[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 7, Chapters 22 - 25]
[Chapter 24. Bills, Resolutions, and Memorials]
[A. Introductory; Various Types of Bills, Resolutions, and Other Mechanisms for Action]
[Â§ 10. Petitions and Memorials]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 4883-4885]
 
                               CHAPTER 24
 
              Bills, Resolutions, Petitions, and Memorials
 
    A. INTRODUCTORY; VARIOUS TYPES OF BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER 
                         MECHANISMS FOR ACTION
 
Sec. 10. Petitions and Memorials

    A petition is a plea to the Congress to take some action, or 
refrain from action, on a subject of legislative concern. The term ``me

[[Page 4884]]

morial'' is ordinarily used to describe a petition from a state 
legislature.(6)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 6. See House Rules and Manual Sec. Sec. 389, 849 (1981).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitions and memorials, when brought to the attention of the House 
by a Member or the Speaker, are referred to the committees having 
appropriate jurisdiction. They are not legislative measures, but may 
provide the initiative for legislative action. Thus, they are not 
reported from committee and voted on in the House in the manner of 
bills and resolutions.(7)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 7. The introduction and reference of petitions and memorials is 
        governed by Rule XXII clauses 1, 3, 4, House Rules and Manual 
        Sec. Sec. 849, 853, 854 
        (1981).                          -------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction by Request

Sec. 10.1 When a citizens' petition is introduced ``by request'' under 
    Rule XXII, these words are entered on the Journal and printed in 
    the Record following the name of the Member who introduces the 
    petition.

    On Apr. 13, 1961,(8) the following was recorded in the 
Record:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 8. 107 Cong. Rec. 5900, 87th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Under clause 1 of rule XXII, petitions and papers were laid on 
    the Clerks' desk and referred as follows:
        118. By Mr. [Perkins] Bass of New Hampshire (by request): 
    Petition of 67 faculty members of Dartmouth College seeking the 
    elimination of the House Committee on Un-American Activities as a 
    standing committee; to the Committee on Rules.

Presentation by Petitioners

Sec. 10.2 The Speaker declined to entertain a unanimous-consent request 
    that certain petitioners be permitted to present a petition on the 
    floor of the House.

    On May 24, 1972,(9) the following proceedings took 
place:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9. 118 Cong. Rec. 18679-81, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mrs. [Bella] Abzug [of New York]: Mr. Speaker, we have 
    petitioning us today outstanding citizens of this country, social 
    leaders, leaders of the arts, sciences, and professions. They have 
    come here to petition us to act immediately to cut off funds for 
    the war and end our military activity in Indochina. . . .
        Mr. Speaker, I renew my request in the form of asking unanimous 
    consent that a representative of those citizens come in and have 
    the opportunity to present a petition and that we hear what those 
    people, who are the conscience of this country and who represent a 
    majority of the American people, have to say. . . .
        The Speaker: (10) The time of the gentlewoman from 
    New York has expired.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Carl Albert (Okla.).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 4885]]

        The gentlewoman's request is not in order.

    Parliamentarian's Note: Under Rule XXXII clause 1, the Speaker does 
not have the authority to entertain a request to waive the rule 
pertaining to the privilege of admission to the floor.