Bill Summary in the United States

The Bills Portal contains the text of all congressional bills and resolutions introduced in the different Congress.

The Bills Portal also contains summaries and status information concerning bills, and the American Encyclopedia of Law contains federal legislation, including, in most part, summaries of the Acts.

Bill Summary

Legislative Definition of Bill Summary

This Congressional concept is provided by the United States Congress website as a a basic reference document: Upon introduction of a bill or resolution in the House or Senate, legislative analysts in the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress write a short summary that objectively describes the measure’s significant provisions. Introduced version summaries are subject to length limitations as a matter of policy.

More about the legislative meaning of Bill Summary

When a measure receives action (e.g., it is reported from a committee or passed by the House or Senate), the analysts then write an expanded summary, detailing the measure’s effect upon programs and current law. Bill summaries are written as a result of a congressional action and may not always correspond to a document published by the Government Publishing Office. A final public law summary is prepared upon enactment into law.

More about this term

Each summary description identifies the date and version of the measure, and indicates whether there have been amendments: e.g., Passed House amended (07/19/2013).