[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 123--PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CHANGES TO RULES 
                   FOR THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE

  Mr. MERKLEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 123

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. CONSIDERATION OF CHANGES TO RULES FOR THE 
                   PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE.

       Rule V of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs 1 and 2 as paragraphs 5 and 
     6, respectively;
       (2) by inserting before paragraph 5 (as redesignated) the 
     following:
       ``1.(a) At the beginning of a new Congress, the first 
     matters considered by the Senate (other than a resolution 
     described in subparagraph (b)) shall be a resolution 
     appointing majority and minority members of the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration of the Senate and a resolution 
     amending or adopting rules for the proceedings of the Senate. 
     No other matter shall be in order, except by unanimous 
     consent, until the Senate has agreed to a resolution amending 
     or adopting rules for the proceedings of the Senate.
       ``(b) A resolution described in this subparagraph is a 
     resolution--
       ``(1) informing the President that a quorum of each House 
     is assembled;
       ``(2) informing the House of Representatives that a quorum 
     of the Senate is assembled;
       ``(3) electing the President pro tempore of the Senate and 
     notifying the President and the House of Representatives of 
     such election;
       ``(4) fixing the hour of the daily meeting of the Senate;
       ``(5) electing the Secretary of the Senate and notifying 
     the President and the House of Representatives of such 
     election;
       ``(6) electing a Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the 
     Senate and notifying the President and the House of 
     Representatives of such election; or
       ``(7) electing Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of 
     the Senate.
       ``2. At the beginning of a new Congress, and until the 
     Senate has agreed to a resolution adopting or amending rules 
     for the proceedings of the Senate, if the Committee on Rules 
     and Administration reports to the full Senate a resolution 
     amending or adopting rules for the proceedings of the Senate, 
     the Senate shall immediately proceed to consideration of the 
     resolution.
       ``3. On and after the third day of session of the Senate, 
     if the Committee on Rules has not reported to the full Senate 
     a resolution amending or adopting rules for the proceedings 
     of the Senate, it shall be in order for any Senator to 
     introduce and immediately move to proceed to consider a 
     resolution amending or adopting rules for the proceedings of 
     the Senate. Consideration of such a motion to proceed, 
     including consideration of any motions or appeals in 
     connection therewith, shall be limited to 2 hours.
       ``4. On and after the third day of session of the Senate 
     during which a resolution amending or adopting rules for the 
     proceedings of the Senate is being considered, it shall be in 
     order for any Senator to move to end debate on such 
     resolution. Consideration of such motion, including 
     consideration of any motion or appeal in connection 
     therewith, shall be limited to 2 hours. If such motion is 
     decided in the affirmative, the Senate shall proceed 
     immediately to vote on the resolution adopting or amending 
     rules for the proceedings of the Senate, as amended if such 
     resolution has been amended.''; and
       (3) in paragraph 5 (as redesignated), by striking ``No 
     motion'' and inserting ``Other than at the beginning of a new 
     Congress, no motion''.

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