A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to ensure continuity of congressional operations and the avoidance of martial law in the event of mass incapacitations or death in either House of Congress.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 17, 2005

Constitutional Amendment - Authorizes the Congress by law (approved by two-thirds of both Houses) to provide for the death or inability of Members of the House of Representatives and Members of the Senate, in the event that one-fourth of either House is killed or incapacitated, declaring who shall serve until the disability is removed, or a new Member is elected.

Declares that such procedures shall expire by 120 days after the death or inability of one-fourth of the House or the Senate. Allows an additional 120-day extension, however, if one-fourth of either House remains vacant or occupied by members unable to serve.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · R–TX

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 17, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 17, 2005
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 17, 2005 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. 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 S.J.Res.6 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

Discuss S.J.Res.6, 109th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to ensure continuity of congressional operations and the avoidance of martial law in the event of mass incapacitations or death in either House of Congress.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sjres6/BILLS-109sjres6is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.J.Res.6 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.J.Res.6 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

Discuss S.J.Res.6, 109th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to ensure continuity of congressional operations and the avoidance of martial law in the event of mass incapacitations or death in either House of Congress.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sjres6/BILLS-109sjres6is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.J.Res.6 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.J.Res.6 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

Discuss S.J.Res.6, 109th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to ensure continuity of congressional operations and the avoidance of martial law in the event of mass incapacitations or death in either House of Congress.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sjres6/BILLS-109sjres6is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.J.Res.6 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.J.Res.6 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.J.Res.6, 109th Congress: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to ensure continuity of congressional operations and the avoidance of martial law in the event of mass incapacitations or death in either House of Congress.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/6

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-02-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sjres6/BILLS-109sjres6is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.J.Res.6 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.