House rules

Patrick McHenry is pursued by reporters on the Capitol Building

How does a ‘frozen’ U.S. House function without a speaker? Everyone’s got an opinion.

BY: and - October 5, 2023

WASHINGTON — The stunning ouster of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday — the first time a speaker has been removed in Congress’ 234-year history — created a leadership vacuum in the chamber and left multiple questions about how legislative business would proceed. North Carolina Republican Patrick McHenry ascended to the role of speaker pro tempore […]

Democrats question revised proposal for NC House veto override votes

BY: - February 14, 2023

House Republicans have changed their proposed chamber rules to let Democrats know that veto override votes may be imminent after the House Democratic leader protested a provision that would have allowed snap votes to cancel the governor’s vetoes. The earlier proposal for snap override votes drew a rebuke last month from House Democratic leader Robert […]

North Carolina House Republicans advance a new kind of bathroom bill

BY: - January 17, 2023

It’s been almost seven years since North Carolina Republican lawmakers and then-Gov. Pat McCrory hastily concocted and enacted House Bill 2 – the infamous “bathroom bill” that targeted transgender people for ignorant, mean-spirited, and altogether absurd discrimination, while simultaneously making the state the target of numerous boycotts and countless late-night TV one-liners. The bill was later repealed, of course, but its legacy – as an embarrassment to be forgotten as quickly as possible...

Surprise votes!

BY: - January 16, 2023

New NC House rules would ‘hold people hostage’ and erode transparency, Democratic leader says

BY: - January 11, 2023

North Carolina’s legislative session opened Wednesday with a controversy in the state House over a proposed rule change that would allow Republicans to call snap votes to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes. The House rules adopted as temporary on Wednesday no longer include the section requiring advanced notice of veto override votes. The legislature […]

U.S. House GOP backs rules plan without disclosing deals made with hard-right members

BY: - January 10, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House adopted rules for the 118th Congress on Monday, though several of the concessions Speaker Kevin McCarthy made with more conservative members of the Republican Party to secure the gavel weren’t included in the document, or publicly circulated ahead of the vote.  The 55-page rules package the House voted nearly party-line […]

UNC Board of Governors could see term limits, if bill passes

BY: - September 28, 2015

Note: This post has been updated to reflect information provided by the UNC system.  A Senate bill capping the terms of members on the University of North Carolina’s Board of Governors moved through a House Rules committee Monday, and could potentially shift at least two current members off the board, if passed. An individual could […]