Congressional bills

Abstract

Legislative histories usually focus on the political factors and maneuvers that affect the progress of bills or on formal statements that would help to construe their provisions following enactment. A perspective that has received less attention concerns those practices and rules which govern their preparation and disposition. This paper will trace the typical course of a major bill, describing its development and treatment as an official document at each stage of the legislative process. A survey of sources that can be consulted to identify bills and locate their texts will conclude the discussion.