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ARTICLE · 14 FEBRUARY 2023

Motion To Vacate

Thompson Coburn LLP
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The Constitution sets forth very few rules for the House. Many of the chamber's oldest rules come from a manual authored by Thomas Jefferson during his time as Vice President. In 1837...

United StatesEmployment and HR
Christopher Murray
Christopher Murray
James Conway
James Conway
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A congressional procedure by which members of the House of Representatives can submit a request for the presiding officer to step down.

Motion Man

The Constitution sets forth very few rules for the House. Many of the chamber's oldest rules come from a manual authored by Thomas Jefferson during his time as Vice President. In 1837, the House agreed that the manual "should govern the House in all cases in which they are applicable," and one of these rules was the motion to vacate. Essentially a vote of no confidence, the procedure provides for a speaker to be removed "at the will of the House."

The Motion of the Immovable

A motion to vacate has only been attempted twice, and both failed. Representative George Norris (D-NE) used a motion to vacate in 1910 against Speaker Joseph Cannon (R-IL), who was blocking legislative business from reaching the floor. That motion failed because Republicans would not risk the ascension of a Democratic speaker. In 2015,

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