See also:Two-thirds Votes
Under the Constitution or by House rule, a two-thirds vote is expressly required in the House on:
- Amendment to the Constitution. U.S. Const. art. V; Manual Sec. 190.
- Passage of a bill over a veto. U.S. Const. art. I Sec. 7; Manual Sec. 104.
- Dispensing with Calendar Wednesday. Rule XV clause 7; Manual Sec. 900.
- Dispensing with the call of the Private Calendar. Rule XV clause 5; Manual Sec. 895.
- Same-day consideration of reports from the Committee on Rules. Rule XIII clause 6; Manual Sec. 857.
- Suspension of the rules. Rule XV clause 1; Manual Sec. 885.
- Expulsion of a Member. U.S. Const. art. I Sec. 5; Manual Sec. 62.
- Removal of political disabilities. U.S. Const. Amendment XIV Sec. 3; Manual Sec. 230.
A two-thirds vote means two-thirds of those voting, a quorum being present, and not two-thirds of the entire membership. Deschler-Brown Ch 30 Sec. 5. Such a vote requires an affirmative vote by two-thirds of those Members actually voting; Members who indicate only that they are ``present'' are not counted in determining the two-thirds figure. Deschler-Brown Ch 30 Sec. 5.2. This method of computing a two-thirds vote has been applied to votes on passage of a constitutional amendment (5 Hinds Sec. 7027; 8 Cannon Sec. 3503), to votes on the passage of a bill over the President's veto (7 Cannon Sec. 1111), and to votes on a motion to suspend the rules (Deschler-Brown Ch 30 Sec. 5.2).
A Guide to the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of the House
Chapter 58 - Voting
Amendment to the Constitution.
We can safely rule that out in this instance.
Passage of a bill over a veto.
Two words: President Bush. 'Nuff said.
Dispensing with Calendar Wednesday.
I'm not sure what that is, exactly. Does it mean that bills passed on a Wednesday have to have a two-thirds majority? Does that mean they can wait till Thursday or Friday and pass it with just a simple majority? I'm guessing that this isn't what was at issue here.
Dispensing with the call of the Private Calendar.
Sounds like a scheduling thing to me, not anything to do with a bill.
Same-day consideration of reports from the Committee on Rules.
Again, this Committe on Rules sounds like it has to do only with the internal affairs of the House, not with actual bills coming before it.
Suspension of the rules.
Well, this might be applicable, if they were attempting to pass the bill under suspension of the rules. But why wouldn't they just follow the rules, then, and pass it the right way?
Expulsion of a Member.
Sounds good to me. Anybody got a list going?
Removal of political disabilities.
This is the one about the disability of people to serve in government who'd adhered to the enemies of the U.S., right? That is just sooo 19th century.