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HJRES 53 111th Congress House

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to Congressional succession.

Introduced: May 20, 2009 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 12, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
May 20, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 20, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 12, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Requires the election of an Alternate Representative along with a Representative, selected by him or her, as well as an Alternate Senator along with a Senator, selected by the latter. Provides that upon the death, resignation, expulsion, failure to qualify, or inability to discharge the appropriate powers and duties of a person elected as Representative or Senator, such duties and powers shall be discharged by his or her designated successor as Acting Representative or Acting Senator until the Representative-elect or Senator-elect qualifies or a new Representative or Senator is elected.

Authorizes each chamber, in the absence of a quorum for three days or more, to declare all of its members who have not recorded their presence during such period to be unable to discharge the powers and duties of their offices. Requires such powers and duties, in that circumstance, to be discharged by the member's Alternate until such member records his or her presence.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 53: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to Congressional succession.. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-53/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 53: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to Congressional succession.." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-53/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 53, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-53/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 53: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to Congressional succession.](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HJRES-53/)
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