Commemorative Coins: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (35 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
Revised April 26, 2024 |
| Report Number |
R44623 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Jacob R. Straus, Coordinator; Michelle D. Christensen; Garrett Hatch; Valerie Heitshusen |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
-
Premium Revised Feb. 16, 2023 (34 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Aug. 15, 2022 (35 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Jan. 27, 2021 (35 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Feb. 27, 2020 (33 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Dec. 5, 2019 (33 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Feb. 28, 2019 (33 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised May 20, 2018 (22 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Oct. 13, 2017 (31 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Aug. 15, 2017 (31 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Aug. 5, 2017 (31 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised Dec. 22, 2016 (31 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Sept. 7, 2016 (31 pages, $24.95)
add
|
Summary:
Since its inception, Congress has used commemorative legislation to express public gratitude for
distinguished contributions; dramatize the virtues of individuals, groups, and causes; and
perpetuate the remembrance of significant events. During the past two centuries,
commemoratives have become an integral part of the American political tradition. They have
been used to authorize the minting of commemorative coins and Congressional Gold Medals;
fund monuments and memorials; create federal holidays; establish commissions to celebrate
important anniversaries; and name public works, scholarships, endowments, fellowships, and
historic sites.
Current congressional practice for commemoratives includes a House Rule (Rule XII, clause 5,
initially adopted during the 104th Congress [1995-1996]) that precludes the introduction or
consideration of legislation that commemorates a “remembrance, celebration, or recognition for
any purpose through the designation of a specified period of time.” Such a rule does not exist in
the Senate. This House Rule, together with the passage of more restrictive laws, rules, and
procedures governing the enactment of several other types of commemoratives, has substantially
reduced the time Congress spends considering and adopting such measures.
This report summarizes the evolution of commemorative legislation as well as the laws, rules, and
procedures that have been adopted to control the types of commemoratives considered and
enacted. Included in the discussion of commemorative options for Congress are those that require
legislation, such as
naming federal buildings, including post offices and other federal structures;
postage stamps;
commemorative coins;
Congressional Gold Medals;
monuments and memorials, both in the District of Columbia and elsewhere;
commemorative commissions;
commemorative observances;
federal holidays; and
requesting presidential proclamations.
Also included are commemorative options that do not require legislation. These include
certificates of recognition;
floor speeches; and
flags flown over the U.S. Capitol.
