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III
116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. RES. 467
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the House of Representatives should,
consistent with its constitutional obligations, immediately transmit the
2 articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump passed
by the House of Representatives on December 18, 2019, under House
Resolution 755.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY 9, 2020
Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mrs. BLACK-
BURN, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. PERDUE, Mr.
PORTMAN, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. BRAUN, Mrs. LOEFFLER, MR. SCOTT of
Florida, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. DAINES, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. INHOFE, Mr.
CRUZ, Ms. ERNST, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr.
SCOTT of South Carolina, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. SASSE, and Mr. HOEVEN)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Rules and Administration
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the House of Rep-
resentatives should, consistent with its constitutional ob-
ligations, immediately transmit the 2 articles of impeach-
ment against President Donald J. Trump passed by the
House of Representatives on December 18, 2019, under
House Resolution 755.
Whereas, pursuant to article I, section 2 of the Constitution
of the United States, the House of Representatives ‘‘shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment’’;
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•SRES 467 IS
Whereas, pursuant to article I, section 3 of the Constitution
of the United States, the Senate ‘‘shall have the sole
Power to try all Impeachments’’;
Whereas, on December 18, 2019, the House of Representa-
tives passed 2 articles of impeachment against President
Donald J. Trump;
Whereas, since passage, the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives has refused to transmit the articles to the
Senate, unless the Senate agrees to allow the Speaker of
the House of Representatives to dictate the rules of a
trial;
Whereas, the Constitution of the United States does not pro-
vide the Speaker of the House of Representatives with
the power to effectively veto a resolution passed by a duly
elected majority of the House of Representatives by re-
fusing to transmit such a resolution to the Senate;
Whereas, the refusal by the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives to transmit the articles is a flagrant violation
of the separation of powers expressly outlined in the bi-
cameral impeachment process under the Constitution of
the United States;
Whereas, this inaction by the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives is a gross infringement on the constitutional
authority of the Senate to try impeachments;
Whereas, the refusal by the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives to transmit the articles is unprecedented for
presidential impeachments;
Whereas, refusing to transmit the articles is resulting in the
denial of President Trump’s day in court; and
Whereas, if allowed to stand, this inaction by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives would set a dangerous
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•SRES 467 IS
precedent for the constitutional system of Government in
the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate calls on the Speaker of the
1
House of Representatives to immediately appoint impeach-
2
ment managers and transmit the articles of impeachment
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to the Senate for disposition consistent with the Constitu-
4
tion of the United States.
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Æ
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