Title 2 of the United States Code

Title 2 of the United States Code
Section created	June 30, 1948
Leads to	United States Congress

Title 2 of the United States Code is the compilation of federal statutes governing the legislative branch of the United States Government. It is the positive law title that codifies the general and permanent laws relating to the United States Congress, its internal organization, procedures, and administrative support structures. This title serves as the primary legal foundation for congressional operations, distinct from the constitutional provisions in Article One.

Overview and Scope

The scope of this title encompasses the legal architecture for the national legislature, established by the Founding Fathers in Philadelphia. It details the composition of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, including rules for apportionment following each United States Census. Key statutes within its purview govern congressional pay, via the Ethics in Government Act, and the management of the Capitol Hill complex. Its provisions are enacted by Acts of Congress and are distinct from the internal rules maintained separately by the Senate Parliamentarian and the House Committee on Rules.

The Congress

This section codifies the fundamental structure and powers of the bicameral legislature. It contains laws detailing the election and qualification of members, such as those stemming from the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Provisions address the convening of each new United States Congress and the roles of presiding officers like the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the United States Senate. It also includes statutes related to congressional investigations and oversight powers, as exercised by committees like the Senate Finance Committee and the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Congressional Procedures and Administration

Here, the code outlines the operational mechanics of the legislature. This includes the statutory framework for the Congressional Record, the official journal of proceedings, and the management of the Library of Congress. Laws govern the administration of the Capitol Police and the maintenance of the United States Capitol grounds. It also covers the establishment and function of various congressional offices, such as the Office of the Attending Physician and the Congressional Budget Office, which provides non-partisan analyses for committees like the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Congressional Agencies and Support

This part establishes and defines the roles of key legislative branch agencies. The most prominent is the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm created by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921. Other critical support entities include the Congressional Research Service, which operates within the Library of Congress, and the Architect of the Capitol. Statutes here govern the United States Capitol Historical Society and outline the responsibilities of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives for security and protocol during events like a Joint session of the United States Congress.

Legislative Process Provisions

While the Constitution of the United States outlines the basic process, this section contains supplementary statutes affecting lawmaking. It includes the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn rules issued by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. Provisions also cover the enrollment and presentation of bills to the President of the United States after passage, and laws pertaining to special procedures like those for declarations of war or ratification of treaties, such as the North Atlantic Treaty.

Ethics and Employment

A critical modern component, this section houses laws concerning the conduct of members and congressional staff. The cornerstone is the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which created the Office of Congressional Ethics and established financial disclosure requirements. It includes the Congressional Accountability Act, which applies workplace laws to legislative branch employees. Regulations also govern post-employment lobbying restrictions, enforced by the Select Committee on Ethics, and address the operations of entities like the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial within the purview of congressional administration.

Category:United States federal legislation