#OBSCURE 2 RESOLTION PDF#

These instructions direct one or more committees to recommend changes to existing law to achieve specified changes in spending, revenues, deficits, and/or the debt limit. The budget may also include reconciliation instructions. In its annual budget resolution, Congress sets total spending, revenues, the surplus or deficit, and the public debt. This report summarizes the reconciliation process and the recent history of its use. During the 115th Congress, for example, Republicans used this tool twice to pursue their policy goals. The Basicsīudget reconciliation provides a fast-track process for consideration of bills to implement the policy choices embodied in the annual congressional budget resolution. For example, the Social Security program cannot be changed in reconciliation. Senate debate time is limited, and only certain kinds of amendments can be offered. Only policies that change spending or revenues can be included. Other special rules, which are designed to protect the rights of the minority party, apply to reconciliation bills. Like the budget, it cannot be filibustered, and only needs a simple majority to pass. That bill has special status in the Senate. Each committee writes a bill to achieve its target, and if more than one committee is told to act, the Budget Committee puts the bills together into one big bill. If the budget calls for reconciliation, it tells certain committees to change spending, revenues, deficits, or the debt limit by specific amounts.

The budget cannot be stalled in the Senate by filibuster, and it does not need the President’s signature. Reconciliation starts with the congressional budget resolution. Instead of needing 60 votes, a reconciliation bill only needs a simple majority in the Senate. Reconciliation is a tool – a special process – that makes legislation easier to pass in the Senate.

#OBSCURE 2 RESOLTION PDF#

Download PDF Executive Summary What is “reconciliation”?

Obscure 2 resoltion