Personalized Bills as Commemorations: A Problem for House Rules?
46(9) Connecticut Law Review CONNtemplations 9-17 (2013)
9 Pages Posted: 26 Sep 2013 Last revised: 30 Sep 2013
Date Written: September 1, 2013
Abstract
The proliferation of personalized bills in Congress has occurred despite a prohibition on commemorations in the House of Representatives. This Essay provides a close examination of the wording behind the ban, especially the definition of “commemoration.” It uses examples from the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and other statutes to demonstrate how many contemporary personalized bills fall underneath the prohibition, and therefore should not be introduced or considered in the House.
Keywords: Congress, House Rules, bills, acts, personalized legislation, commemorations, bill titles
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