United States of America

House of Representatives

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: No

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance: Some
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance: All
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site: All
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website: All
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site: No

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities: No
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site: No
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget: Yes
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public: A summary of the main elements
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site: Yes
Link to the parliamentary budget: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public: Click for historical data

Notes: The House may meet in closed session to discuss sensitive foreign policy topics. However, this has happened only 6 times since 1825.
Committee meetings are open to the public: Click for historical data

Notes: Committees may hold closed sessions to discuss sensitive/confidential information (usually related to national security).
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings: Yes
Media used for the dedicated channel: TV

Radio

Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel: Plenary sittings

Committee meetings

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country: Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law: No
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests: No
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) first came into force in 1967with subsequent amendments and Executive Orders both limiting and

expanding exemptions overtime. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement.

The Congress is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s337/BILLS-114s337enr.xml (Freedom of Information Improvement Act, 2016)

https://www.foia.gov/faq.html

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament: Yes

Sources: Various federal laws, such as: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/Lobbying/Lobby_Disclosure_Act/TOC.htm
There is a register of accredited lobbyists: Yes
The register of accredited lobbyists is available on the parliamentary web site: Yes

United States of America

House of Representatives

Openness and transparency

Parliamentary documents

Annual reporting by parliament

Access to parliament

Freedom of information

Lobbying

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Plenary meetings are open to the public

Historical data for Committee meetings are open to the public

Historical data for IPU membership
Updated at	IPU membership
2003-10	No
1889-01	Yes