Order Code 98-142 GOV
Updated November 9, 2004
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Days Reserved for Special Business
in the House
James V. Saturno
Specialist on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
As presented in the following table and described below, several provisions in the
rules of the House provide for certain types of business to be privileged for consideration
on specified days, some under special procedures. For more information on legislative
process, see [http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml].
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Every Monday:
Every Tuesday:
Every Wednesday:
Motions to suspend the rules
Motions to suspend the rules
Call of Committees under the
Calendar Wednesday
procedure
First and Third Tuesdays:
Consideration of measures on
the Private Calendar
Second and Fourth Mondays:
Second and Fourth Tuesdays:
Motions to discharge
Consideration of measures on
committees
the Corrections Calendar
Consideration of District of
Columbia business
! Motions to suspend the rules are in order every Monday and Tuesday
(Rule XV, Clause 1). A suspension motion may be debated for 40
minutes (equally divided between a proponent and opponent), may not
be amended from the floor, and must pass by a vote of two-thirds of
those present and voting. In addition, the suspension procedure
effectively waives all rules of the House that would prevent consideration
of a measure, so that no points of order may be raised against a measure
being considered under suspension. House rules place no formal
restrictions on the types of measures that may be considered under
suspension, but party rules effectively restrict the procedure to use in
considering relatively noncontroversial measures.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
! Motions to discharge committees (for measures that have been placed
on the Discharge Calendar after securing signatures from a majority of
Representatives (218 with no vacancies) on a discharge petition) are in
order on the second and fourth Mondays of each month (Rule XV,
Clause 2). If a discharge motion is successful, the measure may be
considered in the House or the Committee of the Whole, as appropriate.
! Consideration of District of Columbia business (for measures on either
the House or Union Calendar) is privileged on the second and fourth
Mondays of each month (Rule XV, Clause 4), and could occur in the
House or the Committee of the Whole, as appropriate. This privilege is
rarely used in modern practice.
! Consideration of measures on the Private Calendar is privileged on the
first and third Tuesdays of each month (Rule XV, Clause 5). Private bills
are those of a private, rather than public, nature (i.e., they apply only to
specified individuals, corporations, or other entities). Measures called up
from the Private Calendar are normally passed by unanimous consent.
However, if two or more Members object to the measure, it is
recommitted to the committee that reported it. The Speaker is required
to direct the clerk to call measures on the Private Calendar on the first
Tuesday, but consideration on the third Tuesday is discretionary.
Consideration of measures on the Private Calendar may also be dispensed
with by two-thirds vote.
! Consideration of measures on the Corrections Calendar is privileged on
the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month (Rule XV, Clause 6). The
Corrections Calendar process is designed to expedite the House’s ability
to consider measures that would repeal or correct laws, rules, or
regulations considered to be obsolete, duplicative, burdensome, or too
costly. After a relevant measure has been reported from committee and
placed on the House or Union Calendar, it may be placed on the
Corrections Calendar by the Speaker following consultation with the
minority leader. Corrections Calendar measures are considered in the
House under the one-hour rule, with the previous question automatically
ordered, providing for a final vote at the end of the hour. No
amendments are in order except those recommended by the committee
of jurisdiction or offered by the chairman of the committee of jurisdiction
or his designee. A motion to recommit the measure to committee with
or without instructions is in order. A three-fifths vote is required for
passage.
! The Call of Committees under the Calendar Wednesday procedure is
privileged every Wednesday (Rule XV, Clause 7). Any measure not
otherwise privileged would be eligible for consideration in the House or
the Committee of the Whole, as appropriate, under this procedure.
However, under modern practice the procedure is routinely waived by
unanimous consent.

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