Double insistence is a deadlock reached when the two Houses can’t agree on the final text of a bill:
- House A makes an amendment to a bill
- House B rejects the amendment (without suggesting an alternative)
- House A insists on its amendment (without suggesting an alternative) and
- House B insists on its disagreement (without suggesting an alternative)
- the two Houses are in a deadlock (double insistence)
If double insistence is reached, the bill fails and can’t be passed. In practice, considerable efforts are made to avoid this, usually by the Houses suggesting alternative amendments when they disagree.