Bill > SRes18

This resolution establishes a new procedural rule for the Senate requiring that legislation cannot be considered until a minimum waiting period has elapsed based on the length of the document. Specifically, the Senate must wait one session day for every 20 pages of a bill or measure, with an additional session day required for any remaining pages less than 20 pages long. Any Senator can raise a point of order to challenge consideration of legislation that does not comply with this waiting period, and such a point of order cannot be tabled. The rule can only be waived by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of Senate members, with up to 3 hours of debate equally divided between the Senator raising the point of order and the Senator seeking to waive it. The resolution explicitly grounds this procedural requirement in the constitutional authority of each congressional chamber to determine its own rules of proceedings, as outlined in Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution. The primary intent appears to be ensuring that Senators have sufficient time to read and understand legislation before voting.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/18/all-info