FEDERALcongressional record

Constitutional Authority Statement for Congressional Legislation

Original title: Constitutional Authority Statement

May 22, 2026

constitutional law legislative procedure congressional rules

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The Frame

What this does

This requirement ensures that every piece of legislation introduced in the House of Representatives is explicitly linked to a constitutional power, providing a legal basis for federal action.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Members of the House of Representatives

They are required to provide a constitutional justification for every bill or resolution they introduce.

What changed

Last recorded activity May 22, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document serves as a formal record required by House rules, where members of Congress must cite the specific parts of the U.S. Constitution that grant them the power to introduce a particular bill or resolution.

Key Facts

Clause 7 of Rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives mandates that members submit a statement of constitutional authority for every bill or joint resolution introduced.
The statement must identify the specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution that authorize the proposed legislation.
This specific record was published in the Congressional Record, Volume 172, Issue 88, on May 22, 2026.

Why It Matters

This requirement ensures that every piece of legislation introduced in the House of Representatives is explicitly linked to a constitutional power, providing a legal basis for federal action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do members of Congress have to submit this statement?

House Rule XII, clause 7 requires it to ensure that all proposed legislation is grounded in the powers granted to Congress by the U.S. Constitution.

Does this document contain the actual text of a bill?

No, this is a procedural record indicating that a was submitted for an accompanying bill or resolution.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

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Standardized Legislative Justification

The document highlights the institutionalized requirement for constitutional grounding in all House legislative activity.

House of Representatives

Connected Entities

organizationHouse of Representatives“The legislative body requiring the submission of constitutional authority statem”Map →

organizationGovernment Publishing Office“The agency responsible for publishing the Congressional Record.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
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Controversy5
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Entertainment1
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Buzz5
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