Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate

Standing Rules of the United States Senate

The Standing Rules of the Senate are the rules of order adopted by the United States Senate that govern its procedure. The Senate's power to establish rules derives from Article One, Section 5 of the United States Constitution: "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings..."There are...

, established by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, with administration of congressional buildings, and with credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, including responsibility for dealing with contested elections.The committee...

, governs appropriation

Appropriation (law)

In law and government, appropriation is the act of setting apart something for its application to a particular usage, to the exclusion of all other uses....

s and amendments

Amend (motion)

-Explanation and Use:-Main Motions:Any main motion and any motion to amend may be amended. However, a motion to amend a motion to amend may not be amended, due to the overly complex parliamentary situation that would frequently result.-Secondary Motions:...

 to general appropriations bills in the Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

.

Amendments to general appropriations

Paragraph 1 states that when any Senator makes a point of order, the general appropriations bill shall not receive any amendments

Amend (motion)

-Explanation and Use:-Main Motions:Any main motion and any motion to amend may be amended. However, a motion to amend a motion to amend may not be amended, due to the overly complex parliamentary situation that would frequently result.-Secondary Motions:...

 that increase an appropriation already contained in the bill

Bill (proposed law)

A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....

. Also, no new items may be introduced unless it is designed to carry out the provisions of some existing law, treaty

Treaty

A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...

 stipulation

Stipulation

In the law of the United States, a stipulation is an agreement made between opposing parties prior to a pending hearing or trial. For example, both parties might stipulate to certain facts, and therefore not have to argue those facts in court. After the stipulation is entered into, it is...

, act, or resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session. The exception being any bill is moving by authority of the Committee on Appropriations

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate....

 or of a Senate committee that has legislative jurisdiction

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...

 of the subject matter, or proposed in pursuance of an estimate submitted in accordance with law.

Reporting on appropriations bills

Paragraph 2 states that the Committee on Appropriations cannot report an appropriation bill containing amendments which propose new or general legislation. The committee cannot report on an appropriations bill with 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.

Committees with legislative jurisdiction

Paragraph 3 states that all amendments to general appropriation bills that are from a committee having legislative jurisdiction of the subject matter and proposing to increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, or add new items,
be referred to the Committee on Appropriations at least one day before they are considered. 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.

Amendments not received

Paragraph 4 states that on a point of order made by any Senator, no amendment can be offered by another Senator which proposes general legislation to any general appropriation bill. Any amendment not germane or relevant to the subject matter contained in the bill will be accepted. No amendment to any item or clause of such bill be received which does not directly relate.

No restriction on the expenditure of the funds appropriated which proposes a limitation not authorized by law be accepted 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; Any amendment or restriction to a general appropriation bill may be laid on the table without prejudice to the bill.

Private claim amendments

Paragraph 5 states that on a point of order made by any Senator, no amendment to provide for a private claim can be received to any general appropriation bill. Any general appropriation bill which contains provisions of an existing law or a treaty stipulation shall be cited on the face of the amendment.

Point of order

Paragraph 6 states when a point of order is made against any restriction on the expenditure of funds appropriated in a general appropriation bill on the grounds that the restriction violates this rule, the rule shall be construed strictly and in favor of the point of order.

Identification

Paragraph 7 states that every report filed by the Committee on Appropriations (on appropriation bills), must specifically identify each recommended amendment which proposes an item of appropriation which is not designed 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.

Reappropriation provisions

Paragraph 8 states that 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. The exception is that this provision shall not apply to appropriations in continuation of appropriations for public works on which work has commenced.