - 5/3/00 Answer
What does G.O.P. stand for when referring to Republicans? El Centro, California - 5/3/00 Answer
In this century, when did the same political party hold the majority in both houses of Congress and hold the White House? When did the same party rule the Congress but not the White House? Villanova, Pennsylvania - 6/9/00 Answer
How did Republicans pick the elephant, and Democrats the donkey, to represent their parties? Long Island, New York - 9/5/00 Answer
Why is the President's inauguration always held in the freezing January cold? Can't Congress move it to April when it's warmer? Severna Park, Maryland - 3/9/00 Answer
President Clinton has made some controversial "recess appointments." How do these work? Don't they go against the confirmation powers of the Senate? Loami, Illinois - 5/3/00 Answer
Were any Presidents elected directly from the House or Senate? Dedham, Massachusetts - 5/3/00 Answer
Is it true that the Speaker of the House will become President if President Clinton is impeached and removed from office, Vice-president Gore becomes President, and then something happens to President Gore? Dublin, Ireland - 5/3/00 Answer
What is "fast track authority" and why is the Clinton Administration asking Congress for it before negotiating any further trade agreements? Rockville, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
C-SPAN callers last week were asking why the President didn't use the line-item veto on the disaster relief appropriations bill. Why didn't he just strike out the controversial provisions? Wheaton, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
Presidential Executive Orders sometimes have tremendous policy impact, yet they do not require the approval of Congress. What recourse does Congress have? Seal Beach, California - 5/3/00 Answer
The recent column on presidential succession elicited some follow-up questions: Why is the order of succession what it is and why are two legislative branch officials -- the Speaker and President pro tempore of the Senate -- on it? Why not have only executive branch officers to replace the Chief Executive? - 5/3/00 Answer
Under what circumstances can Presidents call a special session of Congress? How many times have they done so? Ocean City, New Jersey - 5/3/00 Answer
Who has the power to declare war: Congress or the President? Springfield, Oregon - 5/12/00 Answer
What role does Congress play in a contested presidential election? Buffalo, New York - 12/13/00 Answer
What are the dates to pay attention to in the current presidential election situation? Do you have a timeline? Seattle, Washington - 12/13/00 Answer
How many votes does it take to confirm a president's nominees for his cabinet? Wathena, Kansas Which congressional committees hold hearings on their suitability? Boise, Idaho - 1/16/01 Answer
Is it true that the State of the Union speech does not have to be delivered in person? What are some of the traditions involved with it? Washington, D.C. - 2/28/01 Answer
If the Vice President is unable to serve, who would replace him?
Akron, Ohio - 3/8/01 Answer
What is the order of succession to the Presidency after the Vice President? Springfield, New Jersey - 3/8/01 Answer
Why do the House and Senate messengers have to bow when they bring papers from one chamber to the other? Lexington, Kentucky - 5/3/00 Answer
How is it that conference committees can meet behind closed doors? I'm thinking of the one on the $792 billion tax bill that just passed.
Columbia, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
Why do Members of the House always address the chair as "Mr. Speaker," even if he's not there, and why do Senators address theirs as "Mr. President?" Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania - 5/3/00 Answer
What's the difference between an adjournment and a recess. Are these terms interchangeable? Queens, New York - 5/3/00 Answer
Is there any type of formal procedure within Congress that evaluates the constitutionality of proposed legislation? Columbus, Ohio - 5/3/00 Answer
What are the basic rules of debate in the House and in the Senate? They seem to be different every time I watch. Nyack, New York - 5/3/00 Answer
What is the difference between a joint session and a joint meeting of Congress? Arlington, Virginia - 5/3/00 Answer
Why do Members address each other in such stilted terms, e.g. "my esteemed colleague," or "the distinguished gentleman from the great state of Connecticut?" Shelton, Connecticut - 5/3/00 Answer
Why are Members of Congress always asking to "revise and extend" their remarks? Concord, California - 5/3/00 Answer
What happens in the event of a tie vote in Congress? If the tie vote is in the Senate, and the Vice-President is not there to break it -- what is the outcome? Hinsdale, Illinois 5/3/00 Answer
What are the consequences of being cited in contempt of Congress? Who decides who is in contempt and what the penalties will be? Bellingham, Washington - 5/3/00 Answer
In both the House and Senate, before they vote, the Chair says "a sufficient number having arisen." What is meant by a sufficient number? Greenville, North Carolina - 5/3/00 Answer
Where can I find a listing of the salaries for all the staffs of the House and Senate, as well as other expenditures of the Congress? St. Petersburg, Florida - 5/3/00
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Who is the Sergeant-at-Arms, and what does he/she do? How is the position filled? Norfolk, Virginia - 5/3/00
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Are the elevator operators still employed in the Capitol? If so, given that the elevators are automated, how are their positions justified? Toledo, Ohio - 5/3/00 Answer
What is the role of the House and Senate Parliamentarian? Are they elected or appointed? Apple Valley, California - 5/3/00 Answer
C-SPAN just aired the confirmation hearings for the Architect of the Capitol. What does he do and why is this position appointed by the President? Olney, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
Have the House and Senate always had chaplains? What are their duties? Isn't having one in Congress a violation of the separation of church and state? University Heights, Ohio 5/19/00 Answer
Would you please explain who the young people on the House and Senate floor known as "pages" are, and what they do? North Miami Beach, Florida - 6/26/00 Answer
I'd like to know more about congressional staff and what they do – and what they get paid! Mexico City, Mexico - 11/15/00
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Doesn't Congress have a dress code? I just saw a shot of a female member on the House
floor wearing sneakers. I have also seen Members wear sports team t-shirts. Are those
considered appropriate attire? Washington, D.C. - 5/3/00 Answer
Would you please provide a brief bibliography of basic books on American government for students of all ages? Chicago Heights, Illinois - 5/3/00 Answer
Although Congress has banned smoking in all Federal buildings, is it still permitted on Capitol Hill? Mishawaka, Indiana - 5/3/00 Answer
How many First Ladies have addressed Congress? Miami, Florida - 5/3/00 Answer
What is meant by "pork barrel" legislation? Laurel, Maryland - 5/3/00 Answer
Despite all the turmoil in Washington today, my 11 year old son has political aspirations of one day serving in Congress. To meet this goal, what should his career path look like?Marietta, Georgia - 5/3/00 Answer
Why are Members of Congress allowed to use their signature instead of a stamp on their correspondence? St. Paul, Minnesota - 5/3/00 Answer
What is the specific oath-of-office taken by Members of Congress? Do they have to take it? Columbus, Ohio - 5/3/00Answer
Were Congressional vacations always as long and held as often as they are now? Lexington, Kentucky - 7/31/00 Answer
I would like to get Congress to change a law. I've written my representative and so have friends and relatives. All we get back are form letters. What else can we do? Shelby, Michigan - 8/23/00 Answer
I would like to get Congress to change a law. I've written my representative and so have friends and relatives. All we get back are form letters. What else can we do? Shelby, Michigan - 8/23/00 Answer
Where did the term "lobbyist" come from? Richmond, Virginia - 9/21/00 Answer
Why is the expression, "Lame Duck," now being applied both to Congress and President Clinton?Greenbelt, Maryland - 11/3/00
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How many days per year does Congress spend in session and are the sessions always the same length? Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - 1/9/01
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Do all Members of Congress have an e-mail link available? If not, why not? Charlottesville, VA - 7/21/01 Answer
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