NYTimes.com:
"In reality, a complex web of rules — which differ greatly from the House to the Senate — ordains how bills become laws, determining who will speak about them and for how long, what constraints will be placed on alternatives or amendments offered to the measures, and which issues will come up and in what form.
In short, when it comes to Congress, rules are as important as in baseball, only more malleable.
It is usual for the House to tweak these rules with each new session. But Representative John A. Boehner, who on Wednesday will be sworn in as the new speaker, has made serious alterations in the rules. Members will vote on Wednesday on changes that ostensibly increase the transparency of lawmaking, but also consolidate Republican power over the budget process."
