The unofficial dress code for the US Senate has been done away with. Senators no longer have to wear business attire. Gift link for WaPo article:
You know you’ve entered BizarroWorld when you get lectured about etiquette by MTG.
How do you get rid of an unwritten rule?
You tell the person who enforces it to stop enforcing it. In this case, the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
How did they enforce an unwritten rule, then? If a Senator showed up in the chamber without a tie (or in a Grateful Dead t-shirt) what was the Sergeant-at-Arms going to do about it? There’s no book he can point to that gives him the authority to keep that senator out.
I’ve heard the same thing about unwritten rules in baseball, like you don’t bunt if the opposing pitcher is working on a no-hitter. Break the rule and some sportswriter might squawk about it, but there’s no means to enforce it.
Unwritten rules only work to the extent that a bunch of people agree to follow them. If someone comes along who doesn’t agree to it, they don’t. So how do you officially repeal a rule that was never officially instated and written down?
Logically you’d umm… write it down?
I didn’t say it would make any sense, just that its logical.
You enforce it through peer pressure, I guess.
Clothing styles and norms change over time. If the Senate hadn’t adapted already Senators would still be wearing powdered wigs.
He wouldn’t permit you to enter the chamber if you weren’t wearing a tie, same as he wouldn’t if you showed up with an AR-15 hanging on your shoulder.
If you demanded he show you the rule that gives him the authority, he’d say, “Listen, Senator SovCit, we can debate this all day, but you are not getting in until you don your clip-on.” Repeat as necessary.
Didn’t Ted Cruz show up in sweats one time to vote?
Hey - maybe this will attract more qualified candidates! 
I kinda wish they’d made and continued to enforce that rule
senators would be just outside the door and lean in the door to vote. the change in code means they could go into the chamber. the soa would stop them at the door if men did not have a tie.
both parties would lean in, it wasn’t just one senator. the pit thread has picture of republican senators in casual or work out clothes, leaning in to vote.
Right. OTOH in the House, they use e-voting-card stations located in the chamber or as exceptions vote by voice from one of the floor mics, so you have to be inside (during lockdown/distancing they enacted proxy voting so a reduced number of members would be inside and they’d read the vote of those who had signed off on the proxy).
Give him some slack… he had probably just molted, and his new scales were tender!
He was fresh from his soup-cocoon.
When I first heard about this, I was somewhat disappointed. I mean, come on. Respect the Position. But upon further reflection, these people do not respect the position. They are clowns, slobs and Scumbags. Put them in a suit, and it doesn’t change that. They might as well look like clowns, slobs and Scumbags.
How long until we see Cavanaugh sitting on the bench with one of those hats with Beer holders on the sides?
Considering the number who are allowed in without a brain, what they are wearing should be a minor issue.
This is fine.
and (seriously) That is why I voted Fetterman!