Closed Rule

Written By Jonathan Milner

Definition

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments. An open rule, on the other hand, permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill. A bill's status as open or closed is decided upon by the House Rules Committee. Because the House Republican majority had imposed a closed rule on the recent pet chicken safety bill, once the bill had left the agriculture committee, the Democrats were not allowed to add amendments about the wearing of HAZMAT suits when petting chickens. After that, the Democratic party had a going out of business sale.

Example

 
 

Questions

  1. What is a closed rule?

  2. How is a closed rule different from an open rule?

  3. Describe an instance when a House Speaker would want to impose a closed rule.

  4. Do they have closed rules in the Senate?

  5. How do House closed rules affect the speed of the lawmaking process?

  6. Who decides if a bill is open or closed?

  7. What is one advantage to the majority party in declaring a bill closed?

  8. Does the legislative process seem mostly transparent, open, and democratic?

  9. About what portion of bills in the most recent congresses have been closed rule bills?

  10. Use closed rule in a sentence that will make your family proud and demonstrates that you actually know what it means.

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw closed rule. Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

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Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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