    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 112th Congress]
    [112nd Congress]
    [House Document 111-157]
    [Rules of the House of Representatives]
    [Pages 668-686]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                     Rule XV

    Suspensions
                        business in order on special days

    885. Motions to suspend the rules.

      1. (a)  A rule may not be
    suspended except by a vote of two-thirds of the Members voting, a quorum
    being present. The Speaker may not entertain a motion that the House
    suspend the rules except on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and during
    the last six days of a session of Congress.

    [[Page 669]]

      This provision (formerly clause 1 of rule XXVII) developed from a rule
    adopted in 1794, which provided that no rule should be rescinded without
    one day's notice. In 1822 a paragraph was added that no rule should be
    suspended except by a two-thirds vote. In 1828 it was amended to provide
    that the order of business, as established by the rules, should not be
    changed except by a two-thirds vote. Originally contemplating motions to
    suspend the rules on any day, the rule was amended in 1847 to restrict
    the motion to Mondays of each week, and, in 1880, to the first and third
    Mondays of each month. In 1874 the old limit of 10 days at the end of
    the session was reduced to six days. In the 93d Congress, the rule was
    amended to permit motions to suspend the rules on the first and third
    Mondays and on the Tuesdays immediately following those days and to
    eliminate the distinction between days on which committees and
    individuals had preference (H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 1973, pp. 26, 27). In the
    95th Congress, the rule was amended to permit such motions on every
    Monday and Tuesday (H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 1977, 95th Cong., pp. 53-70).
    During the first session of the 108th Congress, the House authorized the
    Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules on
    Wednesdays through the second Wednesday in April as though under this
    clause (sec. 3(d), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 11). That authority was
    extended by unanimous consent through the last Wednesday in June (Apr.
    30, 2003, p. 10063) and by resolution through the entire 108th Congress
    (H. Res. 297, June 26, 2003, p. 16275). In the 109th Congress, the House
    amended the rule to permit motions to suspend the rules every Wednesday
    (sec. 2(e), H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 43). Before the House recodified
    its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in former
    clause 1 of rule XXVII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

    Sec. 886. Nature of the motion to suspend the
    rules.

      Originally,  when the House was operating under the older rules for the
    order of business, the motion was used to establish a special order of
    business for the consideration of a particular measure (IV, 3152, 3162;
    V, 6852). In 1890, the House adopted rules for the order of business
    that enabled the House on any day to consider public bills on its
    calendars. About the same time, the House perfected the process of
    establishing a special order of business by a majority vote through a
    report from the Committee on Rules (IV, 3169). As a result of these
    changes, the use of the motion to suspend gradually changed from one
    that established a special order of business to one that passes or
    adopts a measure (V, 6790, 6846, 6847). The latter motion suspends all
    rules inconsistent with its purposes, including a rule requiring that a
    recess be taken (V, 5752) or that a quorum be present when a bill is
    reported from committee (Sept. 22, 1992, p. 26932).

      Although the normal use of the motion is to pass or adopt a
    noncontroversial measure, the motion may also be used to change or
    suspend a rule or order that is susceptible to suspension or to suspend
    the parliamentary law of Jefferson's Manual (V, 6796, 6862). The rules
    forbid the Speaker to entertain a motion to suspend the rules relating
    to the privilege of the floor (clause 2(b) of rule IV; V, 7283; VIII,
    3634), the use of the Hall of the House (clause 2(b) of rule IV; V,
    7270), or the introduction of persons in the galleries (clause 7 of rule
    XVII; VI, 197).

      The motion to suspend may include a series of actions, such as the
    discharge of a committee from consideration of a bill and the passage of
    it (V, 6850), the reconsideration of the vote passing a bill, amendment
    of it, and passage again (V, 6849), the permission for a committee to
    report several bills (V, 6857), an order to the Clerk to incorporate in
    the engrossment of a general appropriation bill a provision not
    otherwise in order (IV, 3845), an authorization to the House to
    entertain a specified motion to suspend the rules on a future day not a
    suspension day (IV, 3845), a motion to take a bill (V, 6288; VIII, 3425)
    or a motion to reconsider, from the table (V, 5640). A motion to suspend
    may provide for agreeing to a conference report that has been ruled out
    of order by the Speaker (Dec. 20, 1974, p. 41860) or may provide for
    passage of a bill that consists of the text of two bills previously
    passed by the House (Sept. 19, 2000, p. 18510). One motion to suspend
    the rules having been rejected, the Speaker may recognize for a similar
    motion (Dec. 21, 1973, pp. 43270-81).

    [[Page 670]]

    the object of a motion to suspend the
    rules be announced on the floor at least one hour before the Chair's
    entertaining the motion, unanimous consent is required to permit the
    Chair to entertain the motion before that time (Sept. 28, 1996, p.
    25765, 25774).
      A motion to suspend the rules may provide for the passage of a bill
    regardless of whether it has been reported by committee, referred to a
    calendar, or even previously introduced (VIII, 3421; July 16, 1996, p.
    17228). It may include an amendment without the formality of committee
    approval (June 22, 1992, p. 15617). Copies of reports on bills
    considered under suspension are not required to be available in advance.
    No advance notice to Members of bills to be called up under suspension
    of the rules is required (Mar. 20, 1978, p. 7535; Jan. 22, 2007, p.
    1895) including to the sponsor (July 30, 2010, p. _). However, if a
    special rule requires that

    Sec. 886a. Consideration of the motion to suspend the
    rules.

      The  motion that the House ``suspend the rules and pass [or adopt]''
    a measure is not subject to the demand for a division of the question,
    either as to the two branches of the motion or as to distinct
    substantive propositions in the subject of the motion (V, 6141-6143).
    The motion may not be amended (V, 5322, 5405, 6858; Deschler, ch. 21,
    Sec. 14.6; Apr. 11, 2000, p. 5206), and the power to withdraw and modify
    the motion rests with its proponent (May 10, 2006, p. 7807). The motion
    may not be postponed (V, 5322) or laid on the table (V, 5405). The
    motion to reconsider may not be applied to a negative vote on the motion
    (V, 5645, 5646; VIII, 2781; Sept. 28, 1996, p. 25797), although it may
    be applied to an affirmative vote (Sept. 28, 1996, p. 25796). The motion
    to refer may not be applied to the bill that it is proposed to pass
    under suspension of the rules (V, 6860). Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule
    XV, the Speaker may entertain one motion to adjourn pending a motion to
    suspend the rules but may not entertain any other motion until the vote
    is taken on the motion to suspend the rules.

      Some older precedents indicate that the right of a Member to have read
    the paper on which the Member is called to vote is not changed by the
    fact that the procedure is by suspension of the rules (V, 5277; VIII,
    3400), and in earlier instances the separate motion to suspend the rules
    and dispense with reading of pending measures was held in order (V,
    5278-84). However, under the modern practice, only the motion to suspend
    the rules is itself read. The Clerk reports the title of the bill and a
    motion that the measure be read in full is not in order (July 30, 2010,
    p. _). Amendments included in the motion are not reported separately.
    Where a motion to suspend the rules and agree to a resolution that
    provided for concurring in a Senate amendment with an amendment
    consisting of the text of a bill introduced in the House, the Speaker
    ruled that the reading of the resolution itself was sufficient and that
    it could be re-read to the House only by unanimous consent (Dec. 21,
    1973, pp. 43251-63).

      For a discussion of debate on the motion and the Chair's recognition
    of a Member to control time in opposition to the motion, see Sec. 891,
    infra.

    [[Page 671]]

    Sec. 887. Precedence of the motion to suspend the
    rules.

      In the  early practice, when the motion to suspend the rules was used
    to enable a matter to be taken up for consideration out of order, it was
    not admitted when a subject was already before the House (V, 5278, 6836,
    6837, 6852, 6853). However, a motion to suspend the rules was in order
    to dispense with the reading of a pending measure (V, 5278). A bill
    taken up under this early practice might be amended by the House (V,
    6842, 6856) or withdrawn by the mover, in which case another Member
    might not present it (V, 6854, 6855).

      In the later practice, if the motion includes both suspension of the
    rules and action on the subject, it is admitted even though another
    matter is pending (V, 6834), the yeas and nays are demanded on another
    privileged motion (V, 6835), or the previous question has been ordered
    or moved on another matter (V, 6827, 6831-6833; VIII, 3418; Sept. 17,
    1990, p. 24695). Earlier rulings did not permit a motion to suspend the
    rules to permit a vote to be taken in gross on a series of pending
    Senate amendments (V, 6828, 6830). The motion to suspend the rules has
    been ruled out of order when the House is considering a bill under a
    special order (V, 6838) or when a question of privilege under rule IX is
    before the House (V, 6825, 6826; VI, 553, 565), and yields to such
    questions of privilege (III, 2553; VI, 565). The motion to suspend the
    rules has been held of equal privilege with the motion to instruct
    conferees under former clause 1(c) of rule XXVIII (current clause 7(c)
    of rule XXII), which is of the highest privilege (Mar. 1, 1988, pp.
    2749, 2751, 2754). A motion to suspend the rules and approve the Journal
    was held in order, although the Journal had not been read and the highly
    privileged motion to fix the day to which the House should adjourn was
    pending (IV, 2758). Moreover, in the absence of a motion to suspend, the
    ordinary motions relating to business of the House may be made on
    suspension days as on other days (IV, 3080).

      The motion to suspend the rules may be made on days other than
    suspension days by unanimous consent (V, 6795) or by adoption of a
    resolution reported by the Committee on Rules. On suspension days the
    motion to suspend the rules has been admitted at the discretion of the
    Speaker since 1881 (V, 6791-6794, 6845; VIII, 3402-3404; Nov. 2, 2009,
    p. _), and no appeal may be taken from the Speaker's denial of
    recognition (II, 1425).

    Sec. 888. Individual and committee motions to suspend the
    rules.

        Authorization by a committee is not required for the Speaker to
    recognize for a motion to suspend the rules (VIII, 3410), including a
    motion to suspend the rules and pass a measure ``as amended'' (June 22,
    1992, p. 15617).

    [[Page 672]]

      Before the 93d Congress, the rule gave to individuals preference on
    the first Monday of the month for making motions to suspend the rules,
    and preference on the third Mondays for committees to make the motion
    (V, 6790). If on a committee day an individual motion was made and
    seconded, it was then too late to make a point of order (V, 6809). In
    rare instances, under earlier House practice, the Speaker called the
    committees in regular order for motions to suspend the rules, but this
    method was not required (V, 6810, 6811). The earlier practice also
    required a motion to be formally and specifically authorized by a
    committee (V, 6805-6807), including specific authorization to include an
    amendment (V, 6812); but after the motion was seconded and debate had
    begun it was too late to raise a question as to the authorization (V,
    6808). The committee could not present a bill that had not been referred
    to it (V, 6813) or was not within its jurisdiction (V, 6848).

    Sec. 889. The second of the motion to suspend the
    rules.

      Before  the 102d Congress, certain motions to suspend the rules
    were required to be seconded, if demanded, by a majority by tellers, but
    this requirement was eliminated from the rule (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1991,
    p. 39). The requirement for a second was adopted in 1874, was rescinded
    two years later, but was again adopted in 1880. The object of it was to
    prevent consumption of the time of the House by forcing consideration of
    undesirable propositions (V, 6797). The requirement (formerly clause 2
    of rule XXVII) was amended in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15,
    1979, pp. 7-16) so that a second was not required where printed copies
    of the proposed measure were available. The constitutional right of a
    Member to demand the yeas and nays, or the right of a Member under
    clause 1(b) of rule XX to demand a recorded vote, did not exist on the
    question of ordering a second under the former clause 2 of rule XXVII,
    which only permitted the ordering of a second by tellers if a quorum was
    present (V, 6032-6036; VIII, 3109; Dec. 16, 1981, p. 31851). The fact
    that a majority of the Members of the House did not pass between the
    tellers on the question of ordering a second did not conclusively show
    that a quorum was not present in the Chamber, and the Speaker could
    count the House to determine whether a quorum was actually present (Dec.
    16, 1981, p. 31851). However, where a quorum failed on the vote for a
    second, under clause 6 of rule XX the yeas and nays were ordered (IV,
    3053-3055; Dec. 21, 1973, pp. 43251-63).

    Sec. 889a. Withdrawal of motion.

      A  motion to suspend the
    rules may be withdrawn at any time before the Chair puts the question
    and a voice vote is taken thereon (V, 6840, 6844; VIII, 3405, 3419). The
    motion may be withdrawn by unanimous consent, even after the Speaker has
    put the question on its adoption and postponed further proceedings
    (Deschler, ch 21 Sec. 13.23).

    Sec. 890. Dilatory motions pending motions to suspend
    rules.

      (b)  Pending a motion that the House suspend the rules, the Speaker
    may entertain one motion that the House adjourn but may not entertain
    any other motion until the vote is taken on the suspension.

    [[Page 673]]

    adjourn has been acted on, a quorum has failed,
    another motion to adjourn has been admitted (V, 5744-5746).

      This provision (formerly clause 8 of rule XVI) was adopted in 1868 (V,
    5743), and amended in 1911 (VIII, 2823). A technical change was effected
    in the 110th Congress (sec. 505(c), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 2007, p. 19
    (adopted Jan. 5, 2007)). A motion for a recess (V, 5748-5751) and for a
    call of the House when there was no doubt of the presence of a quorum
    (V, 5747) were held to be dilatory motions within the meaning of the
    rule. But where a motion to suspend the rules has been made and, after
    one motion to

    Sec. 891. The 40 minutes of debate on motion to suspend
    the rules.

      (c)  A motion that the House suspend the rules is debatable for
    40 minutes, one-half in favor of the motion and one-half in opposition
    thereto.

      This provision (formerly clause 2 of rule XXVII) was adopted in 1880
    (V, 6821). It was amended and redesignated from clause 3 to clause 2 of
    rule XXVII in the 102d Congress to conform to the repeal of the former
    clause 2, relating to the requirement of a second (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3,
    1991, p. 39). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th
    Congress, this provision was found in former clause 2 of rule XXVII.
    Former clause 2 consisted of paragraph (b) and another provision
    currently found in clause 1(a) of rule XIX permitting 40 minutes debate
    on an otherwise debatable question on which the previous question has
    been ordered without debate (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). Before the
    adoption of this provision in 1880 (V, 6821) the motion to suspend the
    rules was not debatable (V, 5405, 6820). The 40 minutes of debate is
    divided between the mover and a Member opposed to the bill, unless it
    develops that the mover is opposed to the bill, in which event some
    Member in favor is recognized for debate (VIII, 3416; Oct. 5, 2004, pp.
    20850-52, 20862). When the mover and the opponent divide their time with
    others, the practice as to alternation of recognitions is not insisted
    on so rigidly as in other debate (II, 1442). Debate should be confined
    to the object of the motion and may not range to the merits of a bill
    not scheduled for suspension on that day (Nov. 23, 1991, p. 34189).

      Where recognition for the 20 minutes in opposition is contested, the
    Speaker will accord priority first on the basis of true opposition, then
    on the basis of committee membership, and only then on the basis of
    party affiliation, the latter preference inuring to the minority party
    (VIII, 3415; Nov. 18, 1991, p. 32510). The Chair will not examine the
    degree of opposition to the motion by a member of the committee who
    seeks the time in opposition (Aug. 3, 1999, p. 19275). Any challenge to
    the Member recognized to control the time in opposition to the motion
    must be made when the time is allocated by the Chair (May 15, 1984, p.
    12215; Speaker Wright, June 2, 1987, p. 14223).

    [[Page 674]]

    Discharge motions, second and fourth Mondays
      This paragraph formerly included a provision dealing with the
    Speaker's authority to postpone further proceedings on motions to
    suspend the rules. It was added in the 93d Congress (H. Res. 998, Apr.
    9, 1974, pp. 10195-99), amended in the 95th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 4,
    1977, pp. 53-70), and amended further in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7-16). It was deleted entirely in the 97th Congress
    (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113) when all of the Speaker's
    postponing authorities were consolidated into clause 5 of rule I
    (current clause 8 of rule XX).

    892. Motion to discharge a committee.

      2. (a)  Motions to
    discharge committees shall be in order on the second and fourth Mondays
    of a month.

      (b)(1) A Member may present to the Clerk a motion in writing to
    discharge--

          (A) a committee from consideration of a public bill or public
    resolution that has been referred to it for 30 legislative days; or

          (B) the Committee on Rules from consideration of a resolution that
    has been referred to it for seven legislative days and that proposes a
    special order of business for the consideration of a public bill or
    public resolution that has been reported by a standing committee or has
    been referred to a standing committee for 30 legislative days.

      (2) Only one motion may be presented for a bill or resolution. A
    Member may not file a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from
    consideration of a resolution providing for the consideration of more
    than one public bill or public resolution or admitting or effecting a
    nongermane amendment to a public bill or public resolution.

    [[Page 675]]

    public record, causing the
    names of the Members who have signed a discharge motion during a week to
    be published in a portion of the Congressional Record designated for
    that purpose on the last legislative day of the week and making
    cumulative lists of such names available each day for public inspection
    in an appropriate office of the House. The Clerk shall devise a means
    for making such lists available to offices of the House and to the
    public in electronic form. When a majority of the total membership of
    the House shall have signed the motion, it shall be entered on the
    Journal, published with the signatories thereto in the Record, and
    referred to the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees.
      (c) A motion presented under paragraph (b) shall be placed in the
    custody of the Clerk, who shall arrange a convenient place for the
    signatures of Members. A signature may be withdrawn by a Member in
    writing at any time before a motion is entered on the Journal. The Clerk
    shall make the signatories a matter of

      (d)(1) On the second and fourth Mondays of a month (except during the
    last six days of a session of Congress), immediately after the Pledge of
    Allegiance to the Flag, a motion to discharge that has been on the
    calendar for at least seven legislative days shall be privileged if
    called up by a Member whose signature appears thereon. When such a
    motion is called up, the House shall proceed to its consideration under
    this paragraph without intervening motion except one motion to adjourn.
    Privileged motions to discharge shall have precedence in the order of
    their entry on the Journal.

    [[Page 676]]

    minutes, one-half in favor of the motion and one-half in
    opposition thereto.
      (2) When a motion to discharge is called up, the bill or resolution to
    which it relates shall be read by title only. The motion is debatable
    for 20

      (e)(1) If a motion prevails to discharge the Committee on Rules from
    consideration of a resolution, the House shall immediately consider the
    resolution, pending which the Speaker may entertain one motion that the
    House adjourn but may not entertain any other dilatory motion until the
    resolution has been disposed of. If the resolution is adopted, the House
    shall immediately proceed to its execution.

      (2) If a motion prevails to discharge a standing committee from
    consideration of a public bill or public resolution, a motion that the
    House proceed to the immediate consideration of such bill or resolution
    shall be privileged if offered by a Member whose signature appeared on
    the motion to discharge. The motion to proceed is not debatable. If the
    motion to proceed is adopted, the bill or resolution shall be considered
    immediately under the general rules of the House. If unfinished before
    adjournment of the day on which it is called up, the bill or resolution
    shall remain the unfinished business until it is disposed of. If the
    motion to proceed is rejected, the bill or resolution shall be referred
    to the appropriate calendar, where it shall have the same status as if
    the committee from which it was discharged had duly reported it to the
    House.

    [[Page 677]]

      (f)(1) When a motion to discharge originated under this clause has
    once been acted on by the House, it shall not be in order to entertain
    during the same session of Congress--

          (A) a motion to discharge a committee from consideration of that
    bill or resolution or of any other bill or resolution that, by relating
    in substance to or dealing with the same subject matter, is
    substantially the same; or

          (B) a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from
    consideration of a resolution providing a special order of business for
    the consideration of that bill or resolution or of any other bill or
    resolution that, by relating in substance to or dealing with the same
    subject matter, is substantially the same.

      (2) A motion to discharge on the Calendar of Motions to Discharge
    Committees that is rendered out of order under subparagraph (1) shall be
    stricken from that calendar.

      This clause (formerly clause 3 of rule XXVII) was adopted December 8,
    1931, and amended January 3, 1935 (VII, 1007). It displaced a rule
    providing for a motion to instruct a committee to report a public bill
    or resolution. The first discharge rule was adopted in the 61st Congress
    (June 17, 1910, pp. 8439, 8445). It was amended during the 62d Congress
    (Apr. 4-5, 1911, pp. 18, 80). It was further amended in the 62d Congress
    (H. Res. 407, Feb. 3, 1912, p. 1685), the 68th Congress (H. Res. 146,
    Jan. 18, 1924, p. 1143), and the 69th Congress (H. Res. 6, Dec. 7, 1925,
    p. 383). This provision was redesignated from clause 4 to clause 3 in
    the 102d Congress to conform to the repeal of the former clause 2 of
    rule XXVII, relating to the requirement of a second; it was at the same
    time amended to enable debate on a resolution discharged from the
    Committee on Rules (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1991, p. 39). Under the previous
    form of the rule, where the Committee on Rules was discharged from
    further consideration of a resolution the House immediately voted on
    adoption of the resolution (Speaker Rayburn, Jan. 24, 1944, p. 631).

    [[Page 678]]

    a motion to discharge a committee were not
    made public until the requisite number had signed the motion (VII, 1008;
    Apr. 12, 1934, p. 6489). In the 105th Congress the clause was amended to
    clarify that, to be a proper object of a discharge petition, a
    resolution providing a special rule must address the consideration of
    only one measure and must not propose to admit or effect a nongermane
    amendment (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, p. 121). A clerical correction was
    effected in the 107th Congress (sec. 2(x), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2001, p.
    26) and a technical correction was effected in the 110th Congress (sec.
    505(d), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 2007, p. 19 (adopted Jan. 5, 2007)). The
    112th Congress clarified that paragraph (c) does not require the
    disclosure of actual signatures (sec. 2(f), H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 2011, p.
    _).
      In the 103d Congress, after a successful petition under this clause
    placed on the calendar a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from
    further consideration of a resolution to require publication of the
    names of Members who had signed pending discharge petitions, the clause
    was so amended (H. Res. 134, Sept. 28, 1993, p. 22698). In the 104th
    Congress the clause was amended to ensure the periodic publication of
    such names (sec. 219, H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 468). Before the 103d
    Congress signatures on

      The phrase ``a majority of the total membership of the House'' was
    construed to mean 218 Members (Speaker Byrns, Apr. 15, 1936, p. 5509),
    not including Delegates or the Resident Commissioner; and a Delegate or
    the Resident Commissioner may not sign a discharge petition even by
    unanimous consent (Oct. 1, 2003, p. 23853). The rule does not authorize
    signature of discharge motions by proxy (VII, 1014). When a Member
    withdraws a signature from a discharge petition at any time before it
    garners 218 signatures and is entered on the Journal, the withdrawal is
    printed in the Record (Apr. 23, 1998, p. 6590).

      The rule does not apply to a bill that has been reported by a
    committee during the interval between the placing of a motion to
    discharge on the calendar and the day when such motion is called up for
    action in the House (Apr. 23, 1934, p. 7156). The Committee on Rules may
    not be discharged from further consideration of a resolution providing
    for an investigating committee (Apr. 23, 1934, p. 7161).

      The death or resignation of a Member who has signed a motion does not
    invalidate the signature (May 31, 1934, p. 10159). It may be withdrawn
    by the Member's successor (Dec. 7, 1943, p. 10388; Jan. 17, 1946, p. 96;
    Mar. 5, 1946, p. 1968; July 30, 1946, pp. 10464, 10491; Mar. 2, 1948,
    pp. 1993, 2001; Jan. 16, 1950, p. 436). The seven days that the motion
    must be on the calendar before it may be called up begins to run as of
    the day the motion is placed on the calendar (Dec. 14, 1937, p. 1517). A
    discharge petition in the 102d Congress received the requisite number of
    signatures on the same day it was filed (May 20, 1992, p. 12222), and
    subsequently by unanimous consent the House dispensed with the motion to
    discharge and agreed to consider the object of the petition (a special
    order of business resolution) on a date certain under the same terms as
    if discharged by motion (June 4, 1992, p. 13618). In the 103d Congress a
    discharge petition also received the requisite number of signatures on
    the same day it was filed (Feb. 24, 1994, p. 2999). In the 107th
    Congress a petition received the requisite signatures to enable a motion
    to discharge a rule providing for the consideration of a measure to
    provide campaign finance reform (Jan. 24, 2002, pp. 145-56).

    [[Page 679]]

    being discharged, if opposed to the motion, has been
    recognized to control the 10 minutes in opposition (Aug. 10, 1970, p.
    27999).
      The right to close debate on a motion to discharge a committee is
    reserved to the proponent of the motion (VII, 1010a); and the chair of
    the committee

      Where a measure not requiring consideration in the Committee of the
    Whole House on the state of the Union is brought before the House by a
    successful motion to discharge, the Member moving its consideration is
    recognized in the House under the hour rule (Aug. 10, 1970, p. 28004).

      The point of order provided in clause 4 of rule XXI (formerly clause
    5(a) of rule XXI) does not apply to an appropriation in a bill taken
    away from a committee by the motion to discharge (VII, 1019a).

    Adverse report by the Committee on Rules, second and fourth Mondays
      Under Jefferson's Manual (Sec. 364, supra) a line of Members waiting
    to sign a discharge petition should proceed to the rostrum from the far
    right-hand aisle and should not stand between the Chair and Members
    engaging in debate (Oct. 24, 1997, p. 23293).

    893. Adverse report by Rules Committee.

      3. An  adverse
    report by the Committee on Rules on a resolution proposing a special
    order of business for the consideration of a public bill or public joint
    resolution may be called up under clause 6(e) of rule XIII as a
    privileged question by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner on a
    day when it is in order to consider a motion to discharge committees
    under clause 2.

    District of Columbia business, second and fourth Mondays
      This provision was initially adopted January 18, 1924, amended
    December 8, 1931 (VIII, 2268), January 3, 1949 (p. 16), January 3, 1951
    (p. 18), January 4, 1965 (p. 24) (inserting the so-called ``21-day
    rule''), January 10, 1967 (H. Res. 7, p. 28) (deleting the ``21-day
    rule'' in effect in the 89th Congress), January 3, 1975 (H. Res. 988,
    93d Cong., Oct. 8, 1974, p. 34470). Before the House recodified its
    rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found only in former
    clause 4(c) of rule XI. It is currently found in both this provision and
    clause 6(e) of rule XIII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

    [[Page 680]]

    business as may be called up by the Committee on Oversight
    and Government Reform after the disposition of motions to discharge
    committees and after the disposal of such business on the Speaker's
    table as requires reference only.

    894. District of Columbia.

      4.  The second and fourth Mondays
    of a month shall be set apart for the consideration of such District of
    Columbia

      The first rule allocating a fixed day for District of Columbia
    business was adopted in 1870. In 1890 the rule (formerly clause 8 of
    rule XXIV) was amended (IV, 3304). It was again amended December 8, 1931
    (VII, 872). In the 104th Congress it was amended to reflect that the
    jurisdiction of the former Committee on the District of Columbia had
    been subsumed within the amalgamated jurisdiction of the newly
    designated Committee on Government Reform and Oversight (and in the
    106th and 110th Congresses to reflect a change in the name of a
    committee) (sec. 202, H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 465; H. Res. 5, Jan.
    6, 1999, p. 47; sec. 215(f), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 2007, p. 19). Before the
    House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was
    found in former clause 8 of rule XXIV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

      The Committee on Government Reform and Oversight (now Oversight and
    Government Reform) may not, on a District day, call up a bill reported
    from another committee (IV, 3311). If certain of the committee's bills
    are on one of the calendars of the Committees of the Whole, a motion to
    go into committee to consider them is in order (IV, 3310). Bills
    reported from the District Committee (now Oversight and Government
    Reform) are not so privileged as to prevent their being taken up under
    call of committees on Wednesday (VII, 937). Business unfinished on one
    District day does not come up on the next unless called up (IV, 3307;
    VII, 879, 880). The question of consideration may not be demanded
    against District business generally, but may be demanded against any
    bill as it is presented (IV, 3308, 3309).

    [[Page 681]]

    Private Calendar, first and third Tuesdays
      On District days it is in order to go into the Committee of the Whole
    to consider revenue or general appropriation bills (VI, 716-718; VII,
    876, 1123). Consideration of conference reports is in order on District
    Monday (VIII, 3202). District of Columbia business is in order on the
    second and fourth Mondays of the month before or after other business
    (such as motions to suspend the rules), and the fact that the House has
    considered some District of Columbia business before motions to suspend
    the rules does not affect the eligibility of further such business after
    suspensions have been completed (Sept. 17, 1984, p. 25523).

    895. Interruption of the regular order on Tuesdays for
    consideration of the Private Calendar.

      5. (a)  On the first Tuesday of a
    month, the Speaker shall direct the Clerk to call the bills and
    resolutions on the Private Calendar after disposal of such business on
    the Speaker's table as requires reference only. If two or more Members,
    Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner object to the consideration of a
    bill or resolution so called, it shall be recommitted to the committee
    that reported it. No other business shall be in order before completion
    of the call of the Private Calendar on this day unless two-thirds of the
    Members voting, a quorum being present, agree to a motion that the House
    dispense with the call.

    [[Page 682]]

      (b)(1) On the third Tuesday of a month, after the disposal of such
    business on the Speaker's table as requires reference only, the Speaker
    may direct the Clerk to call the bills and resolutions on the Private
    Calendar. Preference shall be given to omnibus bills containing the
    texts of bills or resolutions that have previously been objected to on a
    call of the Private Calendar. If two or more Members, Delegates, or the
    Resident Commissioner object to the consideration of a bill or
    resolution so called (other than an omnibus bill), it shall be
    recommitted to the committee that reported it. Two-thirds of the Members
    voting, a quorum being present, may adopt a motion that the House
    dispense with the call on this day.

      (2) Omnibus bills shall be read for amendment by paragraph. No
    amendment shall be in order except to strike or to reduce amounts of
    money or to provide limitations. An item or matter stricken from an
    omnibus bill may not thereafter during the same session of Congress be
    included in an omnibus bill. Upon passage such an omnibus bill shall be
    resolved into the several bills and resolutions of which it is composed.
    The several bills and resolutions, with any amendments adopted by the
    House, shall be engrossed, when necessary, and otherwise considered as
    passed severally by the House as distinct bills and resolutions.

      (c) The Speaker may not entertain a reservation of the right to object
    to the consideration of a bill or resolution under this clause. A bill
    or resolution considered under this clause shall be considered in the
    House as in the Committee of the Whole. A motion to dispense with the
    call of the Private Calendar under this clause shall be privileged.
    Debate on such a motion shall be limited to five minutes in support and
    five minutes in opposition.

    [[Page 683]]

    1997, p. 11015; Nov. 17,
    2003, p. 29279). Clause 4 of rule XII prohibits consideration of certain
    private bills. Under former clause 6(e)(2) of rule XV (current clause
    7(b) of rule XX), the Speaker has discretion to recognize a Member to
    move a call of the House before the call of the Private Calendar (July
    8, 1987, p. 18972).

    Sec. 896. Tuesday as a day for private
    business.

      This  provision (formerly clause 6 of rule XXIV) was adopted in
    the 62d Congress in lieu of special orders under which pension and
    private business formerly had been considered. The rule was amended on
    April 23, 1932 (VII, 846) and was adopted in its present form on March
    27, 1935 (pp. 4480-89, 4538). When the House recodified its rules in the
    106th Congress, this provision was transferred from former clause 6 of
    rule XXIV and the archaic reference to the ``Calendar of the Committee
    of the Whole House'' was changed to the ``Private Calendar'' (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). A Member serving as an ``official objector'' for
    the Private Calendar has periodically included in the Record an
    explanation of how bills on the Private Calendar are considered (see,
    e.g., Dec. 5, 1995, p. 35354; June 17,

    Sec. 897. Methods of considering omnibus
    bills.

      During the  consideration of omnibus bills the Chair declines to recognize
    Members for unanimous-consent requests to address the House (May 7,
    1935, p. 7100); motions to strike the last word are not in order, and
    requests for extension of time under the five-minute rule are not
    entertained (Speaker Byrns, Mar. 17, 1936, pp. 3890, 3894).

      An omnibus private bill is normally passed over by the Clerk when the
    Private Calendar is called on the first Tuesday of the month, but the
    House may prescribe, by special order, that such omnibus bills shall be
    passed over (June 27, 1968, p. 19106). During the consideration of the
    First Omnibus Bill of 1968, seven roll calls occurred and seven of the
    15 bills carried therein were stricken by motion (Sept. 17, 1968, pp.
    27165-84). Amendments to the bill were strictly limited by the rule to
    those striking or reducing amounts of money carried in the bill or to
    provide limitations, and debate on those permissible motions was under
    the five-minute rule. After the passage of an omnibus bill, it is
    resolved into the various private bills of which it is composed and each
    is engrossed and messaged to the Senate as if individually passed; thus
    it is possible, after passage of the omnibus bill, to lay on the table a
    private House or Senate bill that was included therein (by unanimous
    consent) (Sept. 17, 1968, p. 27184).

      On the third Tuesday of the month, the calendar is not called unless
    the Speaker so directs (Oct. 16, 1990, p. 29646); and in those cases,
    omnibus bills on the Calendar are called before individual bills thereon
    (Feb. 17, 1970, pp. 3605-13). A motion to dispense with the call of the
    Private Calendar on the third Tuesday of each month is likewise in order
    (provided that the Chair has not exercised discretionary authority (Nov.
    17, 1981, p. 27770 (sustained by tabling of appeal)) to dispense with
    the call).

    Sec. 898. Former Corrections Calendar.

      For the  former
    Corrections Calendar rule, see Sec. 898 of the House Rules and Manual
    for the 111th Congress (H. Doc. 110-162).

    Calendar Call of Committees, Wednesdays

    Sec. 899. Former Consent Calendar.

      For the  former Consent
    Calendar rule, see Sec. 899 of the House Rules and Manual for the 111th
    Congress (H. Doc. 110-162).

    [[Page 684]]

    (except as provided by clause 4 of rule XIV)
    whose chair, or other member authorized by the committee, has announced
    to the House a request for such call on the preceding legislative day.

    900. Calendar Wednesday business.

      6. (a)  On Wednesday of
    each week, business shall not be in order before completion of the call
    of those committees

      (b) A bill or resolution on either the House or the Union Calendar,
    except bills or resolutions that are privileged under the Rules of the
    House, may be called under this clause. A bill or resolution called up
    from the Union Calendar shall be considered in the Committee of the
    Whole House on the state of the Union without motion, subject to clause
    3 of rule XVI. General debate on a measure considered under this clause
    shall be confined to the measure and may not exceed two hours equally
    divided between a proponent and an opponent.

      (c) This clause does not apply during the last two weeks of a session
    of Congress.

      This clause (formerly clause 7 of rule XXIV), was adopted March 1,
    1909, and amended March 15, 1909. The last sentence of paragraph (b)
    (first proviso of former clause 7 of rule XXIV) was adopted January 18,
    1916. The clause was rewritten in the 111th Congress to provide for
    Calendar Wednesday business from a committee only upon its request (sec.
    2(e), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. _). For a history of the clause as it
    existed before that Congress, and related precedents, see Sec. Sec. 900,
    901 of the House Rules and Manual for the One Hundred Tenth Congress (H.
    Doc. 109-157).

    Sec. 901. Decisions on Calendar Wednesday.

      The rule  applies
    to unprivileged bills only, and when a bill otherwise unprivileged is
    given a privileged status by unanimous consent or by rule it is
    automatically rendered ineligible for consideration on Calendar
    Wednesday (VII, 932-935). The rule does not apply to amendments between
    the Houses, unreported bills, or Senate bills being held at the
    Speaker's desk (Mar. 12, 2008, p. _). House Calendar bills have no
    preference over Union Calendar bills (VII, 938).

    [[Page 685]]

    House on the state of the Union (VII, 939; Jan. 25, 1984, p. 358),
    and when a Union Calendar bill is the unfinished business the Speaker
    declares the House in Committee of the Whole without motion (VII, 940,
    942).
      When a bill on the Union Calendar is called up on Calendar Wednesday
    the House automatically resolves itself into the Committee of the Whole

      The question of consideration may be raised on a bill on the House
    Calendar on Calendar Wednesday, even after one Wednesday has been
    devoted to its consideration (VIII, 2447), and the question of
    consideration is properly raised on Union Calendar bills before
    automatically resolving into Committee of the Whole House on the state
    of the Union (VII, 952).

      During the 61st and 62d Congresses it was held that the call of
    committees rested where the call left off on the preceding day, whether
    the last call was on a Wednesday or during the morning hour on another
    day, thus making but one committee call under the two rules. But under
    the later practice there have been two distinct calls of committees, one
    under clause 4 of rule XIV (formerly clause 4 of rule XXIV), the morning
    hour, and another under Calendar Wednesday (VII, 944) when committees
    are called twice (VII, 924; Mar. 12, 2008, p. _).

      The same rule of debate applies to House Calendar bills called up on
    Calendar Wednesday as on other days, and the Member in charge of the
    bill may move the previous question at any time (VII, 955).

      The previous question having been ordered on a bill on Calendar
    Wednesday, the bill becomes the unfinished business on Thursday (VII,
    895, 967).

      It is in order to consider a vetoed bill on Calendar Wednesday,
    because such a question is privileged under the Constitution (VII, 912),
    but a bill privileged by reason of the Rules of the House cannot be
    called up on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 932); for example, a general
    appropriation bill (VII, 904), or a bill under consideration by reason
    of a special order, unless the special order expressly sets aside
    Calendar Wednesday (VII, 773), or a conference report (VII, 899). A
    motion to reconsider an action taken on a bill on Tuesday may be
    entered, but may not be considered on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 905).
    Privileged bills may be reported but not considered on Calendar
    Wednesday (VII, 907), except by unanimous consent (Jan. 25, 1984, p.
    357). The Speaker has entertained a unanimous-consent request for
    business (to send a bill to conference) (Mar. 28, 1984, p. 6869) and for
    one-minute speeches (Mar. 21, 1984, pp. 6187, 6188; May 7, 2008, p. _)
    before the call of committees on Calendar Wednesday. District of
    Columbia business is eligible for consideration on Calendar Wednesday
    (VII, 937). A motion to adjourn (May 7, 2008, p. _) and the
    administration of the oath (May 7, 2008, p. _; VI, 22) may interrupt the
    call of committees. Once Calendar Wednesday proceedings are completed,
    other business may be conducted (VII, 921).

      It has been held that if no Member opposed to the bill desires to
    claim the hour specified in the rule for general debate against the
    bill, the time may be claimed by a Member who is in favor of the bill
    (VII, 962), but this principle has been questioned (VII, 961).

    [[Page 686]]

    measures approved by the committee and to take such
    necessary steps to bring the matter to a vote, is sufficient authority
    for the chair to call up a properly-noticed bill on Calendar Wednesday,
    but any other committee member must obtain specific authority of the
    committee to call up a reported bill on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 928,
    929; Feb. 22, 1950, p. 2162; Feb. 1, 1984, p. 1193; Sept. 12, 1984, p.
    25100; Apr. 18, 2007, p. 9201). Before the Legislative Reorganization
    Act of 1946 and the subsequent adoption of former clause 2(l)(1)(A) of
    rule XI, authority to call up a bill on Calendar Wednesday must have
    been given to its chair by a committee (IV, 3127).

      Clause 2(b) of rule XIII (formerly clause 2(l)(1) of rule XI),
    requiring the chair of each committee to report or cause to be reported
    promptly