Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to temporarily fill vacancies in the House of Representatives to further the continuity of Congress.
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 199
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T15:03:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure the continuity of the House of Representatives by allowing temporary appointments to fill vacancies caused by the death of a member, until a special election can occur.
Key Provisions
- Section 1: Upon taking office, each Representative must submit a list of at least five qualified designees to serve in their place if they die before their term ends. The designees must meet the constitutional requirements for House service.
- Section 2: If a Representative dies, the state's governor must select a replacement from the most recent list within 10 days. The Speaker of the House then immediately appoints that person to fill the vacancy temporarily, until a special election is held.
- Section 3: Temporary appointees receive full rights and responsibilities as Representatives. If a temporary appointee dies, the governor selects a new one from that appointee's designee list, and the Speaker fills the role immediately.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This amendment would introduce a new mechanism for immediate temporary succession in the House, which currently relies solely on special elections to fill vacancies with no interim appointments permitted. It adds requirements for pre-designated successors and expedited gubernatorial selection, altering the traditional process under Article I of the Constitution.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: It would affect House operations by enabling quicker restoration of full membership, reducing periods of reduced representation during vacancies.
- On citizens: Voters in affected districts would gain temporary representation sooner, though the appointee serves only until an election.
- On international relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Current and future House Representatives, who must prepare designee lists.
- State governors, responsible for selecting temporary replacements.
- The Speaker of the House, who formally appoints the selected individuals.
- State legislatures, which would need to ratify the amendment.
- Voters in congressional districts, who would experience changes in representation timelines.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
As a proposed amendment, it requires approval by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states within seven years. It addresses constitutional continuity concerns by creating an exception to the standard vacancy-filling process, while preserving the requirement for eventual elections. The measure is structured as a self-contained article to be added to the Constitution upon ratification.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-07-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to temporarily fill vacancies in the House of Representatives to further the continuity of Congress. — issued 2026-07-02 — PDF (3 pages)