Definition of Document Status Codes
These
Definitions of Document Status Codes Used in
the Bills Database were extracted from the complete online version of
the GPO WAIS Search Manual.
The definition is under the
abbreviation.
Congressional Bills Glossary
Definition of Document Types
Bills-
H.R. House Bill
S. Senate Bill
A legislative proposal before Congress. Bills from each house
are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced, from
the beginning of each Congress (first and second sessions).
"Public bills" deal with general questions and "private bills" deal with
individual matters such as claims against the Government.
Joint Resolutions-
H.J.Res. House Joint Resolution
S.J.Res. Senate Joint Resolution
A legislative proposal requiring the approval of both houses and
the signature of the President, just as a bill does. Resolutions
from each house are assigned a number in the order in which it is
introduced, from the beginning of each two-year Congress (first
and second sessions). There is no real difference between a bill and
a joint resolution. The latter is generally used in dealing with
limited matters, such as a single appropriation for a specific
purpose. A joint resolution has the force of law if approved.
Joint resolutions also are used to propose amendments to the
Constitution. These do not require Presidential signature, but become a part of
the Constitution when three-fourths of the states have ratified them.
Concurrent Resolutions-
H.Con.Res. House Concurrent Resolution
S.Con.Res. Senate Concurrent Resolution
A legislative proposal that must be passed by both houses, but
does not require the signature of the President and does not have the
force of law. These are generally used to make or amend rules
applicable to both houses or to express the sentiment of the two
houses. (For example, a concurrent resolution is used to fix the
time of adjournment of a Congress. It could also be used to convey
the congratulations of Congress to another country on the anniversary
of its independence.)
Simple Resolutions-
H. Res. House Simple Resolution
S. Res. Senate Simple Resolution
A legislative proposal that addresses matters entirely within the
prerogatives of one house or the other. It requires neither the
passage of the other house nor the signature of the President and
does not have the force of law. Most resolutions deal with the rules
of one house. They are also used to express the sentiments of a
single house. (For example, a simple resolution could be used as
condolences to the family of a deceased Member or to give "advice" on foreign
policy or other executive business.)
Reports-
H. Rpt. House Report
S. Rpt. Senate Report
A document setting forth a committee's explanation of its action
regarding legislation referred to it. House and Senate reports
are assigned a number which includes the number of the Congress
during which they are published, i.e., H. Rpt. 103-40 refers to a report
created in the House during the 103d Congress. Conference
reports are numbered and designated in the same way as regular House and
Senate Reports. Most reports favor a bill's passage although a bill can
be reported without recommendation. When a committee report is not
unanimous, the dissenting committee members may file a statement
of their views, called Minority Views and referred to as a Minority
Report. A reported version of a bill will include language
referencing the applicable report number.
Definitions of Common Document Status Codes
(ath) Agreed to House
(ats) Agreed to Senate
This term is used to describe concurrent or simple resolutions.
These types of bills are not "passed" in the manner of a regular
bill; they are "agreed to in the house."
(cdh) Committee Discharge House
(cds) Committee Discharge Senate
A motion to discharge a committee from considering a bill. The
motion or petition, requires signatures of 218 House Members or
two-thirds of the Senate.
(cph) Considered and Passed House
(cps) Considered and Passed Senate
After debate, a bill is voted on and passed by one of the two
congressional chambers.
(eah) Engrossed Amendment House
(eas) Engrossed Amendment Senate
The final copy of a bill as passed by one chamber with the text
as amended by floor action and certified to by the Clerk of the
House or the Secretary of the Senate.
(eh) Engrossed Bill - House
(es) Engrossed Bill - Senate
The final copy of a bill as passed by one chamber and certified
to by the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate.
(enr) Enrolled Bill
The final copy of a bill which has been passed in identical form
by both chambers. It is certified to by an officer of the house
of origin (House Clerk or Senate Secretary) and then sent on for
signatures of the House Speaker, the Senate President, and the
U.S. President. An enrolled bill is printed on parchment.
(ih) Bill Introduced - House
(is) Bill Introduced - Senate
In the Senate, any number of Senators may join in introducing a
single bill and in the House a limit of 25 Members can cosponsor a bill.
Many bills are actually committee bills and are introduced under
the name of the chairman of the committee or subcommittee as a
formality.
(pch) Placed on Calendar House
(pcs) Placed on Calendar Senate
Pending legislation before committees of either chamber which is
assigned a calendar number determining when it will be considered
before the chamber.
(rah) Referred w/Amendments House
(ras) Referred w/Amendments Senate
An engrossed bill is passed from one chamber to the other
requesting concurrence.
(rch) Reference Change House
(rcs) Reference Change Senate
Change in the referral of a bill which requires unanimous consent
of the members of the house in question.
(rdh) Received in House
(rds) Received in Senate
Legislation accepted for consideration in one of the
congressional chambers.
(rfh) Referred Bill - House
(rfs) Referred Bill - Senate
When introduced, a bill is directed to the committees which have
jurisdiction over the subject with which the bill is concerned.
(Bills are referred by the Speaker in the House and the Presiding
Officer in the Senate.)
(rh) Reported bill - House
(rs) Reported bill - Senate
A committee presents a report of its findings and
recommendations to the parent chamber after examining a bill. The version of the
bill as reported will include changes, if any, recommended by the
committee.
