What Is a Congressional Hearing? Testimony, Transcripts, and Votes

What is a congressional hearing?

A congressional hearing is a meeting or session of a Senate, House, joint, or special committee. It is usually open to the public and may be used to discuss proposed legislation, investigate public-policy matters, oversee a government department or federal-law implementation, or, in the Senate, consider a presidential nomination. Some hearings are exploratory and gather testimony and data about a topic of current interest. Hearings can take place on Capitol Hill or at another location, including a member’s district or state. GovInfo explains the purpose and scope of congressional hearings.

What happens during a hearing?

Committee members hear witnesses representing various viewpoints on the measure or subject under discussion. The committee makes the date, place, and subject of a hearing public; House schedules and announcements can also identify upcoming hearings. A hearing is a forum for receiving testimony and information. In the House’s process overview, committee members vote on amendments at the later markup session.

What is a congressional hearing transcript?

A transcript records the testimony taken at a hearing. The transcript is made available for inspection in the committee office, and committees frequently print and distribute the complete transcript. Hearing records on GovInfo may become available from two months to two years after the hearing, and not every hearing appears there because availability depends on the committee. For a particular proceeding, check the responsible committee’s materials as well as GovInfo’s congressional-hearing information.

Do members vote at a congressional hearing?

The hearing itself generally comes before a separate committee session known as a markup. After hearings are completed, committee members study the viewpoints presented, may offer amendments, and vote to accept or reject those changes. The House describes this hearing-to-markup sequence in its overview of committee action. This sequence distinguishes receiving testimony at a hearing from considering and voting on amendments at markup.

What can you do after a hearing?

If a hearing concerns an issue or bill you care about, you can use Modern Action’s write-to-Congress page to choose an available issue or bill, state your position and reason, review the drafted message, edit it, and send it when ready. The available action depends on whether Modern Action has a relevant issue or bill page.