House Rule XII: One Year Later

From Constituting America:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Jennifer Logue
McCauley Logue Communications
(617) 429-3080
jennifer@mccauleylogue.com
House Rule XI I, one year later: New report by Constituting
America finds many 􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀁐􀁈􀁑􀀃􀁖􀁎􀁌􀁕􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁕􀁘􀁏􀁈􀂶s true intent
Can Congress require us to wear football helmets? Does Congress have the authority to establish
􀁄􀀃􀂳􀀧􀁈􀁓􀁄􀁕􀁗􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀳􀁈􀁄􀁆􀁈􀀢􀂴􀀃􀀃
One year after Congress amended House Rule XII to require that all newly proposed legislation
cite as specifically as possible the constitutional authority granted to enact the bill, a new report
􀁉􀁌􀁑􀁇􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁐􀁄􀁑􀁜􀀃􀀸􀀑􀀶􀀑􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀁐􀁈􀁑􀀃􀁄􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁖􀁎􀁌􀁕􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁘􀁏􀁈􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁕􀁘􀁈􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁗􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀑
Published by the non-profit foundation Constituting America, the report 􀂱 titled Constitutional
Authority Statements: In Defense of House Rule XII and available online at
http://www.constitutingamerica.org/docs/WhitePaper.pdf 􀂱 finds that while some congressmen
have taken pains to follow the rule, most are offering little more than lip service through overly
broad statements that demonstrate little understanding of the Constitution itself.
􀂳􀀤􀁉􀁗􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁄􀀃􀁜􀁈􀁄􀁕􀀏􀀃􀁌􀁗􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁏􀁏􀀃􀁗􀁒􀁒􀀃􀁆􀁏􀁈􀁄􀁕􀀃􀁚􀁋􀁜􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀵􀁘􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁋as become necessary, and that some (House)
􀁐􀁈􀁐􀁅􀁈􀁕􀁖􀀃􀁖􀁋􀁒􀁘􀁏􀁇􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁆􀁒􀁐􀁈􀀃􀁐􀁒􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁄􀁆􀁔􀁘􀁄􀁌􀁑􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁚􀁌􀁗􀁋􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀁜􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁙􀁈􀀃􀁖􀁚􀁒􀁕􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁘􀁓􀁋􀁒􀁏􀁇􀀏􀂴􀀃􀁖􀁄􀁌􀁇􀀃
Horace Cooper, who co-authored the report with Nathaniel Stewart.
The Constituting America report begins by offering examples of thoughtful, well-reasoned
authority statements submitted by congressmen on both sides of the political aisle, and spells out
the benefits of having such a rule.


􀂳􀀫􀁒􀁘􀁖􀁈􀀃􀀵􀁘􀁏􀁈􀀃􀀻􀀬􀀬􀀃􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁄􀀃􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁕􀁎􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁐􀁌􀁑􀁇􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀸􀀑􀀶􀀑􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁐􀁈􀁄􀁑􀁌ng and
􀁖􀁋􀁒􀁘􀁏􀁇􀀃􀁅􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁓􀁈􀁆􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀏􀂴􀀃􀁖􀁄􀁌􀁇􀀃􀀭􀁄􀁑􀁌􀁑􀁈􀀃􀀷􀁘􀁕􀁑􀁈􀁕􀀏􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁘􀁑􀁇􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁆􀁒-􀁆􀁋􀁄􀁌􀁕􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀀤􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁌􀁆􀁄􀀑􀀃􀂳􀀬􀁗􀀃􀁄􀁏􀁖􀁒􀀃
􀁕􀁈􀁌􀁑􀁉􀁒􀁕􀁆􀁈􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁉􀁄􀁆􀁗􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁘􀁑􀁇􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀏􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁏􀁌􀁐􀁌􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀏􀀃􀁈􀁑􀁘􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁓􀁒􀁚􀁈􀁕􀁖􀀑􀂴
Yet an analysis by the Republican Study Committee found that of the 3,865 Constitutional
􀀤􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁌􀁗􀁜􀀃􀀶􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁖􀀃􀁖􀁘􀁅􀁐􀁌􀁗􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁇􀁘􀁕􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁘􀁏􀁈􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁉􀁌􀁕􀁖􀁗􀀃􀁜􀁈􀁄􀁕􀀏􀀃􀀙􀀙􀀓􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀁐􀀃􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁈􀁏􀁜􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁉􀁈􀁕􀁈􀁑􀁆􀁈􀁇􀀃
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution 􀂱 􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁅􀁕􀁒􀁄􀁇􀀃􀁖􀁈􀁆􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁘􀁗􀁏􀁌􀁑􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁄􀁛􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃
power and its authority to promote th􀁈􀀃􀂳􀁊􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁕􀁄􀁏􀀃􀁚􀁈􀁏􀁉􀁄􀁕􀁈􀂴􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀂳􀁆􀁒􀁐􀁐􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁇􀁈􀁉􀁈􀁑􀁖􀁈􀀑􀂴􀀃
􀀨􀁙􀁈􀁑􀀃􀁐􀁒􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁕􀁒􀁘􀁅􀁏􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁓􀁒􀁕􀁗􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁖􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁗􀁈􀁑􀁇􀀏􀀃􀁚􀁈􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀚􀀖􀀕􀀃􀁅􀁌􀁏􀁏􀁖􀀃􀁖􀁘􀁅􀁐􀁌􀁗􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁆􀁌􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀃􀀤􀁕􀁗􀁌􀁆􀁏􀁈􀀃
I, Section 8, Clause 3 􀂱 the so-􀁆􀁄􀁏􀁏􀁈􀁇􀀃􀂳􀀦􀁒􀁐􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁆􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁏􀁄􀁘􀁖􀁈􀂴􀀃􀂱 as their constitutional justification.
Among them: H.R. 1127, a bill proposed by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-􀀱􀀭􀀌􀀃􀂳􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁈􀁑􀁆􀁒􀁘􀁕􀁄􀁊􀁈􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁈􀁑􀁖􀁘􀁕􀁈􀀃
􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁘􀁖􀁈􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁖􀁄􀁉􀁈􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁒􀁗􀁅􀁄􀁏􀁏􀀃􀁋􀁈􀁏􀁐􀁈􀁗􀁖􀂫􀂴
􀂳􀀷􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁖􀁒-􀁆􀁄􀁏􀁏􀁈􀁇􀀃􀂵􀀦􀁒􀁐􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁆􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁏􀁄􀁘􀁖􀁈􀂶􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁏􀁌􀁙􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁘􀁓􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁌􀁗􀁖􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁓􀁘􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁄􀁖􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀂶􀁖􀀃􀂵􀀫􀁈􀁜-you-can-dowhatever-
you-feel-􀁏􀁌􀁎􀁈􀂶􀀃􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁘􀁖􀁈􀀏􀂴􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁒􀁓􀁈􀁕􀀃explained􀀑􀀃􀂳􀂫􀀷􀁒􀀃􀁅􀁈􀀃􀁖􀁘􀁕􀁈􀀏􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁆􀁘􀁖􀁖􀁌􀁒􀁑􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁋􀁈􀁄􀁇􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁍􀁘􀁕􀁌􀁈􀁖􀀃
sustained during football season are serious concerns. But it is not at all clear how helmet safety
􀁔􀁘􀁄􀁏􀁌􀁉􀁌􀁈􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁄􀀃􀂵􀁆􀁋􀁄􀁑􀁑􀁈􀁏􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁗􀁈􀁕􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀀃􀁒􀁕􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁕􀁈􀁌􀁊􀁑􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁐􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁆􀁈􀂫􀀑􀂶
􀂳􀀵􀁘􀁏􀁈􀀃􀀻􀀬􀀬􀀃􀁋􀁈􀁏􀁓􀁖􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁊􀁋􀁏􀁌􀁊􀁋􀁗􀀃􀁍􀁘􀁖􀁗􀀃􀁋􀁒􀁚􀀃􀁇􀁌􀁙􀁒􀁕􀁆􀁈􀁇􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁕􀁈􀁗􀁈􀁑􀁖􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁅􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁊􀁘􀁏􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀂵􀁆􀁒􀁐􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁆􀁈􀂶􀀃􀁌􀁖􀀃
􀁉􀁕􀁒􀁐􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁜􀀃􀁄􀁆􀁗􀁘􀁄􀁏􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁊􀁘􀁏􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁗􀁈􀁕􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁐􀁐􀁈􀁕􀁆􀁈􀀏􀂴􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁓􀁒􀁕􀁗􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁘􀁈􀁖􀀑
􀀨􀁙􀁈􀁑􀀃􀁐􀁒􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁈􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁊􀁌􀁒􀁘􀁖􀀏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁓􀁒􀁕􀁗􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁖􀀃􀁚􀁕􀁌􀁗􀁈􀀏􀀃􀁄􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁖􀁈􀀃􀀤􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁌􀁗􀁜􀀃􀀶􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁉􀁈􀁕􀁈􀁑􀁆􀁈􀀃
􀁒􀁑􀁏􀁜􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀂶􀁖􀀃􀀳􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁐􀁅􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁍􀁘stification for their legislation 􀂱 including H.R. 808, a bill
proposed by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-􀀲􀀫􀀌􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁈􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁅􀁏􀁌􀁖􀁋􀀃􀁄􀀃􀂳􀀧􀁈􀁓􀁄􀁕􀁗􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀳􀁈􀁄􀁆􀁈􀀑􀂴􀀃􀀷􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁅􀁌􀁏􀁏􀂶􀁖􀀃
􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀁄􀁏􀀃􀀤􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁌􀁗􀁜􀀃􀀶􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁇􀁖􀀏􀀃􀂳􀀷􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀳􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁐􀁅􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒n has the following
injunction 􀂵􀂫􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁓􀁕􀁒􀁐􀁒􀁗􀁈􀀃􀁇􀁒􀁐􀁈􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁆􀀃􀁗􀁕􀁄􀁑􀁔􀁘􀁌􀁏􀁌􀁗􀁜􀂫􀂶􀀃􀀷􀁋􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁓􀁘􀁕􀁓􀁒􀁖􀁈􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁅􀁌􀁏􀁏􀀑􀂴
Such reasoning, Cooper and Stewart write, demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding
􀁄􀁅􀁒􀁘􀁗􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁗􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁏􀁄􀁚􀁐􀁄􀁎􀁈􀁕􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁖􀁚􀁒􀁕􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁘􀁓􀁋􀁒􀁏􀁇􀀑􀀃􀂳􀀷􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀳􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁐􀁅􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁌􀁗􀁖􀁈􀁏􀁉􀀃􀁑􀁈􀁌􀁗􀁋􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁊􀁕􀁄􀁑ts
nor limits any power or authority 􀂱 it merely describes the purpose for which the Constitution
􀁚􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁇􀁒􀁓􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀏􀂴􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁓􀁒􀁕􀁗􀀃􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁖􀀑􀀃􀂳􀀱􀁒􀁗􀁋􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁌􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀳􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁐􀁅􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁄􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁌􀁝􀁈􀁖􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁑􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁖􀁖􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁈􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁅􀁏􀁌􀁖􀁋􀀃􀁄􀀃
􀀳􀁈􀁄􀁆􀁈􀀃􀀧􀁈􀁓􀁄􀁕􀁗􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁒􀁕􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁜􀁗􀁋􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁈􀁏􀁖􀁈􀀑􀂴
The report concludes by offering four specific recommendations for strengthening the
enforcement of House Rule XII:
􀀤􀁏􀁏􀁒􀁚􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀦􀁏􀁈􀁕􀁎􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁇􀁌􀁆􀁄􀁗􀁈􀀃􀁌􀁉􀀃􀁄􀁑􀀃􀀤􀁘􀁗􀁋􀁒􀁕􀁌􀁗􀁜􀀃􀀶􀁗􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁇􀁒􀁈􀁖􀀃􀁑􀁒􀁗􀀃􀁖􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁖􀁉􀁜􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀵􀁘􀁏􀁈􀂶􀁖􀀃
specificity requirement
Require each Statement to be accompanied by a short descript􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁅􀁌􀁏􀁏􀂶􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁘􀁕􀁓􀁒􀁖􀁈
Require that at each step in the legislative process, the bill and its Authority Statement be
attached and immediately available to House members; and
Address the problem of attempts to amend an existing law that a House member believes
to have been enacted without constitutional authority
􀁈􀁛􀁈􀁕􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁌􀁗􀁖􀁈􀁏􀁉􀀏􀂴􀀃􀀦􀁒􀁒􀁓􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀀶􀁗􀁈􀁚􀁄􀁕􀁗􀀃􀁚􀁕􀁌􀁗􀁈􀀑􀀃􀂳􀀥􀁘􀁗􀀃􀁌􀁑􀀃
our view, the Rule is a great first step in the right direction, and deserves more commendation than it has received.