Suspension of Rules in the House: Measure Sponsorship by Party

CRS Report for Congress
Suspension of Rules in the House:
Measure Sponsorship by Party
Thomas P. Carr
Analyst in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Summary
From the 100th through the 105th Congresses (1987-1998), the House of
Representatives acted on measures through a motion to suspend the rules an average of
549 times per Congress. Measures so acted on were sponsored by Members of the
minority party, on average, 17.3% of the time (15.9% if sponsors of House measures
only are counted). Figures for the 106th through the 108th Congresses, are significantly
above these averages.
Measures Sponsored by Members of Each Party
Acted on by Suspension of the Rules in the House
During the past decade, the House of Representatives has made frequent use of its
procedure for acting expeditiously on measures through a motion to suspend the rules.
The procedure is regarded as well adapted for this purpose, because it limits debate to 40
minutes, permits no floor amendments, and requires two-thirds of Members present and
voting (a quorum being present) to pass the measure.1
The procedure is frequently used for measures not involving great complexity or
controversy. It is most commonly used for initial House action on measures, in the form
of a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill, or to suspend the rules and adopt a joint,
concurrent, or House resolution. Suspension of the rules is sometimes also used for
action to resolve differences with the Senate, in the form of a motion to suspend the rules
and concur with Senate amendments (either with or without further amendment) or,
occasionally, to suspend the rules and adopt a conference report. This report examines
all action by suspension of the rules, whether for initial passage or final action. It also
includes all motions to suspend the rules, whether or not the motions were adopted.


1 For a fuller explanation of this procedure and its use, see CRS Report 98-796, Suspension of the
Rules in the House of Representatives, by Thomas P. Carr.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

The two tables that follow present data on the number of times measures were acted
on by suspension of the rules in the House of Representatives during the 100th through the
108th Congress. Table 1 provides the number and percent of such measures originally
sponsored by members of each party. It includes action on both House and Senate
measures, with Senate measures counted under the party of their Senate sponsor. Table
2 offers similar information for only those measures introduced by House Members. The
data for the 100th through the 105th Congresses were obtained through the legislative2thth
status data bases maintained by LEGI-SLATE. Data for the 106 through the 108
Congresses were compiled using the Legislative Information System (LIS).
Table 1. Motions to Suspend the Rules in the House,
by Party of Sponsor, 1987-2003
Measure Sponsored by a
Congress TotalDemocratRepublican
and (Years)
Num b e r Percent Num b e r Percent
100 (1987-1988)51283.410216.6614
101 (1989-1990)46880.311519.7583
102 (1991-1992)51383.410216.6615
103 (1993-1994)41288.2 5511.8467
104 (1995-1996) 6917.233282.8401
105 (1997-1998)12620.449179.6617
106 (1999-2000)20723.268676.8893
107 (2001-2002)15422.553177.5685
108 (2003-2004) 27329.565170.5924
Source: LEGI-SLATE data base 100th -105th; Legislative Information System (LIS) 106th-108th.
a. Independents are included with the party from which they receive their Committee assignments.


2 The LEGI-SLATE database ceased to be maintained in Sept. 1999.

Table 2. Motions to Suspend the Rules in the House,
by Party of Sponsor, 1987-2003 (House Measures Only)
Measure Sponsored by a
Congress TotalDemocratRepublican
and (Years)
Num b e r Percent Num b e r Percent
100 (1987-1988)43084.0 8216.0512
101 (1989-1990)42083.5 8316.5503
102 (1991-1992)45685.4 7814.6534
103 (1993-1994)36990.4 39 9.6408
104 (1995-1996) 6417.330682.7370
105 (1997-1998) 10620.640979.4515
106 (1999-2000)17723.856676.2743
107 (2001-2002)1332150179634
108 (2003-2004 )24230.056470.0806
Source: LEGI-SLATE data base 100th -105th; Legislative Information System (LIS) 106th -108th .
a. Independents are included with the party from which they receive their Committee assignments.
[Note: Previous versions of this report were prepared by Faye M. Bullock, Technical
Information Specialist and Richard S. Beth, Specialist in the Legislative Process,
Government and Finance Division; and Jennifer Manning, Senior Research Librarian,
Information Research Division.]