[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 40. Adjournment]
[A. Generally; Adjournments of Three Days or Less]
[Â§ 2. Adjournment to Another Place]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 780-784]
 
                               CHAPTER 40
 
                              Adjournment
 
            A. Generally; Adjournments of Three Days or Less
 
Sec. 2. Adjournment to Another Place

    While an adjournment normally implies a reconvening in the Chamber 
from which the House adjourned, under clause 12(d) of Rule 
I(1) adopted in the 108th

[[Page 781]]

Congress, the Speaker may convene the House in a place within the seat 
of government, the District of Columbia, other than the Hall of the 
House. Prior to that time and by precedent since 1949, the House could 
by simple resolution adjourn to reconvene at another place within the 
seat of government, the concurrence of the Senate not being 
necessary.(2)
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 1. House Rules and Manual Sec. 639 (2007). The seat of government was 
        transferred to the District of Columbia by the Act of July 16, 
        1790 (1 Stat. 30), and provided that ``all offices attached to 
        the said seat of government be removed to the District.''
 2. Ch. 1 Sec. 4.1, supra. See also Sec. 2.3, infra.
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    During any adjournment the President may, by law, convene Congress 
at a place outside the seat of government due to the existence of 
hazardous circumstances within the seat of government.(3)
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 3. 2 USC Sec. 27.
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    After Sept. 11, 2001, authority contained in concurrent resolutions 
adjourning both Houses for more than three days, or sine die, which 
includes joint leadership authority to recall the two Houses, has 
allowed reassembly at such place as may be designated.(4)
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 4. See Sec. 2.2, infra.
            The House, by unanimous consent, has also considered and 
        adopted a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 449) providing 
        that the Congress ``conduct a special meeting in Federal Hall 
        in New York, New York'' on Sept. 6, 2002, in remembrance of 
        Sept. 11, 2001. The resolution provided for a strictly 
        ceremonial meeting. See Ch. 36 Sec. 16.4, supra. Congress has 
        engaged in ceremonial functions outside the seat of government. 
        For example, Members of both Houses traveled to Philadelphia 
        for organized festivities surrounding the bicentennial 
        anniversary of the Constitution on July 16, 1987. See Ch. 36 
        Sec. 4.5, supra. On that occasion, a concurrent resolution 
        authorized the Speaker and the President pro tempore to appoint 
        an official bicameral delegation to represent the Congress at a 
        ceremonial session. After a preliminary joint ceremony in 
        Independence Hall, delegations met separately in their 
        respective chambers in Congress Hall for ceremonial sessions. 
        At no time was consideration given to making the proceedings be 
        an actual session of Congress.
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    On Jan. 7, 2003, the opening day of the 108th Congress, the House, 
consistent with art. I, Sec. 5 of the Constitution, granted 
anticipatory consent for the two Houses to assemble at a place outside 
the seat of government whenever, in the opinion of the joint leadership 
(or their designees) after bipartisan consultation, the public interest 
shall warrant it. House Concurrent Resolution 1 was called up as 
privileged in the House. The House adopted the concurrent resolution on 
Feb. 13, 2003.(5) This concurrent resolution

[[Page 782]]

allowed the Houses to meet only at the same place outside the seat of 
government. A concurrent resolution rather than a law was thought 
prudent to enable each successive Congress to reaffirm such bicameral 
consent contemporaneously.
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 5. See Sec. 2.1, infra.                          -------------------
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Sec. 2.1 The House adopted a privileged concurrent resolution (offered 
    by the chairman of the Committee on Rules) granting anticipatory 
    consent for the two Houses to assemble at a place outside the seat 
    of government whenever, in the opinion of the joint leadership (or 
    their designees) after bipartisan consultation, the public interest 
    shall warrant it.

    On Jan. 7, 2003,(1) the following occurred:
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 1. 147 Cong. Rec. 21, 107th Cong. 1st Sess. For the Senate concurrence 
        see 147 Cong. Rec. 4080, 108th Cong. 1st Sess., Feb. 13, 2003.
            On the opening day of the 109th Congress the House 
        considered as privileged and adopted H. Con. Res. 1 to permit 
        the two Houses to meet outside the seat of government. However, 
        the Senate took no action on either of those concurrent 
        resolutions, although that body had acted in the 108th Congress 
        in 2003. See 151 Cong. Rec. 68, 109th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 
        2005.
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          REGARDING CONSENT TO ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT

        Mr. [David] DREIER [of California]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    privileged concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 1) and ask for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                 H. Con. Res. 1

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
        concurring), That pursuant to clause 4, section 5, article I of 
        the Constitution, during the One Hundred Eighth Congress the 
        Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate or 
        their respective designees, acting jointly after consultation 
        with the Minority Leader of the House and the Minority Leader 
        of the Senate, may notify the Members of the House and the 
        Senate, respectively, to assemble at a place outside the 
        District of Columbia whenever, in their opinion, the public 
        interest shall warrant it.

        The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Sec. 2.2 After Sept. 11, 2001, authority contained in concurrent 
    resolutions adjourning both Houses for more than three days, or 
    sine die, which includes joint leadership authority to recall the 
    two Houses, has allowed reassembly during that adjournment period 
    at such place inside or outside the seat of government as may be 
    designated.

[[Page 783]]

    On Nov. 22, 2002,(1) the Speaker pro 
tempore(2) laid the following privileged concurrent 
resolution before the House:
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 1. 148 Cong. Rec. 23512, 107th Cong. 2d Sess.
 2. Brian D. Kerns (IN).
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         PROVIDING FOR THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT OF THE 107TH CONGRESS, 
                                 SECOND SESSION

        The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kerns) laid before the House the 
    privileged Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 160) 
    providing for the sine die adjournment of the One Hundred Seventh 
    Congress, Second Session.
        The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                S. Con. Res. 160

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
        concurring), That when the Senate adjourns at the close of 
        business on any day from Wednesday, November 20, 2002 through 
        Saturday, November 23, 2002, or from Monday, November 25, 2002, 
        through Wednesday, November 27, 2002, or on a motion offered 
        pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader, 
        or his designee, it stand adjourned sine die, or until Members 
        are notified to reassemble pursuant to section 2 of this 
        concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first.
            Sec. 2. The Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker 
        of the House, or their respective designees, acting jointly 
        after consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate and 
        the Minority Leader of the House, shall notify the Members of 
        the Senate and the House, respectively, to reassemble at such 
        place and time as they may designate whenever, in their 
        opinion, the public interest shall warrant it.

        The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Adjournment to House Caucus Room

Sec. 2.3 The House adopted a resolution providing for adjournment to 
    the caucus room in a House office building for convenings there 
    until otherwise ordered.

    On Nov. 22, 1940,(1) a House resolution was presented 
calling for the House to convene following its adjournment (over the 
weekend) at another place.
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 1. 86 Cong. Rec. 13715, 76th Cong. 3d Sess.
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        Mr. [John W.] McCORMACK [of Massachusetts]. Mr. Speaker, I 
    offer resolution (H. Res. 637) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 637

            Resolved, That when this House adjourns on Friday, November 
        22, 1940, it will adjourn to meet in the caucus room in the New 
        House Office Building on Monday, November 25, 1940, and it 
        shall continue to meet there until otherwise ordered.
            Resolved, That all rules relating to the Hall of the House 
        shall be applicable to the caucus room.
            Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
        the President of the United States and to the Senate of the 
        United States.

[[Page 784]]

        The resolution was agreed to.

    Parliamentarian's Note: The House continued to hold its sessions in 
a caucus room in a House office building until the opening of the 77th 
Congress. Likewise, the Senate provided that its meetings should be 
held in the Capitol Chamber formerly occupied by the Supreme Court. 
These actions were necessary because of the precarious condition of the 
roofs in the two Chambers.(2) The Majority Leader inserted 
in the Congressional Record a letter from the Architect of the Capitol 
explaining the urgency of the roof construction in detail.
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 2. Ibid.
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