Inside the Congressional Record: How history gets made as D.C. sleeps
Summary
Every night Congress meets, workers at the Government Publishing Office create the Congressional Record, a detailed written account of what happens in the House and Senate. This record has been produced since 1873 and provides a mostly word-for-word report of congressional proceedings and other official activities.Key Facts
- The Government Publishing Office is located near the U.S. Capitol and prints the Congressional Record overnight when Congress is in session.
- The Congressional Record started in 1873 to give a clear, official version of congressional actions because earlier reports were incomplete or biased.
- The record shows what lawmakers say and do on the floor of both the House and Senate in very precise detail.
- On busy days, the record can be over 200 pages long; on quieter days, it can be about 20 pages.
- It has four main parts including transcripts of debates, a summary of daily actions, committee meeting reports, and a section called "extensions of remarks" where members add comments not spoken aloud.
- This document is seen as very important because it influences laws, court decisions, and historical records of Congress.
- Some parts of the record include speeches or comments members submit but do not actually say on the floor, which has been controversial.
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