[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 6]
[Chapter 3.  Party Organization]
[B. Party Caucus or Conference]
[Â§ 3. Chairmen - Functions]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 149-160]
 
                               CHAPTER 3
 
                           Party Organization
 
                     B. PARTY CAUCUS OR CONFERENCE
 
Sec. 3. Chairmen--Functions

    At the beginning of a Congress, the Democratic Caucus and 
Republican Conference elect chairmen.(9)
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 9. See 8 Cannon's Precedents Sec. Sec. 3603, 3604a; Cannon's Procedure 
        in the House of Representatives, H. Doc. No. 122, 86th Cong. 
        1st Sess. (1959) p. 187; Riddick, Floyd M., Congressional 
        Procedure, Chapman and Grimes (Boston, 1941), pp. 31, 32.
            The chairman of the caucus for the preceding Congress may 
        call the initial meeting to order. See Cannon's Procedure in 
        the House of Representatves, H. Doc. No. 122, 86th Cong. 1st 
        Sess. (1959), p. 187.
            For discussion of more recent developments, including 
        procedures for calling an organizational meeting of the caucus 
        prior to the opening of a new Congress, see supplements to this 
        edition as they appear.
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    The chairman has duties and functions which are to some extent 
specified in the caucus or conference rules. Thus, the following rule 
defines the authority of the Democratic Caucus Chairman with respect to 
determining the time and place of caucus meetings:

        Meetings of the Democratic caucus may be called by the chairman 
    upon his own motion and shall be called by him whenever requested 
    in writing by 50 members of the caucus or at the request of the 
    party leader. While the House is in session the Democratic caucus 
    shall meet regularly at a time and place to be determined by the 
    chairman, on the third Wednesday of each month, except January of 
    odd numbered years. If the House not be in session on the third 
    Wednesday, the monthly caucus shall be held on the next succeeding 
    Wednesday on which the House is in session. The chairman may cancel 
    any monthly caucus, but not two consecutive monthly caucuses, 
    provided members are given reasonable notice of such 
    cancellation.(10)
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10. Rule 3, Democratic Caucus Rules (July 20, 1971). For general 
        discussion of the caucus rules, see Sec. 4, infra.
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    The caucus rules also delimit the role of the chairman in 
determining the order and nature of business to be transacted at caucus 
meetings. The caucus rules provide that, at each monthly caucus,

        . . . members shall have the right to place before the caucus 
    any question, provided that notice of such intention is (1) 
    delivered to the office of the chairman, and (2) transmitted to all 
    members of the caucus not later than 5:00 p.m. on the ninth day 
    immediately preceding the day of such caucus. The chairman shall 
    prescribe the order of business and shall provide members with an 
    agenda at least 5 days before caucus. Amendments to the agenda 
    shall be in order only if

[[Page 150]]

    submitted to caucus members at least 48 hours before the hour of 
    convening and if supported in writing by 50 members.(11)
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11. Rule 3, Democratic Caucus Rules (July 20, 1971).
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    The following are rules of a general nature that relate to the 
conduct of business by the chairman:

        General parliamentary law, with such special rules as may be 
    adopted, shall govern the meetings of the Caucus.(12)
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12. Rule 5, Democratic Caucus Rules (July 20, 1971).
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        That the 5-minute rule that governs the House of 
    Representatives shall govern debate in the Democratic Caucus, 
    unless suspended by a vote of the caucus.(13)
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13. Rule 9, Democratic Caucus Rules (July 20, 1971).
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        . . . If the absence of a quorum is established, the chairman 
    may continue the meeting for purposes of discussion only, but no 
    motion of any kind, except a motion to adjourn, shall be in order 
    at such continued meeting.(14)
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14. Rule 4, Democratic Caucus Rules (July 20, 1971).
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        No persons, except Democratic Members of the House of 
    Representatives, a caucus Journal Clerk, and other necessary 
    employees, shall be admitted to the meetings of the caucus without 
    the express permission of the chairman.(15)
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15. Rule 10, Democratic Caucus Rules (1971).
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    In addition to those activities relating directly to his conduct of 
caucus or conference business, the chairman undertakes certain 
functions, described in succeeding sections, on the floor of the House. 
It should also be noted that the chairman may serve as an ex officio 
member of various party committees; the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus, for example, has in past Congresses been an ex officio member 
of the Steering Committee.(16)
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16. See Sec. 13, infra.                          -------------------
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Announcement of Candidate for Speaker

Sec. 3.1 At the beginning of every Congress, each caucus or conference 
    chairman announces in the House the name of his party's candidate 
    for the office of Speaker.

    At the beginning of the 91st Congress, immediately following the 
roll call of the states to establish a quorum and the announcement of 
the receipt of the credentials of the Resident Commissioner from Puerto 
Rico, the Clerk called for nominations for Speaker. The Chairman of the 
Democratic Caucus, Mr. Daniel D. Rostenkowski, of Illinois, presented 
the name of Mr. John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts. The Chairman of 
the Republican Con

[[Page 151]]

ference, Mr. John Anderson, of Illinois, presented the name of Mr. 
Gerald R. Ford, of Michigan.(17)
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17. 115 Cong. Rec. 13, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 3, 1969. For 
        substantially the same proceedings in prior Congresses, see, 
        for example, 113 Cong. Rec. 12, 90th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 10, 
        1967; and 111 Cong. Rec. 17, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 
        1965. In the 90th Congress, 1st Sess. (113 Cong. Rec. 12), the 
        proceedings differed mainly in that the Clerk, before calling 
        for nominations for Speaker, announced a vacancy in the second 
        district of Rhode Island occasioned by the recent death of a 
        Representative-elect.
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Sec. 3.2 The Speaker having died prior to the second session of the 
    87th Congress, the Clerk at the beginning of the second session 
    called for nominations for Speaker, and the Chairmen of the 
    Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference announced their 
    respective parties' nominations for Speaker.

    On Jan. 10, 1962,(18) the Clerk called the House to 
order for the purpose of electing a Speaker. Immediately following the 
call of the roll, the following proceedings took place:
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18. 108 Cong. Rec. 5, 87th Cong 2d Sess.
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        The Clerk: Nominations for Speaker of the House of 
    Representatives are now in order.
        The Clerk recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
    Walter).
        Mr. [Francis E.] Walter [of Pennsylvania]: Mr. Clerk, as 
    chairman of the Democratic Caucus I am directed by the unanimous 
    vote of that caucus to present for election to the office of 
    Speaker of the House of Representatives the name of the Honorable 
    John W. McCormack, a Representative from the State of 
    Massachusetts.
        The Clerk: The gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Hoeven] is recognized.
        Mr. [Charles B.] Hoeven [of Iowa]: Mr. Clerk, by authority, by 
    direction, and by unanimous vote of the Republican Conference, I 
    nominate for Speaker of the House of Representatives the Honorable 
    Charles A. Halleck, a Representative from the State of Indiana.

Third-Party Nomination for Speaker

Sec. 3.3 A third party may organize as a conference and name its 
    candidate for Speaker, and the chairman of such conference 
    announces his party's candidate for the Speakership in the same 
    manner as the major parties' candidates are announced.

    On Jan. 5, 1937,(19) following the nominations by the 
Chairman of the Democratic Caucus and Republican Conference of 
candidates

[[Page 152]]

for the Speakership, the following proceedings took place:
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19. 81 Cong. Rec. 11, 75th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        The Clerk: Are there any further nominations?
        Mr. [Gardner R.] Withrow [of Wisconsin]: Mr. Clerk, as chairman 
    of the Farmer-Labor-Progressive Party's Conference, I have been 
    directed, and I have the authority, to present to this body as a 
    candidate for the Speakership of the Seventy-fifth Congress Hon. 
    George J. Schneider, a Representative-elect from the State of 
    Wisconsin.

Resolution Electing Speaker Pro Tempore

Sec. 3.4 The Chairman of the Democratic Caucus offered a resolution 
    electing a Speaker pro tempore.

    On Jan. 10, 1966, Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, the Speaker pro tempore 
by designation, left the chair pending the offering of a resolution 
electing him as Speaker pro tempore during the absence of the 
Speaker.(20) Mr. Albert requested that the chair be 
temporarily assumed by Mr. Hale Boggs, of Louisiana, who thereupon 
assumed the chair and recognized the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus 
for purposes of offering the resolution.
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20. 112 Cong. Rec. 6, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
            Parliamentarian's Note: Speaker John W. McCormack (Mass.) 
        was absent because of the death of his brother. Since the 
        duration of the Speaker's absence was uncertain, and since 
        there were new Members present to be sworn as well as business 
        requiring a signature, the election of a Speaker pro tempore 
        was considered essential.
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    A similar resolution was offered by the caucus chairman in the 87th 
Congress.(1) Speaker Rayburn being absent on Aug. 31, 1961, 
Carl Albert, the Democratic whip, called the House to order and laid 
down a letter from the Speaker designating Carl Albert as Speaker pro 
tempore for the day. Following the prayer, approval of the Journal and 
receipt of a message from the Senate, the caucus chairman offered the 
resolution electing John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, as Speaker pro 
tempore.
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 1. 107 Cong. Rec. 17765, 17766, 87th Cong. 1st Sess., Aug. 31, 1961.
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Announcement of Election of Party Leader

Sec. 3.5 At the beginning of a Congress, it is usual for announcements 
    to be made by the caucus and conference chairmen as to their 
    respective parties' floor leaders.

    On Jan. 3, 1969,(2) following the transaction of 
business relating to

[[Page 153]]

the swearing in of Members, the following proceedings took place:
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 2. 115 Cong. Rec. 34, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Daniel D.] Rostenkowski [of Illinois]: Mr. Speaker, as 
    Chairman of the Democratic caucus, I have been directed to report 
    to the House that the Democratic Members have selected as majority 
    leader the gentleman from Oklahoma, the Honorable Carl Albert.
        Mr. [John B.] Anderson [of Illinois]: Mr. Speaker, as Chairman 
    of the Republican Conference, I am directed by that Conference to 
    officially notify the House that the gentleman from Michigan, the 
    Honorable Gerald R. Ford, has been selected as the minority leader 
    of the House.(3)
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 3. Substantially the same procedure has been followed in other 
        Congresses. See, for example, 113 Cong. Rec. 27, 90th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 10, 1967; 111 Cong. Rec. 20, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Jan. 4, 1965; and 109 Cong. Rec. 13, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 
        9, 1963.
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Sec. 3.6 Where a vacancy has occurred in the office of floor leader, 
    the chairman of the party caucus announces the party's selection of 
    a new floor leader.

    On Jan. 10, 1962,(4) the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus announced the selection of Carl Albert as Majority Leader, to 
replace John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, who had been elevated to 
the Speakership after the death of Speaker Rayburn. The announcement 
was made as follows:
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 4. 108 Cong. Rec. 7, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. Walter: Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Democratic caucus I 
    am directed to report to the House that the Democratic Members have 
    selected as majority leader the gentleman from Oklahoma, the 
    Honorable Carl Albert.

Announcement of Republican Whip

Sec. 3.7 Generally,(5) after the members of the Republican 
    Conference select their party whip, such selection is announced to 
    the House by the chairman of the conference.(6)
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 5. For occasions on which the selection of the Republican whip has 
        been announced by the Republican floor leader, see Sec. 23.3, 
        infra.
 6. As to the announcement of the selection of the Democratic whip, see 
        Sec. 20.3, infra.
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    On Jan. 3, 1969,(7) immediately after announcements 
relating to the selection of party floor leaders, the following 
announcement was made by the Chairman of the Republican Conference:
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 7. 115 Cong. Rec. 34, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [John B.] Anderson of Illinois: Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of 
    the Republican Conference, I am directed by that conference to 
    notify the House officially that the Republican Members

[[Page 154]]

    have selected as minority whip the gentleman from Illinois, the 
    Honorable Leslie C. Arends.(8)
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 8. Substantially similar proceedings have taken place in other 
        Congresses. See, for example 113 Cong. Rec. 27, 90th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 10, 1967. Of course, announcements relating to the 
        selection of the whips are not always made at the same time as 
        announcements relating to the selection of floor leaders. In 
        the 89th Congress, for example, the Chairman of the Republican 
        Conference announced the selection of the minority whip on Jan. 
        14, 1965 (111 Cong. Rec. 656, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.), whereas 
        the selection of the floor leaders had been announced on Jan. 4 
        (111 Cong. Rec. 20, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.).
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Announcements as to Other Party Officers

Sec. 3.8 The Chairman of the Republican Conference has on occasion 
    announced to the House the selection of other party officers, in 
    particular the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee and the 
    Chairman of the Republican Committee on Research and Planning.

    On Jan. 10, 1967,(9) the Chairman of the Republican 
Conference, after announcing the selection of the Minority Leader and 
the minority whip, announced:
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 9. 113 Cong. Rec. 27, 90th Cong. 1st Sess. See also 109 Cong. Rec. 
        506, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 17, 1963, in which the Chairman 
        of the Republican Conference announced the selection of the 
        minority whip and the Chairman of the Republican Policy 
        Committee. In the 89th Congress (111 Cong. Rec. 20, 89th Cong. 
        1st Sess.), on Jan. 4, 1965, the conference chairman announced 
        first the selection of the Minority Leader and immediately 
        thereafter the selection of the Chairman of the Republican 
        Policy Committee; the announcement of the selection of the 
        minority whip was made by the conference chairman on Jan. 14, 
        1965 (111 Cong. Rec. 656, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.).
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        The Conference has also directed me to notify the House 
    officially that the Republican Members have selected as Chairman of 
    the Republican Committee on Policy the gentleman from Arizona, the 
    Honorable John J. Rhodes, and has chosen as Chairman of the 
    Republican Committee on Research and Planning the gentleman from 
    New York, the Honorable Charles E. Goodell.

Resolution Naming Officers of the House

Sec. 3.9 The chairman of the caucus or conference customarily 
    introduces a resolution pertaining to the election of the Clerk of 
    the House, Sergeant at Arms, Doorkeeper, Postmaster, and Chaplain.

    On Jan. 3, 1969,(10) the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus of

[[Page 155]]

fered the following resolution, which was read by the Clerk:
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10. 115 Cong. Rec. 34, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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                                   H. Res. 3

        Resolved, That W. Pat Jennings, of the Commonwealth of 
    Virginia, be, and he is hereby, chosen Clerk of the House of 
    Representatives;
        That Zeake W. Johnson, Jr., of the State of Tennessee, be, and 
    he is hereby, chosen Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
    Representatives;
        That William M. Miller, of the State of Mississippi, be, and he 
    is hereby, chosen Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives;
        That H. H. Morris, of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, be, and he 
    is hereby, chosen Postmaster of the House of Representatives;
        That Reverend Edward G. Latch, of the District of Columbia, be, 
    and he is hereby, chosen Chaplain of the House of Representatives.

    Immediately after the introduction of the above resolution, the 
Chairman of the Republican Conference announced that he had a 
substitute to offer to the resolution. He thereupon requested that 
there be a division on the question on the resolution so as to permit a 
separate vote on the office of the Chaplain. After that portion of the 
resolution providing for the election of the Chaplain was agreed to, 
the Chairman of the Republican Conference offered a substitute 
amendment for the remainder of the resolution; such amendment, in the 
same form as the original resolution, named different persons to fill 
the posts of Clerk, Sergeant at Arms, Doorkeeper, and Postmaster. In 
the proceedings that followed, the substitute amendment was rejected, 
and the resolution offered by the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus was 
agreed to.(11)
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11. 115 Cong. Rec. 34, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 3, 1969. In the 90th 
        Congress (113 Cong. Rec. 27, 90th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 10, 
        1967), the proceedings were substantially the same, except that 
        the request for a division of the resolution electing officers 
        was made by the minority whip.
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    In the 89th Congress,(12) no substitute amendment was 
offered, and the resolution offered by the caucus chairman pertaining 
to the election of the House officers was immediately agreed to.
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12. 111 Cong. Rec. 20, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 1965.
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Resolution as to Compensation of Minority Employees

Sec. 3.10 The chairman of the minority caucus or conference may 
    introduce a resolution relating to the compensation of certain 
    minority employees.

    On Jan. 3, 1969,(13) the Chairman of the Republican 
Conference

[[Page 156]]

offered a resolution relating to the compensation of certain minority 
employees as follows:
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13. 115 Cong. Rec. 35, 91st Cong. 1st Sess. For further discussion of 
        the minority employees, see Sec. 1, supra.
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        Mr. [John B.] Anderson of Illinois: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution (H. Res. 8) and ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                   H. Res. 8

            Resolved, That pursuant to the Legislative Pay Act of 1929, 
        as amended, six minority employees authorized therein shall be 
        the following-named persons . . . to wit: Harry L. Brookshire 
        and Richard T. Burress to receive gross compensation of $28,000 
        respectvely. . . .

Election of Members to Committee on Ways and Means

Sec. 3.11 Resolutions electing Democratic Members to the Committee on 
    Ways and Means, including resolutions to fill vacancies, are 
    offered in the House by the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus.

    [Note: For more recent changes in the functions and composition of 
the Committee on Ways and Means, see supplements to this edition as 
they appear.]
    On Jan. 14, 1969,(14) the following proceedings took 
place:
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14. 115 Cong. Rec. 611, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Daniel D.] Rostenkowski [of Illinois]: Mr. Speaker, I 
    offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 124) and ask for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution as follows:

                                  H. Res. 124

            Resolved, That Sam Gibbons, of Florida, be, and he is 
        hereby, elected a Member of the standing committee of the House 
        of Representatives on Ways and Means.

        The resolution was agreed to.

    Substantially the same procedure has been followed in other 
Congresses.(15) On Jan. 16, 1962,(16) the 
resolution offered by the caucus chairman named two persons for 
membership on the Committee on Ways and Means, one of them the first 
woman elected to the committee. The proceedings were as follows:
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15. See, for example, 114 Cong. Rec. 24220, 90th Cong. 2d Sess., July 
        30, 1968, in which the caucus chairman called up a resolution 
        electing Omar Burleson to the Committee on Ways and Means; Mr. 
        Burleson had previously resigned (114 Cong. Rec. 24215, 90th 
        Cong. 2d Sess., July 30, 1968) from two positions on committees 
        pending his election to the Committee on Ways and Means. See 
        also 110 Cong. Rec. 10027, 88th Cong. 2d Sess., May 5, 1964.
16. 108 Cong. Rec. 263, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. [Francis E.] Walter [of Pennsylvania]: Mr. Speaker, by 
    direction of the Democratic Caucus, I send to the desk a resolution 
    and ask for its immediate consideration.

[[Page 157]]

        The Clerk read as follows:

                                  H. Res. 507

            Resolved, That Clark W. Thompson, of Texas, and Martha W. 
        Griffiths, of Michigan, be, and they are hereby, elected 
        members of the standing committee of the House of 
        Representatives on Ways and Means.

Resolution Electing Members to Other Standing Committees

Sec. 3.12 On occasion, the caucus chairman has offered a resolution 
    electing Members to various standing committees of the House.

    On Jan. 5, 1937,(17) the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus, Robert L. Doughton, of North Carolina, offered a resolution 
electing Members to certain standing committees of the House.
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17. 81 Cong. Rec. 15, 75th Cong. 1st Sess. Ordinarily, at the beginning 
        of recent Congresses, the resolution electing Democratic 
        Members to the standing committees of the House has been 
        offered by the Democratic Chairman of the Ways and Means 
        Committee. For further discussion of assignments to standing 
        committees, see Sec. Sec. 9.1-9.5, infra; see also Ch. 17, 
        infra.
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    On Jan. 23, 1961,(18) the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus, Francis E. Walter, of Pennsylvania, offered separate 
resolutions electing Members respectively to the standing Committee on 
Rules and the standing Committee on Appropriations.
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18. 107 Cong. Rec. 1155. 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Announcement of Caucus Meeting

Sec. 3.13 The caucus chairman has on occasion made announcements in the 
    House concerning caucus meetings.

    On Jan. 12, 1937,(19) the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus made the following announcement in the House:
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19. 81 Cong. Rec. 190, 75th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Robert L.] Doughton [of North Carolina]: Mr. Speaker, I 
    have asked for this time to inform the majority Members of the 
    House that there will be a Democratic Caucus at 10:30 o'clock 
    tomorrow morning to hear a report of the majority Committee on 
    Committees.

Ceremonial Activities; Courtesies

Sec. 3.14 The chairmen of the caucus and conference have on occasion 
    been appointed to the committee of escort(20) which 
    traditionally accom

[[Page 158]]

    panies a new Speaker-elect to the chair.
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20. At times, the committee of escort has consisted only of the 
        majority and minority floor leaders. See Sec. 21.1, infra.
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    On Jan. 10, 1967,(1) following the Clerk's announcement 
of the election of the Speaker, the following proceedings took place:
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 1. 113 Cong. Rec. 13, 90th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        [The Clerk:] The Clerk appoints the following Committee to 
    escort the Speaker-elect to the chair: . . . the gentleman from 
    Wisconsin [Mr. Laird] . . . the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
    Rostenkowski]. . . .
        The Doorkeeper announced the Speaker-elect of the House of 
    Representatives of the 90th Congress, who was escorted to the chair 
    by the committee of escort.

Committee to Notify President

Sec. 3.15 The chairman of the majority caucus has been appointed on 
    occasion to the committee to notify the President as to the 
    assembly of Congress.

    In the 86th Congress, the committee to notify the President as to 
the assembly of Congress consisted of the Majority Leader, the Minority 
Leader, and the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus.(2)
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 2. See 105 Cong. Rec. 15, 86th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 7, 1959.
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Administration of Oath to Speaker Pro Tempore

Sec. 3.16 On occasion,(3) the Chairman of the Democratic 
    Caucus has administered the oath to a newly-elected Speaker pro 
    tempore.
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 3. For a discussion of other persons who might administer the oath to 
        a newly-elected Speaker pro tempore, see Ch. 6, infra.
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    On Aug. 31, 1961,(4) after the adoption by the House of 
a resolution introduced by the caucus chairman electing John W. 
McCormack, of Massachusetts, the Speaker pro tempore, the caucus 
chairman administered the oath to Mr. McCormack.
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 4. 107 Cong. Rec. 17766, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Assumption of Duties as Speaker Pro Tempore

Sec. 3.17 In the 88th Congress, the Chairman of the Republican 
    Conference(5) presided as Speaker pro tempore during 
    consideration of a resolution expressing the appreciation of the 
    House for the manner in which Speaker John W.

[[Page 159]]

    McCormack, of Massachusetts, performed the duties of the Chair in 
    the 88th Congress.
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 5. The chairman was acting for the minority whip, who was absent. The 
        minority whip usually fulfills the duties that were undertaken 
        by the conference chairman on the occasion described above. See 
        Sec. 24.1, infra.
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    On Oct. 3, 1964,(6) shortly before adjournment of the 
second session of the 88th Congress, the Speaker requested the Chairman 
of the Republican Conference to assume the Chair as Speaker pro 
tempore. Having assumed the Chair, the Speaker pro tempore, Gerald R. 
Ford, of Michigan, recognized the Minority Leader, who sent to the desk 
the resolution of thanks to the Speaker of the House. The Minority 
Leader then delivered to the House remarks in praise of the Speaker, at 
the conclusion of which the Speaker pro tempore stated, ``The question 
is on the resolution.'' The resolution having been unanimously agreed 
to, the Speaker pro tempore recognized the Speaker, who responded to 
the resolution.
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 6. 110 Cong. Rec. 24058, 24059, 88th Cong. 2d Sess.
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Tribute to Speaker for Campaign Efforts

Sec. 3.18 In the 91st Congress, the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus 
    inserted in the Congressional Record the text of a resolution 
    adopted by the caucus expressing gratitude to the Speaker for his 
    efforts during the recent election campaign.

    On Nov. 18, 1970,(7) the Chairman of the Democratic 
Caucus asked and was given permission to address the House for one 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous 
matter.
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 7. 116 Cong. Rec. 37821, 37822, 91st Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. [Daniel D.] Rostenkowski [of Illinois]: Mr. Speaker, this 
    morning in the Democratic Caucus an extremely meritorious 
    resolution was unanimously adopted commending the Honorable John W. 
    McCormack, of the State of Massachusetts, for his participation in 
    last November's campaign.
        This resolution was offered by our distinguished majority 
    leader, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Albert), and I 
    wholeheartedly subscribe to the resolution which is as follows:

         Resolution by Representative Carl Albert, Democratic Caucus, 
                               November 18, 1970

        . . . Whereas the Speaker elevated [the] campaign to a higher 
    plane by focusing on valid issues, promoting rational debate, 
    maintaining a demeanor fitting of high public office, and 
    disdaining divisive and inflammatory rhetoric; and
        . . . Whereas his efforts in the late days of the campaign, and 
    the catalyzing effect of his statements on the issues were 
    resoundingly [successful] . . . Be it therefore

[[Page 160]]

        Resolved, That this Democratic Caucus express its unanimous 
    gratitude to Speaker John W. McCormack for his leadership and 
    guidance during the election period just completed. . . .

Expressions of Praise or Recognition

Sec. 3.19 On special occasions, the caucus or conference chairman has 
    made appropriate remarks of felicitation or recognition.

    On many occasions, the caucus or conference chairman has been among 
those offering expressions of felicitation or recognition. Thus, during 
proceedings relating to a resolution offered in the 91st Congress 
commending Speaker John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, on his length 
of service as Speaker, the conference chairman, John B. Anderson, of 
Illinois, was among those speaking in recognition of the Speaker's 
record of service.(8)
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 8. 116 Cong. Rec. 17023, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., May 26, 1970.
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    Similarly, the chairman has announced birthdays and the like, 
extending appropriate felicitations.(9)
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 9. See, for example, 112 Cong. Rec. 15706, 89th Cong. 2d Sess., July 
        14, 1966 (birthday of party floor leader).
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