Advanced search Help
Searching for terms: EXACT: "Petersen, R. Eric" in: author
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Violence Against Members of Congress and Their Staff: Selected Examples and Congressional Responses [January 25, 2011]
"Questions about the personal security and safety of members of Congress and their staffs have arisen in the aftermath of a recent attack in Tucson, Arizona, and following reports of an increase in the number of threats made against members of Congress. Two measures have been introduced in the 112th Congress to address issues related to violence against members and congressional staff. On January 19, 2011, Representative Robert A. Brady of Pennsylvania introduced H.R. 318 to amend title 18, United States Code, to punish threats to commit violent crimes against members of Congress. On January 20, 2011, Representative Laura Richardson introduced H.R. 367, the Freedom to Serve Without Fear Act of 2011, which would prohibit the knowing possession of a firearm near a venue at which a member of Congress is performing official duties or campaigning for public office. Since 1789, available information from official and private sources suggests that there have been at least 21 instances of attacks involving 24 members who were targeted by assailants. There have been 12,013 individuals who have served as Representatives or Senators since 1789. In 11 instances, the attacks were thwarted, or resulted in no serious injuries to members. Another three incidents resulted in wounds to seven members. Finally, seven instances resulted in the deaths of seven members. It appears that five of the incidents of attacks on members also affected some congressional staff. Four of the incidents resulted in the wounding of congressional staff. Two incidents, a 1998 event in which a gunman entered the Capitol, and the Tucson shooting on January 8, 2011, resulted in fatalities to two congressional law enforcement personnel and one civilian employee of the House, respectively."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric; Manning, Jennifer E.; Hemlin, Erin
2011-01-25
-
Emergency Electronic Communications in Congress: Proposals and Issues [Updated August 12, 2003]
"The events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax incidents have prompted some observers to suggest creating an emergency electronic communications system for Congress to ensure continuity of its operations. On July 25, 2003, Representative James R. Langevin introduced H.R. 2948. The bill would direct the Comptroller General of the United States to enter into arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Librarian of Congress for conducting a study on the feasibility and costs of implementing such a system for Congress to use during an emergency. In addition to this legislative proposal, broad suggestions have been offered involving the establishment of a Web-based application that Members of Congress could access from any location inside or outside the Capitol complex. It has been suggested that such an application could enable the establishment of an electronic Congress (e- Congress) through which Members of Congress could carry out activities normally done on the chambers' floors or in committees. These suggestions generally highlight the use of information technology (IT) to enable Congress to carry out its responsibilities remotely, as a substitute for traditional congressional functions performed in Washington. These proposals tend to focus on floor activity while not addressing other areas of congressional activities, such as committee business and Member office operations. In addition to these matters, the possibility of convening an e-Congress raises a number of procedural, technical, and resource questions that may require further study. This report provides an overview of the issues and relevant legislation and will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seifert, Jeffrey W.; Petersen, R. Eric
2003-08-12
-
Parliament and Congress: A Brief Comparison of the British House of Commons and the U.S. House of Representatives [Updated May 19, 2005]
"Although the United States Congress can trace its origins to British Parliament, the two institutions have evolved in significantly different directions over the past two centuries. This report provides a brief overview of the parliamentary practices in the House of Representatives and the British House of Commons focusing on such issues as membership and qualifications, the role of the Speaker and party or Government leaders, the role of committees, floor consideration, and second chambers. In a report of this length, many nuances of procedure and many rarely used parliamentary practices or traditions, both in the House of Commons and in the House of Representatives, are necessarily omitted or treated only in a cursory manner. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2005-05-19
-
Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning in the Federal Judiciary [Updated September 8, 2005]
From the Document: "Following the current disruption of operations in several courts in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi due to Hurricane Katrina, the September 2001 terrorist attacks, subsequent anthrax incidents that briefly affected the Supreme Court, and occasional warnings of potential natural and man-made incursions that could interrupt court operations, judicial branch policymakers and administrators have given renewed attention to crisis response, emergency planning, and continuity of operations (COOP) issues. In the federal judiciary, COOP planning is an extension of court emergency preparedness plans designed to safeguard lives and property during emergencies. The federal judiciary is highly decentralized, both geographically and administratively. Consequently, emergency and COOP planning is carried out locally, according to guidelines issued by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC). Each federal court, aside from the Supreme Court, which has dedicated facilities and security procedures that are not considered in this report, is responsible for planning for its continued operation in the event of a disaster or other potential operational interruption...This report discusses actions taken by AOUSC following the September 11 attacks, and describes expectations for emergency preparedness and COOP plans in the judiciary. Other sections address issues and policy questions Congress might consider, including matters of the status of judicial emergency and COOP preparedness, and funding for future policy and oversight questions regarding judicial contingency planning."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2005-09-08
-
Legislative Initiatives to Temporarily Relocate Federal Courts Interrupted by Natural or Man-made Disasters, 109th Congress [September 8, 2005]
From the Document: "Following the current disruption of operations in several courts in Gulf Coast states due to Hurricane Katrina, one of the issues raised is whether Congress might consider legislation authorizing courts affected by natural and man-made disasters to meet outside the geographic boundaries of their circuits or districts. In emergency conditions created due to a natural or man-made disaster, a federal court facility in an adjoining district or circuit might be more readily and safely available to court personnel, litigants, jurors, and the public than a facility within the district. The Judicial Conference of the United States, which makes policy for the federal courts, asked Congress in June 2005 to pass emergency legislation to allow courts to shift court proceedings temporarily into adjacent judicial districts when emergency circumstances require it and again in September following Hurricane Katrina. The proposed legislation is similar to language contained in section 15 of H.R. 1751, the Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act of 2005. The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security forwarded H.R. 1751, with amendments to the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 30, 2005. H.R. 3650, which would allow U.S. courts to conduct business during emergency conditions was introduced on September 6, was passed by the House on September 7. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2005-09-08
-
Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning in the Federal Judiciary [Updated September 28, 2004]
From the Document: "In the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, subsequent anthrax incidents that briefly affected the Supreme Court, and occasional warnings of the potential for further terrorist activity, judicial branch policymakers and administrators have given renewed attention to crisis response, emergency planning, and continuity of operations (COOP) issues. In the federal judiciary, COOP planning is an extension of court emergency preparedness plans designed to safeguard lives and property during emergencies. This report discusses actions taken by AOUSC following the September 11 attacks, and describes expectations for emergency preparedness and COOP plans in the judiciary. Other sections address issues and policy questions Congress might consider, including matters of the status of judicial emergency and COOP preparedness, and funding for future policy and oversight questions regarding judicial contingency planning."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2004-09-28
-
Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning in the Federal Judiciary [Updated August 8, 2003]
In the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, subsequent anthrax incidents that briefly affected the Supreme Court, and occasional warnings of the potential for further terrorist activity, judicial branch policymakers and administrators have given renewed attention to crisis response, emergency planning, and continuity of operations (COOP) issues. In the federal judiciary, COOP planning is an extension of court emergency preparedness plans designed to safeguard lives and property during emergencies. The federal judiciary is highly decentralized, both geographically and administratively. Consequently, emergency and COOP planning is carried out locally, according to guidelines issued by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC)...Prior to September 2001, the federal judiciary had engaged in efforts to improve security in court facilities. After the attacks, AOUSC recommended the designation of a senior court executive in every court to coordinate and be responsible for developing appropriate procedures for emergency preparedness, and COOP. AOUSC also recommended that the courts coordinate their planning activities with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local federal executive agencies. This report discusses actions taken by AOUSC following the September 11 attacks, and describes expectations for emergency preparedness and COOP plans in the judiciary. Other sections address issues and policy questions Congress might consider, including matters of the status of judicial emergency and COOP preparedness, and funding for future policy and oversight questions regarding judicial contingency planning. This report is one of several CRS products related to government emergency preparedness and contingency planning". - From Summary
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2003-08-08
-
Congressional Continuity of Operations (COOP): An Overview of Concepts and Challenges [Updated January 14, 2003]
"Interruptions of congressional operations by incidents such as episodic computer virus infections, or the anthrax contamination that took place during autumn 2001, have demonstrated the importance of congressional continuity of operations (COOP) planning. COOP planning refers to the internal effort of an organization to assure that the capability exists to continue essential functions in response to a comprehensive array of potential operational interruptions...This report discusses the circumstances surrounding COOP planning, including provisions for alternative meeting sites and methods for conducting House and Senate meetings and floor sessions when Capitol facilities are not available...One challenge involves the relocation of legislative activities. There appears to be no constitutional bar to the House and Senate adopting a resolution that approves meetings of either chamber outside the Capitol in advance of doing so...Other concerns regarding physical security have prompted some observers to propose creating a virtual or electronic Congress (e-Congress). Although these suggestions have generally focused on the creation of a Web site accessible by Members anywhere in the country, it is unclear exactly how an e-Congress would be constituted and operated. Other challenges for COOP planning include maintaining Member office information security, and the Legislative Information System (LIS). Although current congressional COOP planning began prior to September 11, 2001, details surrounding House and Senate COOP planning are not publicly available, and some specific information is excluded from this report to preserve operational security. Contingency planning in the House, however, has evolved over the past 20 years and there exists a range of backup strategies for maintaining critical House legislative and administrative information systems."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seifert, Jeffrey W.; Petersen, R. Eric
2003-01-14
-
Continuity of Operations (COOP) in the Executive Branch: Background and Issues for Congress [April 21, 2003]
"In the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, subsequent anthrax incidents, and occasional warnings of terrorist reprisals in response to U.S. interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, federal policymakers have given renewed attention to continuity of operations (COOP) issues. COOP planning is a segment of federal government contingency planning that refers to the internal effort of an organization, such as a branch of government, department, or office, to assure that the capability exists to continue essential operations in the aftermath of a comprehensive array of potential operational interruptions...Government-wide, COOP planning is critical because much of the recovery from an incident, which might include the maintenance of civil authority, and infrastructure repair, among other recovery activities, presumes the existence of an ongoing, functional government to fund, support, and oversee actions taken. In the executive branch, COOP planning can be viewed as a continuation of basic emergency preparedness planning, and a bridge between that planning and efforts to maintain continuity of government in the event of a significant disruption to government activity or institutions. Because the number and types of potential interruptions are unknown, effective COOP planning must provide, in advance of an incident, a variety of means to assure contingent operations. This report discusses the background of COOP planning, discusses elements of an effective COOP plan, and reviews the current policies governing COOP planning in the executive branch. The final two sections address issues and policy questions, including, among other matters, the status of agency preparedness, maintaining COOP preparedness, congressional committee oversight of COOP activity, and funding for contingency planning." -- Summary
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2003-04-21
-
Continuity of Operations (COOP) in the Executive Branch: Issues in the 109th Congress [January 31, 2005]
"Spurred in part by occasional warnings of potential terrorist threats in the post-9/11 era, some policymakers have intensified their focus on continuity of operations (COOP) issues. COOP planning is a segment of federal government contingency planning linked to continuity of government (COG). Together, COOP and COG are designed to ensure survival of a constitutional form of government and the continuity of essential federal functions. This report focuses primarily on executive branch COOP activities. Broadly, COOP planning refers to the internal effort of an organization, such as a branch of government, department, or office, to assure that the capability exists to continue essential operations in response to a comprehensive array of potential operational interruptions. In the executive branch, COOP planning is regarded as a 'good business practice,' and part of the fundamental mission of agencies as responsible and reliable public institutions. In the 109th Congress, policy questions and issues might arise as Congress examines the status of COOP planning within the executive branch of the federal government and the implications of that planning for overall agency emergency preparedness. Some of the issues surrounding COOP planning are discussed in this report, including authority to activate and implement COOP plans; defining essential activities to be maintained by a COOP plan; budgeting for COOP activities; congressional committee jurisdiction; and attention to COOP and preparedness matters."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2005-01-31
-
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management [December 29, 2005]
"Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military, the merchant marine, or the U.S. Coast Guard for a minimum of five years. […] This report, which will be updated as warranted, describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2005-12-29
-
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management [September 14, 2011]
"Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military or merchant marine for a minimum of five years. The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other representational duties. In some states and congressional districts, nominations are highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices might need to dedicate considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates, while others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other constituent service work such as casework. […] This report, which will be updated as warranted, describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2011-09-14
-
Pages of the United States Congress: History, Background Information, and Program Administration [August 30, 2011]
"For more than 180 years, messengers known as pages have served the United States Congress. Pages must be high school juniors and at least 16 years of age. Several incumbent and former Members of Congress as well as other prominent Americans have served as congressional pages. Senator Daniel Webster appointed the first Senate page in 1829. The first House pages began their service in 1842. Women were first appointed as pages in 1971. In August 2011, House leaders announced the termination of that chamber's page program. Senate pages are appointed and sponsored by Senators for one academic semester of the school year, or for a summer session. The right to appoint pages rotates among Senators pursuant to criteria set by the Senate's leadership. Academic standing is one of the most important criteria used in the final selection of pages. Selection criteria for House pages was similar when the page program operated in that chamber. Prospective Senate pages are advised to contact their Senators to request consideration for a page appointment. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2011-08-30
-
Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress: Brief Overview [November 9, 2012]
"The duties carried out by a Member of Congress are understood to include representation, legislation, and constituent service and education, as well as political and electoral activities. The expectations and duties of a Member of Congress are extensive, encompassing several roles that could be full-time jobs by themselves. Despite the acceptance of these roles and other activities as facets of the Member's job, there is no formal set of requirements or official explanation of what roles might be played as Members carry out the duties of their offices. In the absence of formal authorities, many of the responsibilities that Members of Congress have assumed over the years have evolved from the expectations of Members and their constituents. Upon election to Congress, Members typically develop approaches to their jobs that serve a wide range of roles and responsibilities. Given the dynamic nature of the congressional experience, priorities placed on various Member roles tend to shift in response to changes in seniority, committee assignment, policy focus, district or state priorities, institutional leadership, and electoral pressures. In response, the roles and specific duties a Member carries out are often highlighted or de-emphasized accordingly. Although elements of all the roles described can be found among the duties performed by any Senator or Representative, the degree to which each is carried out differs among Members. Each Member may also emphasize different duties during different stages of his or her career. With no written requirements, each Member is free to define his or her own job and set his or her own priorities. This report is one of several CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports that focus on congressional operations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2012-11-09
-
Casework in a Congressional Office: Background, Rules, Laws, and Resources [November 30, 2012]
"In a congressional office, the term 'casework' refers to the response or services that Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance. Each year, thousands of constituents turn to Members of Congress with a wide range of requests, from the simple to the complex. Members and their staffs help constituents deal with administrative agencies by acting as facilitators, ombudsmen, and, in some cases, advocates. In addition to serving individual constituents, some congressional offices also consider as casework liaison activities between the federal government and local governments, businesses, communities, and nonprofit organizations. Members of Congress determine the scope of their constituent service activities. Casework is conducted for various reasons, including a broadly held understanding among Members and staff that casework is integral to the representational duties of a Member of Congress. Casework activities may also be viewed as part of an outreach strategy to build political support, or as an evaluative stage of the legislative process. Constituent inquiries about specific policies, programs, or benefits may suggest areas where government programs or policies require oversight or legislative consideration. […] This report discusses House and Senate rules and guidelines, laws, and regulations affecting congressional casework, as well as the role of caseworkers. It also provides sample outlines and document templates for implementing and managing congressional casework."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2012-11-30
-
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management [November 30, 2012]
"Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military or merchant marine for a minimum of five years. The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other representational duties. In some states and congressional districts, nominations are highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices might need to dedicate considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates, while others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other constituent service work such as casework. […] This report describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2012-11-30
-
Leaving Congress: House of Representatives and Senate Departures Data Since 1989 [September 24, 2010]
From the Document: "Members of Congress leave the House or Senate for a variety of reasons; these may include resignation, death, or chamber action during a Congress, and retirement, electoral defeat, or pursuit of another office at the end of a Congress. In the 101st Congress (1989-1990) through September 2010 of the 111th Congress (2009-2010), on average, two Senators and eight Members of the House of Representatives have left before the conclusion of a Congress. Over the same period, on average, 10 Senators and 55 Members of the House left Congress upon expiration of their terms of office. These figures include those Members who have announced an intention to retire at the completion of the 111th Congress. The data provided here may offer insight concerning the turnover of membership in each chamber, but any such conclusions should be drawn with care, as there appears to be no pattern to Member departures. This may be due in part to the individualized nature of congressional careers, which might include numerous events or actions that could affect Members' decisions to end their congressional service. This report will be updated at the conclusion of the 111th Congress. Detailed information regarding 111th Congress departures is available at http://crs.gov/resources/Pages/ Congress_111_departures.aspx."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manning, Jennifer E.; Reynolds, Parker H.; Petersen, R. Eric
2010-09-24
-
First-Term Members of the House of Representatives and Senate, 64th - 113th Congresses [January 25, 2013]
"This report provides summary data on the number of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives who first entered Congress between the 64th Congress (1915-1917) and the 113th Congress (2013-2014). First-term membership is divided into two broad categories in each chamber: Members chosen prior to the convening of a Congress, and those chosen after a Congress convenes. The resulting data, combining pre-convening and post-convening first-term Members, provide a count of all Members who served a first term in the House or Senate. Since the convening of the 64th Congress, 4,126 individuals have entered the House of Representatives for their first, or 'freshman,' terms as Representatives. An additional 26 have begun service as Delegates or Resident Commissioners. During the same period, 825 individuals began their first terms in the Senate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manning, Jennifer E.; Petersen, R. Eric
2013-01-25
-
Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945 [February 17, 2012]
"Questions about the characteristics of Members of Congress, including their age, education, previous occupations, and other descriptors, are of ongoing interest to Members, congressional staff, and constituents. Some of these questions may be asked in the context of representation, in efforts to evaluate the extent to which Members of Congress reflect their constituencies and the nation at large. In other instances, questions arise about how the characteristics of Members have changed over time, which may speak in part to the history of Congress. This report provides profiles of Senators and Representatives in selected Congresses since 1945. It includes data based on Representatives and Senators serving on the first day of the 79th, 82nd, 87th, 92nd, 97th, 102nd, and 107th - 112th Congresses for several demographic characteristics, as well as the tenure of Member service in Congress. The characteristics discussed include age, including the oldest and youngest Members of the House and Senate; congressional service tenure; sex; previous occupation; race and ethnicity; education; religion; and military service. Following the written summaries of each characteristic, the report provides a number of tables that provide the detailed data by the category on which the summaries are based. All data tables appear in the 'Member Characteristics Data Tables' section. In several categories, the report provides data on the U.S. population that may be comparable to data available on Members of Congress. A detailed discussion of the methods used to develop the data presented in the report, and efforts to provide comparison between Member characteristics and the American public, is provided in an Appendix."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2012-02-17
-
Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic and Current Practices [March 9, 2012]
"Since 1973, 84 Members of Congress--69 Representatives, and 15 Senators--have died in office. When a sitting Member dies, the House and Senate carry out a number of actions based on chamber rules, statutes, and longstanding practices. Some observances, such as adjourning briefly as a mark of respect to the deceased, appointing Member delegations to attend funerals of deceased colleagues, or paying the costs of a funeral from public funds, were initially observed in the earliest Congresses, or predate the national legislature established under the Constitution. It appears that contemporary congressional response to the death of a sitting Member is affected by a number of external factors including the following: circumstances of the Member's death, preferences of the deceased Member or the Member's family regarding funeral services, whether Congress is in session when the Member dies, pending congressional business at the time of the Member's death, and events external to Congress at the time. Congressional response to the death of a sitting Member could be characterized as a broad set of actions that are determined in detail at or around the time of the death, in response to a wide array of factors. Broadly, these actions fall into five categories, including announcement or acknowledgment on the House or Senate floor; consideration of resolutions of condolence; a funeral or other rites; issues related to the deceased Member's office, staff, and survivor benefits; and publication of memorials."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manning, Jennifer E.; Petersen, R. Eric
2012-03-09
-
Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic and Current Practices [April 25, 2012]
"Since 1973, 84 Members of Congress--69 Representatives and 15 Senators--have died in office. When a sitting Member dies, the House and Senate carry out a number of actions based on chamber rules, statutes, and long-standing practices. Some observances, such as adjourning briefly as a mark of respect to the deceased, appointing Member delegations to attend funerals of deceased colleagues, or paying the costs of a funeral from public funds, were initially observed in the earliest Congresses, or predate the national legislature established under the Constitution. It appears that contemporary congressional response to the death of a sitting Member is affected by a number of external factors including the following: circumstances of the Member's death, preferences of the deceased Member or the Member's family regarding funeral services, whether Congress is in session when the Member dies, pending congressional business at the time of the Member's death, and events external to Congress at the time. Congressional response to the death of a sitting Member could be characterized as a broad set of actions that are determined in detail at or around the time of the death, in response to a wide array of factors. Broadly, these actions fall into five categories, including announcement or acknowledgment on the House or Senate floor; consideration of resolutions of condolence; a funeral or other rites; issues related to the deceased Member's office, staff, and survivor benefits; and publication of memorials."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric; Manning, Jennifer E.
2012-04-25
-
Federal Depository Library Program: Issues for Congress [March 29, 2012]
"Congress established the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) to provide free public access to federal government information. The program's origins date to 1813; the current structure of the program was established in 1962 and is overseen by the Government Printing Office (GPO). Access to government information is provided through a network of depository libraries across the United States. In the past half-century, information creation, distribution, retention, and preservation has expanded from a tangible, paper-based process to include digital processes managed largely through computerized information technologies. The transition to digital information raises a number of issues of possible interest to Congress. This report discusses those possible concerns as they affect FDLP. These issues, which are in some cases interrelated, may not only affect FDLP, but also extend beyond the program to a variety of contexts related to the management of government information in tangible and digital forms. Issues include the following: maintenance and availability of the FDLP tangible collection; retention and preservation of digital information; access to FDLP resources; authenticity and accuracy of digital material; robustness of the FDLP Electronic Collection; and the costs of FDLP and other government information distribution initiatives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric; Manning, Jennifer E.; Bailey, Christina M.
2012-03-29
-
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management [July 5, 2011]
"Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military or merchant marine for a minimum of five years. The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other representational duties. In some states and congressional districts, nominations are highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices might need to dedicate considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates, while others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other constituent service work such as casework. […] This report, which will be updated as warranted, describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2011-07-05
-
Messages, Petitions, Communications, and Memorials to Congress [Updated August 16, 2007]
"The Constitution and the rules of the House and Senate identify various means that citizens, subordinate levels of government, and other branches of the federal government may use to communicate formally with either or both houses of Congress. The House and Senate use written messages to communicate with the other. For more information on legislative process, see [http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2007-08-16
-
Engrossment, Enrollment, and Presentation of Legislation [Updated August 16, 2007]
"Engrossment, enrollment, and presentation of legislation are components of the legislative process that attest to the accuracy of bill texts, confirm House and Senate action, and confirm delivery of the bills to the President for review. For more information on legislative process, see [http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2007-08-16
-
National Continuity Policy: Brief Overview [June 8, 2007]
"On May 9, 2007, President George W. Bush issued National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD) 51, which is also identified as Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 20, on National Continuity Policy. The directive updates longstanding continuity directives designed to assure that governing entities are able to recover from a wide range of potential operational interruptions. Executive branch efforts to assure essential operations are similar to those that are broadly integrated into many private sector industries. Government continuity planning also incorporates efforts to maintain and preserve constitutional government, based on the assumption that certain essential activities typically provided by government must be carried out with little or no interruption under all circumstances."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2007-06-08
-
Congressional Staff: Duties and Functions of Selected Positions [June 25, 2008]
"The United States Congress conducts several types of activities for which it employs staff. These activities include assisting Members in official responsibilities in personal, committee, leadership, or administrative office settings. Congressional career tracks generally mirror common stages of other professional careers, but with adaptations to the congressional workplace. These adaptations include relatively short career ladders on which staff may acquire substantial responsibilities in a relatively short period of time, and close support of a Member's legislative and representational responsibilities. This report focuses on positions in House and Senate personal offices (Member staff), and provides sample position descriptions for 14 positions with similar job titles in each chamber. As with all congressional entities with employing authority, individual Members of Congress have wide discretion in setting many workplace policies, including procedures for establishing the duties and functions of staff positions. Staffing decisions may be determined by the priorities and goals of a congressional office, and the preferences and needs of a Member's constituents. This report, which will be updated as warranted, is one of several CRS products focusing on various aspects of congressional operations and administration. Others include CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL33220, 'Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities', by Ida A. Brudnick; CRS Report RL34188, 'Congressional Official Mail Costs', by Matthew Eric Glassman; CRS Report RL34495, 'Continuation of Employment Benefits for Senate Restaurant Employees', by Jacob R. Straus; and CRS Report RL33686, 'Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress', by R. Eric Petersen."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2008-06-25
-
Closing a Congressional Office: Overview and Guide to House and Senate Practices [June 30, 2008]
"Turnover of membership in the House and Senate necessitates closing congressional offices. The closure of a congressional office requires an outgoing Member of Congress to evaluate pertinent information regarding his or her staff; the disposal of personal and official records; and final disposition of office accounts, facilities, and equipment. In the past several years, the House and Senate have developed extensive resources to assist Members in closing their offices. These services are most typically used at the end of a Congress, when a Member's term of service ends, but most of the services are available to an office that becomes vacant for other reasons. This report provides an overview of issues that may arise in closing a congressional office, and provides a guide to resources available through the appropriate support offices of the House and Senate. This report, which will be updated as warranted, is one of several CRS [Congressional Research Service] products focusing on various aspects of congressional operations and administration. Others include CRS Report RL33220, 'Support Offices in the House of Representatives: Roles and Authorities', by Ida A. Brudnick; CRS Report RL34188, 'Congressional Official Mail Costs', by Matthew Eric Glassman; CRS Report RL34495, 'Continuation of Employment Benefits for Senate Restaurant Employees', by Jacob R. Straus; and CRS Report RL33686, 'Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress', by R. Eric Petersen."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2008-06-30
-
Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management [February 21, 2006]
"Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to be officers of the United States uniformed services. Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as officers in the active or reserve components of the military, the merchant marine, or the U.S. Coast Guard for a minimum of five years. The nomination of constituents to one of the service academies can provide Members of Congress with the opportunity to perform community outreach and other representational duties. In some states and congressional districts, nominations are highly competitive. Others are less competitive, and some offices do not receive expressions of interest from enough applicants to fill the number of nominations allocated. Consequently, some congressional offices might need to dedicate considerable staff resources to the selection process to identify qualified candidates, whereas others can incorporate service academy nominations alongside other constituent service work such as casework. […] Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies. For further materials and resources for other constituent service issues, see the CRS [Congressional Research Service] Constituent Services Web page at [http://www.crs.gov/reference/general/constituentservices.shtml]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2006-02-21
-
Lobbying Reform: Background and Legislative Proposals, 109th Congress [Updated March 23, 2006]
From the Document: "In the decade since enactment of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA), concerns have been raised about the capacity of Congress to oversee the activities of professional lobbyists. Lobbyists and others who seek to participate in public policy activities through the formation of coalitions and associations whose members may not be identifiable, and the use of grassroots campaigns that attempt to mobilize citizens to advance the message of a lobbyist's client have also raised concerns. Some lobbying activities have also been linked to campaign finance practices, congressional procedures regarding the acceptance of gifts from lobbyists, and the inclusion of earmarks advocated by lobbyists in appropriations legislation. In the 109th Congress, legislative proposals related to lobbying focus on six broad areas, including (1) enhanced requirements for electronic filing of lobbying reports and semiannual reports required under LDA; (2) redefinition of the term 'client' under the statute; (3) more detailed disclosure by lobbyists of which groups and entities are funding coalitions and associations they represent; (4) more detailed disclosure by lobbyists of the individuals in Congress and the executive branch they contact; (5) congressional Rules regarding the interactions of Members and staff with lobbyists; and (6) the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, as it relates to lobbying activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Petersen, R. Eric
2006-03-23
