So now the H.R. has its own little filibuster-type foolishness? This is the first I've ever heard of this rule. Too bad it was never invoked when these campaign-finance speech rationing laws were enacted in the first place.
See also:Two-thirds Votes
Under the Constitution or by House rule, a two-thirds vote is expressly required in the House on:
- Amendment to the Constitution. U.S. Const. art. V; Manual Sec. 190.
- Passage of a bill over a veto. U.S. Const. art. I Sec. 7; Manual Sec. 104.
- Dispensing with Calendar Wednesday. Rule XV clause 7; Manual Sec. 900.
- Dispensing with the call of the Private Calendar. Rule XV clause 5; Manual Sec. 895.
- Same-day consideration of reports from the Committee on Rules. Rule XIII clause 6; Manual Sec. 857.
- Suspension of the rules. Rule XV clause 1; Manual Sec. 885.
- Expulsion of a Member. U.S. Const. art. I Sec. 5; Manual Sec. 62.
- Removal of political disabilities. U.S. Const. Amendment XIV Sec. 3; Manual Sec. 230.
A two-thirds vote means two-thirds of those voting, a quorum being present, and not two-thirds of the entire membership. Deschler-Brown Ch 30 Sec. 5. Such a vote requires an affirmative vote by two-thirds of those Members actually voting; Members who indicate only that they are ``present'' are not counted in determining the two-thirds figure. Deschler-Brown Ch 30 Sec. 5.2. This method of computing a two-thirds vote has been applied to votes on passage of a constitutional amendment (5 Hinds Sec. 7027; 8 Cannon Sec. 3503), to votes on the passage of a bill over the President's veto (7 Cannon Sec. 1111), and to votes on a motion to suspend the rules (Deschler-Brown Ch 30 Sec. 5.2).
A Guide to the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of the House
Chapter 58 - Voting