Definition
A procedural mechanism to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote when the committee chair refuses to act. It's the legislative equivalent of going over your boss's head to their boss.
Example Usage
Frustrated representatives filed a discharge petition to bypass the Judiciary Committee chair and bring immigration reform to a floor vote.
Origin
Formalized in U.S. House rules in 1910 as a check on committee chair power during the progressive era reforms.
Fun Fact
Discharge petitions require 218 signatures in the House (a majority) and are rarely successful—only about 5% ever result in bills becoming law.
Source: U.S. House of Representatives procedural rules
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “discharged petition” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator