PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.908 / 105th Congress

To establish a Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals.

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 75.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 4, 1997

Establishes a Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals to: (1) study the present division of the United States into the several judicial circuits and the structure and alignment of the Federal Court of Appeals system, with particular reference to the Ninth Circuit; and (2) report its recommendations for changes to the President and the Congress no later than two years after its seventh member is appointed. Directs the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to act on the report within 60 days of its transmission. Authorizes appropriations.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6] · R–NC

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 75.

  2. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

  3. Received in the Senate.

  4. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  5. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  6. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  7. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3223-3225)

  9. Mr. Coble moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 17.

  11. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 105-26.

  12. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 105-26.

  13. Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

  14. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  15. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

  16. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  17. Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.

  18. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  19. Introduced in House

  20. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.908 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.908 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.908 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.908 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources