Clay pigeon floor procedure

The clay pigeon floor procedure is a rare maneuver employed to gain political leverage in the United States Senate. The name is an analogy to the clay target that shatters upon impact in skeet shooting. In the procedure, an amendment comprising multiple proposals is shattered by demand of a single Senator into individual components to be discussed separately. A pre-agreed vote is taken to limit the total debate on the amendment. This requires a supermajority of 60 votes to abbreviate the debate, and all components are scheduled for a vote at the end of the allotted time.

Instances

Two distinct goals have been recognized in the history of the procedure. Because individual features of an amendment are exposed to public airing, the process may coerce greater accountability. By contrast, in its most recent engagement, the Democratic majority used the tactic to curtail debate on immigration reform, thereby containing opposition.

• June 2007, Harry Reid (D), Nevada ^{[1] [2]}
• April 2006, Tom Coburn (R), Oklahoma ^[3]
• circa 1970, James Allen (D), Alabama ^[4]

References

1. "Decisive Immigration Votes Lined up". CQ Today. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2007.
2. Reid, Harry (June 25, 2007). "Reid: Immigration Bill Will Return To Floor Following Bipartisan Agreement On Amendments". US Senator Harry Reid for Nevada (Press release). Archived from the original on June 27, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
3. "All Coburn All Day". Club for Growth. April 27, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
4. Hirschfeld Davis, Julie (June 18, 2007). "Rare Tactic May Allow Immigration Votes". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 16, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2022.