[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 7, Chapters 22 - 25]
[Chapter 22. Calendars]
[A. Introductory]
[Â§ 2. Union and House Calendars]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 4466-4468]
 
                               CHAPTER 22
 
                               Calendars
 
                            A. INTRODUCTORY
 
Sec. 2. Union and House Calendars

    Public bills favorably reported are first referred to either the

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 Union or House Calendars, and those that are not required to be 
referred to the former are referred to the latter. Bills appropriating 
money or property, are referred to the Union Calendar since they must 
be considered in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the 
Union.(14) Thus, measures belonging on the Union Calendar 
are those on subjects under the jurisdiction of the Committee of the 
Whole, a discussion of which is found in Chapter 19, supra.
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14. Rule XXIII clause 3, House Rules and Manual Sec. 865 
        (1981).                          -------------------
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Consideration in House as in Committee of the Whole

Sec. 2.1 The House has often agreed, by unanimous consent, to consider 
    a Union Calendar bill in the House as in the Committee of the 
    Whole.

    On June 28, 1966,(15) the House adopted a special rule 
(H. Res. 895) for the consideration in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union of a calendared bill (H.R. 5256) changing the 
method of computing the retirement pay of members of the armed forces. 
Then Mr. F. Edward Hebert, of Louisiana, asked unanimous consent that 
that bill be considered in the House as in the Committee of the Whole.
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15. 112 Cong. Rec. 14547-49, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
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    There was no objection.

Sec. 2.2 Where the House grants unanimous consent for the immediate 
    consideration of a bill on the Union Calendar, the bill is 
    considered in the House as in the Committee of the Whole and 
    debated under the five-minute rule, and motions to strike out the 
    last word are in order.

    On Apr. 6, 1966,(16) Mr. Wilbur D. Mills, of Arkansas, 
asked unanimous consent for the immediate consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 14224) amending the Social Security Act to extend the initial 
period for enrolling under the program of supplementary medical 
insurance benefits for the aged, pending on the Union Calendar.
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16. 112 Cong. Rec. 7749, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
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    Mr. John W. Byrnes, of Wisconsin, then raised a parliamentary 
inquiry:

        Mr. Byrnes of Wisconsin: Mr. Speaker, I make this parliamentary 
    inquiry only that the Members might understand what the 
    opportunities might be for discussion. I make the parliamentary 
    inquiry to the effect that if the request of the gentleman from Ar

[[Page 4468]]

    kansas is agreed to that the bill can be considered under 
    unanimous-consent request--do I state it correctly that there will 
    be the opportunity for striking out the last word and having an 
    opportunity to speak?
        The Speaker: (17) The bill is to be considered in 
    the House as in the Committee of the Whole, and motions to strike 
    out the last word will be in order.
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17. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
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        Mr. Byrnes of Wisconsin: Will the gentleman make the request 
    that the bill be considered in the House as in the Committee of the 
    Whole?
        The Speaker: The Chair will state that the unanimous-consent 
    request will automatically carry that privilege.

Requests for Immediate Consideration

Sec. 2.3 The Speaker may recognize a Member to ask for the immediate 
    consideration of an important bill pending on the Union Calendar.

    On Apr. 6, 1966,(18) the Speaker (19) made 
the following statement:
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18. 112 Cong. Rec. 7749, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
19. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
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        The Speaker: The next order of business is the matters that 
    were passed over from Monday and Tuesday. However, the Chair 
    desires to state that there is a bill out of the Committee on Ways 
    and Means relating to the extension of time for filing for 
    medicare. If there is no objection on the part of the House, the 
    Chair would like to recognize the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
    Mills) to submit a unanimous-consent request to bring this bill up. 
    The Chair also understands it is the intention to have a rollcall 
    on the bill. The Chair is trying to work this out for the benefit 
    of the Members. Is there objection to the Chair recognizing the 
    gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Mills), for the purpose stated by the 
    Chair? The Chair hears none and recognizes the gentleman from 
    Arkansas (Mr. Mills).