	House Rules Governing the Motion to Recommit

When the House considers legislation, one of the last steps it takes is to consider a motion to recommit. The motion to recommit represents the last chance of the House to affect a measure. In practice, that means either to offer amendatory language or to send the bill back to committee. In practice, the motion to recommit, as authorized by Rule XIX, is offered after the previous question has been ordered on passage. Types of Motions to Recommit

Motions to recommit are characterized as being of two types. If adopted by the House, it returns the underlying measure to committee. The other type of motion to recommit includes instructions and must be offered "forthwith," meaning that if the House adopts such a motion, the measure remains on the House floor and the committee chair (or designee) immediately rises and reports the bill back to the House with any amendment(s) contained in the instructions of the recommittal motion. Since only one proper motion to recommit is in order, this would preclude anyone else from trying to use the motion in order to defeat or amend the measure. During debate on the adoption of the rules package for the 61 st Congress (1909-1910), the previous question was defeated, allowing Representative John Fitzgerald to propose a set of rules changes, one of which guaranteed priority in recognition to offer the motion to recommit to a Member opposed to the bill. During the 1980s and 1990s the Rules Committee issued what the minority perceived to be an increased number of special rules restricting both the amending process as well as the motion to recommit In 1995, the House added language now in Rule XII, clause 6(c) prohibiting the Rules Committee from reporting a special rule that would prevent the offering of a motion to recommit with instructions, thereby preventing the Rules Committee from restricting the scope or content of the motion to recommit. Potential Procedural Effects of the Motion to Recommit

A motion to recommit may have several procedural effects. "Straight" motions to recommit could also create a situation that would effectively dispose of the underlying measure, since once the measure is recommitted, a committee is not obligated to take further action. Besides providing a policy vote, the motion to recommit can have additional political effects. Recent Trends in Types of Motions to Recommit

Of the 120 motions to recommit offered in the 110 th Congress, one was a "straight" motion, 72 were motions with "forthwith" instructions, and 47 were motions with "non-forthwith" instructions. There was, however, a significant increase in the adoption of motions to recommit with "forthwith" instructions offered in the 110 th Congress.
When the House considers legislation, one of the last steps it takes is to consider a motion to recommit. The motion to recommit represents the last chance of the House to affect a measure. In practice, that means either to offer amendatory language or to send the bill back to committee.
The motion to recommit is typically offered after the previous question has been ordered on a measure, but before the House votes on final passage. Preference in recognition for offering a motion to recommit is given to a member of the minority party who is opposed to the bill. It is not in order for the House Committee on Rules to report a special rule that would preclude the offering a motion to recommit a bill or joint resolution prior to its initial passage, including a motion to recommit which contains amendatory instructions.
Motions to recommit are of two types: "straight" motions and motions that include instructions. If adopted, a "straight" motion to recommit sends a measure to committee with no requirement for further consideration by the House. A successful motion to recommit with instructions allows any amendatory language included in the motion to be adopted immediately without the measure leaving the House floor.
A motion to recommit may have various procedural effects, including amending an underlying measure, sending it to one or more committees, providing additional time for its consideration, or potentially disposing of the legislation. The motion to recommit might also have political effects.
During the 110th Congress, there were three significant statistical trends pertaining to motions to recommit: an increase in the total number of motions to recommit, a disproportionate increase in motions with "non-forthwith" instructions (a type of motion to recommit that is no longer in order under current House Rules), and a rise in the adoption of motions to recommit "forthwith." When compared with the 110th Congress, the 111th Congress experienced a decrease in motions to recommit and a slight decrease in the adoption of motions to recommit.
This report provides an overview of House rules and precedents governing the motion to recommit, describes procedural and political effects of the motion, and examines the use of the motion since the 100th Congress. This report will be updated to reflect any changes in House rules governing the usage of the motion to recommit.