2 U.S.C. § 288j — Consideration of resolutions to direct counsel

(a) Procedure for taking up the resolution. A resolution introduced under section 288b of this title is not sent to a committee, except where section 288d(c) of this title specifically requires that. After it is introduced (or, if section 288d(c) requires a committee report, after that report is filed, whichever happens later), it is always in order to move to take up the resolution, even if an earlier version of that same motion already failed. A motion to take up the resolution gets priority treatment (is "highly privileged") and cannot be debated. No amendment to that motion is allowed, and no one can move to reconsider the vote on it. For a resolution under section 288b(a) of this title specifically, these rules apply: (A) if the motion to take up the resolution passes, debate on the resolution itself is capped at ten hours total, split evenly between supporters and opponents and controlled by them; a motion to further limit debate cannot itself be debated; no amendment to the resolution is allowed; and no motion to send the resolution back to committee is allowed, nor can the vote on the resolution be reconsidered. (B) Motions to postpone consideration of the resolution, and motions to move on to other business, are decided without debate. (C) Any appeal of a ruling by the presiding officer about how Senate rules apply to this resolution's procedure is decided without debate. (b) Meaning of "committee." Except in section 288b of this title, "committee" in this chapter includes standing, select, and special Senate committees created by law or resolution. (c) These are Senate rules. This section is adopted as an exercise of the Senate's rulemaking power and counts as part of the Senate's rules, overriding other Senate rules only where they conflict with it, while the Senate keeps its full constitutional right to change these rules at any time, the same way it changes any other rule.