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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTo those wondering why Judiciary Committee members keep asking to "Strike the last word".....
CountableLets start at the beginning. When you hear this, it is very likely in a committee, during debate and markup of a bill. A markup is simply a hearing where amendments to a bill are debated and voted on, before the committee decides whether to send the bill to the floor for a final vote on passage.
Heres the rub. House rules say that each amendment can only be debated for 10 minutes five minutes for those in support, and five minutes for those opposed. But, members of Congress love to hear themselves speak sometimes.
Thats why they use a little trick. That trick is called offering a pro forma amendment. Pro Forma, in Latin, means "for the sake of form," or, a formality.
Thats exactly what a pro forma amendment is. As a formality, a member can simply say theyre offering an amendment to the amendment under debate, and get their own five minutes to speak. They never even have to submit a real amendment. Just verbally saying theyre offering one, as a formality, gives them five minutes.
When a member says they "move to strike the last word" it, too, is part of that formality. Theyre asking to strike, or delete, the very last word of the amendment under debate, indicating that theyre offering a pro forma amendment to replace that last word.
Heres the rub. House rules say that each amendment can only be debated for 10 minutes five minutes for those in support, and five minutes for those opposed. But, members of Congress love to hear themselves speak sometimes.
Thats why they use a little trick. That trick is called offering a pro forma amendment. Pro Forma, in Latin, means "for the sake of form," or, a formality.
Thats exactly what a pro forma amendment is. As a formality, a member can simply say theyre offering an amendment to the amendment under debate, and get their own five minutes to speak. They never even have to submit a real amendment. Just verbally saying theyre offering one, as a formality, gives them five minutes.
When a member says they "move to strike the last word" it, too, is part of that formality. Theyre asking to strike, or delete, the very last word of the amendment under debate, indicating that theyre offering a pro forma amendment to replace that last word.
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To those wondering why Judiciary Committee members keep asking to "Strike the last word"..... (Original Post)
brooklynite
Dec 2019
OP
badseedboy
(174 posts)1. Thank you!
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)2. This is the best explanation, I have seen all day.
Midnightwalk
(3,131 posts)3. Thanks
Does that guarantee another 5 minutes or is there some decision process that actually grants the extra time to everyone who asked to strike the last word?
If Nadler didnt remind jordan, collins and goobert or anyone else would they individually not get their 5 minutes?
Funny how they could just change the rules to say the chair or a majority of committee members could do another 5 minute round but they prefer to strike the last word. Is there a reason?
skylucy
(3,737 posts)4. I appreciate the explanation. I was wondering about that as I sit here
watching the impeachment hearings. (So glad MSNBC commentators keep mentioning that this is historic. It helps me not to feel guilty about sitting in front of the TV instead of doing housework. )
pnwmom
(108,973 posts)5. Thank you! I've been thinking about googling for that, but you saved me the trouble. n/t