Open ryparker opened 8 months ago
Hello. Thanks for your feedback. We will update API documentation related to action codes but it will be a process that could take some time. Thanks.
Thank you. You mentioned action codes, does that also include action types? This issue was specifically for action types.
Here's the action code issue: https://github.com/LibraryOfCongress/api.congress.gov/issues/8
Hello. Yes, our goal is to update the documentation for both.
It would be nice to have some documentation on exactly what each action type represents.
Here are the action types i'm referring to (from https://github.com/LibraryOfCongress/api.congress.gov/blob/main/Documentation/BillEndpoint.md#actions-level):
Here is what I assume each type means paired with examples of how I see each type being used:
IntroReferral: Legislation is being introduced/received in a chamber and/or referred to a committee. Also includes introductory remarks.
Legislation is introduced.
Legislation is received and referred.
Legislation is referred.
Committee: Action taken by a committee/subcommittee or when a committee is ordered to report. Does not include Committee discharges or orders to discharge.
Committee refers to a subcommittee
Committee is ordered to report
Discharge: When a Senate committee (not subcommittee) discharges itself or a motion is filed to discharge. Does not include actions where a Senator orders a Committee to discharge.
Calendar: Calendar modifications or motions to modify the calendar are filed
Placed on calendar
Filed motion to modify calendar
ResolvingDifferences: Actions taken by a conference committee.
Appointment of conferees
Motions to instruct conferees
President: When President signs/vetoes. However for some unknown reason this is also used when legislation becomes public law, or when the chair announces unfinished business related to a veto.
Veto: Actions taken by congress that reference a presidential veto.
BecameLaw: I assume this is meant for just enactment actions. Currently it seems like there may be errors in the processing of this action type. The actions under this type are basically just a duplication of type 'President' actions. For example check out HR1096 of the 118th.
Enactment
President actions. This seems like an unintentional error
NotUsed: No idea what this type is used for. In the 118th congress it's used once on hr346:
Floor: Everything else. Including the "Presented to President." action.