    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 104th Congress]
    [104th Congress]
    [House Document 103-342]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 212-214]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                          SEC. XXXII.--READING PAPERS.

    [[Page 213]]

    Sec. 432. Parliamentary law as to the reading of
    papers.

      Where  papers are laid before the House or referred to a committee
    every Member has a right to have them once read at the table before he
    can be compelled to vote on them; but it is a great though common error
    to suppose that he has a right, toties quoties, to have acts, journals,
    accounts, or papers on the table read independently of the will of the
    House. The delay and interruption which this might be made to produce
    evince the impossibility of the existence of such a right. There is,
    indeed, so manifest a propriety of permitting every Member to have as
    much information as possible on every question on which he is to vote,
    that when he desires the reading, if it be seen that it is really for
    information and not for delay, the Speaker directs it to be read without
    putting a question, if no one objects; but if objected to, a question
    must be put. 2 Hats., 117, 118.

      At one time, the House, by rule XXX, had a provision regarding the
    reading a paper other than that on which the House is called to give a
    final vote.

    Sec. 433. Papers not necessarily to be read on plea of
    privilege.

      It  is equally an error to suppose that any Member has a right,
    without a question put, to lay a book or paper on the table, and have it
    read, on suggesting that it contains matter infringing on the privileges
    of the House. Ib.

    Sec. 434. Member not always privileged to read a paper in
    his place.

      For  the same reason a Member has not a right to read a paper in
    his place, if it be objected to, without leave of the House. But this
    rigor is never exercised but where there is an intentional or gross
    abuse of the time and patience of the House.

      A Member has not a right even to read his own speech, committed to
    writing, without leave. This also is to prevent an abuse of time, and
    therefore is not refused but where that is intended. 2 Grey, 227.

    Sec. 435. Reports of committees not read except on order or
    in debate.

      A  report of a committee of the Senate on a bill from the
    House of Representatives being under consideration: on motion that the
    report of the committee of the House of Representatives on the same bill
    be read in the Senate, it passed in the negative. Feb. 28, 1793.

    [[Page 214]]

      In the House of Representatives ordinary reports are read only in time
    of debate (V, 5292), and subject to the authority of the House (V,
    5293). But in a few cases, where a report does not accompany a bill or
    other proposition of action, but presents facts and conclusions, it is
    read to the House if acted on (II, 1364; IV, 4663).

    Sec. 436. Reading of papers on reference.

      Formerly,  when
    papers were referred to a committee, they used to be first read; but of
    late only the titles, unless a Member insists they shall be read, and
    then nobody can oppose it. 2 Hats., 117.

      Under the rules, petitions, memorials, and communications are referred
    through the Clerk's desk, so that there is no opportunity for reading
    before reference, though messages from the President are read (clauses 1
    and 4 of rule XXII; clause 2 of rule XXIV).