[22.3] STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE [22.3] shall, without debate, submit to the Senate by a yea-and-nay vote the question: "Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate shall be brought to a close?" And if that question shall be decided in the affirmative by three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn-except on a measure or motion to amend the Senate rules, in which case the necessary affirmative vote shall be two-thirds of the Senators present and voting '—then said measure, motion, or other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, shall be the unfinished business to the exclusion of all other business until disposed of. Thereafter no Senator shall be entitled to speak in all more than one hour on the measure, motion, or other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, the amendments thereto, and motions affecting the same, and it shall be the duty of the Presiding Officer to keep the time of each Senator who speaks. Except by unanimous consent, no amendment shall be proposed after the vote to bring the debate to a close, unless the same has been submitted in writing to the Journal Clerk prior to the end of the vote.2 No dilatory motion, or dilatory amendment, or amendment not germane shall be in order. Points of order, including questions of relevancy, and appeals from the decision of the Presiding Officer, shall be decided without debate. 3 3. The provisions of the last paragraph of rule VIII (prohibiting debate on motions made before 2 o'clock)1 shall not apply to any motion to proceed to the consideration of 1 As amended, S. Res. 4, 94-1, Mar. 7, 1975. 2 As amended, S. Res. 268, 94-2, Apr. 6, 1976. 3 Refers to second paragraph of rule VIII, which rule has since been amended by the addition of a third paragraph. 24 any motion, resolution, or proposal to change any of the Standing Rules of the Senate. When a bill or resolution is accompanied by a preamble, the question shall first be put on the bill or resolution and then on the preamble, which may be withdrawn by a mover before an amendment of the same, or ordering of the yeas and nays; or it may be laid on the table without prejudice to the bill or resolution, and shall be a final disposition of such preamble. same. RULE XXIV [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXVI. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES [24] 1. In the appointment of the standing committees, the [24.1] Senate, unless otherwise ordered, shall proceed by ballot to appoint severally the chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the other members necessary to complete the A majority of the whole number of votes given shall be necessary to the choice of a chairman of a standing committee, but a plurality of votes shall elect the other members thereof. All other committees shall be appointed by ballot, unless otherwise ordered, and a plurality of votes shall appoint. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI. 2. When a chairman of a committee shall resign or cease [24.2] to serve on a committee, and the Presiding Officer be authorized by the Senate to fill the vacancy in such committee, unless specially otherwise ordered, it shall be only to fill up the number of the committee. [25] [25.1] [25.1a] 1. The following standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each Congress, with leave to report by bill or otherwise on matters within their respective jurisdictions: (a) (1) Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating primarily to the following subjects: 1. Agricultural economics and research. 2. Agricultural extension services and experiment stations. 3. Agricultural production, marketing, and stabilization of prices. 4. Agriculture and agricultural commodities. 5. Animal industry and diseases. 6. Crop insurance and soil conservation. 7. Farm credit and farm security. 8. Food from fresh waters. 9. Food stamp programs. 10. Forestry, and forest reserves and wilderness areas other than those created from the public domain. 11. Home economics. 12. Human nutrition. 13. Inspection of livestock, meat, and agricultural products. 14. Pests and pesticides. 15. Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering. 1 Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 6 of rule XXV amended in entirety by the "Committee System Reorganization Amendments of 1977," S. Res. 4, 95-1, Feb. 4, 1977. 16. Rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds. 17. School nutrition programs. (2) Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to food, nutrition, and hunger, both in the United States and in foreign countries, and rural affairs, and report thereon from time to time. (b) Committee on Appropriations, to which committee [25.1b] shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects: 1. Appropriation of the revenue for the support of the Government, except as provided in subparagraph (e). 2. Rescission of appropriations contained in appropriation Acts (referred to in section 105 of title 1, United States Code). 3. Spending authority-The amount of new spending authority described in section 401(c)(2) (A) and (B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 provided in bills and resolutions referred to the committee under section 401 (b) (2) of that Act (but subject to the provisions of section 401(b) (3) of that Act). 4. Spending Authority-New advance spending authority described in section 401 (c) (2) (C) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 provided in bills and resolutions referred to the committee under section 401(b) (2) of that Act (but subject to the provisions of section 401(b)(3) of that Act). (c) (1) Committee on Armed Services, to which committee [25.1c] shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects: |