III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 120 

Modifying extended debate in the Senate to improve the legislative process. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 26, 2015 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. UDALL) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Modifying extended debate in the Senate to improve the 

legislative process. 

1 Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. EXTENDED DEBATE. 

3 Paragraph 2 of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 

4 the Senate is amended by striking the second undesig5 nated paragraph and inserting the following: 

6 ‘‘Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate shall 

7 be brought to a close? And unless that question shall be 

8 decided in the negative by one more than two-fifths of the 

9 Senators duly chosen and sworn (except on a measure or 

10 motion to amend the Senate rules, in which case the nec11 essary vote shall be two-thirds of the Senators present and 


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•SRES 120 IS 

1 voting in the affirmative, a quorum being present), then 

2 cloture has been invoked. 

3 ‘‘If that question is on disposition of a bill or joint 

4 resolution, a resolution or concurrent resolution, a sub5 stitute amendment for a bill or resolution, a motion with 

6 respect to amendments between the Houses, a conference 

7 report, or advice and consent to a nomination or treaty, 

8 and if such question shall be decided in the affirmative 

9 by a majority of Senators voting, a quorum being present, 

10 and in the negative by more than two-fifths of the Sen11 ators duly chosen and sworn (or in the affirmative by less 

12 than two-thirds of the Senators voting, a quorum being 

13 present, in the case of a measure or motion to amend the 

14 Senate rules), then it shall be in order for the Majority 

15 Leader (or his or her designee) to initiate a period of ex16 tended debate upon the measure, motion, or other matter 

17 pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, in 

18 relation to which the motion to close debate was offered, 

19 in which case the period of extended debate shall begin 

20 one hour later. 

21 ‘‘During a period of extended debate, such measure, 

22 motion, or other matter pending before the Senate, or the 

23 unfinished business, shall be the unfinished business to the 

24 exclusion of all other business, except on action or motion 

25 by the Majority Leader (or his or her designee). 


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1 ‘‘During a period of extended debate it shall not be 

2 in order for a Senator other than the Majority Leader (or 

3 his or her designee) to raise a question as to the presence 

4 of a quorum, except immediately prior to a vote or when 

5 it has been more than forty-eight hours since a quorum 

6 was demonstrated. If upon a roll call it shall be 

7 ascertained that a quorum is not present, then the Senate 

8 shall adjourn to a time previously decided by order of the 

9 Senate or, if no such time has been established, then to 

10 a time certain determined by the Majority Leader, after 

11 consultation with the Minority Leader. 

12 ‘‘During a period of extended debate a motion to ad13 journ or recess shall not be in order, unless made by the 

14 Majority Leader (or his or her designee) or if the absence 

15 of a quorum has been demonstrated. Notwithstanding 

16 paragraph 1 of rule XIX, there shall be no limit to the 

17 number of times a Senator may speak upon any question 

18 during a period of extended debate. 

19 ‘‘If, during the course of extended debate, the Pre20 siding Officer puts any question to a vote, the Majority 

21 Leader (or his or her designee) may postpone any such 

22 vote, which shall occur at a time determined by the Major23 ity Leader, after consultation with the Minority Leader, 

24 but not later than the time at which a quorum is next 

25 demonstrated. 


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1 ‘‘If at any time during a period of extended debate 

2 no Senator seeks recognition, then the Presiding Officer 

3 shall inquire as to whether any Senator seeks recognition. 

4 If no Senator seeks recognition, then the Presiding Officer 

5 shall again put the question as to bringing debate to a 

6 close (and the Majority Leader or his or her designee may 

7 postpone such vote in accordance with the preceding para8 graph), which shall be decided without further debate or 

9 intervening motion. If that question shall be decided in 

10 the affirmative by a majority of Senators voting, a quorum 

11 being present, then cloture has been invoked and the pe12 riod of extended debate has ended. If that question shall 

13 be decided in the negative by a majority of Senators vot14 ing, a quorum being present, then the period of extended 

15 debate has ended. 

16 ‘‘If cloture is invoked, then the measure, motion, 

17 other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished 

18 business, in relation to which the motion to close debate 

19 was offered, shall remain the unfinished business to the 

20 exclusion of all other business until disposed of.’’. 

Æ 


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