[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 3, Chapters 10 - 14]
[Chapter 11. Questions of Privilege]
[D. Personal Privilege of Member]
[Â§ 23. Precedence of the Question; Interrupting Other Business]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 1658-1660]
 
                               CHAPTER 11
 
                         Questions of Privilege
 
                    D. PERSONAL PRIVILEGE OF MEMBER
 
Sec. 23. Precedence of the Question; Interrupting Other Business

Precedence as to the Journal

Sec. 23.1 A Member rising to a question of personal privilege may not 
    interrupt the reading of the Journal.

[[Page 1659]]

    On the legislative day of Oct. 8, 1968,(9) Mr. Robert 
Taft, Jr., of Ohio, rose to obtain recognition during the reading of 
the Journal:
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 9. 114 Cong. Rec. 30214-16, 90th Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 9, 1968 
        (calendar day).
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        Mr. Taft: Mr. Speaker----
        The Speaker:(10) For what purpose does the gentleman 
    from Ohio rise?
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10. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
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        Mr. Taft: Mr. Speaker, I have a privileged motion.
        Mr. [Sidney R.] Yates [of Illinois]: A point of order, Mr. 
    Speaker. That is not in order until the reading of the Journal has 
    been completed.
        The Speaker: Will the gentleman from Ohio state his privileged 
    motion?
        Mr. Taft: Mr. Speaker, my motion is on a point of personal 
    privilege.
        The Speaker: Will the gentleman from Ohio state whether it is a 
    point of personal privilege or a privileged motion?
        Mr. Taft: It is a privileged motion, and a motion of personal 
    privilege.
        Under rule IX questions of personal privilege are privileged 
    motions, ahead of the reading of the Journal.
        The Speaker: The Chair will advise the gentleman that a 
    question of personal privilege should be made later after the 
    Journal has been disposed of.
        If the gentleman has a matter of privilege of the House, that 
    is an entirely different situation.
        Mr. Taft: I believe, Mr. Speaker, this involves not only 
    personal privilege as an individual, but also as a Member of the 
    House and also the privileges of all Members of the House.
        The Speaker: The Chair does not recognize the gentleman at this 
    time on a matter of personal privilege.
        But the Chair will, after the pending matter, the reading of 
    the Journal has been disposed of, recognize the gentleman if the 
    gentleman seeks recognition.

    Subsequently, the gentleman was recognized to raise a question of 
the privilege of the House.

Interruption of Member Holding the Floor

Sec. 23.2 A Member may not be deprived of the floor by another Member 
    raising a question of personal privilege.

    On May 17, 1946,(11) during the consideration of House 
Resolution 624, concerning further expenses for the House Committee on 
UnAmerican Activities, Mr. Sol Bloom, of New York, sought recognition 
for a question of personal privilege. In his response declining 
recognition to the Member for that purpose, the Speaker (12) 
stated:
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11. 92 Cong. Rec. 5216, 79th Cong. 2d Sess. For additional examples see 
        91 Cong. Rec. 7221-25, 79th Cong. 1st Sess., July 5, 1945; 84 
        Cong. Rec. 8467, 8468, 76th Cong. 1st Sess., June 30, 1939; and 
        80 Cong. Rec. 3720, 74th Cong. 2d Sess., Mar. 13, 1936.
12. Sam Rayburn (Tex.).
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        The gentleman from South Dakota has the floor. Unless he yields 
    the Chair cannot recognize the gentleman.

[[Page 1660]]

Sec. 23.3 A Member may not rise to a question of personal privilege 
    while another Member controls the time for debate even though the 
    Member in control of the time may yield him time for debate on the 
    merits of the proposition then pending.

    On Apr. 8, 1937,(13) during House debate on House 
Resolution 162, concerning an investigation of sitdown strikes, the 
following proceedings transpired:
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13. 81 Cong. Rec. 3295, 75th Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Edward E.] Cox [of Georgia]: . . . Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 
    seconds to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. (Frank E.) Hook].
        Mr. Hook: Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of personal 
    privilege based on the remarks of the last speaker, and ask for 1 
    hour.
        Mr. Cox: Mr. Speaker, I did not yield to the gentleman for that 
    purpose.
        Mr. Hook: Then, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
    allowed to proceed for 5 minutes.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore:(14) Is there objection to 
    the request of the gentleman from Michigan?
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14. Fred M. Vinson (Ky.).
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        Mr. [Charles A.] Plumley [of Vermont]: Mr. Speaker, I object.
        Mr. Hook: Mr. Speaker, I then insist upon my right to rise to a 
    question of personal privilege. The gentleman threatened us.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The gentleman from Michigan cannot 
    take the gentleman from Georgia off the floor by raising a question 
    of personal privilege.