Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society

The Mechanics of Legislation: Congress, the SEC and Financial Regulation

Legislating for Reform

Role of Congress

Congressman Tom Steed presides over a “mark-up” session of the tax-sub-committee of the House Small Business Committee. Bill being written raised the exemption to aid small business in fast write-offs for plant expansion; courtesy of the Carl Albert Center, University of Oklahoma

The process of legislating has been one of the most examined areas of political history, yet the behind-the-scenes mechanics remain shrouded in deep public mystery and misunderstanding.  In the financial arena, Congress, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Presidential administrations, and the securities and financial industry represent the sources for its development.

In guiding a particular bill from introduction through enactment into law, the work of Congress extends beyond floor debate to the work of committees in drafting and shaping a bill before it faces determination by the full House and Senate.  Members have their own areas of interest, and the Senators, Representatives and Congressional committees that oversee securities and financial legislation develop their special expertise.

Individual members and standing committees regularly take up new legislation responding to ascendant issues.  Committees also conduct oversight hearings on the existing administrative responsibilities of regulatory agencies to confirm that the agencies are acting in accord with their responsibilities, ensure Congressional objectives are being met, and address areas where existing law has proved inadequate to new and changing circumstances.

With respect to securities and financial issues, much of which are complicated and intricate, staff members – both working for individual Senators and Representatives and for standing committees – become experts in those areas.  Staff members form a cohort of institutional expertise, acting as the mechanics of new legislation and of the oversight of existing legislation, and educating Congressional members and colleagues about the nature and proposed solutions to developing problems.  They help coordinate efforts with financial regulators, administration officials and industry lobbyists, and provide information to the financial press to disseminate their point of views. 3


Previous Next

Footnotes:

(3) For an analysis of how Congress legislates, using several case studies, see Barbara Sinclair, Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the US Congress (CQ Press College: Washington, DC, 2011).

Related Museum Resources

Papers

January 22, 1971
image pdf (Carl Albert Papers, courtesy of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)
July 20, 1971
image pdf (Carl Albert Papers, courtesy of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)
October 7, 1971
image pdf (Carl Albert Papers, courtesy of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)
April 23, 1972
image pdf (Carl Albert Papers, courtesy of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)
August 26, 1976
image pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 2, 1976
transcript pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 7, 1976
image pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 9, 1976
transcript pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 9, 1976
image pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 13, 1976
image pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 24, 1976
image pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
February 15, 1977
image pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
September 1, 1977
image pdf (Tom Steed Papers, courtesy of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)
November 23, 1987
image pdf (Mickey Edwards Papers, courtesy of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma)
December 23, 1988
transcript pdf (Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration)
December 14, 1994
image pdf (Anonymous)
May 24, 1995
image pdf (Courtesy of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum)
May 24, 1995
transcript pdf (Courtesy of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum)
June 13, 1995
image pdf (Courtesy of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum)
June 21, 1995
image pdf (Courtesy of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum)

Oral Histories

29 August 2012

Edward E. "Ted" Kaufman

09 March 2012

Michael Oxley

Programs

27 March 2007

Fireside Chat - View from Congress

Moderator: Theresa Gabaldon
Presenter(s): Justin Daly, Dean Shahinian

Permission for Use

The virtual museum and archive is copyrighted by the SEC Historical Society. The Society reserves the right to restrict access to or use of the museum by any user at any time.

Users are prohibited from sharing or downloading any material for publication or commercial purposes without written permission from the Executive Director. Requests for permission must be submitted by email and specify the material requested and for what purpose.

Material used with the Society's permission should be credited to: www.sechistorical.org.