S.Res. 12: A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit filling the tree.

111th Congress · introduced 2009-01-12 · Congress · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S315)

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Where it came from: introduced 2009-01-12 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S315) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit filling the tree.

Plain summary

Amends Rule XV (Amendments and Motions) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to make it out of order for a Senator to offer a second degree amendment to his or her own first degree amendment ("filling the tree").

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

A resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit filling the tree.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111sres12.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/sres>

Record fed-us-cong111-sres12 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111