CivicIndex

Federal Policy

How Congress Itself Operates

These bills change the rules of Congress itself — floor procedure, ethics rules, member compensation, oversight authorities, and the operation of congressional support agencies like the CRS and GAO. They rarely make headlines but shape every other policy area.

Committees with jurisdiction

  • House Committee on House Administration
  • Senate Select Committee on Ethics
  • House Committee on Ethics
  • Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
  • House Committee on Rules

Members who specialize in this area

Leadership

Committee members

51 more members on jurisdictional committees not shown.

Recent bills in this area

  • HRES. 1377 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1181) to prohibit payment card networks and covered entities from requiring the use of or assigning merchant category codes that distinguish a firearms retailer from general-merchandise retailer or sporting-goods retailer, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9022) making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8595) making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9237) to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, and other Federal laws, to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Sponsor:
    Brian Jack · Republican · GA
    Latest action:
    Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 82.

  • HCONRES. 109 — Allowing Emancipation Hall to be used for a ceremony to dedicate the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

    Sponsor:
    Maria Elvira Salazar · Republican · FL
    Latest action:
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  • HRES. 1369 — Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Senate's current cloture and filibuster rules are contrary to the constitutional design of two co-equal majoritarian legislative bodies, are non-deliberative in practice, disenfranchise Members of the House of Representatives and their constituents, and disrupt the proper balance of powers between the two chambers of Congress, and for other purposes.

    Sponsor:
    Michael Cloud · Republican · TX
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

  • HRES. 1363 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7007) to govern on behalf of the American people.

    Sponsor:
    Jamie Raskin · Democratic · MD
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

  • HRES. 1352 — Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.

    Sponsor:
    Ted Lieu · Democratic · CA
    Latest action:
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  • HRES. 1345 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8312) to establish fraud prevention and program integrity functions and data sharing authorities within the Department of Treasury and a permanent governmentwide Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8464) to amend title 31, United States Code, to authorize pausing and segmenting payments, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1335) condemning actors seeking to defraud the United States Government, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that governmentwide fraud and improper payment prevention reforms will meaningfully improve the financial prosperity of the United States, and that Federal program eligibility should be verified before payment; and providing for consideration of the bill (S. 2) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33.

    Sponsor:
    Nicholas A. Langworthy · Republican · NY
    Latest action:
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  • HRES. 1140 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5408) to accelerate workplace time-to-contract under the National Labor Relations Act.

    Sponsor:
    Donald Norcross · Democratic · NJ
    Latest action:
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  • HR. 6028 — Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

    Sponsor:
    H. Morgan Griffith · Republican · VA
    Latest action:
    Received in the Senate.

Frequently asked

Why does Congress legislate about itself?

Each chamber sets its own rules, and Congress collectively governs the support agencies, member benefits, and oversight powers that determine how effectively it can do its job. These bills shape everything from how long debate can last to which committee handles which subject.