[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 35. Presidential Messages & Executive Communications]
[Â§ 2. Receipt and Reading of Presidential Messages]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 78-91]
 
                               CHAPTER 35
 
           Presidential Messages and Executive Communications
 
Sec. 2. Receipt and Reading of Presidential Messages

    In recent years, the President's annual state of the Union address 
has been delivered in person at a joint session of Congress, although 
the President may transmit the message in writing.(1) The 
President may choose to transmit messages dealing with other matters of 
national consequence to Congress in writing. Examples of messages the 
President has transmitted in writing have included: advising the House 
of his intention to abide by the law requiring a cessation of certain 
U.S. military operations,(2) submitting reorganization 
plans,(3) announcing a country's declaration of war against 
the United States,(4) advising the House of the loss of an 
enrolled bill,(5) and transmitting his nomination of a 
person for appointment to the office of Vice President.(6)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. See Sec. Sec. 3.3, 5.4, 5.5, infra. All Presidents from Thomas 
        Jefferson through William H. Taft submitted their annual 
        messages in writing.
 2. 119 Cong. Rec. 28088, 93d Cong. 1st Sess., Aug. 3, 1973.
 3. 149 Cong. Rec. 2305, 108th Cong. 1st Sess., Feb. 4, 2003; 93 Cong. 
        Rec. 4380-83, 80th Cong. 1st Sess., May 1, 1947; 86 Cong. Rec. 
        6637, 76th Cong. 3d Sess., May 22, 1940.
 4. 88 Cong. Rec. 4787, 77th Cong. 2d Sess., June 2, 1942; 87 Cong. 
        Rec. 9665, 9666, 77th Cong. 1st Sess., Dec. 11, 1941.
 5. See Sec. 2.13, infra.
 6. See Sec. 3.18, infra.
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    Messages may be received and read in the absence of a 
quorum.(7)
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 7. Until the 95th Congress, a quorum was required for the reading of a 
        message. House Rules and Manual Sec. 55 (2007). See also 
        Sec. 2.11, infra.
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    The Clerk of the House receives messages from the President 
delivered when the House is not in

[[Page 79]]

session. A message received by the Clerk is transmitted by the Clerk to 
the Speaker in the sealed envelope as received from the President 
together with a cover letter indicating the time and place of receipt, 
as well as the nature of the message, if this has been indicated to the 
Clerk. The Speaker lays the message before the House as soon as 
feasible.(8)
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 8. See Sec. Sec. 2.6-2.9, 
        infra.                          -------------------
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Laying Message Before the House

Sec. 2.1 Messages from the President are laid before the House by the 
    Speaker.

    On June 17, 1969,(1) Speaker John W. McCormack, of 
Massachusetts, laid before the House a message from the President, 
transmitting the President's annual report on salary comparability, and 
then his own directive implementing certain salary adjustments in the 
House.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 115 Cong. Rec. 16195, 16196, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The President's message was read and, together with accompanying 
papers, referred to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and 
ordered to be printed:

        To the Congress of the United States:
        I forward herewith the annual comparison of Federal salaries 
    with the salaries paid in private enterprise, as provided by 
    section 5302 of title 5, United States Code. . . .

                                                    Richard Nixon.

                                        The White House, June 16, 
                1969.                          -------------------

          DIRECTIVE OF THE SPEAKER IMPLEMENTING SALARY COMPARABILITY 
           POLICY IN 1969 FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE OF 
                                REPRESENTATIVES

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following directive, 
    which was read: . . .

            Pursuant to the authority and duty vested in the Speaker of 
        the United States House of Representatives by section 212 of 
        the Federal Salary Act of 1967 (81 Stat. 634; Public Law 90-
        206; 5 U.S.C. 5304, note) to implement the salary comparability 
        policy set forth in section 5301 of title 5, United States 
        Code, in the year 1969 for personnel of the House of 
        Representatives, the rates of pay of personnel of the House of 
        Representatives whose pay is disbursed by the Clerk of the 
        House of Representatives are adjusted as follows: . . .

Sec. 2.2 A Presidential communication addressed to the Speaker urging 
    support for a legislative measure pending before the House is 
    sometimes laid before the House and read but not referred to any 
    committee.

[[Page 80]]

    On Feb. 25, 1975,(1) a letter from President Gerald R. 
Ford, sent to the Speaker, was laid before the House for the 
information of Members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 121 Cong. Rec. 4151, 94th Cong. 1st Sess. For examples of executive 
        communications treated by the Speaker as Presidential messages, 
        see Sec. 1.3, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication 
    from the President of the United States:

                                                   The White House

                                    Washington, February 25, 1975.

                                                    Hon. Carl Albert

                            Speaker of the House of Representatives,

                                                    Washington, D.C.

        Dear Mr. Speaker: I wish to convey to the House of 
    Representatives my deep concern over the present critical situation 
    in Cambodia. . . .
        . . . Countries around the world who depend on us for support--
    as well as their foes--will judge our performance. It is in this 
    spirit and with this sense of responsibility Mr. Speaker, that I 
    urge rapid and favorable action on my request for additional 
    assistance to Cambodia.

              Sincerely,
                                                   Gerald R. Ford.

Practice in Committee of the Whole

Sec. 2.3 A message from the President is not received while the House 
    is sitting as the Committee of the Whole, but the Committee may 
    rise informally so that the House may receive the message; when it 
    does so, the Chairman of the Committee does not report to the House 
    but merely relinquishes the Chair to the Speaker, who recognizes 
    the messenger of the President, receives the message, and then 
    directs the Committee to resume its sitting.

    On June 17, 1969,(1) a message in writing from the 
President was communicated to the House by one of his secretaries while 
the House was in the Committee of the Whole. The proceedings were as 
follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 115 Cong. Rec. 16182, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The CHAIRMAN.(2) The Committee will rise informally 
    in order that the House may receive a message.
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 2. Jack B. Brooks (TX)                          -------------------
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                           MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

        The SPEAKER assumed the chair.
        The SPEAKER.(3) The Chair will receive a 
    message.(4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. John W. McCormack (MA).
 4. The Speaker will not, however, receive a message from the President 
        when occupying the Chair to receive the report of the Chairman 
        of the Committee of the Whole. See, e.g., 115 Cong. Rec. 9705, 
        91st Cong. 1st Sess., Apr. 21, 1969.

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[[Page 81]]

                                   -------------------MESSAGE FROM THE 
                                   PRESIDENT

        A message in writing from the President of the United States 
    was communicated to the House by Mr. Leonard, one of his 
    secretaries, who also informed the House that on June 13, 1969 the 
    President approved and signed bills of the House of the following 
    titles:

            H.R. 2718. An act to extend for an additional temporary 
        period the existing suspension of duties on certain 
        classifications of yarn of silk[.]

    Following receipt of the message, the Committee of the Whole 
resumed its sitting by direction of the Speaker.

Messages Received Pending a Vote

Sec. 2.4 Messages from the President may be received notwithstanding 
    the operation of the previous question, and the Speaker does not 
    direct the reading of the message pending the vote on a matter.

    On Mar. 24, 1949,(1) the House resolved itself into the 
Committee of the Whole for further consideration of a bill. After some 
debate, the Committee rose. A motion to recommit was offered, and the 
previous question was ordered thereon. At this point a message in 
writing from the President was communicated to the House together with 
other information. A parliamentary inquiry was propounded as to the 
disposition of the Presidential message and whether it bore on the 
subject at hand. The Chair indicated that the business then before the 
House should be completed before taking up the message.(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 95 Cong. Rec. 3114, 3115, 81st Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. For a review of the practice during the 18th and 19th centuries, 
        when Presidential messages often lay unread for lengthy periods 
        of time, see 5 Hinds' Precedents Sec. Sec. 6635-6649.
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    The proceedings were as follows:

        Mr. [John E.] RANKIN [of Mississippi]. Mr. Speaker, I move the 
    previous question on the motion to recommit.
        The previous question was ordered.

                           message from the president

        A message in writing from the President of the United States 
    was communicated to the House by one of his secretaries, who also 
    informed the House that on March 24, 1949, the President approved 
    and signed a joint resolution of the House of the following title:

            H.J. Res. 89. Joint resolution providing for the filling of 
        a vacancy in the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
        Institution, of the class other than Members of Congress.

[[Page 82]]

             pensions for veterans of world war I and world war II

        Mr. [Francis H.] CASE [of South Dakota]. Mr. Speaker, a 
    parliamentary inquiry.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(3) The gentleman will state 
    it.
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 3. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, would the Chair be in position to state 
    whether the communication from the President just received bears 
    upon the pending matter?
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. At this point the Chair would not say.
        The question is on the motion to recommit offered by the 
    gentleman from Texas [Mr. Teague].

    Following an announcement of the results of the vote on the motion, 
the Speaker laid before the House the message from the President; it 
was read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the 
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. The message from the 
President was as follows:

                             To the Congress of the United States:

        In compliance with the provisions of section 10 (b) (4) of the 
    Railroad Retirement Act, approved June 24, 1937, and of section 12 
    (1) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, approved June 25, 
    1938, I transmit herewith for the information of the Congress the 
    report of the Railroad Retirement Board for the fiscal year ended 
    June 30, 1948.

                                                  Harry S. Truman.

                                  The White House, March 24, 1949.

Authorizing Clerk to Receive Messages During Adjournments

Sec. 2.5 Before such authority was specifically granted by rule, most 
    concurrent resolutions providing for an adjournment sine die, or 
    for an adjournment to a day certain more than three days hence, 
    contained language specifically stating that the Clerk of the House 
    was authorized to receive messages from the President during the 
    adjournment (with similar authority generally also provided by the 
    Senate for the Secretary of the Senate) and, if not included in the 
    adjournment resolution, such specific authority generally was 
    obtained in each House by unanimous consent.

    Rule II clause 2 now authorizes the Clerk to receive messages from 
the President when the House is not in session.(1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. House Rules and Manual Sec. 652 (2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As an example of the standard type of concurrent resolution of 
adjournment that made clear the Clerk's authority to receive messages 
from the President during a

[[Page 83]]

period of adjournment, the proceedings of Dec. 15, 1977,(2) 
are shown here:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. 123 Cong. Rec. 38948, 95th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. [James C.] WRIGHT [Jr., of Texas]. Mr. Speaker, I send to 
    the Speaker's desk a privileged concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 
    442) authorizing the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the 
    House to receive messages, including veto messages, from the 
    President of the United States during adjournment of the two 
    Houses.
        The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                H. Con. Res. 442

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
        concurring), That when the two Houses adjourn on Thursday, 
        December 15, 1977, they shall stand adjourned sine die.
            Sec. 2. During the adjournment of both Houses of Congress 
        as provided in section 1, the Secretary of the Senate and the 
        Clerk of the House, respectively be, and they hereby are, 
        authorized to receive messages, including veto messages, from 
        the President of the United States.

        The concurrent resolution was agreed to.

    Alternatively, such authority sometimes was clarified by unanimous 
consent, as the proceedings of Nov. 21, 1980,(3) illustrate:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. 126 Cong. Rec. 30555, 96th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. [Paul] SIMON [of Illinois]. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
    consent that, notwithstanding any adjournment of the House until 
    Monday, December 1, 1980, the Clerk be authorized to receive 
    messages from the President and the Senate and that the Speaker be 
    authorized to sign any enrolled bills and joint resolutions duly 
    passed by the two Houses and found truly enrolled.
        The SPEAKER.(4) Is there objection to the request of 
    the gentleman from Illinois?
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 4. Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. (MA).
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        There was no objection.

    Parliamentarian's Note: This type of request became standard 
practice after the decision in Kennedy v Sampson in 1974.(5) 
In that case, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of 
Columbia Circuit held that a bill could not be pocket-vetoed by the 
President during an adjournment of more than three days to a day 
certain if the House of origin had made arrangements for the receipt of 
Presidential messages.(6)
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 5. 511 F.2d 430 (D.C. Cir. 1974).
 6. For further discussion, refer to Ch. 24 Sec. 17, supra, and House 
        Rules and Manual Sec. 113 (2007).
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Messages Received During Adjournment

Sec. 2.6 The Clerk, as the agent of the House, is authorized to receive 
    messages from the President while the House is in recess or after 
    the House has adjourned for a legislative day; when such a message 
    is received, it is transmitted by the Clerk to the

[[Page 84]]

    Speaker (with a cover letter detailing the time and place of 
    receipt of the message), who then lays it before the House at the 
    earliest opportunity.

    On Feb. 20, 1969,(1) the Speaker(2) laid 
before the House a letter from the Clerk, advising that the Clerk had, 
after the House adjourned the previous evening, received a message from 
the President. The proceedings were as follows:

 1. 115 Cong. Rec. 4088, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication 
    from the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

                                          The Honorable the Speaker,

                                      U.S. House of Representatives.

            Dear Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a sealed 
        envelope addressed to the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, said to contain a message from the President 
        wherein he transmits a special study regarding the 
        administration of the Headstart program. This envelope was 
        received in the Office of the Clerk at 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday, 
        February 19, 1969.
              Sincerely,

                                                     Pat Jennings,

                                                            Clerk.

    The Speaker then laid before the House the message from the 
President, which was read and referred to the appropriate committee.

Sec. 2.7 The Clerk notifies the Speaker when he has, during an 
    adjournment, received a message from the President addressed to the 
    House or to the Speaker, and the Speaker lays the notification and 
    message before the House when the House reconvenes. If the Clerk is 
    in possession of such knowledge, he notifies the Speaker of the 
    contents of the message.

    On Sept. 5, 1945,(1) the House having ended its August 
recess, the Speaker(2) laid before the House the following 
communication from the Clerk:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 91 Cong. Rec. 8322, 79th Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. Sam Rayburn (TX).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                September 5, 1945.

                                                        The Speaker,

                                       The House of Representatives.

        Sir: The accompanying sealed envelope from the White House 
    addressed to the House of Representatives, was received in this 
    office at 11:30 o'clock antemeridian, August 30, 1945.

              Respectfully yours,

                                                    South Trimble,

                            Clerk of the House of Representatives.

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following message from 
    the President of the United States, which was read, and, together 
    with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign 
    Affairs and ordered to be printed with illustrations:


[[Page 85]]


                    To the Congress of the United States of America:

            I am transmitting herewith the twentieth report of 
        operations under the Lend-Lease Act for the period ending June 
        3, 1945. . . .

                                                  Harry S. Truman.

                                 The White House, August 30, 1945.

Sec. 2.8 A veto message from the President addressed to the Speaker and 
    received in the Office of the Clerk after adjournment of the House 
    is laid before the House when it reconvenes.

    On Apr. 6, 1948,(1) the Speaker pro 
tempore(2) laid before the House the following communication 
from the Clerk:

 1. 94 Cong. Rec. 4133, 4134, 80th Cong. 2d Sess.
 2. Earl C. Michener (MI).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    April 6, 1948.

                                           The honorable the Speaker

                                           House of Representatives.

        Sir: The attached sealed envelope, indicating on its face that 
    it contains a message from the President of the United States, and 
    addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 
    United States, was received in the office of the Clerk on April 5, 
    1948.

              Respectfully yours,

                                                     John Andrews,

                            Clerk of the House of Representatives.

    vendors of newspapers or magazines--veto message from the president 
                   of the united states (h. doc. no. 594)

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
    veto message from the President of the United States:

                                    To the House of Representatives:

        I am returning herewith, without my approval, H.R. 5052, a bill 
    to exclude certain vendors of newspapers or magazines from certain 
    provisions of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue 
    Code.
        This bill is identical with H.R. 3997, which I declined to 
    approve in August 1947. . . .
        For these reasons, I am compelled to return H.R. 5052 without 
    my approval.

                                                  Harry S. Truman.

                                   The White House, April 5, 1948.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. The objections of the President will 
    be spread at large upon the Journal, and the message and the bill 
    will be printed as a House document.(3)
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 3. For discussion of House consideration of veto messages, see Ch. 24, 
        Sec. Sec. 17-23, supra.
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Sec. 2.9 The President's economic report was received by the Clerk on a 
    day when the House was not in session; the report remained in its 
    sealed envelope until laid before the House at its next meeting.

    On Jan. 22, 1962,(1) Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, laid 
before the House a letter from the

[[Page 86]]

Clerk transmitting a communication from the President of the United 
States that was received by the Clerk when the House was not in 
session:
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 1. 108 Cong. Rec. 577-584, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication 
    from the Clerk of the House of Representatives:

                                                 January 22, 1962.

                                          The Honorable the Speaker,

                                           House of Representatives.

        Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a sealed envelope 
    addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the 
    President of the United States, received in the Clerk's office at 
    1:15 p.m. on January 20, 1962, and said to contain the Economic 
    Report of the President together with the annual report of the 
    council of Economic Advisers.

              Respectfully yours,

                                                 Ralph R. Roberts,

                                             Clerk, U.S. House of 
     Representatives.                          -------------------

               ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT (H. DOC. NO. 278)

        The SPEAKER laid before the House the following message from 
    the President of the United States, which was read and, together 
    with the accompanying papers, referred to the Joint Economic 
    Committee and ordered to be printed with illustrations:

                             To the Congress of the United States:

            I report to you under the provisions of the Employment Act 
        of 1946[.] . . .

                                                   John F. Kennedy

    Parliamentarian's Note: The economic report of the President was, 
under former provisions of 15 USC Sec. 1022, to be transmitted to 
Congress ``not later than Jan. 20 of each year.''(2) Jan. 
20, 1962, fell on a Saturday--a day when the House would not be in 
session because it had adjourned on Thursday, Jan. 18, until Monday, 
Jan. 22. The Clerk received the report for the House on Jan. 20. It 
remained sealed until laid before the House on Jan. 22, thereby 
insuring that there would be no premature disclosure or release of the 
report.
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 2. 15 USC Sec. 1022 now requires this report ``not later than 10 days 
        after the submission of the budget under section 1105(a) of 
        title 31.''
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Interrupting Reading of Message

Sec. 2.10 The Chair declines to recognize Members to submit 
    parliamentary inquiries during the reading of the President's 
    message.

    On Jan. 21, 1946,(1) the Speaker pro 
tempore(2) laid before the House a message from the 
President.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 92 Cong. Rec. 164, 79th Cong. 2d Sess.
 2. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        A message in writing from the President of the United States 
    was communicated to the House by . . . one of his secretaries. . . 
    .

[[Page 87]]

        The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the message of 
    the President on the state of the Union and transmitting the 
    Budget. . . .
        Mr. [Robert F.] RICH [of Pennsylvania] (interrupting the 
    reading of the message). Mr. Speaker, a parliamentary inquiry.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk read a message from the 
    President of the United States, and the Chair feels that an inquiry 
    at this time should not be entertained.(3)
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 3. Portions of a Presidential message may be reread by the Clerk by 
        unanimous consent. See 113 Cong. Rec. 22447, 22448, 90th Cong. 
        1st Sess., Aug. 14, 1967.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Parliamentarian's Note: This message contained approximately 25,000 
words and took about three hours to read.

Sec. 2.11 Under the earlier practice (before the 95th Congress), quorum 
    calls could interrupt the reading of the President's message to 
    Congress on the state of the Union.

    On Jan. 21, 1946,(1) Speaker pro tempore John W. 
McCormack, of Massachusetts, laid before the House the message of the 
President on the state of the Union and transmitting the budget. The 
reading of this lengthy message was interrupted by two quorum 
calls.(2) The proceedings were as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 92 Cong. Rec. 164, 165, 79th Cong. 2d Sess.
 2. For the text of this message, see Id. at pp. 136-155 [Senate 
        proceedings].
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        Mr. [Robert F.] RICH [of Pennsylvania]. Mr. Speaker, I think it 
    is wise that the membership of the House hear the President's 
    message, and I make a point of order that a quorum is not present.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
        Mr. [Albert A.] GORE [of Tennessee]. Mr. Speaker, I move a call 
    of the House.
        A call of the House was ordered.
        The Clerk called the roll. . . .
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. . . . [A] quorum is present.
        By unanimous consent, further proceedings under the call were 
    dispensed with.
        The Clerk resumed the reading of the President's message.
        Mr. RICH (interrupting the reading of the President's message). 
    Mr. Speaker, I make the point of order that a quorum is not 
    present.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
        Mr. [Adolph J.] SABATH [of Illinois]. Mr. Speaker, I move a 
    call of the House.
        A call of the House was ordered.
        The Clerk called the roll. . . .
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. . . . [A] quorum [is present].
        By unanimous consent, further proceedings under the call were 
    dispensed with.
        The Clerk concluded the reading of the President's message.

[[Page 88]]

    Parliamentarian's Note: Rule XX clause 7(a), adopted in the 93d 
Congress and amended in the 95th Congress, prohibits the Speaker from 
recognizing a Member for a point of order that a quorum is not present 
unless a question is being put, although under clause 7(b), the Speaker 
has the discretion to recognize a Member to move a call of the 
House.(3)
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 3. House Rules and Manual Sec. Sec. 1027, 1028 (2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effect on Former Discharge Procedure

Sec. 2.12 The reading of a message from the President did not prevent 
    the subsequent operation of the so-called 21-day rule (former Rule 
    XI clause (2)(c)), which was repealed in the 90th Congress.

    On Jan. 23, 1950,(1) Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, laid 
before the House a message from the President, and the following 
ensued:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 96 Cong. Rec. 769, 81st Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER. The Chair lays before the House a message from the 
    President of the United States, which the Clerk will read.
        Mr. [Vito] MARCANTONIO [of New York]. Mr. Speaker, a point of 
    order.
        The SPEAKER. The gentleman will state the point of order.
        Mr. MARCANTONIO. Mr. Speaker, will the reading of the 
    President's message prevent the operation of the discharge rule 
    today?
        The SPEAKER. Not at all.(2)
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 2. For the 21-day discharge rule, its history and effect, see Ch. 21, 
        Sec. 18.52, supra.
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Message Relating to Lost Bill

Sec. 2.13 Where the President sent a message to the House advising it 
    that an enrolled bill delivered to him had been lost, the Speaker 
    and Vice President were authorized by concurrent resolution to sign 
    a duplicate copy, which was transmitted to the President by the 
    Clerk.

    On May 15, 1935,(1) after letters from the President and 
Secretary of the Interior were read, advising of the loss of an 
enrolled bill, procedures were adopted by which a duplicate bill could 
be sent to the President. The letters were laid before the House by the 
Speaker(2) and referred to the Committee on the Territories. 
The proceedings were as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 79 Cong. Rec. 7598, 7633, 74th Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. Joseph W. Byrns (TN).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     
                                    To the House of Representatives,

        I am in receipt of the following letter from the Secretary of 
    the Interior advising of the loss of enrolled bill H.R.

[[Page 89]]

    6084, authorizing a bond issue for the town of Ketchikan, Alaska:

            I regret to report the loss of enrolled bill H.R. 6084, 
        authorizing a bond issue of Ketchikan, Alaska, which was 
        delivered to my office on May 3 by a messenger from the White 
        House. . . . I recommend that you ask the Congress to authorize 
        the preparation of a duplicate. The last approval day is 
        tomorrow, May 15.

        In the circumstances, I recommend that a duplicate bill be 
    authorized by concurrent resolution.

                                            Franklin D. Roosevelt.

                                    The White House, May 15, 1935.

        Mr. [Anthony U.] DIMOND [of Alaska]. Mr. Speaker, I offer the 
    following concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate 
    consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                         House Concurrent Resolution 21

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
        concurring), That the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
        and the President of the Senate be, and they are hereby, 
        authorized to sign a duplicate copy of the enrolled bill H.R. 
        6084, entitled ``An act to authorize the city of Ketchikan, 
        Alaska, to issue bonds in any sum not to exceed $1,000,000 for 
        the purpose of acquiring the electric light and power, water, 
        and telephone properties of the Citizens' Light, Power & Water 
        Co., and to finance and operate the same, and validating the 
        preliminary proceedings with respect thereto, and for other 
        purposes'', and that the Clerk of the House be directed to 
        transmit the same to the President of the United States.

        The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the immediate consideration 
    of the resolution?
        Mr. [Bertrand H.] SNELL [of New York]. Reserving the right to 
    object, what department was this lost in?
        Mr. DIMOND. According to the letter, it was lost in the 
    Department of the Interior.

    After the resolution was agreed to by the House and the 
Senate,(3) the following communication was laid before the 
House:

 3. Senate agreement to H. Con. Res. 21, see 79 Cong. Rec. 7551, 74th 
        Cong. 1st Sess., May 15, 1935.

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                                                     May 15, 1935.

                                                        The Speaker,

                         House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

        Sir: Pursuant to the provisions of House Concurrent Resolution 
    21, Seventy-fourth Congress, I have this day presented to the 
    President of the United States the signed duplicate copy of the 
    enrolled bill, H.R. 6084, entitled ``An act to authorize the city 
    of Ketchikan, Alaska, to issue bonds in any sum not to exceed 
    $1,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring the electric light and 
    power, water, and telephone properties of the Citizens' Light, 
    Power & Water Co., and to finance and operate the same, and 
    validating the preliminary proceedings with respect thereto, and 
    for other purposes.''

              Very truly yours,

                                                    South Trimble,

                            Clerk of the House of Representatives.

            By H. Newlin Megill.

Presidential Request to Address the House

Sec. 2.14 Consistent with the doctrine of separation of powers

[[Page 90]]

    and the precedents of the House, the Speaker has declined a request 
    of the President to address the House in actual session on 
    legislation upon which the House was about to vote, the traditional 
    alternative of a joint session being available to the President.

    On June 24, 1986,(1) Rep. Charles Roemer, of Louisiana, 
took the floor in debate to defend the Speaker's decision not to invite 
President Ronald W. Reagan to address the House, in session, prior to a 
vote on a legislative issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 132 Cong. Rec. 15184, 99th Cong. 2d Sess. For instances of informal 
        visits by the President to Congress, see Sec. 1.10, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The President's views were then addressed to the Speaker in a 
communication, which was laid before the House and read, before the 
floor action on the issue.(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. Id. at p 15186.
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     COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONCERNING 
        THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS IN 
                       NICARAGUA (H. Doc. No. 99-237)

        The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. [George P.] Miller of California) 
    laid before the House the following communication from the 
    President of the United States; which was read and, together with 
    the accompanying papers, without objection, referred to the 
    Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
    Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on 
    Intelligence and ordered to be printed:

                                                   The White House

                                        Washington, June 24, 1986.

                               The Honorable Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.,

            Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC 
                                                               20515

        Dear Mr. Speaker: I am transmitting in writing my remarks that 
    I had hoped to deliver to members of the House of Representatives 
    today. It was my desire to speak directly to the members of the 
    House of Representatives to emphasize the importance of achieving a 
    bipartisan approach to address the urgent question of providing 
    assistance to the freedom fighters in Nicaragua. . . .

                                                  The Oval Office,

                                                    June 24, 1986.

        My fellow citizens. The matter that brings me before you today 
    is a grave one and concerns my most solemn duty as President. It is 
    the cause of freedom in Central America and the national security 
    of the United States. Tomorrow the House of Representatives will 
    debate and vote on this issue. I had hoped to speak directly and at 
    this very hour to Members of the House of Representatives on this 
    subject, but was unable to do so. Because I feel so strongly about 
    what I have to say, I have asked for this time to share with you--
    and members of the House--the message I would have otherwise given.

[[Page 91]]

    Parliamentarian's Note: In recognition of the doctrine of 
separation of powers, the Speaker had suggested that the Congress, by 
concurrent resolution, invite the President to address the two Houses 
in joint session ``for the purpose of receiving any communication he 
might be pleased to make.'' The President refused the invitation. See 
also the proceedings of Nov. 13, 1969, where President Richard M. Nixon 
addressed the House, but not on pending legislation.(3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. 115 Cong. Rec. 34080, 34081, 91st Cong. 1st Sess. President Nixon's 
        visit was for the stated purpose of thanking Members who had 
        sponsored a resolution calling for a just peace in Vietnam.
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