[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 541 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 541

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that the 
House may not consider major legislation unless it addresses one issue 
                               at a time.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 8, 2012

Mr. Polis submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                           Committee on Rules

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that the 
House may not consider major legislation unless it addresses one issue 
                               at a time.

Whereas, the House Republicans' Pledge to America states: ``We pledge to make 
        government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, 
        and honest in its dealings.''; and
Whereas, the House Republicans' Pledge to America states under the heading 
        ``Advance Legislative Issues One at a Time'': ``We will end the practice 
        of packaging unpopular bills with `must-pass' legislation to circumvent 
        the will of the American people. Instead, we will advance major 
        legislation one issue at a time.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by adding at the end the following new 
clause:
    ``12.(a) It shall not be in order to consider--
            ``(1) a bill or joint resolution that is major legislation 
        and advances more than one issue;
            ``(2) an amendment to a bill or joint resolution to be 
        offered at the outset of its consideration for amendment by a 
        member of a committee of initial referral as designated in a 
        report of the Committee on Rules to accompany a resolution 
        prescribing a special order of business that is major 
        legislation and advances more than one issue; or
            ``(3) a conference report to accompany a bill or joint 
        resolution that is major legislation and advances more than one 
        issue.
    ``(b) It shall not be in order to consider a rule or order that 
waives the application of paragraph (a). As disposition of a point of 
order under this paragraph or paragraph (a), the Chair shall put the 
question of consideration with respect to the rule or order, bill, 
joint resolution, or conference report, as applicable. The question of 
consideration shall be debatable for 10 minutes by the Member 
initiating the point of order and for 10 minutes by an opponent, but 
shall otherwise be decided without intervening motion except one that 
the House adjourn.
    ``(c) For the purpose of this clause, the term `major legislation' 
means legislation that is not a Sense of Congress or naming bill and 
would have a substantial impact on the American people.
    ``(d) For the purpose of this clause, the term `advances only one 
issue' means that the proposition focuses on one scope and object.''.
                                 <all>