Policy Library

11 documents

Statistics on Women in National Governments Around the World
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 8,795 words · PDF available
Women and girls make up half of the world’s population; however, in most countries, women are underrepresented in the political process at the national level. As this report shows, in 2024, women hold...
The Freely Associated States and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 10,125 words · PDF available
This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Freely Associated States (FAS)—the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Republic...
Improper Payments: Ongoing Challenges and Recent Legislative Proposals
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 10,851 words · PDF available
Improper payments—those that should not have been made or that were made for the wrong amount—are a long-standing concern for the federal government. Since FY2004, agencies have reported $2.7 trillion...
Social Security: Finances and Policy Options
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Resources · 1,678 words · PDF available
Background Social Security is the federal government’s largest program in terms of both the number of people affected (i.e., covered workers and beneficiaries) and its finances. In 2024, the program c...
Regulation of U.S. Outbound Investment to China
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Resources · 1,782 words · PDF available
Introduction The U.S. government has generally supported an open investment environment at home and abroad to promote U.S. economic growth, sustain the U.S. position as a premier destination for forei...
The Backlog of Requests for Aid from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 6,823 words · PDF available
The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Emergency Relief (ER) program provides funds to states to repair disaster-damaged highways and bridges. Once FHWA determines that an emergency qualifies f...
Joint Session of Congress for Counting Electoral Votes for President
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 12,169 words · PDF available
Every four years, the House and Senate meet in a joint session to count the votes for President and Vice President that were submitted by electors from each state and the District of Columbia (DC). Th...
Defense Primer: Legal Authorities for the Use of Military Forces
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Resources · 1,486 words · PDF available
By the Framers’ apparent design, to keep the nation’s “purse” and the “sword” in separate hands and in other ways hinder the nation’s embroilment in unnecessary wars, the Constitution divides war powe...
Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Resources · 1,744 words · PDF available
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that in 2021 on any given day 27.6 million people were forced to labor against their will globally. The products of that forced labor entered globa...
The Committee Markup Process in the Senate
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 11,251 words · PDF available
One of the primary functions of committees is to assess and recommend legislation to the Senate for floor consideration. Committees accomplish this task through formal meetings, called markups, where ...
A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards
Congressional Research Service · 2024-12-10 · Reports · 2,684 words · PDF available
This report is intended to help congressional offices obtain information about awards authorized by Congress and the President. It provides details about the establishment, criteria, selection process...