ȱ
Ž‹ŠŽȱŠ—ȱ˜’˜—œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ ˜žœŽȱ•˜˜›DZȱ
••˜ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ’–Žȱ
ž¢ȱŒ‘—Ž’Ž›ȱ
™ŽŒ’Š•’œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ˜—›Žœœȱ
Š›Œ‘ȱŘŖǰȱŘŖŖŝȱ
˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ
ŝȬśŝŖŖȱ
   ǯŒ›œǯ˜Ÿȱ
şŞȬŞŘŝȱ
ȱŽ™˜›ȱ˜›ȱ˜—›Žœœ
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Ž‹ŠŽȱŠ—ȱ˜’˜—œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ ˜žœŽȱ•˜˜›DZȱ••˜ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ’–Žȱ
ȱ
ž––Š›¢ȱ
One of the most defining aspects of consideration of measures in the House and Committee of the
Whole is that time is always controlled. There is virtually no circumstance under which a
Member speaks on the floor without first knowing in advance how long has been allocated.
Ranging from one minute or less to 60 minutes, debate limitations exist on all aspects of floor
consideration.
This report, one of a series on legislative process, addresses time limitations associated with
selected House floor procedures. Actions that are not debatable, such as the motion to adjourn and
the motion to rise, are not included.

˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

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Ž‹ŠŽȱŠ—ȱ˜’˜—œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ ˜žœŽȱ•˜˜›DZȱ••˜ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ’–Žȱ
ȱ
˜—Ž—œȱ
Š‹•Žœȱ
Table 1. Debate Limitations in the House and Committee of the Whole ........................................ 1

˜—ŠŒœȱ
Author Contact Information ............................................................................................................ 2


˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ

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Ž‹ŠŽȱŠ—ȱ˜’˜—œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ ˜žœŽȱ•˜˜›DZȱ••˜ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ’–Žȱ
ȱ
ne of the most defining aspects of consideration of measures in the House and Committee
of the Whole is that time is always controlled. There is virtually no circumstance under
O which a Member speaks on the floor without first knowing in advance how long has been
allocated. Ranging from one minute or less to 60 minutes, debate limitations exist on all aspects
of floor consideration.
This report, one of a series on legislative process, addresses time limitations associated with
selected House floor procedures. Actions that are not debatable, such as the motion to adjourn and
the motion to rise, are not included.
Table 1. Debate Limitations in the House and Commit ee of the Whole
Parliamentary Situation
Time Allocated
Comments
Suspension of the rules
40 minutes maximum, equally
If ranking committee Member supports the
divided between majority and
measure, another Member who opposes it
minority Members
can claim control of half time
Special rule
60 minutes maximum, unless
30 minutes customarily yielded to minority
previous question not ordered
floor manager for debate only
Motion to discharge a measure
20 minutes, equally divided

between proponent and
opponent
Conference report
60 minutes, equally divided
If minority floor manager supports the
between proponent and
report, another Member may claim time,
opponent
dividing it 20 minutes each for those two
and the majority floor manager
Motion to instruct conferees
60 minutes, equally divided
Prerogative of minority party Member; if
between proponent and
committee chair and ranking member
opponent
support the motion, another Member may
control one-third of time
Motion to recommit
10 minutes, unless majority floor Time equally divided between proponent
manager asks that time be
and opponent
extended to one hour
Amendments offered in
5 minutes, unless special rule
Time cannot be reserved
Committee of the Whole
allocates differently
(including pro forma
amendments)
Questions of personal privilege
60 minutes

Questions of privileges of the
60 minutes, equally divided

House
between proponent and
opponent
Special orders
5 minutes until midnight; 60
Total time limited to 2 hours for majority
minutes until midnight on
and minority
Tuesday, or midnight (whichever
comes first) on other days
Morning Hour debate
30 minutes per side; each

Member reserves up to 5
minutes
Point of order/Parliamentary
Members may be heard at
May be made in House or Committee of
inquiry
discretion of, and time controlled the Whole
by, presiding officer
˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ
ŗȱ

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Ž‹ŠŽȱŠ—ȱ˜’˜—œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ ˜žœŽȱ•˜˜›DZȱ••˜ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ’–Žȱ
ȱ


ž‘˜›ȱ˜—ŠŒȱ—˜›–Š’˜—ȱ

Judy Schneider

Specialist on the Congress
jschneider@crs.loc.gov, 7-8664




˜—›Žœœ’˜—Š•ȱŽœŽŠ›Œ‘ȱŽ›Ÿ’ŒŽȱ
Řȱ

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