The One Subject at a Time Act would require that every bill or joint resolution considered by Congress address only a single subject. The bill would force the subject to be clearly and descriptively stated in the title, with strict enforcement rules. For appropriations bills, it would prohibit general legislation or changes to existing law that are not germane to the bill’s funded subject, except that it may include provisions limiting how funds are spent. If a bill’s title covers multiple unrelated subjects, the entire bill would be void. If the title covers a single subject but the bill contains provisions not clearly tied to that subject, only the misaligned provisions would be void. There are also specific rules about provisions outside subcommittee jurisdiction in appropriations bills and about whether non-germane provisions within appropriations acts are void. To enforce these rules, the bill creates a private right of action under 28 U.S.C. 2201-2202 allowing individuals to seek injunctions against enforcement of laws that do not comply, with de novo (fresh) review by the courts. In short, the bill aims to eliminate omnibus or multi-subject legislation by enforcing a strict one-subject rule, redefining how bills are titled and structured, and providing a private legal remedy to challenge noncompliant laws.
Key Points
- 1One Subject: Every bill or joint resolution must embrace no more than one subject.
- 2Title Conformity: The bill’s subject must be clearly and descriptively expressed in the title.
- 3Appropriations Limitations: Appropriations bills may not contain general legislation or changes to existing law unrelated to the subject matter of the appropriation, though they may impose limitations on how funds are spent.
- 4Enforcement and Void Provisions: If a bill’s title covers multiple unrelated subjects, the entire Act is void; if provisions not clearly tied to the title exist, only those misaligned provisions are void; appropriations provisions outside relevant subcommittee jurisdiction or not germane to the bill’s subject are void.
- 5Private Legal Remedy: Aggrieved individuals or Members can sue the United States under 28 U.S.C. 2201-2202 for relief, including injunctions, with a de novo standard of review in court.