Continuity of Congress: Proposals and Issues

Publication Date: April 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Keywords: Government--Internal security

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Abstract:

The September 2001 terrorist attacks have again raised concerns about Congress's ability to act in the event of a catastrophic loss of membership. During the height of the Cold War, Congress considered, but did not approve, constitutional amendments to permit, pending special elections, temporary appointments of House Members to fill vacancies resulting from a disaster. As most state governors are permitted to appoint a Senator to fill a vacancy until the next regular election, the continuity of Senate operations has generally received less attention. There has also been interest in assuring Congress's ability to meet elsewhere than in the Capitol or by electronic means, if assembly in person were unsafe. Action was
taken in the 107th Congress after the terrorist attacks to address some of these issues, and rules and practices have been modified at the start of the 108th Congress, but agreement on a comprehensive solution has yet to be reached.