Skip to main content
HR 2844 108th Congress House Congress Absentee voting Americans in foreign countries Armed Forces and National Security Ballots Civil actions and liability Congressional elections Election candidates Government Operations and Politics House of Representatives Injunctions Judicial review Law Members of Congress Parties to actions Political parties Soldier voting Special elections State laws

Continuity in Representation Act of 2004

Introduced: July 24, 2003 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 40 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 26, 2004
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 479.
Apr 22, 2004
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2844.
Apr 22, 2004
Motion to strike the enacting clause withdrawn.
Apr 22, 2004
Floor summary: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Baird preferential motion to strike the enacting clause.
Apr 22, 2004
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Apr 22, 2004
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Apr 22, 2004
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Apr 22, 2004
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 306 - 97 (Roll no. 130).
Apr 22, 2004
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 306 - 97 (Roll no. 130).
Apr 22, 2004
On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2333-2334)
Apr 22, 2004
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Apr 22, 2004
Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Watt (NC) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to add a section to the bill providing a rule of construction regarding Federal election laws.
Apr 22, 2004
Mr. Watt moved to recommit with instructions to House Administration. (consideration: CR H2333-2334)
Apr 22, 2004
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Apr 22, 2004
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Apr 22, 2004
Mr. Baird moved to strike the enacting clause. (consideration: CR H2332-2333; text: CR H2332)
Apr 22, 2004
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Apr 22, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 602, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schiff amendment.
Apr 22, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 602, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the Maloney amendment.
Apr 22, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to House Resolution 602 the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the Larson (CT) amendment.
Apr 22, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Larson (CT) amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Larson (CT) requested a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
Apr 22, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to House Resolution 602, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with twenty minutes of debate on the Larson (CT) amendment.
Apr 22, 2004
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2844.
Apr 22, 2004
The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael K. Simpson to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Apr 22, 2004
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 602 and Rule XVIII.
Apr 22, 2004
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2844 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Apr 22, 2004
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 602. (consideration: CR H2311-2335; text of measure as reported in House: CR H2323)
Apr 22, 2004
Rule H. Res. 602 passed House.
Apr 21, 2004
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 602 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2844 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in Part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Jan 28, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 233.
Jan 28, 2004
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-404, Part II.
Jan 21, 2004
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 10.
Jan 21, 2004
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Dec 8, 2003
Referred sequentially to the House Committee on the Judiciary for a period ending not later than Jan. 31, 2004 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(k), rule X.
Dec 8, 2003
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 108-404, Part I.
Nov 19, 2003
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 4 - 3.
Nov 19, 2003
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 24, 2003
Committee Hearings Held.
Jul 24, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Jul 24, 2003
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Apr 22, 2004 House · vote #130 On Passage Passed 30697 See who voted →
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Continuity in Representation Act of 2004 - Amends Federal law concerning the election of Senators and Representatives to require States to hold special elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives within 45 days after a vacancy is announced by the Speaker of the House in the extraordinary circumstance that vacancies in representation from the States exceed 100. Waives the 45-day requirement if a regularly scheduled general election for the office involved is to be held at any time within a 75-day period beginning on the date of the vacancy announcement.

Permits the political parties of a State that are authorized to nominate candidates by State law to each nominate one candidate to run in the special election not later than ten days after the Speaker announces that the vacancy exists.

Sets forth requirements for judicial review of any action which is brought for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge an announcement made under this Act. Requires a final decision in an action to be made within three days of filing of such action. Makes a final decision non-reviewable.

Provides that in conducting a special election under this Act to fill a vacancy in its representation, the State is required to ensure to the greatest extent practicable (including through the use of electronic means) that absentee ballots for election are transmitted to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters not later than 15 days after the Speaker of the House announces that the vacancy exists. Provides that in the case of an individual who is an absent uniformed services voter or an overseas voter, a State is required to accept and process any otherwise valid ballot or other election material from the voter so long as the ballot or other material is received by the appropriate State election official not later than 45 days after the State transmits the ballot or other material to the voter.

Declares that nothing in these Special Rules in Extraordinary Circumstances may be construed to affect the application to special elections under such Rules of any Federal law governing the administration of elections for Federal office (including any law providing for the enforcement of any such law), including, but not limited to: (1) the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; (2) the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, as amended; (3) the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, as amended; (4) the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, as amended; (5) the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; (6) the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and (7) the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as amended.

What's happening now April 26, 2004

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 479.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2