[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 600 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 600
To limit certain uses of the filibuster in the Senate to improve the
legislative process.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 12, 2014
Mr. Udall of New Mexico (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and
Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
To limit certain uses of the filibuster in the Senate to improve the
legislative process.
Resolved,
SECTION 1. MOTIONS TO PROCEED.
Paragraph 1 of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is
amended by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
``Other than a motion made during the first 2 hours of a new
legislative day as described in paragraph 2 of rule VIII, consideration
of a motion to proceed to the consideration of any debatable matter,
including debate on any debatable motion or appeal in connection
therewith, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, to be equally
divided between, and controlled by, the Majority Leader and the
Minority Leader or their designees. This paragraph shall not apply to
motions considered nondebatable by the Senate pursuant to rule or
precedent.''.
SEC. 2. EXTENDED DEBATE.
Paragraph 2 of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is
amended by striking the second undesignated paragraph and inserting the
following:
``Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate shall be brought to
a close? And if that question shall be decided in the affirmative by
three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn, except on a measure
or motion to amend the Senate rules, in which case the necessary
affirmative vote shall be two-thirds of the Senators voting, a quorum
being present, then cloture has been invoked.
``If that question is on disposition of a bill or joint resolution,
a resolution or concurrent resolution, a substitute amendment for a
bill or resolution, a motion with respect to amendments between the
Houses, a conference report, or advice and consent to a nomination or
treaty, and if such question shall be decided in the affirmative by a
majority of Senators voting, a quorum being present, but less than
three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn (or less than two-
thirds of the Senators voting, a quorum being present, in the case of a
measure or motion to amend the Senate rules), then it shall be in order
for the Majority Leader (or his or her designee) to initiate a period
of extended debate upon the measure, motion, or other matter pending
before the Senate, or the unfinished business, in relation to which the
motion to close debate was offered, in which case the period of
extended debate shall begin one hour later.
``During a period of extended debate, such measure, motion, or
other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business,
shall be the unfinished business to the exclusion of all other
business, except on action or motion by the Majority Leader (or his or
her designee).
``During a period of extended debate it shall not be in order for a
Senator other than the Majority Leader (or his or her designee) to
raise a question as to the presence of a quorum, except immediately
prior to a vote or when it has been more than forty-eight hours since a
quorum was demonstrated. If upon a roll call it shall be ascertained
that a quorum is not present, then the Senate shall adjourn to a time
previously decided by order of the Senate or, if no such time has been
established, then to a time certain determined by the Majority Leader,
after consultation with the Minority Leader.
``During a period of extended debate a motion to adjourn or recess
shall not be in order, unless made by the Majority Leader (or his or
her designee) or if the absence of a quorum has been demonstrated.
Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of rule XIX, there shall be no limit to the
number of times a Senator may speak upon any question during a period
of extended debate.
``If, during the course of extended debate, the Presiding Officer
puts any question to a vote, the Majority Leader (or his or her
designee) may postpone any such vote, which shall occur at a time
determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Minority
Leader, but not later than the time at which a quorum is next
demonstrated.
``If at any time during a period of extended debate no Senator
seeks recognition, then the Presiding Officer shall inquire as to
whether any Senator seeks recognition. If no Senator seeks recognition,
then the Presiding Officer shall again put the question as to bringing
debate to a close (and the Majority Leader or his or her designee may
postpone such vote in accordance with the preceding paragraph), which
shall be decided without further debate or intervening motion. If that
question shall be decided in the affirmative by a majority of Senators
voting, a quorum being present, then cloture has been invoked and the
period of extended debate has ended. If that question shall be decided
in the negative by a majority of Senators voting, a quorum being
present, then the period of extended debate has ended.
``If cloture is invoked, then the measure, motion, other matter
pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, in relation to
which the motion to close debate was offered, shall remain the
unfinished business to the exclusion of all other business until
disposed of.''.
SEC. 3. POST-CLOTURE DEBATE ON NOMINATIONS.
Paragraph 2 of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is
amended by striking ``After no more than thirty hours of consideration
of the measure, motion, or other matter on which cloture has been
invoked, the Senate shall proceed, without any further debate on any
question, to vote on'' in the fourth undesignated paragraph and
inserting ``After no more than 30 hours of consideration of the
measure, motion, or other matter on which cloture has been invoked,
except on the question of advice and consent to a nomination other than
a nomination to a position as Justice of the Supreme Court in which
case consideration shall be limited to 2 hours, the Senate shall
proceed, without any further debate on any question, to vote on''.
SEC. 4. CONFERENCE MOTIONS.
Rule XXVIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by--
(1) redesignating paragraphs 1 through 9 as paragraphs 2
through 10, respectively;
(2) redesignating any reference to paragraphs 1 through 9
as paragraphs 2 through 10, respectively; and
(3) inserting before paragraph 2, as redesignated, the
following:
``1. A nondivisible motion to disagree to a House amendment or
insist upon a Senate amendment, to request a committee of conference
with the House or to agree to a request by the House for a committee of
conference, and to authorize the Presiding Officer to appoint conferees
(or to appoint conferees), is in order and consideration of such a
motion, including consideration of any debatable motion or appeal in
connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours.''.
SEC. 5. RIGHT TO OFFER AMENDMENTS.
Paragraph 2 of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is
amended by inserting at the end the following:
``After debate has concluded under this paragraph but prior to
final disposition of the pending matter, the Majority Leader and the
Minority Leader may each offer not to exceed 3 amendments identified as
leadership amendments if they have been timely filed under this
paragraph and are germane to the matter being amended. Debate on a
leadership amendment shall be limited to 1 hour equally divided. A
leadership amendment may not be divided.''.
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