Cloture: Its Effect on Senate Proceedings (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised May 19, 2008 |
| Report Number |
98-780 |
| Authors |
Walter J. Oleszek, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
-
Premium Revised Dec. 21, 2006 (2 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised March 7, 2005 (2 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium June 10, 2003 (2 pages, $24.95)
add
|
Summary:
Long known for its emphasis on lengthy deliberation, the Senate in most circumstances allows its Members to debate issues for as long as they want. Further, the Senate has few ways either to limit the duration of debates or to bring filibusters (extended "talkathons") to an end. For instance, a Senator may offer a non-debatable motion to table (or kill) an amendment or he or she might ask unanimous consent to restrict debate on pending matters. The Senate has one formal ruleâRule XXIIâfor imposing limits on the further consideration of an issue. Called the cloture rule (for closure of debate), Rule XXII became part of the Senate's rulebook in 1917 and has been amended several times since.
Under its current formulation, Rule XXII requires a cloture petition (signed by 16 Senators) to be presented to the Senate. Two days later, and one hour after the Senate convenes, the presiding officer is required to order a live quorum call (often waived by unanimous consent) and, after its completion, to put this question to the membership: "Is it the sense of the Senate that debate shall be brought to a close?" If three-fifths of the entire Senate membership (60 of 100) votes in the affirmative, cloture is invoked and the Senate is subject to post-cloture procedures that will eventually end the debate and bring the clotured question (a bill, amendment, or motion, for example) to a vote. (To end debate on a measure or motion to amend Senate rules requires approval by two-thirds of the Senators present and voting.)
