Publications of the U.S. Senate

Publications of the U.S. Senate
Matthew E. Glassman
Analyst on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
The U.S. Senate produces several publications relating to the legislative functions¹
of the Senate. They include, but are not limited to, publications dealing with rules and
procedures, bills, anticipated and past legislative activities, committee matters, and
chamber proceedings. This report provides a brief description of these publications.
Chamber Activity Publications
^!The Senate Journal is the official record of the Senate used to chronicle
all actions such as motions offered, bills introduced, amendments offered
and agreed to, votes, quorum calls, etc. As required by the Constitution,
the Journal records the official actions of the Senate for each legislative
day, and is published on a periodic basis. At the beginning of each
legislative day, the Senate votes to approve the Journal of the preceding
legislative day.
^!The Senate Executive Journal is the official record of the Senate, which
chronicles actions relating to advise and consent matters such as
nominations, treaties, and impeachments.
^!The Congressional Record includes the daily proceedings and debates
in the Senate (and House) chambers. The proceedings of the Senate are
reflected in the text that is prepared by the official reporters of the Senate,
who record verbatim each word spoken. Members are also permitted to
submit materials and speeches for inclusion in the section of the Record
reserved as Extension of Remarks, and are provided an opportunity to
“revise and extend” remarks attributed to them the day prior to printing.
The Record reports all votes, bills introduced, bills reported from
committee, and a wealth of other Senate, committee, and non-legislative
information. (See CRS Report 98-266, Congressional Record: Its
Production, Distribution, and Accessibility, and CRS Report 98-265, A
User’s Guide to the Congressional Record, both by Mildred Amer.)

¹ This report was originally written by Faye M. Bullock, formerly a Technical Information
Specialist at CRS. The listed author updated the report and is available to answer questions
concerning its contents.

^!The Calendar of Business (Senate Calendar) is issued each day the
Senate is in session, and includes resolutions and motions eligible for
floor consideration; unanimous consent agreements; legislative action on
appropriation bills; and bills at the conference stage. (See CRS Report
98-429, The Senate’s Calendar of Business: Functions and Contents, by
Betsy Palmer.)
^!The Executive Calendar serves as the calendar used to track the Senate’s
business while the chamber is in executive session. Executive business
— that is, nominations and treaties are placed on this calendar. (See CRS
Report 98-438, The Senate’s Executive Calendar, by Betsy Palmer.)
Procedural Publications
^!The Senate Manual is compiled by the Committee on Rules and
Administration and contains the standing rules, standing orders, and laws
pertaining to the Senate. The Senate Manual is usually published each
Congress and includes the Declaration of Independence, Articles of
Confederation, Ordinance of 1787, and the Constitution.
^!The Standing Rules of the Senate are published periodically and include
the 43 rules of the chamber. The standing rules are compiled by the
Committee on Rules and Administration, and are also included in the
Senate Manual.
^!Riddick’s Senate Procedure contains a compilation of Senate
procedures, precedents, and practices. This digest, which is organized
alphabetically by topic, was originally compiled by Floyd M. Riddick,
parliamentarian emeritus, and updated in 1992 by then parliamentarian
Alan S. Frumin.
For additional information on procedural publications, see CRS Report 98-308,
Senate Legislative Procedures: Published Sources of Information, by Christopher Davis.
Committee Publications
^!Published Hearings Transcripts include the proceedings of Senate
committee hearings and may be published by the committee that held the
hearings.
^!Committee Prints are produced in various forms for committee
business, such as drafts of legislation, committee rules, and analyses in
support of legislation.
^!Committee Reports prepared by committees and published by the
Senate provide a narrative account of a study or the reasons for an
approved measure. They include the history and explanation of a

committee approved measure, funding ramifications, and changes made
in existing law.
Other Publications
^!Senate Documents contain original or historical documents of
importance for Senate business, such as messages of the President.