POS-4424 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Unanimous Consent, United States House Committee On Rules, House Calendar
House Legislative Calendars
Suspension of the Rules: “I Move to Suspend the Rules and Pass the Bill.” In Order on
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Only Items on Union and House Calendar.
Requires 2/3rd Majority.
Privileged Legislation: Under House Rules, Five Standing Committees Have Direct
Access to the Floor for Selected Bills: Appropriations, Budget, House Administration,
Rules, Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee)
House Rules Committee: Can move legislation forward on the calendars. Governs the length of
floor debate, dispenses with the first reading of the bill (Read the whole bill), Limits the number
of amendments (basically give a specific committee power). HRes: “Orders the Previous
Question”- Ends Debate and Amendment Period and Orders a Vote on Final Passage.
Types of Special Rules:
Open Rules: Germane Amendments to a Bill May Be Offered on the Floor (No Limit)
The entire bill is open to amendment (The Floor will have power)
Closed Rules: prohibit floor amendments (The committee will have power)
Modified Rules
oModified Open Rules: Declare that All parts of a Bill are Open to a
Amendment Except for a Specific Section. Majority of the bill will be open
oModified Closed Rules: Declare that All Parts of a Bill are Close to
Amendment Except for a Specific Section. Majority of the bill will be closed
Extracting Blocked Legislation:
Discharge Petition: Removes Bills that are blocked in committee. Requires a majority of
members (218) to sign the petition. Bill Moved to Discharge Calendar. (Pretty hard to do)
(Floor will have power)
Calendar Wednesday: Every Wednesday is reserved for Standing Committees to Call Up
legislation that has been reported but not granted a rule by the rules Committee. These
Bills will require 2/3rd Majority. (Not very common but happens when the standing
committee and the floor wanted something and the rules committee slows down the
process)
House Floor Procedure:
Adopt the Rule Granted by the Rules Committee
Resolve the House into the “Committee of the Whole” Constitution Quorum= 50% 218
members be there for the house to take action or vote on a resolution. Quorum Call (Head
Count) Bell system: to bring more people in. Committee of the Whole Quorum: 100
members (In rules)
Proceed with General Debate (As mandated as the Rules Committee)
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Suspension of the rules: i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill. in order on. Privileged legislation: under house rules, five standing committees have direct. Access to the floor for selected bills: appropriations, budget, house administration, House rules committee: can move legislation forward on the calendars. Governs the length of floor debate, dispenses with the first reading of the bill (read the whole bill), limits the number of amendments (basically give a specific committee power). Question - ends debate and amendment period and orders a vote on final passage. Open rules: germane amendments to a bill may be offered on the floor (no limit) The entire bill is open to amendment (the floor will have power) Closed rules: prohibit floor amendments (the committee will have power) Modified rules: modified open rules: declare that all parts of a bill are open to a.
