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Simple resolution

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated June 1, 2026

In the United States, a simple resolution is a legislative measure passed by only either the Senate or the House of Representatives. As they have been passed by only one house, simple resolutions are not presented to the President, and do not have the force of law. The resolution is used for matters such as establishing the rules under which each body will operate, it to act or speak on behalf of only one chamber of Congress. Its formal abbreviation is "H.Res" or "S.Res" followed by the respective number.

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This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Simple resolution”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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Related topics

Concurrent resolution

A concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law (is non-binding) and does not require the approval (signature) of the head of state/monarch/chief executive/president. Concurrent resolutions are typically adopted to regulate the internal affairs of the legislature that adopted them, or for other purposes, if authority of law is not necessary (such as in the cases of awards or recognitions).

Joint resolution

In the United States Congress, a joint resolution is a legislative measure that requires passage by the Senate and the House of Representatives and is presented to the President for his approval or disapproval. Generally, there is no legal difference between a joint resolution and a bill.

Non-binding resolution

A non-binding resolution is a motion adopted by a deliberative body that does not enact a law or a substantive rule, and is simply used to make known what the opinions of that body are in relation to a certain fact or event. This type of resolution is often used to express the body's approval or disapproval of something that they cannot otherwise vote on, due to the matter being handled by another jurisdiction, or being protected by a constitution.