TO TABLE THE HELMS, NC) AMENDMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY EXTRADITION TREATY WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE AMENDMENT WOULD PROVIDE THAT, IN THE UNITED STATES, THE COMPETENT JUDICIAL AUTHORITY SHALL CONSIDER AS A DEFENSE TO EXTRADITION A SHOWING THAT THE PERSON FOR WHOM EXTRADITION IS SOUGHT HAS COMMITTED THE SPECIFIED ACTS IN FURTHERANCE OF AN ARMED UPRISING, INSURRECTION, OR REBELLION AGAINST THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE ACCUSED PERSON IS A NATIONAL, IF SUCH ACTS DID NOT INCLUDE WANTON CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.

Notes

What’s the difference between aye and yea?

There is no meaningful difference between aye and yea (and nay and no), but the terms are used in different sorts of votes based on Congress’s long tradition of parliamentary procedure. The House and Senate follow the U.S. Constitution strictly when it says that bills should be decided on by the “yeas and nays” (Article I, Section 7). The House sometimes operates under a special set of rules called the “Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union” (or “Committee of the Whole” for short), which is a sort of pseudo-committee that is made up of every congressman. During this mode of operation, the House uses the terms “aye” and “no” instead. (See the Rules of the House, Rule XX, and House Practice in the section Voting.)