[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 14, Chapter 30]
[Chapter 30. Voting]
[E. Postponing Votes; Clustering Votes; Reduced Voting Time; Separate Votes]
[§ 53. Evolution of House Rules on Postponement and Reduced Voting Time]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[Page 11799-11810]
CHAPTER 30
Voting
E. POSTPONING VOTES; CLUSTERING VOTES; REDUCED VOTING TIME; SEPARATE
VOTES
Sec. 53. Evolution of House Rules on Postponement and Reduced Voting
Time
Introduction
The concepts of postponing votes, clustering a series of votes, and
of reducing voting times were introduced into the rules by the adoption
of House Resolution 5 on the first day of the 96th
Congress.(1) Amendments were made to Rules I, XV, XXIII, and
XXVII.(2) The first instance where the Speaker utilized his
new authority to postpone a series of votes to another day occurred on
Feb. 21, 1979,(3) when the debate on a series of 10
committee funding resolutions was conducted but where the votes were
postponed until Feb. 26, 1979.(4)
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1. 125 Cong. Rec. 7-10, 12, 13, 96th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 15, 1979.
2. Id. at pp. 8, 9.
3. 125 Cong. Rec. 2906, 96th Cong. 1st Sess.
4. Id. at pp. 3255, 3256.
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Although the Speaker may not on his own volition and discretion
reduce the times in which votes are taken with the electronic system,
the House may authorize such action by unanimous consent or special
order. -------------------
The Development of the Speaker's Postponement Authority and Its Place
in the Rules
Sec. 53.1 In the 96th Congress, the Speaker was given discretionary
authority to postpone record votes on the final passage of bills,
the adoption of resolutions and conference reports to a time
certain within two legislative days. In separate amendments to
Rules XI and XXVII, the authority to postpone and ``cluster'' votes
on resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules and on motions
to suspend the rules
[[Page 11800]]
until the same or the next legislative day was clarified.
New rules adopted on Jan. 15, 1979,(5) included the
following authorities [those parts of the resolution relating to
postponing and clustering votes are shown in italic]:
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5. 125 Cong. Rec. 7-9, 12, 96th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Mr. [James C.] Wright [Jr., of Texas]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a
privileged resolution (H. Res. 5) and ask for its immediate
consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 5
Resolved, That the Rules of the House of Representatives of
the Ninety-fifth Congress, including all applicable provisions
of law which constituted the rules of the House at the end of
the Ninety-fifth Congress, be, and they are hereby, adopted as
the Rules of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth
Congress, with the following amendments included therein as
part thereof, to wit: . . .
(2) In Rule I, clause 5 is amended by inserting ``(a)''
immediately after ``5'' and by adding at the end of such clause
the following new paragraph:
``(b)(1) On any legislative day whenever a recorded vote or
the yeas and nays are ordered on the question of passing bills
or resolutions or agreeing to conference reports, or when a
vote is objected to under clause 4 of Rule XV on the question
of passing bills or resolutions or agreeing to conference
reports, the Speaker may, in his discretion, postpone further
proceedings on each such question to a designated time or place
in the legislative schedule on that legislative day or within
two legislative days.
``(2) At the time designated by the Speaker for further
consideration of proceedings postponed under subparagraph (1),
the Speaker shall put each question on which further
proceedings were postponed, in the order in which that question
was considered.
``(3) At any time after the vote has been taken on the
first question on which the Speaker has postponed further
proceedings under this paragraph, the Speaker may, in his
discretion, reduce to not less than five minutes the period of
time within which a rollcall vote by electronic device on the
question may be taken without any intervening business on any
or all of the additional questions on which the Speaker has
postponed further proceedings under this paragraph.
``(4) If the House adjourns before all of the questions on
which further proceedings were postponed under this paragraph
have been put and determined, then, on the next following
legislative day the unfinished business shall be the
disposition of all such questions, previously undisposed of, in
the order in which the questions were considered.''; . . .
(11)(a) In Rule XI, clause 4(e) is amended to read as
follows:
``(e)(1) On any legislative day when reports from the
Committee on Rules are being considered, the Speaker may
announce to the House, in his discretion, before consideration
of the first resolution, that he will postpone further
proceedings on such of the resolutions reported from that
committee as he may designate if a recorded vote or the yeas
and nays are ordered or if the vote is objected to under clause
4 of Rule XV when the Chair puts the question on the previous
question or on the adoption of the resolution, until--
[[Page 11801]]
``(A) all such resolutions on that legislative day have
been considered and any debate thereon concluded, with the
question having been put and determined on each such resolution
on which the taking of the vote will not be postponed; or
``(B) the next legislative day, with the question having
been put and determined on each such resolution on which the
taking of the vote will not be postponed.
``(2) Where the Speaker has postponed votes pursuant to
paragraph 4(e)(1)(A) of this clause, when the last of such
resolutions so designated has been considered and any debate
thereon concluded, with the question put and determined on each
such resolution on which further proceedings were not
postponed, the Speaker shall put the appropriate question on
each such resolution on which further proceedings were
postponed in the order in which each such resolution was
considered.
``(3) Where the Speaker has postponed votes pursuant to
paragraph (e)(1)(B) of this clause, on the next legislative day
the Speaker shall put as unfinished business the appropriate
question on each such resolution on which further proceedings
were postponed in the order in which each such resolution was
considered.'';
(b) Redesignate subparagraphs (3) and (4) as (4) and (5)
respectively. ; . . .
(18)(a) In Rule XXVII, amend clause 3 to read as follows:
``3. (a) When a motion to suspend the rules has been
submitted to the House or has been seconded pursuant to clause
2 of this rule, it shall be in order, before the final vote is
taken thereon, to debate the proposition to be voted upon for
forty minutes, one-half of such time to be given to debate in
favor of, and one-half to debate in opposition to, such
proposition; and the same right of debate shall be allowed
whenever the previous question has been ordered on any
proposition on which there has been no debate.
``(b)(1) On any legislative day on which the Speaker is
authorized to entertain motions to suspend the rules and pass
bills or resolutions, including the last six days of a session,
he may announce to the House, in his discretion, before
entertaining the first such motion, that he will postpone
further proceedings on each of such motions on which a recorded
vote or the yeas and nays is ordered or on which the vote is
objected to under clause 4 of Rule XV, until--
``(A) all of such motions on that legislative day have been
entertained and any debate thereon concluded, with the question
having been put and determined on each such motion on which the
taking of the vote will not be postponed; or
``(B) the next legislative day, with the question having
been put and determined on each such motion on which the taking
of the vote will not be postponed.
``(2) Where the Speaker has postponed votes pursuant to
paragraph (b)(1)(A) of this clause, when the last of all
motions on that legislative day to suspend the rules and pass
bills or resolutions has been entertained and any debate
therein concluded, the Speaker shall put the question on each
motion which further proceedings were postponed, in the order
in which that motion was entertained.
``(3) Where the Speaker has postponed votes pursuant to
paragraph (b)(1)(B) of this clause, on the next legislative day
the Speaker shall put as unfinished business the question of
each motion on which further proceedings were postponed, in the
order in which that motion was entertained.''; . . .
Mr. Wright: Mr. Speaker, I yield, for purposes of debate only,
30 minutes of that hour to the distinguished mi
[[Page 11802]]
nority leader, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Rhodes), and pending
that, I yield myself such time as I may require. . . .
The rules changes we propose are modest. Their thrust is to
assist the House in facilitating the business of the House. I think
basically these changes embodied in this resolution will do four
things:
First, some of the changes would grant authority to the Speaker
to group record votes in clusters in order to expedite the
consideration of relatively noncontroversial legislation. The
purpose of this, quite obviously, is to save time. . . .
Mr. [Robert H.] Michel [of Illinois]: Mr. Speaker,
consideration of our rules is an important area of discussion, for
they are going to determine how we proceed in this House for the
next 2 years.
The rules changes proposed are complex and technical. I am
going to place in the Record an analysis and an expression of my
concern over what I consider to be the more significant changes
proposed by the majority, but I want to mention the two areas which
could lead to the greatest mischief: the postponing of votes and
the budget amendments.
Mr. Speaker, the clustering of votes at the end of the day or
on the following day may expedite the business of this House, but
that practice certainly will not lead to better legislation. It
will actually encourage absenteeism, as was alluded to by the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Grassley), and will tend to inhibit open
debate and discussion.
Mr. Speaker, votes on rules reported and suspensions can
actually be deferred until the next day, but it is my understanding
that the Speaker would give prior notice of these votes if the
votes would be deferred.
Sec. 53.2 In the 97th Congress, the House adopted changes to Rule I to
consolidate under one clause the separate authorities to postpone
record votes on a variety of issues.
In the process of adopting new rules for the 97th Congress, the
House, on Jan. 5, 1981,(7) consolidated the various
authorities for the Speaker to postpone record votes in Rule I clause
5. As part of the same amendment, the period of time for which a vote
on a suspension motion can be postponed was increased from one to two
legislative days. The new rule provided:
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7. 127 Cong. Rec. 98, 97th Cong. 1st Sess.
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H. Res. 5
Resolved, That the Rules of the House of Representatives of the
Ninety-sixth Congress, including all applicable provisions of law
which constituted the Rules of the House at the end of the Ninety-
sixth Congress, be, and they are hereby, adopted as the Rules of
the House of Representatives of the Ninety-seventh Congress, with
the following amendments included therein as part thereof, to wit:
(1) In Rule I, clause 4 is amended by adding at the end thereof
the following new sentence: ``The Speaker is author
[[Page 11803]]
ized to sign enrolled bills whether or not the House is in
session.''.
(2) In Rule I, clause 5(b)(1) is amended to read as follows:
``(b)(1) On any legislative day whenever a recorded vote is
ordered or the yeas and nays are ordered, or a vote is objected to
under clause 4 of Rule XV on any of the following questions, the
Speaker may, in his discretion, postpone further proceedings on
each such question to a designated time or place in the legislative
schedule on that legislative day or within two legislative days:
``(A) the question of passing bills;
``(B) the question of adopting resolutions;
``(C) the question of ordering the previous question on
privileged resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules;
``(D) the question of agreeing to conference reports; and
``(E) the question of agreeing to motions to suspend the
rules.''.
Special Orders Used To Regulate Deferral and Clustering of Votes;
Postponement Authority in Committee of the Whole
Sec. 53.3 The House for the first time, by the adoption of a special
order, granted the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole special
authority to defer requests for recorded votes, to cluster votes on
amendments which are deferred, and to vary the order of
consideration of amendments established in the special order.
In an effort to introduce more logical consideration of major
issues in annual defense authorization bills, and to expedite their
consideration, the Committee on Armed Services (redesignated as the
Committee on National Security in the 104th Congress) has requested the
Committee on Rules to report increasingly detailed and structured
special orders governing consideration of such measures. The rule
adopted by the House in the 102d Congress, second session, is
illustrative of the detailed special orders which have been utilized in
more recent Congresses. The text of House Resolution 474 was as
follows: (8)
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8. Portions of the rule dealing with the amendment process and voting
are shown in italics. 138 Cong. Rec. 13239-41, 102d Cong. 2d
Sess., June 3, 1992.
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Mr. [Martin] Frost [of Texas]: Mr. Speaker, by direction of the
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 474 and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 474
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this
resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule
XXIII, declare the House
[[Page 11804]]
resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5006) to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1993 for military
functions of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military
personnel levels for fiscal year 1993, and for other purposes.
The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All
points of order against consideration of the bill for failure
to comply with section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974 are waived. After general debate, which shall be
confined to the bill and the amendments made in order by this
resolution and which shall not exceed one hour equally divided
and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of
the Committee on Armed Services, the bill shall be considered
for amendment under the five-minute rule. It shall be in order
to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment
under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a
substitute recommended by the Committee on Armed Services now
printed in the bill. The committee amendment in the nature of a
substitute shall be considered as read. All points of order
against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute
for failure to comply with clause 7 of rule XVI, clause 5(a) of
rule XXI, and section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 are waived. No amendment to the committee amendment in the
nature of a substitute shall be in order except the amendments
printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying
this resolution and amendments en bloc described in this
resolution. Pro forma amendments for the purpose of debate may
be offered only by the chairman or ranking minority member of
the Committee on Armed Services. Unless otherwise specified in
this resolution, the amendments printed in the report of the
Committee on Rules shall be considered in the order and manner
specified in the report. Unless otherwise specified in the
report, each amendment may be offered only by the named
proponent or a designee, shall be considered as read when
offered, shall be debatable for ten minutes equally divided and
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be
subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for
division of the question in the House or in the Committee of
the Whole. All points of order against amendments printed in
the report are waived. If more than one of the following
amendments relating to funding levels for the Strategic Defense
Initiative is adopted, only the last to be adopted shall be
considered as finally adopted and reported to the House: (1) by
Representative Dellums of California; (2) by Representative Kyl
of Arizona; (3) by Representative Durbin of Illinois; and (4)
Representative Aspin of Wisconsin or Representative Dickinson
of Alabama. If more than one of the following amendments
relating to B-2 procurement is adopted, only the last to be
adopted shall be considered as finally adopted and reported to
the House: (1) by Representative Andrews of Maine; and (2)
Representative Aspin of Wisconsin or Representative Dickinson
of Alabama. At any time after the adoption of this resolution
the Committee on Rules may file a supplemental report for the
purpose of printing additional amendments relating to economic
conversion and adjustments in funding levels. Amendments
printed in the supplemental report shall be considered as
though included in the original report to accompany this
resolution except that the consideration of any amendments
relating to economic conversion: (1) shall be in order not
sooner than one hour after the chairman of the Committee on
Armed Services announces from the floor a
[[Page 11805]]
request to proceed thereto; and (2) shall begin with general
debate on that subject for one hour equally divided and
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Armed Services. It shall be in order at any time
for the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services or his
designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments
printed in part II of the report of the Committee on Rules or
germane modifications thereof. Amendments en bloc shall be
considered as read except that modifications shall be reported.
Amendments en bloc shall be debatable for twenty minutes
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their
respective designees, shall not be subject to amendment, and
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question
in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of
order against amendments en bloc are waived. The original
proponent of an amendment included in amendments en bloc may
insert a statement in the Congressional Record immediately
before the disposition of the amendments en bloc. The chairman
of the Committee of the Whole may postpone until a time during
further consideration in the Committee of the Whole a request
for a recorded vote on any amendment made in order by this
resolution. The chairman of the Committee of the Whole may
reduce to not less than five minutes the time for voting by
electronic device on any postponed question that immediately
follows another vote by electronic device without intervening
business, provided that the time for voting by electronic
device on the first in any series of questions shall be not
less than fifteen minutes. The chairman of the Committee of the
Whole may recognize for the consideration of an amendment
printed in the report of the Committee on Rules at a time other
than its prescribed place in the order, but not sooner than one
hour after the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services
announces from the floor a request to that effect. At the
conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the
Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such
amendments as may have been finally adopted. Any Member may
demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted in
the Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the committee
amendment in the nature of a substitute. The previous question
shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments
thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one
motion to recommit with or without instructions.
The Speaker Pro Tempore: (9) The gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Frost] is recognized for 1 hour.
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9. Romano L. Mazzoli (Ky.).
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Mr. Frost: Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 474 provides for the
consideration of H.R. 5006, the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 1993. . .
Mr. Speaker, in devising the rule providing for the
consideration of the fiscal year 1993 Defense Department
authorization, the Committee on Rules considered over 180
amendments which were submitted to the committee for possible
inclusion in the rule. The proposed rule not only allows the House
to debate all of the major policy issues associated with our
national defense, it also allows the House to work its will on a
number of amendments which deal with a variety of issues relating
to the Department of Defense. However, the rule providing for the
consideration of all these issues
[[Page 11806]]
is necessarily complicated and I would like to take a few minutes
to explain to the House the procedure recommended by the Rules
Committee.
Only those amendments printed in the report accompanying House
Resolution 474, as well as certain amendments en bloc and pro forma
amendments for the purpose of debate, if offered by the chairman or
ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services, will be
eligible for consideration. The amendments made in order in the
report are to be considered in the order and manner specified, and,
unless otherwise specified in the rule, the amendments are
debatable for 10 minutes each, to be equally divided and controlled
by a proponent and opponent of the amendment. The rule also
provides that unless otherwise specified, amendments may be offered
only by the named proponent or a designee, and provides that the
amendments shall be considered as read when offered, shall not be
subject to a demand for a division in the House or in the Committee
of the Whole, and waives all points of order against the amendments
printed in the report. . . .
Mr. Speaker, because a number of amendments made in order in
the rule do deal with major policy issues, the Committee on Rules
has structured the consideration of two of those issues in a king-
of-the-hill procedure. The rule provides that during the
consideration of amendments relating to the strategic defense
initiative, that each of the four amendments eligible for
consideration shall be debated for 30 minutes, with the time to be
equally divided and controlled by the named proponent and an
opponent. Each amendment will be debated and voted on and the last
amendment agreed to shall be considered as finally adopted and
reported to the House. . . .
The rule also grants the Committee on Rules the authority to
file a sup-plemental report which will include amendments relating
to economic conversion and add backs of DOD funds to reflect the
spending levels envisioned in the fiscal year 1993 budget
resolution. The rule provides that the amendments printed in the
supplemental report shall be considered as though they had been
printed in the original report accompanying House Resolution 474.
However, the rule does provide that any amendment relating to
defense conversion shall not be considered until 1 hour after the
chairman of the Committee on Armed Services announces a request to
proceed to the consideration of those amendments and until after
the completion of general debate, not to exceed 1 hour on that
subject. The rule provides that general debate on the issue of
defense conversion shall be equally divided and controlled by the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed
Services.
The rule provides for the consideration of two amendments
relating to defense conversion, but which shall be debatable for 10
minutes, equally divided and controlled. The first amendment will
be offered by Chairman Aspin, and the second, a substitute
amendment, will be offered by Representative Dickinson. . . .
In order to expedite the consideration of this lengthy and
complicated process in the House, House Resolution 474 provides
that the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone
[[Page 11807]]
a request for a recorded vote, votes may be reduced to 5 minutes
the time for voting on amendments after the first 15-minute vote in
a series of votes, and may recognize for consideration of
amendments out of the order in which they are printed in the report
accompanying this rule, but only after 1 hour's notification by the
chairman of the Committee on Armed Services.
Sec. 53.4 While the authority of the Chairman of the Committee of the
Whole to postpone and cluster votes is provided by special orders,
drafted to fit the specific amendment process established for a
particular bill, the concept of reducing voting times to five
minutes was incorporated into the standing rules in the 102d
Congress. Rule XXIII clause 2(a), permits a five-minute vote on an
amendment immediately following a 15-minute quorum call; and clause
2(c) permits the reduction of voting time on an amendment or
amendments where the vote comes immediately after a 15-minute vote
on another amendment.
The first instance where the Chairman announced his intention to
use the new authority in clause 2(c), Rule XXIII, occurred on May 15,
1991.(10) During consideration of H.R. 1415, the Foreign
Relations Authorization Act of fiscal years 1992 and 1993, a partial
amendment tree was pending: an amendment, a perfecting amendment
thereto, and a substitute for the original amendment. The Chairman's
statement of his intention to have two five-minute votes, if recorded
votes were in fact ordered, following a 15-minute vote on the
perfecting amendment, was in fact thwarted by further debate which
intervened after the first of the three votes. Proceedings were as
indicated below.(11)
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10. 137 Cong. Rec. 11115, 102d Cong. 1st Sess.
11. Id. at pp. 11090, 11093, 11109.
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Ms. [Olympia J.] Snowe [of Maine]: Mr. Chairman, I offer
amendments en bloc explicitly made in order under the rule.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendments en bloc offered by Ms. Snowe:
Strike paragraph (7) of section 101(a).
Strike section 132 and insert in lieu thereof the
following:
sec. 132. moscow embassy security.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 401(a) of the
Diplomatic Security Act (22 U.S.C. 4851) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4) by striking ``Amounts'' and inserting
``Except as provided in paragraph (5), amounts''; and
(2) by adding after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph (5):
[[Page 11808]]
(5) Moscow embassy security.--Of the amounts authorized in
paragraph (4), $130,000,000 shall be available for fiscal year
1993 only for the costs of deconstruction of the partially
constructed new chancery of the United States Embassy in Moscow
to the basement level and reconstruction of a new chancery on
the same site.''.
(b) Extraordinary Security Safeguards.-- . . .
Mr. [Harold L.] Berman [of California]: Mr. Chairman, I offer
an amendment to the amendments en bloc.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendment offered by Mr. Berman to the amendments en bloc
offered by Ms. Snowe:
Page 1, after ``Strike paragraph (7) of section 101(a)''
insert ``and insert the following:
(7) Moscow Embassy.--Subject to the provisions of section
132, for construction of a new United States Embassy office
building in Moscow, Soviet Union, $130,000,000 for fiscal year
1992 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1993.
Page 1, strike subsection (a) (lines 2 through 16) and
insert the following (and redesignate subsections as may be
appropriate);
(a) Limitation.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated
under section 101(a)(7) shall be available for obligation and
expenditure subject to the provisions of this section.
(b) Comprehensive plan.-- . . .
Mr. [Frederick S.] Upton [of Michigan]: Mr. Chairman, I offer
an amendment as a substitute for the amendments en bloc.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendments offered by Mr. Upton as a substitute for the
amendments en bloc offered by Ms. Snowe:
Strike paragraph (7) of section 101(a).
Strike section 132 and insert in lieu thereof the
following:
sec. 132. moscow embassy security.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 401(a) of the
Diplomatic Security Act (22 U.S.C. 4851) is amended--
(1) In paragraph (4) by striking ``Amounts'' and inserting
``Except as provided in paragraph (5), amounts''; and . . .
Mr. Berman: Mr. Chairman, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The Chairman: (12) The gentleman will state it.
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12. David R. Nagle (Iowa).
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Mr. Berman: Mr. Chairman, were the Berman amendment to pass,
would then the Upton substitute be a substitute for the Berman
amendment?
The Chairman: If the Berman amendment were to be adopted, the
Upton substitute would be for the Snowe amendment, as amended. But
it would, if adopted, eliminate the Berman perfecting amendment.
Mr. Berman: And restore the Snowe amendment with the additional
provisions regarding Soviet funding.
The Chairman: The gentleman is correct.
Mr. Berman: At this particular point, you will ask for a vote
on the Berman amendment. If there is a rollcall requested following
that vote, is there a way to deal with the Upton amendment, or do
we have to wait until after that 15-minute rollcall vote?
The Chairman: The Chair would announce pursuant to clause 2(c),
rule XXIII its intent that if a subsequent
[[Page 11809]]
recorded vote should be ordered without intervening business or
amendment or debate, that the Chair would then intend to reduce to
not less than 5 minutes the votes on any subsequent recorded votes.
The Snowe amendment and amendments thereto.
Mr. [Harold L.] Volkmer [of Mississippi]: Mr. Chairman, will
the gentleman yield?
Mr. Berman: On the point of parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. Volkmer: Just a point of clarification.
There is no time limit on debate; is that correct?
The Chairman: The gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Volkmer] is
correct.
Mr. Volkmer: In addition, Mr. Chairman, if the amendment of the
gentleman from California [Mr. Berman] is successful or not, either
way, to the amendment of the gentlewoman from Maine [Ms. Snowe], I
could still rise at the end of that, and, if recognized by the
Chair, be able to offer a motion at that time?
The Chairman: The gentleman is correct, and should that debate
or intervening business take place, the subsequent vote will not be
reduced to 5 minutes.
Sec. 53.5 In the 104th Congress, the House further amended Rule I,
clause 5(b), to reorder and expand the list of questions
susceptible to postponement. In certain situations, the vote on the
previous question can be postponed, if the question to which it
applies is also subject to the Speaker's postponement authority. In
the 105th Congress, the House expanded the list of questions
susceptible to postponement in Rule I to include votes on amending
Corrections bills and suspension motions.
As amended in the 104th and the 105th Congresses, Rule I clause
5(b), which contains the authority for the Speaker to postpone votes in
the House, provides as follows:
(b)(1) On any legislative day whenever a recorded vote is
ordered or the yeas and nays are ordered, or a vote is objected to
under clause 4 of rule XV on any of the following questions, the
Speaker may, in his discretion, postpone further proceedings on
each such question to a designated time or place in the legislative
schedule on that legislative day in the case of the question of
agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, or within two
legislative days, in the case of the other questions listed herein:
(A) the question of adopting a resolution;
(B) the question of passing a bill;
(C) the question of agreeing to a motion to instruct conferees
as provided in clause 1(c) of rule XXVIII: (13) Pro
[[Page 11810]]
vided, however, That proceedings shall not resume on said question
if the conferees have filed a report in the House;
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13. Clause 1(c) of Rule XXVIII provides for motions to discharge or
instruct conferees in certain situations. See House Rules and
Manual Sec. 910 (1995).
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(D) the question of agreeing to a conference report;
(E) the question of agreeing to a motion to recommit a bill
considered pursuant to clause 4 of rule XIII; (14)
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14. Clause 4 of Rule XIII provides for the ``Corrections Calendar.''
See House Rules and Manual Sec. 745a (1995).
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(F) the question of ordering the previous question on a
question described in subdivision (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E);
(G) the question of agreeing to an amendment to a bill
considered pursuant to clause 4 of rule XIII; and
(H) the question of agreeing to a motion to suspend the rules.