Points of Order in the Congressional Budget Process

James V. Saturno
Section Research Manager

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Titles I-IX of P.L. 93-344, as amended) created a process that Congress uses each year to establish and enforce the parameters for budgetary legislation. Enforcement of budgetary decisions is accomplished through the use of points of order, and through the reconciliation process. Points of order are prohibitions against certain types of legislation or congressional actions. These prohibitions are enforced when a Member raises a point of order against legislation that may violate these rules when it is considered by the House or Senate.

This report summarizes points of order under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, and related points of order established in the budget resolutions adopted by Congress in 2007 (S.Con.Res. 21, 110th Congress), 2008 (S.Con.Res. 70, 110th Congress), and 2009 (S.Con.Res. 13, 111th Congress), as well as the Rules of the House for the 112th Congress, the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508), and the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-139). In addition, it describes how points of order are applied and the processes used for their waiver in the House and Senate.


Date of Report: August 12, 2011
Number of Pages: 16
Order Number: 97-865
Price: $29.95

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