[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 3, Chapters 10 - 14]
[Chapter 11. Questions of Privilege]
[B. Privilege of the House]
[Â§ 2. In General; Definition]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 1588]
 
                               CHAPTER 11
 
                         Questions of Privilege
 
                       B. PRIVILEGE OF THE HOUSE
 
Sec. 2. In General; Definition


    Under Rule IX,(4) a question of the privilege of the 
House arises whenever its safety, dignity, or the integrity of its 
proceedings, is in issue. The question having been properly raised by 
the offering of a resolution, the Speaker initially decides whether the 
question presented constitutes a question of the privilege of the 
House. And, as the presiding officer of the House, it is customary for 
him to make a preliminary determination as to the validity of the 
question raised.(5) Appeal may be taken from the Chair's 
ruling, however, since the final determination regarding the validity 
of such a question of privilege rests with the House.(6)
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 4. House Rules and Manual Sec. 661 (1973).
 5. See Sec. Sec. 6.1, 6.2, infra.
 6. See Sec. 6.3, infra.
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    Debate in the House on a question of privilege is limited to one 
hour(7) and may, like debate on other matters, be terminated 
by the adoption of a motion for the previous question.(8) Of 
course, the House may choose not to undertake consideration of a 
question of the privilege of the House, preferring instead to table or 
to commit the matter to a designated House committee for its study and 
recommendations before debate begins.(9)
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 7. See Sec. 7.1, infra.
 8. See Sec. 7.3, infra.
 9. See Sec. 7.4, infra.
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