A discharge petition lets House members try to force a floor vote

A discharge petition lets House members try to force a floor vote when leadership will not move a bill.

1. Frame 1How discharge petitions work: House members can force a stalled bill toward a floor vote.
2. Frame 2Committee gate: Rule XV usually waits 30 legislative days before a Member files the motion.
3. Frame 3Public document: the Clerk keeps the petition at the rostrum while the House is in session.
4. Frame 4Threshold map: 218 voting members, a hard House majority, must sign before the motion moves.
5. Frame 5Calendar bottleneck: after seven days on the Discharge Calendar, a signer can trigger debate and a vote.
6. Frame 6Failure mode: withdrawals, committee reporting, amendments, or Senate inaction can stop the chain after signatures.