Authorizing and directing the Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 7, 1998
Authorizes the House Committee on the Judiciary, acting as a whole or by any subcommittee thereof appointed by the chairman for the purposes hereof and in accordance with the rules of the Committee, to investigate fully and completely whether sufficient grounds exist for the House to exercise its constitutional power to impeach President Clinton. Requires the Committee to report to the House such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper.
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion to recommit the resolution to the Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to report the same back with an amendment to strike the first section and insert provisions to conduct an inquiry and if appropriate to act upon the Referral from the Independent Counsel; to review the constitutional standard for impeachment; and investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the House to exercise its constitutional power to impeach the President. Following the conclusion of its inquiry the Committee shall consider any recommendation it may commend to the House including (1) one or more articles of impeachment; (2) alternative sanctions; or (3) no action. The Committee shall make its recommendations sufficiently in advance of December 31, 1998 so that the House may consider the recommendations.
Mr. Boucher moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
The previous question was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House resumed debate on the resolution.
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS - Mr. Conyers asked unanimous consent that a motion to recommit the resolution, to be offered at the conclusion of debate, be debatable for ten minutes. Agreed to without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with two hours of debate.
ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS - Mr. Hyde asked unanimous consent that debate on the resolution be extended to two hours. Agreed to without objection.
Considered as privileged matter. (consideration: CR H10015-10032, H10083-10119)
Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 272.
The House Committee on Judiciary reported an original measure, H. Rept. 105-795, by Mr. Hyde.
The House Committee on Judiciary reported an original measure, H. Rept. 105-795, by Mr. Hyde.
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Bill text & related measures
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Explore the bill from different angles
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Neutral evidence review
Objective
Analyze H.Res.581 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine H.Res.581 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine H.Res.581 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine H.Res.581 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.