discharged petition

Definition

A procedural mechanism to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote when the committee chair refuses to act. It's the legislative equivalent of going over your boss's head to their boss.

Example Usage

Frustrated representatives filed a discharge petition to bypass the Judiciary Committee chair and bring immigration reform to a floor vote.

Origin

Formalized in U.S. House rules in 1910 as a check on committee chair power during the progressive era reforms.

Fun Fact

Discharge petitions require 218 signatures in the House (a majority) and are rarely successful—only about 5% ever result in bills becoming law.

Source: U.S. House of Representatives procedural rules

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