When was Rule 21 last invoked? - Democratic Underground

Ready4Change

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:10 PM
Original message

When was Rule 21 last invoked?

I've heard it said it hasn't been invoked in 25 years. Yet I've also heard the Senate met in secret regarding impeaching Clinton. (in 1997?)

Lou Dobbs just said that since 1929 the Senate has meet in secret 54 times. It appears this is most often agreed to in advance, and what is being objected to here is that the Democrats made this happen unilaterally, ie: without getting Republican consent in advance.

My question is: when was this last done? 25 years ago would have been around 1980. Reagan era? Carter? What was it about?

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William769

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:12 PM
Response to Original message

1. My understanding is

It's been 25 years since it was invoked without prior consent.

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ticapnews

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:18 PM
Response to Original message

2. It was last invoked during the Clinton impeachment. 25 years ago

Edited on Tue Nov-01-05 06:30 PM by ticapnews

it might have been to discuss Central America, or to impeach a federal judge. This Senate document doesn't specify.
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:V9PYhylOubUJ:www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-718.pdf++%22closed+session%22+Senate&hl=en

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Ivote

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:24 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Lou Dobbs said 6 times

I thought I heard Lou Dobbs said it was used six times during Clintons Impeachment hearings.

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ticapnews

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. It was used six times during 1999

Edited on Tue Nov-01-05 06:26 PM by ticapnews

Twice in January, four times in February.

The last time it was done unilaterally was 25 years ago.

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Moochy

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:26 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. What was discussed in those six sessions?

But during those 6 closed hearings, they issued a heads-up to the democratic leaders presumably.

I've often wondered what was under discussion during those sessions.

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ticapnews

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:28 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. They heard testimony from witnesses

Edited on Tue Nov-01-05 06:28 PM by ticapnews

and there was a motion to end the trial.

The transcripts are sealed, unless the Senate votes to open them.

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Moochy

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Tue Nov-01-05 06:43 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. a sunshine provision on that stuff?

Does the senate have a "sunshine provision" for transcripts that the White house does?
I'm thinking specifically of the way portions of Nixon's transcripts were released, some of it automatically, and some of it via FOIA requests.

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