A concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law and does not require the approval of the chief executive. Concurrent resolutions are typically adopted to regulate the internal affairs of the legislature that adopted them, or for other purposes, if authority of law is not necessary.
In the United States Congress, a concurrent resolution is a resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but is not presented to the President for signature and does not have the force of law. In contrast, joint resolutions and bills are presented to the President and, once signed or approved over a veto, are enacted and have the force of law. Concurrent resolutions are generally used to address the sentiments of both chambers or to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses. Examples of concurrent resolutions include:
providing for a recess or adjournment of more than three days during the session of Congress
permitting the use of the Capitol rotunda, which is under the control of both Houses
Before the Supreme Court of the United States ended the practice in its decision in Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha 462 U.S. 919, concurrent resolutions were sometimes used to override executive actions via a mechanism known as the legislative veto. If both houses of Congress were to censure a President the action would, according to parliamentary procedure, be in the form of a concurrent resolution, as a joint resolution requires the President's signature or veto and has the power of law. A concurrent resolution does not have the power of law, nor does it require action by the executive to take force. Concurrent resolutions originating in the Senate are abbreviated S.Con.Res. and those originating in the House are abbreviated H.Con.Res.
Examples of concurrent resolutions
113th S.Con.Res. 8 - The Fiscal Year 2014 Senate budget, passed on March 23, 2013.
113th H.Con.Res. 25 - The Fiscal Year 2014 House budget, passed on March 21, 2013.
115 S.Con.Res.3 - Senator Michael B. Enzi introduced the S. Con. Res. 3 and S.84 on January 3, 2017 a "concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2018 through 2026." On January 12, 2017, a resolution provided for "two hours of general debate on S. Con. Res. 3 under a structured rule, and ninety minutes of debate on S.84."
In Season 3 Episode 12 of The West Wing, President Josiah Bartlet accepts a censure via a concurrent resolution in relation to hiding the fact that he had multiple sclerosis.
