Definition
An informal principle that the Speaker of the House will not bring legislation to a vote unless a majority of the majority party supports it, ensuring minority party votes aren't needed. Named after Dennis Hastert, who used it to kill bipartisan bills that most members actually supported.
Example Usage
Immigration reform died despite having enough total votes to pass because it violated the Hastert Rule—most Republicans opposed it.
Origin
Named after Speaker Dennis Hastert (1999-2007), though the practice existed earlier
Fun Fact
The Hastert Rule isn't actually a rule—it's an informal norm frequently broken when politically convenient, including by Hastert himself
Source: Congressional leadership and procedural terminology
Related Terms
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