suspension of the rules

Definition

A House procedure for considering non-controversial bills with limited debate and no amendments, requiring two-thirds approval but bypassing normal parliamentary obstacles. It's the express checkout lane of legislation.

Example Usage

They passed the post office naming bill under suspension of the rules, because nobody wanted to spend three days debating optimal memorial practices.

Origin

House procedure established in the 19th century for expediting routine business

Fun Fact

Bills considered under suspension are supposed to be non-controversial, but parties increasingly use the procedure for messaging votes on partisan issues, hoping to catch opponents off-guard or force awkward votes.

Source: House of Representatives procedural guides and legislative operations manuals

Related Terms

Beginner

adjourn

The legislative equivalent of 'let's call it a day,' where lawmakers formally suspend proceedings until a specified future time—or indefinitely if they're really over it. This parliamentary procedure transforms heated debates into awkward silence as everyone shuffles out, usually right before something controversial was about to get voted on. It's how Congress officially decides they've had enough of each other's company for one day, week, or session.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

sovereignty

Supreme authority within a territory, recognizing no legal superior in domestic or international affairs. The political equivalent of 'I'm not touching you'—technically independent while still subject to economic reality and military power.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

unfunded mandate

When the federal government requires state or local governments to implement policies without providing money to do so. The political version of assigning homework without providing textbooks.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Beginner

seats

In politics, the coveted chairs of power representing electoral districts or legislative positions that politicians desperately want to warm with their ambitions. Each seat equals one voting member in a legislative body, making them the ultimate game of musical chairs where losing means unemployment. The currency of democratic representation and gerrymandering arguments.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

Earmark

A sneaky way to slip funding for your hometown's Museum of Lint into a defense spending bill. It's essentially hiding your grocery list inside someone else's term paper and hoping nobody reads the footnotes.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

sunshine law

Legislation requiring government meetings and records to be open to public scrutiny, because apparently politicians need to be legally forced to do their jobs in daylight. A radical concept that government should actually be visible to the governed.

🏛️ Government / Politics

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