THE TESTS OF GERMANENESS

THE PRINCIPLES OF GERMANENESS

The principle of germaneness was adopted as a rule of the House in 1789 and now can be found in clause 7 of Rule XVI of the House. An amendment must be germane to the matter it seeks to amend. If it is not, it is subject to a point of order. The Chair rules on questions of germaneness. This rule and its precedents have resulted in the following general principles of germaneness.

An amendment must relate to the subject matter under consideration.
The fundamental purpose of the amendment must be germane to the fundamental purpose of the bill.
The amendment when considered as a whole should be within the jurisdiction of the committee.
An individual proposition may not be amended by another individual proposition even if they are of the same class.
A specific subject may not be amended by a provision general in nature.
A general subject may be amended by specific propositions of the same class.

An amendment must be germane to the matter it seeks to amend. If it is not, it is subject to a point of order. The Chair rules on questions of germaneness.