IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 590 
Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 
Mr. MCCARTHY submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the 
table 
RESOLUTION 
Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 
Whereas at a press conference on September 24, 2019, 
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stated: ‘‘Therefore 
today, I’m announcing the House of Representatives is 
moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry.’’; 
Whereas House Practice states that: ‘‘Under the modern 
practice, an impeachment is normally instituted by the 
House by the adoption of a resolution calling for a com-
mittee investigation of charges against the officer in 
question.’’; 
Whereas in the past 25 years, the House of Representatives 
has moved forward with impeachment against a Federal 
officer three times, each initiated by an impeachment in-
quiry resolution approved by the full House, not by a uni-
lateral decree of the Speaker; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:39 Sep 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR590.LTH
HR590
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with BILLS
HRES 590 LTH 
Whereas, on May 12, 2009, the House approved H. Res. 424, 
authorizing and directing the Committee on the Judiciary 
to inquire whether the House should impeach Samuel B. 
Kent, a judge of the United States District Court for the 
Southern District of Texas; 
Whereas, on January 13, 2009, the House approved H. Res. 
15, authorizing and directing the Committee on the Judi-
ciary to inquire whether the House should impeach G. 
Thomas Porteous, a judge of the United States District 
Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; 
Whereas, on October 8, 1998, the House approved H. Res. 
581, authorizing and directing the Committee on the Ju-
diciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for 
the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton, President 
of the United States; 
Whereas the Committee Report to accompany H. Res. 581 
stated: ‘‘Because the issue of impeachment is of such 
overwhelming importance, the Committee decided that it 
must receive authorization from the full House before 
proceeding on any further course of action.’’; 
Whereas that report further stated: ‘‘Because impeachment is 
delegated solely to the House of Representatives by the 
Constitution, the full House of Representatives should be 
involved in critical decision making regarding various 
stages of impeachment.’’; 
Whereas the Speaker’s extraordinary decision to move for-
ward with an impeachment inquiry without any debate or 
vote on such a resolution by the full House undermines 
the voting privileges afforded to each Member and the 
constituents they represent; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:39 Sep 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR590.LTH
HR590
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with BILLS
HRES 590 LTH 
Whereas this unprecedented and politically motivated decision 
by Speaker Pelosi represents an abuse of power and 
brings discredit to the House of Representatives: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives dis-
approves of the actions of the Speaker of the House, Mrs. 
Pelosi of California, to initiate an impeachment inquiry 
against the duly elected President of the United States, 
Donald J. Trump. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:47 Sep 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR590.LTH
HR590
dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with BILLS