Proceedings of the Senate during a full or partial government shutdown

(a)

Definitions

In this section— (1)the term Government shutdown means a lapse in appropriations for 1 or more agencies of the Federal Government; and(2)the term Sergeant at Arms means the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate.(b)

Convening of the Senate

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any rule or order of the Senate, during the period of a Government shutdown—(A)the Senate shall convene at 8:00 a.m. each day, unless the body is in continuous session; and(B)it shall not be in order to ask for, and the Presiding Officer shall not entertain a request for, unanimous consent to change the hour or day on which the Senate shall convene under subparagraph (A).(2)

Senate not in session

If the Senate is not in session on the first calendar day of a Government shutdown, the majority leader, after consultation with the minority leader, shall notify Members of the Senate that, pursuant to this standing order, the Senate shall convene at 8:00 a.m. on the next calendar day of the Government shutdown.(c)

Presence of a quorum

(1)

In general

During the period of a Government shutdown, and notwithstanding any provision of the Standing Rules of the Senate—(A)immediately after the Presiding Officer takes the chair in accordance with rule IV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Presiding Officer shall direct the Clerk to call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum; and(B)1 hour after the presence of a quorum has last been demonstrated, the Presiding Officer shall direct the Clerk to call the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum.(2)

Lack of quorum

(A)

In general

If, upon a calling of the roll under paragraph (1), it shall be ascertained that a quorum is not present—(i)the Presiding Officer shall direct the Clerk to call the names of any absent Senators; and(ii)following the calling of the names under clause (i), the Presiding Officer shall, without intervening motion or debate, submit to the Senate by a yea-and-nay vote the question: Shall the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate be directed to request the attendance of absent Senators?.(B)

Direction to compel attendance

If a quorum is not present 15 minutes after the time at which the vote on a question submitted under subparagraph (A)(ii) starts, the Presiding Officer shall, without intervening motion or debate, submit to the Senate by a yea-and-nay vote the question: Shall the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate be directed to compel the attendance of absent Senators?.(C)

Arrest of absent Senators

Effective 1 hour after the Sergeant at Arms is directed to compel the attendance of absent Senators under subparagraph (B), if any Senator not excused under rule XII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is not in attendance, the Senate shall be deemed to have agreed an order that reads as follows: Ordered, That the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate be directed to arrest absent Senators; that warrants for the arrests of all Senators not sick nor excused be issued under the signature of the Presiding Officer and attested by the Secretary, and that such warrants be executed without delay..(D)

Reports

Not less frequently than once per hour during proceedings to compel the attendance of absent Senators, the Sergeant at Arms shall submit to the Senate a report on absent Senators, which shall—(i)be laid before the Senate;(ii)identify each Senator whose absence is excused;(iii)identify each Senator who is absent without excuse; and(iv)for each Senator identified under clause (iii), provide information on the current location of the Senator.(3)

Regaining the floor

If a Senator had been recognized to speak at the time a call of the roll to ascertain the presence of a quorum was initiated under paragraph (2)(A), and if the presence of a quorum is established, that Senator shall be entitled to be recognized to speak.(d)

Adjourning and recessing

During the period of a Government shutdown—(1)a motion to adjourn or to recess the Senate shall be decided by a yea-or-nay vote;(2)if a quorum is present, the Presiding Officer shall not entertain a request to adjourn or recess the Senate by unanimous consent or to vitiate the yeas and nays on such a motion by unanimous consent;(3)a motion to adjourn or a motion to recess made during the period beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 11:59 p.m., shall only be agreed to upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Senators present and voting, a quorum being present; and(4)if the Senate must adjourn due to the absence of a quorum, the Senate shall reconvene 2 hours after the time at which it adjourns and ascertain the presence of a quorum in accordance with subsection (c)(1).(e)

No suspension of requirements

The Presiding Officer may not entertain a request to suspend the operation of this standing order by unanimous consent or motion.(f)

Consistency with senate emergency procedures and practices

Nothing in this standing order shall be construed in a manner that is inconsistent with S. Res. 296 (108th Congress) or any other emergency procedures or practices of the Senate.(g)

Standing order

This section shall be a standing order of the Senate.