Learn About Law New
Each year the House and Senate propose thousands of changes to existing laws (known as bills) that they then vote on to become law. Often these bills are the result of recommendations made by members of Congress to their constituents or are petitioned by citizen groups. Once a bill is introduced it may be assigned to a committee where staff prepares a report on the legislation. This is known as the “committee report.” A well-written committee report clarifies the purpose and scope of the legislation and explains its impact. This information is vital to the legislative process and is used by judges, executive departments, and the public.