H.R. 5101: Democracy in Congress Act of 2004

108th Congress · introduced 2004-09-15 · Congress · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-09-15 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Democracy in Congress Act of 2004

Plain summary

Democracy in Congress Act of 2004 - Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to address: (1) same-day consideration of Rules Committee reports; (2) maximum voting time; (3) late night voting; (4) restrictive rule limitations from the Committee on Rules; (5) two-thirds voting requirements for certain waivers and for the availability of certain measures on the Internet; (6) composition and subpoena authority of the Committee on House Administration; (7) control of the Committee on Government Reform; and (8) Conference Committee disclosure requirements. Creates a bipartisan Commission to assess the extent to which the House has upheld its constitutional responsibility to oversee the executive branch and to suggest improvements to the oversight process. Amends the Federal criminal code to extend certain post-employment lobbying restrictions on former Members of Congress. Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require specified disclosures and the creation of a free and publicly accessible database on the Internet that includes information contained in registrations and reports filed under that Act. Amends the Federal criminal code to reform the waiver process for acts affecting a personal financial interest. Amends the Code of Official Conduct set forth in House Rules to require the public disclosure of negotiations for prospective employment by Members of Congress if a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict may exist.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Democracy in Congress Act of 2004

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr5101.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr5101 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108