S.Res. 402 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
A resolution recognizing Lloyd Ashburn Williams's unparalleled dedication to fostering economic empowerment, cultural pride, and social equity in Harlem.
Cosponsors: none · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-10
Introduced: 2025-09-18
Latest action (2025-09-18): Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S6736)
What S.Res. 402 does, in plain terms
The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of S.Res. 402 yet. Its official title: “A resolution recognizing Lloyd Ashburn Williams's unparalleled dedication to fostering economic empowerment, cultural pride, and social equity in Harlem.”.
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S.Res. 402 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 1.00
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The Senate possesses inherent authority to adopt non-binding ceremonial resolutions recognizing individuals' contributions, as an incident to its power to determine the rules of its proceedings under Article I, Section 5; such measures enact no law, compel no action, appropriate no funds, and encroach upon no reserved powers.
The Senate possesses the authority to adopt resolutions expressive of its sentiments, such as this recognition of an individual's contributions, as an incident to its power to determine the rules of its proceedings and the privilege of speech and debate within its walls. Such a measure enacts no law, compels no action, appropriates no funds, and encroaches upon no department of government, aligning with the deliberate structure of legislative prerogative in a republican system.
The Senate's adoption of a resolution recognizing an individual's contributions falls within its authority to determine the rules of its proceedings, imposing no mandate, appropriation, or coercion upon the people. Such expressions of commendation do not exercise any power not delegated to the federal government and thus do not infringe upon the reserved rights of the states or individuals.
The proposed resolution is a mere expression of commendation by the Senate for an individual's contributions, falling within the authority of each House to determine its own rules of proceedings and conduct internal affairs without enacting binding law, appropriating funds, or exercising enumerated powers over commerce or states. Such actions pose no threat to federalism or limited government, as they compel no obedience from citizens or states and do not infringe upon the reserved powers of the states.
The Senate's adoption of a resolution recognizing an individual's contributions falls within its inherent authority to determine the rules of its proceedings, which necessarily includes ceremonial expressions of commendation incidental to its legislative functions. Such resolutions impose no binding obligation on the public, appropriate no funds, and encroach upon no reserved powers of the states or individuals. This exercise is a proper means to facilitate the deliberative process of the Senate, consistent with the framework of implied powers essential to executing enumerated authorities.
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