H.J.Res.4 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that debate upon legislation pending before the Senate may not be brought to a close without the concurrence of a minimum of three-fifths of the Senators. (119th Congress)
Summary
H.J.Res. 4 proposes a constitutional amendment that would require a minimum of three-fifths of the Senators to agree to end debate on most legislation. This would change the current rules, which allow for a simple majority (51 votes) to invoke cloture and end debate, potentially leading to more gridlock. The resolution specifically excludes Presidential nominations from this new requirement, leaving the existing cloture rules in place for those.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this amendment, if ratified, would be to make it more difficult to end debate in the Senate. This could lead to increased filibustering and make it harder for the Senate to pass legislation. The exception for Presidential nominations suggests a desire to maintain the existing process for confirming executive and judicial appointments.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially ensures more thorough debate on legislation.
- Could lead to more bipartisan compromise as a larger consensus would be needed to pass legislation.
- May prevent the passage of legislation that is not widely supported.
- Could empower individual senators to have a greater voice in the legislative process.
- Might force more negotiation and collaboration between parties.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased gridlock and difficulty in passing legislation.
- Empowerment of a minority of senators to block the will of the majority.
- Potential for increased use of the filibuster.
- Could make it more difficult to respond to national emergencies or pressing issues.
- May lead to government shutdowns or other crises due to legislative inaction.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution itself is a constitutional amendment, and thus aligns with the process outlined in Article V of the Constitution, which details how amendments can be proposed and ratified. The proposed amendment alters the internal rules of the Senate, which is generally within the purview of each house of Congress, as per Article I, Section 5, which states that "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings."
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).