DEBATING UNDER THE FIVE MINUTE RULE

Each amendment is debated in the Committee of the Whole under the five minute rule. The Chair first recognizes the amendment's sponsor to speak for five minutes. Next a Member opposing the amendment can claim five minutes to speak in opposition. Other Members may secure five minutes for debate by offering pro forma amendments. This is done by asking the Chair "to strike the last word." A Member controlling five-minutes of debate time may yield to other members during that time, but must remain standing while the other Member is speaking. When the five minutes have expired, a Member may obtain additional time only by unanimous consent. The time for debating a pending amendment, or a section or all amendments thereto, can be ended or limited by unanimous consent or by a non-debatable motion.

Each amendment to a bill is a first degree amendment. Before the Committee of the Whole votes on a first-degree amendment, that amendment may be amended either by a substitute amendment that proposes to replace the entire text of the first degree amendment, or by a second degree perfecting amendment. House rules permit a second degree perfecting amendment and a substitute amendment to be pending at the same time to a first degree amendment. A perfecting amendment to the substitute also is in order. In this way, members can offer as many as four amendments before any votes must take place. After the first ten minutes of debate on an amendment, other Members may seek recognition to offer pro forma amendments for purposes of debate or to offer substantive amendments to the amendment. Voting on the amendments usually occurs in the reverse order in which the amendments were offered.