To: The United States Senate
Reform the practice of placing holds in the U.S. Senate.
The practice of placing holds on bills in the U.S. Senate needs to be reformed by:
1) ending the use of private, secret or anonymous holds
2) limiting the length of time a hold can be in effect to no more than five successive days
3) limiting the number of holds that can be placed on a bill or other measure to one and requiring that if two or more Senators wish to place a hold, they shall request that hold together and at the same time
1) ending the use of private, secret or anonymous holds
2) limiting the length of time a hold can be in effect to no more than five successive days
3) limiting the number of holds that can be placed on a bill or other measure to one and requiring that if two or more Senators wish to place a hold, they shall request that hold together and at the same time
Why is this important?
In order to restore open and democratic principles to the operation of the Senate, the use of holds on bills and other measures must be reformed. Any senator, with the consent of the leader, can hold up consideration of any bill or other measure by openly or secretly placing a hold on that item. Currently, there is no limitation to the time a hold can be in effect. This practice allows any one senator to effectively veto any legislation unless a supermajority of 60 senators overrides the hold. This practice places too much power in the hands of individual senators and is therefore undemocratic and not in the spirit of the Constitution.
This petition needs to be presented to the Senate before opening day of the 113th Congress on January 3, 2013 in order to permit the majority to change the rule. Otherwise, a supermajority of 67 senators may be required.
This petition needs to be presented to the Senate before opening day of the 113th Congress on January 3, 2013 in order to permit the majority to change the rule. Otherwise, a supermajority of 67 senators may be required.