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This House resolution, introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D - MI), would express the House's desire that the Senate to “fulfill its constitutional obligation” and give “full and fair consideration” to federal Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

Obama nominated Garland, currently the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, on March 16. If confirmed, Garland will fill the vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia’s death in February.

Before Garland’s nomination, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that the Senate wouldn't consider any nominations for the remainder of Obama’s presidency, arguing that the responsibility should fall to the next president following November's election. Every Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee followed suit in a letter promising not to hold confirmation hearings.

Until a new justice is appointed, the remaining eight justices on the Supreme Court will continue to hear and decide cases. In the case of a tie, the decision of the lower court stands, but the outcome doesn't set a constitutional precedent.","official_title":"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide full and fair consideration of the President's nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.","short_title":null,"popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should: (1) fulfill its constitutional obligation by observing regular order and holding hearings to consider the President's nomination of Judge Garland to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court; and (2) after giving its full and fair consideration, vote on such nomination.","summarized":true,"cost":0,"cost_commentary":"","impact":"Merrick Garland, members of the Senate, the Supreme Court justices, Barack Obama, 2016 presidential candidates, the American people who stand to be affected by Supreme Court decisions","argument_for":"The Senate is constitutionally obligated to consider President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination. Merrick Garland is a qualified judge who at least deserves formal consideration. ","argument_against":"President Obama’s time in office is nearly over, and there's nothing in the Constitution that requires the Senate to consider a Supreme Court nomination. Let the next President put forward their own choice. ","bill_type":"hres","published":true,"type":"FederalBill","id":"hres661-114","bill_id":"hres661-114","formal_id":"H. 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House to Senate: Consider Judge Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court