Title 3 — The PresidentRelease 119-73not60
§17 Same; Limit of Debate in Each House
Title 3 › Chapter 1— PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND VACANCIES › § 17
Summary
When the House and Senate split to deal with an objection about a State’s electoral votes, all allowed objections for that State must be handled at that time. Each senator and representative may speak once for up to five minutes. Debate in each House is limited to two hours total, split equally and managed by the Majority and Minority Leaders or people they choose. After debate ends, the presiding officer must immediately put each objection to a vote.
Full Legal Text
Title 3, §17
The President — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
When the two Houses separate to decide upon an objection pursuant to section 15(d)(2)(C)(i) that may have been made to the counting of any electoral vote or votes from any State, or other question arising in the matter—
(1)all such objections and questions permitted with respect to such State shall be considered at such time;
(2)each Senator and Representative may speak to such objections or questions for up to five minutes, and not more than once;
(3)the total time for debate for all such objections and questions with respect to such State shall not exceed two hours in each House, equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and Minority Leader, or their respective designees; and
(4)at the close of such debate, it shall be the duty of the presiding officer of each House to put each of the objections and questions to a vote without further debate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Pub. L. 117–328 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “When the two Houses separate to decide upon an objection that may have been made to the counting of any electoral vote or votes from any State, or other question arising in the matter, each Senator and Representative may speak to such objection or question five minutes, and not more than once; but after such debate shall have lasted two hours it shall be the duty of the presiding officer of each House to put the main question without further debate.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
3 U.S.C. § 17
Title 3 — The President
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60