Welcome to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Activities and Reports page where you can find official documents produced by the committee during each congressional session beginning with the 105th Congress (1997-1998).
These documents have been categorized by type and include: hearing transcripts, business meeting transcripts, committee reports, committee prints and conference reports. Visitors may search by keyword and/or congressional session. Committee publications not currently available online may be accessed in Federal depository libraries throughout the United States.
nominations
The committee has jurisdiction over all diplomatic nominations. Before a nominee is reported out of by the committee and confirmed by the Senate, the committee typically holds a nomination hearing for each nominee. You can find transcripts of these hearings under our “Hearing Transcripts” section below. In this section, you’ll find all of the pending nominations that have been referred to the committee.
treaties
The Foreign Relations Committee is the only committee in the Senate with jurisdiction to deliberate and report treaties that have been submitted by the President for the Senate to consider. Similar to issue hearings, the committee conducts public hearings on each treaty. You can find transcripts of these hearings under our “Hearing Transcripts” section below. In this section, you’ll find all of the pending treaties that have been referred to the committee.
legislation
During each two-year Congress, hundreds of bills and resolutions are referred to the committee. Once they are referred, the committee can take up a measure at a business meeting. You can find transcripts of these meetings under our “Business Meeting Transcripts” section below. In this section, you’ll find all of the pending legislation that has been referred to the committee.
hearing transcripts
A printed hearing is an official transcript of a hearing. Supplemental materials may be included as part of the hearing record. For example, a committee might include exhibits, charts and research materials, written statements of witnesses, witness responses to follow-up questions, other materials submitted by witnesses, or letters and testimony from individuals who did not testify in person.
business meeting transcripts
Transcripts of committee business meetings are typically made public 30 business days after the event. Each transcript includes vote results, amendments offered to the bill, and a general description of the bill under consideration. To find the legislative text of a bill, refer to the Legislation page or visitcongress.gov, the official legislative information website of the Library of Congress.
conference reports
A conference report is an agreement on a bill negotiated by a conference committee, a temporary committee comprised of House and Senate members. Conference reports are printed and submitted to each chamber for consideration. A conference report includes changes to the bill made during the conference committee's consideration and may also include the views of conference committee members.
other
Anything that is not categorized above is stored here. In this section, you may find letters of correspondence between the Chairman or Ranking Member and the executive branch or other world leaders or groups, draft amendments, or other noteworthy declarations.
committee prints & reports
Committee Reports
Accompany a bill that has been reported to the full Senate for its consideration. Reports may include the legislative text of the bill, changes made by the committee during open executive sessions, and the views of committee members.
Executive Reports
Accompany treaties submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification. These reports include a description of the Purpose and Background of the treaty under consideration, a Summary of Key Provisions of the treaty, any necessary Implementing Legislation, any Committee Action taken relating to the treaty and Committee Comments (including any minority views), and the Text of Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification.
Committee Prints
Take many forms and may include: draft reports and bills, legislative analyses, investigative reports, statistical materials and historical reports. Notable types of committee prints include: the Committee Calendar, which indexes all hearings, nominations and legislation considered in a congressional session; technical descriptions of the effects of pending legislation; and the committee rules of procedure adopted each Congress.
I am an expert in the field of U.S. Senate activities, particularly focusing on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. With a depth of knowledge in congressional proceedings, committee functions, and legislative processes, I can provide valuable insights into the topics discussed in the provided article.
First and foremost, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations plays a crucial role in overseeing and influencing U.S. foreign policy. This committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on various aspects, including diplomatic nominations, treaties, and legislation related to foreign affairs.
Let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Hearing Transcripts:
- Hearing transcripts are official records of committee hearings.
- They contain information such as statements from witnesses, exhibits, charts, research materials, and responses to follow-up questions.
- These transcripts are essential for understanding the discussions and decisions made during hearings.
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Business Meeting Transcripts:
- Transcripts of committee business meetings are made public 30 business days after the event.
- They include vote results, amendments offered to bills, and general descriptions of bills under consideration.
- These transcripts provide transparency into the committee's decision-making process.
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Conference Reports:
- A conference report is an agreement on a bill negotiated by a conference committee, which comprises House and Senate members.
- Conference reports include changes made during the committee's consideration and may reflect the views of committee members.
- These reports are crucial for understanding the final version of a bill and the compromises reached in the legislative process.
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Committee Prints & Reports:
- Committee Reports accompany bills reported to the full Senate, including legislative text, changes made during sessions, and committee members' views.
- Executive Reports accompany treaties submitted to the Senate, providing details on the purpose, background, key provisions, implementing legislation, committee action, and comments.
- Committee Prints take various forms, including draft reports, bills, legislative analyses, investigative reports, statistical materials, and historical reports.
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Other:
- This section encompasses anything not covered in the specific categories mentioned above.
- It may include correspondence between the Chairman or Ranking Member and the executive branch or other world leaders, draft amendments, or other noteworthy declarations.
Understanding the functions and classifications within the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is crucial for anyone interested in the legislative processes related to U.S. foreign policy. If you have further questions or need more detailed information on any specific aspect, feel free to ask.
