Standing Rules of the Senate
RULE XVI
APPROPRIATIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
1. On a point of order made by any Senator, no amendments shall
be received to any general appropriation bill the effect of which will be to
increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add a new item
of appropriation, unless it be made to carry out the provisions of some existing
law, or treaty stipulation, or act or resolution previously passed by the Senate
during that session; or unless the same be moved by direction of the Committee
on Appropriations or of a committee of the Senate having legislative jurisdiction
of the subject matter, or proposed in pursuance of an estimate submitted in
accordance with law.
2. The Committee on Appropriations shall not report an appropriation
bill containing amendments to such bill proposing new or general legislation
or any restriction on the expenditure of the funds appropriated which proposes
a limitation not authorized by law if such restriction is to take effect or
cease to be effective upon the happening of a contingency, and if an appropriation
bill is reported to the Senate containing amendments to such bill proposing
new or general legislation or any such restriction, a point of order may be
made against the bill, and if the point is sustained, the bill shall be recommitted
to the Committee on Appropriations.
3. All amendments to general appropriation bills moved by direction
of a committee having legislative jurisdiction of the subject matter proposing
to increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add new items
of appropriation, shall, at least one day before they are considered, be referred
to the Committee on Appropriations, and when actually proposed to the bill no
amendment proposing to increase the amount stated in such amendment shall be
received on a point of order made by any Senator.
4. On a point of order made by any Senator, no amendment offered
by any other Senator which proposes general legislation shall be received to
any general appropriation bill, nor shall any amendment not germane or relevant
to the subject matter contained in the bill be received; nor shall any amendment
to any item or clause of such bill be received which does not directly relate
thereto; nor shall any restriction on the expenditure of the funds appropriated
which proposes a limitation not authorized by law be received if such restriction
is to take effect or cease to be effective upon the happening of a contingency;
and all questions of relevancy of amendments under this rule, when raised, shall
be submitted to the Senate and be decided without debate; and any such amendment
or restriction to a general appropriation bill may be laid on the table without
prejudice to the bill.
5. On a point of order made by any Senator, no amendment, the
object of which is to provide for a private claim, shall be received to any
general appropriation bill, unless it be to carry out the provisions of an existing
law or a treaty stipulation, which shall be cited on the face of the amendment.
6. When a point of order is made against any restriction on the
expenditure of funds appropriated in a general appropriation bill on the ground
that the restriction violates this rule, the rule shall be construed strictly
and, in case of doubt, in favor of the point of order.
7. Every report on general appropriation bills filed by the Committee
on Appropriations shall identify with particularity each recommended amendment
which proposes an item of appropriation which is not made to carry out the provisions
of an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously
passed by the Senate during that session.
8. On a point of order made by any Senator, no general appropriation
bill or amendment thereto shall be received or considered if it contains a provision
reappropriating unexpended balances of appropriations; except that this provision
shall not apply to appropriations in continuation of appropriations for public
works on which work has commenced. |