Morning business is routine business that is supposed to occur during the first two hours of a new legislative day in the U.S. Senate.
This business includes receiving messages from the President and from the other legislative chamber, reports from executive branch officials, petitions from citizens, committee reports and the introduction of bills and submission of resolutions.
In practice, this sometime occurs at other convenient points in the day.
Origin of “Morning Business”
The concept of “morning business” is grounded in the Senate’s rules and traditions, reflecting the chamber’s unique role in the American legislative process.
Unlike the House of Representatives, which often operates under stricter rules and time constraints, the Senate prides itself on being a deliberative body where individual senators have significant freedom to speak on the floor.
“Morning business” embodies this ethos, allowing senators to engage in a less formal and more open-ended discourse than is typically permitted during debates on specific bills or nominations.
During “morning business,” senators may speak on any topic for a limited amount of time, usually up to 10 minutes each, although this can be modified by unanimous consent or other agreements among senators.
This time can be used for various purposes, such as outlining positions on upcoming legislation, discussing pressing issues in their states, raising awareness about specific causes or events, or paying homage to public figures or constituents.
Senators often use this period to enter statements into the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress.
Use of “Morning Bsuiness” in a sentence
- During the session of “morning business,” Senator Smith took the opportunity to highlight the urgent need for infrastructure improvements in her home state, stressing the importance of federal support.
- The Senate Majority Leader announced that tomorrow’s “morning business” would be dedicated to discussing the recent natural disasters across the country, allowing senators to share their constituents’ experiences and needs.
- In a passionate speech during “morning business,” Senator Johnson called for bipartisan cooperation on healthcare reform, emphasizing that it was a critical issue affecting all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.