FISA: A lobbying (and procedure) lesson

Published: October 12, 2007, 4:03 pm

Tags: fisa, parliamentary procedure, motion to recommit

While there will be no shortage (I hope, probably ill-advisedly) of coverage of the substantive issues at stake in the upcoming FISA debate, there's a bit of parliamentary procedure I think you need to know about in order to be a more effective citizen lobbyist: the motion to recommit. The motion is used exclusively in the House, and here's the short version of what it does: A motion to recommit returns a bill to committee, in effect killing it. However, a motion to recommit with instructions is a last opportunity to amend the bill. The instructions to the committee direct changes to the text of the bill. If adopted, the chairman of the named committee immediately stands and reports the change back to the House. The next step is the House vote on final passage of the bill. Minority Members receive priority of recognition for offering motions to recommit. If you're into it, here's the long version. And if you are insane, here's the version that will make people cross the street

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