Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Senate's current cloture and filibuster rules are contrary to the constitutional design of two co-equal majoritarian legislative bodies, are non-deliberative in practice, disenfranchise Members of the House of Representatives and their constituents, and disrupt the proper balance of powers between the two chambers of Congress, and for other purposes.
This House resolution expresses the opinion that the Senate's filibuster and cloture rules contradict the Constitution's design and should be reformed or eliminated. The resolution argues that the Framers intended both chambers of Congress to operate as co-equal majoritarian bodies where legislation passes by simple majority vote, and cites the Constitution, Federalist Papers, and Supreme Court precedent to support this view. It claims the modern filibuster—which allows 41 senators to block a vote without debate—prevents House-passed legislation from receiving Senate consideration, undermines the deliberative process, and effectively disenfranchises House members and their constituents by nullifying their legislative work. The resolution calls on the Senate to reform its rules to ensure that legislation receives floor votes determined by majority rule, while still allowing minorities to debate and propose amendments. This is a non-binding expression of House sentiment with no direct legal effect; it requires only transmission to Senate leadership and members.
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