![handle is hein.tera/crstax0156 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS20594
Updated April 30, 2003
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
How Unanimous Consent Agreements
Regulate Senate Floor Action
Richard S. Beth
Specialist in the Legislative Process
Government and Finance Division
The Senate often regulates consideration of a measure by means of a unanimous
consent agreement, which is also called a UC agreement or consent agreement. A
consent agreement typically regulates one or more of the following: (1) initiating
consideration, (2) limiting time for debate, (3) offering amendments, (4) the use of
motions, (5) concluding consideration, and (6) subsequent proceedings. A consent
agreement also may affect consideration of more than one measure. For information on
consent agreements generally, see CRS Report 98-225, Unanimous Consent Agreements
in the Senate. For more information on legislative process, see
[http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml].
The Senate uses consent agreements because its Rules place few limits, either of time
or substance, on the consideration of measures. Nor is there any motion to impose such
limits for a particular measure, except for cloture, which requires a super-majority vote
and imposes a single prescribed set of constraints. In earlier decades, UC agreements
often were entered into before the Senate began considering a measure, covered all phases
of consideration, and followed a model standardized as the usual form. Today's
consent agreements are more often reached only after consideration begins and address
only selected aspects. Consent agreements for considering measures are not to be
confused with unanimous consent requests for a single immediate purpose, such as to
dispense with reading an amendment or with further proceedings under a quorum call.
Initiating Consideration. Most measures reach the Senate floor through
unanimous consent requests that the chamber proceed to consider them. These requests
are usually considered consent agreements only when they also include further provisions
regulating consideration. When a consent agreement is made in advance of consideration,
however, it can include provision for taking up the measure. Typical provisions are that
the measure come before the Senate: (1) at a date (and time) certain; (2) at a time
determined by the majority leader (often after consultation with the minority leader, or,
occasionally, with his concurrence); (3) only after (or perhaps only before) a date certain;
or (4) upon disposition of some other measure. A consent agreement also may provide
that consideration of a measure that was previously considered, and laid aside, resume
under one of the conditions listed. Finally, UC agreements may include waivers of any
points of order to which a measure might otherwise be subject.
Congressional Research Service +. The Library of Congress](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.tera/crstax0156&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
What Is HeinOnline?
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most
Contact us for annual subscription options:
Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?
profiles profiles most