[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 40. Adjournment]
[C. Adjournment Sine Die]
[Â§ 17. Procedure and Business at Adjournment]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 945-948]
 
                               CHAPTER 40
 
                              Adjournment
 
                        C. Adjournment Sine Die
 
Sec. 17. Procedure and Business at Adjournment

    The House customarily authorizes the Speaker to appoint a committee 
to notify the President of the completion of business and the intention 
of the two Houses to adjourn sine die unless the President has some 
further communication to make.(1) This authority is provided 
by a simple resolution called up as privileged following adoption of 
the concurrent resolution to adjourn sine die. The committee is usually 
composed of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House and joins a 
similar committee from the Senate if appointed.
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 1. See Sec. 17.1, infra.
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    Between the adoption of a sine die concurrent resolution and the 
actual sine die adjournment of the House by motion, the House 
customarily gives permission to facilitate the conduct of some items of

[[Page 946]]

business during adjournment and, at the end of the second session, the 
preparation of necessary documents for the next Congress. Once 
customary concurrent resolutions or separate unanimous-consent requests 
to permit the receipt of messages between the Houses and enrollments to 
be signed after adjournment have been superseded by changes in the 
standing rules at the beginning of the 97th Congress in 1981 which 
permit the Speaker or the Speaker pro tempore and the Clerk to 
accomplish these responsibilities.(2) Unanimous-consent 
requests or resolutions for printing the House Rules and Manual for the 
next Congress,(3) for the acceptance of resignations and for 
appointments to commissions and committees,(4) and for 
insertions in the Congressional Record by chairmen and ranking minority 
Members of standing committees(5) and by Members on matters 
occurring prior to sine die adjournment, are necessary prior to sine 
die adjournment.
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 2. Rule I clause 4, House Rules and Manual Sec. Sec. 624-626 (2007); 
        and Rule II clause 2(h) House Rules and Manual Sec. 652 (2007). 
        See Sec. 18.1, infra.
 3. Ibid.
 4. Ibid.
 5. Ibid.
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    The motion to adjourn sine die is in order notwithstanding the 
absence of a quorum if both Houses have adopted a concurrent resolution 
providing sine die adjournment on the date.(6) The yeas and 
nays may be ordered on this motion.(7)
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 6. See Sec. 14.2, supra.
 7. See Sec. 6.2, supra.                          -------------------
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Appointment of House Committee

Sec. 17.1 By privileged resolution the House authorized the Speaker to 
    appoint a committee to notify the President of the completion of 
    business and the intention of the two Houses to adjourn sine die 
    unless the President has some further communication to make.

    On Sept. 1, 1960,(1) a committee was appointed to notify 
the President of an impending adjournment, as follows:
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 1. 106 Cong. Rec. 19128, 86th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        The SPEAKER.(2) The Chair recognizes the gentleman 
    from Massachusetts [Mr. McCormack].
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 2. Sam Rayburn (TX).
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        Mr. [John W.] McCORMACK [of Massachusetts]. Mr. Speaker, I 
    offer a preferential resolution (H. Res. 643).
        The SPEAKER. The Clerk will report the resolution.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

[[Page 947]]

        Resolved, That a committee of two Members be appointed by the 
    House to join a similar committee appointed by the Senate, to wait 
    upon the President of the United States and inform him that the two 
    Houses have completed their business of the session and are ready 
    to adjourn, unless the President has some other communication to 
    make to them.
        The resolution was agreed to.
        The SPEAKER. The Chair appoints the gentleman from 
    Massachusetts [Mr. McCormack] and the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. 
    Halleck] to wait on the President.(3)
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 3. See also 118 Cong. Rec. 37051, 92d Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 18, 1972 
        (H. Res. 1169); 117 Cong. Rec. 47668, 92d Cong. 1st Sess., Dec. 
        17, 1971 (H. Res. 756); and 112 Cong. Rec. 28881, 89th Cong. 2d 
        Sess., Oct. 22, 1966 (H. Res. 1074).
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    Parliamentarian's Note: Such a resolution is privileged after a 
sine die resolution has been adopted, since it is considered to be a 
formality integral to concluding the business of the House.

Report of Committee to Notify the President

Sec. 17.2 The committee appointed by the Speaker to notify the 
    President of the impending adjournment of the two Houses reported 
    that it had so informed the President and that the President had no 
    further communication to make.

    On Sept. 26, 1961,(1) the following report was made in 
the House:
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 1. 107 Cong. Rec. 21528, 87th Cong. 1st Sess. (S. Con. Res. 55).
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        Mr. [Carl] ALBERT [of Oklahoma]. Mr. Speaker, your committee 
    appointed to join a committee of the Senate to inform the President 
    that the Congress is ready to adjourn, and to ask him if he has any 
    further communications to make to the Congress, has performed that 
    duty. The President has directed us to say that he has no further 
    communication to make to the Congress.(2)
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 2. See also 118 Cong. Rec. 37065, 92d Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 18, 1972; 
        and 111 Cong. Rec. 28563, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Oct. 22, 1965.
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In General

Sec. 17.3 On motion of the designee of the Majority Leader pursuant to 
    Sec. 3 of House Concurrent Resolution 353, the House (for the 
    second time) adjourned the second session of the 105th Congress.

    On Dec. 19, 1998,(1) the following proceedings took 
place:
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 1. 144 Cong. Rec. 28113, 105th Cong. 2d Sess.
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                                  ADJOURNMENT

        Mr. [B. H.] SOLOMON [of New York]. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to 
    section 3 of House Concurrent Resolution 353, and as the designee 
    for the Majority Leader, I move that the House do now adjourn.

[[Page 948]]

        The motion was agreed to.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) In accordance with the 
    provisions of House Concurrent Resolution 353, the Chair declares 
    the second session of the 105th Congress adjourned sine die.
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 2. Ray H. LaHood (IL).
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        Thereupon (at 2 o'clock and 36 minutes p.m.), pursuant to 
    section 3 of House Concurrent Resolution 353, the House adjourned.

Printing of House Rules and Manual

Sec. 17.4 The House by unanimous consent agreed to a resolution 
    providing for printing of revised House Rules and Manual for 108th 
    Congress (3000 additional copies, 900 leatherbound with thumb 
    index).

    On Nov. 14, 2002,(1) the following occurred:
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 1. 148 Cong. Rec. 22599, 107th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        PROVIDING FOR PRINTING AND BINDING OF REVISED EDITION OF RULES 
                     AND MANUAL OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

        Mr. [Richard] ARMEY [of Texas]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution (H. Res. 614) and ask unanimous consent for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                  H. Res. 614

        Resolved, That a revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the 
    House of Representatives for the One Hundred Eighth Congress be 
    printed as a House document, and that three thousand additional 
    copies shall be printed and bound for the use of the House of 
    Representatives, of which nine hundred copies shall be bound in 
    leather with thumb index and delivered as may be directed by the 
    Parliamentarian of the House.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) Is there objection to 
    the request of the gentleman from Texas?
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 2. Michael Simpson (ID).
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        There was no objection.
        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.