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The article offers information on the factors to consider when drafting amendments and amendment strategy. Topics discussed include the difference of practices, rules, and ad hoc agreements, the option for members to draft amendments with guidance from Office of Legislative Counsel attorneys, and the benefits of consultations from the Office of the Parliament, executive officials, and Congressional Research Service (CRS) attorneys and analysts.

Summary: A principal responsibility of House committees is to conduct markups—to select legislation to consider, to debate it and vote on amendments to it (to mark up), and to report recommendations on passage to the House. This manual examines procedures and strategy related to committee markups and provides sample procedural scripts. A committee faces many decisions when it considers a policy matter in a markup. It must select what legislation to mark up; decide whether to mark up in committee only or in both subcommittee and committee; consider the effect of referral on the markup; choose how to report to the House; and take into account congressional and Administration sentiments. With policy and political considerations in mind, the committee plans its procedural strategy. The first element of a markup strategy is selection of a markup vehicle. A committee might mark up a measure as introduced, a version of the measure previously marked up in subcommittee, a draft prepared before, after, or without subcommittee markup, or an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Procedural and political consequences attach to each markup vehicle. Two parts of the manual deal with this element: Procedural Strategy and the Choice of a Markup Vehicle, and Beginning a Markup. The second element of a markup strategy is conduct of the amendment process. A committee may mark up a measure by section or by paragraph or by another subdivision, such as title; open it to amendment at any point or use an amendment roster; or mark up an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Specific procedural and political consequences attach to each choice. One part of the manual deals with this element: Reading a Measure for Amendment. The third element of a markup strategy is the decision of what to report. If a committee marks up legislation as introduced, it may report that with recommended amendments. If a committee marks up a draft or an amendment in the nature of a substitute, it must convert that vehicle into legislation that can be reported. A committee may also choose to report a “clean” measure. Two parts of the manual deal with this element: Reporting a Measure, and Committee Reports. The final element of a markup strategy cuts through the other elements—anticipating the motions and requests that the majority and minority might make at each stage of the markup. Four parts of the manual deal with this element: Parliamentary Inquiries; Points of Order; Motions, Requests, and Demands; and Voting. Six parts of this manual supplement these elements of markup strategy by providing background and context: Introduction to House Committee Markup Procedures, Committee Rules, Procedural Restrictions in Law on Certain Markups, Referral of Legislation in the House, Considerations Prior to a Markup, and Role of Committee and Personal Staff. Two parts of the manual deal with Options for House Consideration and Considerations in a Two- House Strategy. Although House floor consideration follows committee action, and Senate action may precede or follow House committee action, plans for a markup must anticipate the larger arenas in which reported legislation will be considered. This context is examined in these two parts. An Overview of Manual section explains the relationship between the elements and the parts of the manual, and includes a subsection on How To Read or Use This Manual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that October 2016 term of the U.S. Supreme Court featured numerous cases on matters of potential significance to the U.S. Congress. It is noted that the Court rendered three potentially important rulings related to the legal standards for determining whether race impermissibly predominates redistricting decisions under state legislature.

The article presents review of select major rulings of the Supreme Court during October Term 2016. It provides background information on cases; summarizes arguments presented to the Court, explains ultimate ruling of the Court, and analyzes implications of the Court's ruling on the U.S. Congress. Some of the discussed cases are Matal vs. Tam, Sessions v. Morales-Santana, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia Inc. vs. Comer, and Ziglar vs. Abbasi.

The article discusses the authority of the U.S. House and Senate to make their own rules of proceedings under the U.S. Constitution. It explains how the U.S. Congress makes rules that are applicable to both the House and the Senate and can include rules in statutes to make a set of procedures in one chamber or both chambers. It mentions that the House and Senate can change how their rules are implemented and followed under their constitutional authority.

The November 10, 2010 issue of the Report for Congress from the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) on the points of order, rulings and appeals in the House of Representatives is presented. It discusses the significance of making points of order against the alleged violation of the legislative procedures. It explores the significance of rulings and appeals on each point of order made.

The article offers information on the three categories of an amendment such as form, scope, and degree. It says that forms describes how an amendment changes the base text or another amendment and can be described as a motion to strike, insert, or both. It mentions that scope describes the coverage of the changes to the amendment. Meanwhile, degree describes the relationship of amendment to base text and can be in first or second degree, as per the House rule.

The article offers information on the Rule X adapted by the U.S. House committees for referral of legislation. It discusses the jurisdiction of the House committee governing the referral of legislation under the rule, the difference between legislative jurisdiction and oversight jurisdiction, and the need to refer a measure to the appropriate committee to address erroneous referral under clause 7(a) of Rule XII.

The article offers information on the clause 2(h)(3) of Rule XI adapted by the U.S. House Committee to set the quorum for conducting business at not less than one-third of the members of the committee. It says that the committee quorum rules can be expressed as a proportion of the membership and as a specific number. It adds that failure to maintain a quorum can result in a point of order and a suspension of business.

The article offers information on the clause 2(h)(3) of Rule XI adapted by the U.S. House Committee to authorize committees and subcommittees to issue subpoenas for government and nongovernment witnesses and documents. It discusses the need for a quorum of one-third of the committee members to debate a subpoena, the role of the House Office of the General Counsel to assist committees in issuing subpoena, and the limitation of the committee to exercise the delegation of their authority.

The article discusses the presidential and parliamentary elections held in East Timor where the Presidential elections were won by José Luís Guterres and  Democratic Party candidate­, Antonio da Conceicao took the second place. It further discusses the Parliamentary elections where the Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor­Leste or Fretilin won.

The article focuses on the matters that the chair of the U.S. House Committee cannot make a point of order including the inconsistent amendment, merits of a legislative proposition, and the meaning or effect of an amendment.

The article offers information on the constitutionality point of order in which a member of the U.S. House Committee can make a point of order against an amendment under the U.S. Constitution.

The article offers information on the clause 2(h)(3) of Rule XI adapted by the U.S. House Committee to keep records of all committee actions such as the records of hearing and meetings and roll-call votes.

The article focuses on the rules or practices of the U.S. House Committee which allow and regulate opening statements during a meeting. It says that the committee can restrict the oral opening statements from the chair and ranking minority member and allows other committee members to submit written opening statements for the record.

The article offers information on the clause 2(h)(3) of Rule XI adapted by the U.S. House Committee to allow its chair to recess a committee and to permit a committee to make a privileged motion to recess.

The article offers information on the clause 2(h)(4) of Rule XI adapted by the U.S. House Committee to allow its chair to postpone votes on an amendment or approval of a measure and to resume proceedings after notice.