,,iv  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,h4 ,,res4 #adci  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(    
,,repres5tatives  ,july #bj1 #bjbf,mr4  
,cl\d submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 
0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,rules      
,,resolution  ,express+ ! s5se ( ! ,h\se
 ( ,repres5tatives t ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
,s5ate's curr5t cloture & filibu/] rules
 are contr>y to ! con/itutional design (
 two co-equal majorit>ian legislative   
bodies1 are non-delib]ative 9 practice1 
dis5fran*ise ,memb]s ( ! ,h\se (        
,repres5tatives & _! con/itu5ts1 &      
disrupt ! prop] balance ( p[]s betwe5 ! 
two *amb]s ( ,congress1 & = o!r         
purposes4  #a4 ,f9d+s ) respect to !    
,s5ate filibu/]  7a7 ,f\nd]s' int5t     
reg>d+ two majorit>ian delib]ative      
bodies ( equal weight ,! ,h\se (        
,repres5tatives f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,!  
,fram]s ( ! ,con/itution delib]ately    
design$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,congress z a   
bicam]al legislature compos$ ( two      
co-equal *amb]s1 ea* int5d$ to op]ate on
 ! pr9ciple ( majority rule4 ,z ,james  

,madison wrote 9 ,f$]ali/ ,no4 #eh3 ,9  
all cases :]e ju/ice or ! g5]al good    
might require new laws to be pass$1 or  
active measures to be pursu$1 !         
fundam5tal pr9ciple ( free gov]nm5t w\ld
 be rev]s$ if a m9ority faction c\ld    
defeat ! wi%es ( ! majority4  7#b7      
,alex&] ,hamilton1 9 ,f$]ali/ ,no4 #bb1 
explicitly condemn$ sup]majority        
requirem5ts z fundam5tally              
anti-republican 9 nature1 writ+3 ,its   
real op]ation is to emb>rass !          
adm9i/ration1 to de/roy ! en]gy ( !     
gov]nm5t1 & to sub/itute ! pleasure1    
caprice1 or artifices ( an              
insignificant1 turbul5t1 or corrupt     
junto1 to ! regul> delib]ations &       
decisions ( a respectable majority44    
,hamilton w>n$ t requir+ m ?an a        
majority to act t5ds to subject ! s5se (
 ! great] numb] to t ( ! less]44  7#c7  
,! ,con/itutional ,conv5tion ( #aghg    
specifically & delib]ately reject$      
sup]majority requirem5ts z ! default    
rule = ord9>y legislation4 ,!           

,con/itution enum]ates only six         
circum/ances 9 :i* a sup]majority is    
requir$ 7& ord9>y legislation is        
conspicu\sly abs5t f ?is li/ ( enum]at$ 
circum/ances71 z foll[s3  7,a7          
,conviction on ,impea*m5t 7,article ,i1 
,section #c74  7,b7 ,expell+ a ,memb] ( 
,congress 7,article ,i1 ,section #e74   
7,c7 ,ov]rid+ a ,presid5tial ,veto      
7,article ,i1 ,section #g74  7,d7       
,ratify+ treaties 7,article ,,ii1       
,section #b74  7,e7 ,propos+            
,con/itutional ,am5dm5ts 7,article ,v74 
7,f7 ,ratification ( ! ,con/itution by !
 ,/ates 7,article ,,vii74  7b7 ,! curr5t
 ,s5ate filibu/] is n delib]ative ,!    
,h\se f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! orig9al    
,s5ate filibu/]1 :atev] its hi/orical   
ju/ification1 requir$ ,s5ators to ma9ta9
 cont9u\s floor debate z a me*anism to  
delay r ?an p]man5tly defeat            
legislation1 !reby pres]v+ at lea/ a    
nom9al =m ( delib]ation4 ,! mod]n       
filibu/]1 z re=m$ 9 #aige & subsequ5tly1
 requires only t =ty-"o ,s5ators signal 

_! int5t to object--)\t requir+ any     
,s5ator to be pres5t on ! floor1 to     
speak1 or to engage 9 debate ( any k9d4 
7#b7 ,! ,s5ate's two-track sy/em        
implem5t$ 9 ! #aigjs1 trans=m$ !        
filibu/] f an act ( ext5d$ delib]ation  
into a proc$ural veto ex]cisable by a   
m9ority )\t any requirem5t = su/a9$     
engagem5t ) ! legislation at issue4 ,"u 
curr5t ,s5ate practice1 a m9ority (     
,s5ators may prev5t a bill pass$ by !   
,h\se f receiv+ a vote by simply refus+ 
to invoke cloture--)\t ev] sett+ foot on
 ! ,s5ate floor to debate ! m]its ( !   
legislation4  7#c7 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 9 ,,ins v4 ,*adha1 #dfb 
,u4,s4 #iai 7#aihc71 reaffirm$ t !      
,con/itution's explicit proc$ural       
requirem5ts = legislation reflect c>eful
 & delib]ate *oices by ! ,fram]s4       
,ju/ice ,burg]1 writ+ = ! ,c\rt1        
emphasiz$ t ! proc$ures ( bicam]alism & 
pres5tm5t are integral p>ts ( !         
con/itutional design = ! sep>ation (    
p[]s4  7#d7 ,a proc$ure t p]mits =ty-"o 

,s5ators1 pot5tially repres5t+ z little 
z elev5 p]c5t ( ! ,am]ican population1  
to prev5t ! ,s5ate f vot+ on legislation
 pass$ by a majority ( ! ,h\se (        
,repres5tatives & support$ by a majority
 ( ! ,s5ate _c be *>act]iz$ z           
delib]ation2 x is1 r1 a proc$ural       
me*anism = ! ex]cise ( m9ority veto p[] 
anti!tical to ! republican =m ( gov]nm5t
 gu>ante$ to ! /ates by ,article ,,iv1  
,section #d ( ! ,con/itution4  7c7 ,!   
curr5t ,s5ate filibu/] is c\nt] to !    
int5t ( two co-,equal majorit>ian bodies
 ,! ,h\se f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,!       
,con/itution ve/s all legislative p[]s 9
 a ,congress compos$ ( two *amb]s1 ea* (
 :i* 0 design$ to reflect1 ?r\gh diff]5t
 me*anisms1 ! w ( ! ,am]ican p4 ,article
 ,i1 ,section #a /ates pla9ly3 ,all     
legislative ,p[]s h]e9 grant$ %all be   
ve/$ 9 a ,congress ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1   
:i* %all consi/ ( a ,s5ate & ,h\se (    
,repres5tatives4 ,! use ( ! conjunctive 
reflects ! ,fram]s' design t bo? *amb]s 
act--n t "o *amb]'s m9ority may         

indef9itely prev5t ! o!r *amb]'s        
majority-pass$ legislation f receiv+ a  
vote4  7#b7 ,! ,s5ate 0 nev] design$ to 
be a *amb] 9 :i* =ty-"o memb]s c\ld     
p]man5tly & )\t delib]ation defeat      
legislation desir$ by a majority ( bo?  
*amb]s4 ,! ,fram]s' int5t1 z reflect$ 9 
! con/itutional text & 9 ! ,f$]ali/     
,pap]s1 0 t legislation support$ by a   
majority ( ea* *amb]1 & sign$ by !      
,presid5t1 w\ld become law--) ! *eck on 
majority excess suppli$ n by m9ority    
veto b by ! /ructural features (        
bicam]alism1 ! presid5tial veto1 &      
judicial review4  7#c7 ,9 ,unit$ ,/ates 
v4 ,ball91 #add ,u4,s4 #a 7#ahib71 !    
,supreme ,c\rt held t ea* ,h\se (       
,congress has broad au?ority to e/abli% 
its own rules ( proce$+1 b t su* rules  
mu/ n ignore con/itutional re/ra9ts or  
violate fundam5tal rights4 ,a ,s5ate    
rule t effectively nullifies !          
delib]ative & majorit>ian function ( !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 z an in/itution
 co-equal "u ,article ,i1 raises s]i\s  

que/ions ab\t :e!r su* a rule op]ates )9
 con/itutional limits4  7#d7 ,! ,s5ate  
filibu/]1 z curr5tly practic$1 produces 
a /ructural asymmetry betwe5 ! two      
*amb]s :olly =eign to ! con/itutional   
design3 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 :i*  
mu/ pass legislation by majority vote1  
has its delib]ative output sy/ematically
 negat$ n by a ,s5ate majority's        
consid]$ rejection1 b by a ,s5ate       
m9ority's proc$ural objection--leav+ !  
,h\se majority )\t any mean+ful         
legislative rec\rse & r5d]+ ,h\se       
passage ( legislation an ex]cise )\t    
practical consequ5ce :5ev] ,s5ate       
m9ority opposition exi/s4  7d7 ,! ,s5ate
 filibu/] prev5ts legislation pass$ by !
 ,h\se f receiv+ prop] consid]ation 9 ! 
s5ate ,! ,h\se f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,!   
,con/itution's bicam]al design          
contemplates t legislation pass$ by "o  
*amb] w be consid]$ by ! o!r *amb] on   
its m]its & ultimately accept$1 reject$1
 or am5d$ by majority action 9 t *amb]4 
,! curr5t ,s5ate filibu/] p]mits        

legislation pass$ by ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives to be tabl$ indef9itely 
)\t a floor vote1 )\t committee action1 
& )\t any sub/antive consid]ation ( its 
m]its by ! ,s5ate z a body4  7#b7 ,!    
,supreme ,c\rt 9 ,*adha not$ t !        
proc$ures ( ,article ,i1 ,section #g1   
requir+ passage by bo? ,h\ses1 7 design$
 to ensure t legislation reflects       
consid]$ delib]ation by bo? *amb]s4 ,:5 
"o *amb]'s output is sy/ematically      
block$ f consid]ation by ! o!r *amb]'s  
proc$ural rules1 ! bicam]al design is   
subv]t$3 "o ( ! two con/itutionally     
requir$ /eps 9 ! legislative process is 
made effectively optional by m9ority    
fiat4  7#c7 ,! con/itutional design ( ! 
,s5ate z a delib]ative body capable (   
am5d+1 improv+1 & *eck+ legislation     
pass$ by ! ,h\se is n s]v$1 b r und]m9$1
 by proc$ural rules t prev5t ! ,s5ate z 
a body f ev] delib]at+ on ,h\se-pass$   
legislation4 ,delib]ation requires      
engagem5t ) ! sub/ance ( legislation2 a 
proc$ural block impos$ be=e ,s5ate floor

 consid]ation beg9s =ecloses r ?an      
fulfills ! delib]ative function4  7e7 ,!
 ,s5ate filibu/] uncon/itutionally      
dis5fran*ises ! ,h\se1 its ,memb]s1 & ! 
p !y repres5t ,! ,h\se f9ds ! foll[+3   
7#a7 ,! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives 0       
design$ by ! ,fram]s z ! *amb] mo/      
directly acc\ntable to ! p ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates4 ,z ,madison wrote 9 ,f$]ali/    
,no4 #eb1 ! ,h\se 0 to h an imm$iate    
dep5d5ce on1 & an intimate sympa?y )1 ! 
p--a design reflect$ 9 two-ye> t]ms1    
proportional repres5tation1 & direct    
popul> election4 ,:5 ,s5ate proc$ural   
rules sy/emically prev5t ,h\se-pass$    
legislation f receiv+ a ,s5ate vote1 !  
political acc\ntability t ju/ifies !    
,h\se's repres5tative function is       
und]m9$4  7#b7 ,! equal dignity &       
con/itutional /&+ ( ! ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives z a co-equal bran* (    
,congress is impair$ :5 ,s5ate rules are
 deploy$ to ensure t legislation pass$  
by a majority ( ! ,h\se is nev] consid]$
 on ! m]its by ! ,s5ate4 ,!             

con/itutional design places bo? *amb]s  
on equal foot+ z necess>y p>ticipants 9 
! legislative process2 a ,s5ate         
proc$ural rule t r5d]s "o *amb]'s       
majority action a nullity disrupts !    
con/itutional balance betwe5 ! two      
,h\ses4  7#c7 ,! vot]s :o elect ,memb]s 
( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives d s ) !     
reasonable & con/itutionally gr\nd$     
expectation t _! repres5tative1 if "p ( 
a legislative majority1 c pass          
legislation t w be consid]$1 & accept$  
or reject$ on ! m]its1 by ! ,s5ate4 ,:5 
! ,s5ate filibu/] prev5ts t             
consid]ation1 ! votes ( ,h\se memb]s'   
con/itu5ts are effectively nullifi$ n by
 a ,s5ate majority's sub/antive         
disagreem5t1 b by a ,s5ate m9ority's    
proc$ural refusal to p]mit a vote4  7#d7
 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt has consi/5tly held t
 ! "r to vote includes ! "r to h "o's   
vote c\nt$ & to h x c>ry its            
con/itutionally int5d$ weight4 ,9       
,reynolds v4 ,sims1 #cgg ,u4,s4 #ecc    
7#aifd71 ,*ief ,ju/ice ,w>r5 wrote t !  

"r ( suffrage c be d5i$ by a debasem5t  
or dilution ( ! weight ( a citiz5's vote
 j z effectively z by :olly prohibit+ ! 
free ex]cise ( ! fran*ise4 ,:ile        
,reynolds address$ apportionm5t1 its    
core pr9ciple1 t proc$ural me*anisms t  
sy/ematically dim9i% ! effective weight 
( votes are con/itutionally suspect1    
applies ) =ce to ,s5ate rules t r5d] !  
legislative output ( popul>ly elect$    
,h\se majorities mean+less4  #b4        
,additional f9d+s & s5se ( ! ,h\se (    
,repres5tatives ) respect to ! filibu/] 
7a7 ,f9d+s ,! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives   
f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! ,fram]s ( !      
,con/itution int5d$ bo? ! ,h\se (       
,repres5tatives & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,s5ate
 to op]ate z majorit>ian delib]ative    
bodies ( equal con/itutional /&+4  7#b7 
,! curr5t ,s5ate filibu/]1 z practic$ "u
 ! two-track sy/em e/abli%$ 9 ! #aigjs1 
is n a delib]ative me*anism b a         
proc$ural veto device enabl+ a m9ority (
 ,s5ators to prev5t floor votes )\t     
engag+ 9 any =m ( sub/antive debate4    

7#c7 ,! curr5t ,s5ate filibu/] is       
contr>y to ! ,fram]s' int5t t ord9>y    
legislation be subject to majority rule 
9 ea* *amb]1 z demon/rat$ by ! text ( ! 
,con/itution1 ! ,f$]ali/ ,pap]s1 & !    
records ( ! ,con/itutional ,conv5tion4  
7#d7 ,! ,s5ate filibu/] prev5ts         
legislation pass$ by ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives f receiv+ prop]         
delib]ative consid]ation 9 ! ,s5ate1    
subv]t+ ! bicam]al design ( ,article ,i 
( ! ,con/itution4  7#e7 ,! ,s5ate       
filibu/] uncon/itutionally dis5fran*ises
 ,memb]s ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 con/itu5ts !y repres5t by r5d]+ ,h\se  
majority action )\t mean+ful legislative
 consequ5ce4  7#f7 ,! ,s5ate filibu/]1 z
 curr5tly practic$1 disrupts ! prop]    
con/itutional balance betwe5 ! two      
co-equal *amb]s ( ,congress4  7b7 ,s5se 
( ! ,h\se ,x is ! s5se ( ! ,h\se (      
,repres5tatives t--  7#a7 ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,s5ate %\ld re=m or aboli% its   
cloture & filibu/] rules to re/ore !    
pr9ciple ( majority rule to ,s5ate      

proce$+s on legislation2  7#b7 ! ,s5ate 
%\ld e/abli% proc$ures ensur+ t         
legislation pass$ by a majority ( !     
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives receives a      
timely floor vote 9 ! ,s5ate1 ) f9al    
disposition det]m9$ by a majority (     
,s5ators pres5t & vot+2  7#c7 ,s5ate    
rules %\ld pres]ve ! m9ority's "r to be 
he>d & to (f] am5dm5ts1 :ile ensur+ t ! 
m9ority _c p]man5tly prev5t a majority f
 act+2  7#d7 ! con/itutional design (   
two co-equal majorit>ian *amb]s requires
 t bo? ! ,h\se & ! ,s5ate op]ate on !   
fundam5tal pr9ciple t1 aft] adequate    
delib]ation1 a majority det]m9es !      
outcome2 &  7#e7 ,congress z a :ole is  
be/ s]v$ by proc$ural rules 9 bo? *amb]s
 t facilitate delib]ation1              
acc\ntability1 & majority gov]nance1    
consi/5t ) ! con/itutional vision       
articulat$ by ! ,fram]s ( !             
,con/itution4  #c4 ,transmission ,!     
,cl]k ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives %all  
transmit a copy ( ?is resolution to !   
,presid5t pro tempore ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 

,s5ate1 ! ,majority ,lead] ( ! ,s5ate1 !
 ,m9ority ,lead] ( ! ,s5ate1 & to ea*   
,memb] ( ! ,s5ate4