Parliamentary rules and floor motions in the House of Representatives.
All floor remarks, debate speeches, and motions must be addressed directly to the Presiding Officer (the Speaker, Speaker pro tempore, or the Chair in the Committee of the Whole). Representatives may not address the galleries or colleagues directly.
Representatives must always refer to fellow members in the third person through the Chair. Direct second-person address ('you', 'your bill') is strictly out of order on the chamber floor.
Representatives must formally yield back the balance of time to the Chair at the end of their speech. If a Representative ends their speech without yielding, the Chair automatically reclaims the remainder of their time as a point of order.
Procedural mechanisms used by representatives to shape legislation and control floor debate.
A motion to fast-track a bill by passing the legislation without a formal roll call vote.
No one else has called for unanimous consent already.
0 objections within the time limit. The bill passes.
Any single member may halt the request by objecting ("Mr. Speaker, I object").
A proposal to add, modify, or strike text on a bill. Under Germaneness Rules, the amendment must be closely related to the subject matter of the underlying bill.
The amendment must be seconded by another member.
Simple majority vote (50% + 1). The amendment is adopted.
Failure to achieve majority vote.
A motion to fast-track a bill to a vote.
The motion requires a second by another member.
Simple majority vote (50% + 1); debate ends and a vote begins.
Failure to achieve majority vote.
A motion to allocate time for debate on a bill.
Only the House Majority/Minority Leader may move to extend debate.
Simple majority vote (50% + 1); debate time on the bill is extended.
Failure to achieve majority vote.
A motion to suspend debate on a bill, effectively killing the bill without a vote.
Only the House Majority/Minority Leader may move to table.
Simple majority vote (50% + 1); the bill or amendment is failed.
Failure to achieve majority vote.
A motion to enforce House rules against violations. The Speaker rules on the validity of the point of order, subject to appeal by the full House.
A violation has occurred against the above rules.
Chair sustains the point of order.
Chair overrules the point of order.