[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would like to take this occasion 
to make an announcement regarding proper decorum during debate in the 
House in the 106th Congress, including 1-minute and Special Order 
speeches, specifically with regard to references to the President of 
the United States and references to the Senate. A further statement on 
decorum will be inserted into the Record.
  As indicated, in section 17 of Jefferson's Manual, which under rule 
XXVIII is incorporated as a part of the Rules of the House for the 
106th Congress as adopted today, Members engaged in debate must abstain 
from language that is personally critical of the President. This 
restriction extends to referencing extraneous material personally 
critical of the President that would be improper if spoken as the 
Member's own words.
  As the Chair stated, with the concurrence of the minority leader on 
September 10, 1998, it is only during the actual pendency of 
proceedings in impeachment as the pending business on the floor of the 
House that remarks in debate may include references to personal 
misconduct on the part of the President.
  While the rulings by the Chair in the 105th Congress may have 
preceded adoption of articles of impeachment against the President by 
the House, it is essential that the constraints against such remarks in 
debate continue to apply in the House in the 106th Congress.
  The Chair will reiterate the bounds of permissible debate announced 
on September 10, 1998. Debate may include expressions of opinion about 
executive policy or competence to hold office. Members may continue to 
challenge the President on matters of policy. The line drawn by the 
rule of decorum remains one between political criticism and personal 
criticism.
  What the rule of decorum requires is that the oratory remain above 
personality and refrain from terms personally offensive.
  When an impeachment measure is not pending on the floor, a Member who 
feels a need to dwell on the personal, factual bases underlying the 
rationale on which he might question the fitness or competence of an 
incumbent President must do so in other forums, while confining his 
remarks in debate to the more rigorous standard of decorum that must 
prevail in this Chamber.
  It is a general principle of comity that certain references to the 
Senate are to be avoided in debate in the House. Rule XVII specifically 
provides that debate in the House may not include characterizations of 
Senate action or inaction. As the Chair most recently ruled on October 
10, 1997, and as recorded in section 371 of the House Rules and Manual, 
Members are also prohibited from urging the Senate to undertake a 
certain action. The Chair would remind all Members to refrain from such 
references on the floor of the House in the event of an impeachment 
trial in the Senate.
  The Chair will enforce these rules of decorum with respect to 
references to the President and the Senate, and asks and expects the 
cooperation of all Members in maintaining a level of decorum that 
properly dignifies the proceedings of the House.

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