1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code 98-614 GOVUpdated May 19, 2003Amendments in the Senate: Types and FormsJames V. SaturnoSpecialist on the CongressGovernment and Finance DivisionDistinctions Among AmendmentsThe amendin
2、g process is central to the consideration of legislation by the Senate, andthe rules, practices, and precedents that underlie this process frequently depend ondistinguishing among amendments based on their type and form. Simply put, not allamendments are equal in a procedural sense. When an amendmen
3、t to a measure is offeredin the Senate, and while the amendment is pending, it is normally in order for otheramendments to be offered dealing with the same portion of the measure. The relativeprecedence of an amendment determines whether it can be offered while anotheramendment is pending, and, if i
4、t can, that it be voted on first. Amending opportunitiesavailable in the Senate depend on what amendments have already been offered, andseveral different “amendment trees” can develop depending on circumstances.Precedence depends on the relationship between the degree, form, and scope of thepending