House Vacancies: Proposals for Filling Them After the Death or Injury of Large Numbers of Members, 2005-2006 (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Aug. 9, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RS22067 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Sula P. Richardson and Paul Rundquist, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the anthrax incidents thathappened shortly thereafter, debate on how best to preserve an effective andrepresentative House of Representatives in time of crisis has continued. At issue are (1)how to quickly replace large numbers of Members who are killed or incapacitated in acatastrophic event without sacrificing a House kept close to the people; and (2) whatvehicle to use, i.e., whether to amend the constitution, enact new federal law, or modifyHouse rules. During the 109th Congress, the House has passed a measure requiringstates to hold expedited special elections in extraordinary circumstances twice - first(on March 3, 2005) as the Continuity in Representation Act of 2005 (H.R. 841), andlater (on June 22, 2005) as a provision (Title III) in the FY2006 legislative branchappropriations bill (H.R. 2985). The Senate took no action on H.R. 841 and passed(June 30, 2005) its version of H.R. 2985, which did not include the provision forexpedited special House elections in times of crisis. As adopted by both houses in lateJuly 2005, the conference report to H.R. 2985 (H.Rept. 109-189) included the"continuity in representation" provision. The President signed H.R. 2985 on August2, 2005 (P.L. 109-55). Three proposed constitutional amendments relating tocongressional succession or continuity of Congress (H.J.Res. 26, H.J.Res. 49, and S.J.Res. 6) have also been introduced and referred to committee.
