Some lawmakers said this and other disputes could prevent Congress from passing the spending bill before the break.

Nor, they point out, would there be anything to prevent Congress from passing a law requiring the use of such systems.

The commission's list had to be accepted or rejected as a whole, to prevent Congress from picking and choosing.

But the fact that this is an election year should not prevent Congress from acting, he said.

Republicans are also looking for guarantees that would prevent Congress from cutting the military budget further next year.

In short, the bill would prevent Congress from doing what it is elected to do: make choices.

An estoppel would prevent Congress from passing one law that was contrary to its earlier position.

Those laws prevent Congress from passing bills that add to the deficit.

What would prevent Congress from regulating any activity that might bear on a person's economic productivity?

Committee members contended that officials tried to prevent Congress from finding out.