A resolution amending rule XV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for consideration of a minimum number of amendments.

Bill: 114-sres-121
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-03-26
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Legislative rules and procedure

Senate
Latest action: action_date: 2015-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR 3/26/2015 S2053)

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-03-26
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Amends Rule XV (Amendments and Motions) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to make it in order in the Senate during the consideration of any bill, resolution, or other amendable matter to consider at least five germane amendments offered each by the majority and by the minority. </p> <p>Specifies a general procedure for the offering of these amendments if a motion to invoke cloture is presented to the Senate before either the majority or the minority has offered all five of its minimum number of amendments. </p> <p>Allows an exemption from the germaneness requirement for one amendment offered by a member of the majority and one amendment offered by a member of the minority. Specifies that an amendment that is exempted from the requirement may only be agreed to upon a vote of three-fifths of all Senators. </p> <p>Authorizes the majority leader and minority leader, by mutual agreement, to call up additional germane amendments under this rule in equal number by members of the majority and of the minority. </p> <p>Limits consideration of such an amendment by the Senate to two hours, divided equally between the majority and the minority.</p>

tv_txt: III 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 121 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 Amending rule XV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for consideration of a minimum number of amendments.

1. Guaranteed amendments Rule XV of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following: 6. (a) During the consideration of any bill, resolution, or other amendable matter, it shall be in order for the Senate to consider not less than 5 amendments offered by members of the majority and not less than 5 amendments offered by members of the minority. If a motion to invoke cloture under the provisions of rule XXII is presented to the Senate, and fewer than the 5 amendments guaranteed to each of the minority and the majority under this paragraph have been considered, then, notwithstanding the status of any pending amendments, it shall be in order for as many members of the majority as appropriate, and as many members of the minority as appropriate, to offer 1 amendment each, in alternating order, until in total 5 amendments offered by members of the majority and 5 amendments offered by members of the minority have been considered. (b) Amendments offered under this paragraph may only pertain to matter encompassed by the title of the bill, resolution, or other matter, except that 1 amendment offered by a member of the majority and 1 amendment offered by a member of the minority may be exempted from this requirement. An amendment exempted from this requirement shall only be agreed to upon an affirmative vote of three-fifths of Senators duly chosen and sworn. (c) The majority leader and minority leader may, by mutual agreement, call up additional amendments under the provisions of this paragraph. Such additional amendments shall be offered in equal number by members of the majority and members of the minority, and may only pertain to subject matter encompassed by the title of the bill, resolution, or other matter. (d) Consideration by the Senate of an amendment offered under the provisions of this paragraph shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, divided equally between the majority and the minority. .