    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 104th Congress]
    [104th Congress]
    [House Document 103-342]
    [Rules of the House of Representatives]
    [Pages 691-707]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                   Rule XXIV.

                               ORDER OF BUSINESS.

    Sec. 878. The rule for the order of business in the House.

      1. The daily order of business shall be as follows:

    First. Prayer by the Chaplain. l  Second. Reading and approval of the
    Journal, unless postponed pursuant to the provisions of clause 5(b)(1)
    of rule I.

      Third. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

      Fourth. Correction of reference of public bills.

      Fifth. Disposal of business on the Speaker's table.

    [[Page 692]]

      Sixth. Unfinished business.

      Seventh. The morning hour for the consideration of bills called up by
    committees.

      Eighth. Motions to go into Committee of the Whole House on the state
    of the Union.

      Ninth. Orders of the day.

      Originally the House had no rule prescribing an order of business, but
    certain simple usages were gradually established by practice before the
    first rule on the subject was adopted in 1811. The rule was amended
    frequently in an endeavor so to arrange the business as to give the
    House as large a freedom as possible in selecting for consideration and
    completing the consideration of the bills that it deems most important.
    The basic form of the rule has been in place since (IV, 3056). The 98th
    Congress made a conforming change to the second order of business
    relating to the postponement of the vote on approval of the Journal (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34). The 104th Congress added the present third
    order of business respecting the Pledge of Allegiance (sec. 218, H. Res.
    6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----).

      The Speaker does not entertain a point of no quorum before the prayer
    is offered (VI, 663). Under clause 6 of rule XV, a point of no quorum
    may not be entertained before or during the offering of prayer or unless
    a question is pending (see Sec. 774c, supra).

    [[Page 693]]

    <>   The privileged matters which may interrupt the order
    of business are as follows: l  (1) General appropriation bills (clause 9
    of rule XVI; IV, 3072). l  (2) Conference reports (clause 1(a) of rule
    XXVIII; V, 6443) and motions to discharge or instruct conferees (clause
    1(b) of rule XXVIII).

    Sec. 879. Privileged interruptions of the order of
    business in the House.

      This rule  does not, however, bind the House to a daily
    routine, since the system of making certain important subjects
    privileged (see clause 4(a) of rule XI, clause 9 of rule XVI, and rule
    XXVIII) permits the interruption of the order of business by matters
    which, in fact, often supplant it entirely for days at a time. But on
    any day, when the order of business is interrupted by a privileged
    matter, the business in order goes on from the place of interruption
    (IV, 3070, 3071) unless the House adjourn. After an adjournment the
    House begins again at the beginning. While privileged matters may
    interrupt the order of business, they may do so only with the consent of
    a majority of the House, expressed as to appropriation bills by the vote
    on going into Committee of the Whole to consider such bills, and as to
    matters like conference reports, questions of privilege, etc., by
    raising and voting on the question of consideration. The only exceptions
    to the principle that a majority may prevent interruption is contained
    in clauses 6 and 7 of rule XXIV, providing for a call of the private
    calendar on the first Tuesday of each month and a call of committees on
    Wednesdays. By this combination of an order of business with privileged
    interruptions the House is enabled to give precedence to its most
    important business without at the same time losing the power by majority
    vote to go to any other bills on its calendars.

      (3) Special orders reported by the Committee on Rules for
    consideration by the House (clause 4(b) of rule XI; IV, 3070-3076,
    4621).

      (4) Consideration of amendments between the Houses after disagreement
    (IV, 3149, 3150).

      (5) Questions of privilege (rule IX; III, 2521).

      (6) Privileged bills reported under the right to report at any time
    (clause 4(a) of rule XI; IV, 3142-3144, 4621; clause 5 of rule XXII).

      (7) Call of committees on Wednesdays for bills on House and Union
    Calendars (clause 7 of rule XXIV).

      (8) Private business on Tuesday (clause 6 of rule XXIV).

      (9) Motions on the second and fourth Mondays of the month to discharge
    committees on public bills and resolutions (clause 3 of rule XXVII), and
    consideration of District of Columbia business (clause 8 of rule XXIV;
    IV, 3304).

      (10) Consideration of bills on the former Consent Calendar (clause 4
    of rule XIII), and motions to suspend the rules and pass bills out of
    the regular order (clause 1 of rule XXVII; V, 6790).

      (11) Bills coming over from a previous day with the previous question
    ordered (V, 5510-5517).

      (12) Bills returned with the objections of the President (IV, 3534-
    3536).

      (13) Motions to send a bill to conference (under clause 1 of rule XX;
    Aug. 1, 1972, p. 26153).

      In addition to these matters, the House by practice permits its order
    of business to be interrupted, at the discretion of the Speaker, for the
    reception of messages (V, 6602). Addressing the House out of order by
    unanimous consent, the Speaker announced that on at least two subsequent
    days he would recognize designated Members after approval of the Journal
    to lead the House in the pledge of allegiance to the flag (Speaker
    Wright, Sept. 9, 1988, p. 23310). Requests of Members for leaves of
    absence are in practice put before the House at the time of adjournment
    (IV, 3151).

    [[Page 694]]
    suspend the order of business temporarily (IV, 3059). Therefore any
    Member, including the Speaker, may object, or reserve the right to
    object and inquire, for example, about the reasons for the request, or
    demand the ``regular order'' (IV, 3058). Debate under a reservation of
    objection proceeds at the sufferance of the House and may not continue
    after a demand for the regular order (Speaker Foley, Nov. 14, 1991, p.
    ----). A Member objecting to a unanimous consent request or demanding
    the regular order when another has reserved the right to object must
    stand to be observed by the Chair (Nov. 7, 1991, p. ----; June 23, 1992,
    p. ----). The Speaker, however, usually signifies his objection by
    declining to put the request of the Member, thus saving the time of the
    House. The Speaker's guidelines for recognition for unanimous consent
    requests for consideration of unreported measures are issued pursuant to
    clause 2 of rule XIV and are discussed in Sec. 757, supra. The request
    for unanimous consent began to be used about 1832 when the House first
    felt a pressure of business and the necessity of adhering to a fixed
    order (IV, 3155-3159). In 1909, by the adoption of clause 4 of rule
    XIII, a Consent Calendar was established, which was abolished in the
    104th Congress (H. Res. 168, June 20, 1995, p. ----). For discussion of
    unanimous consent requests and reservations of objections, see
    Procedure, ch. 23, sec. 2, and Sec. 757, supra. Unanimous consent for
    the immediate consideration of a measure in the House does not preclude
    a demand for a record vote when the Chair puts the question on final
    passage, since it merely permits consideration of a matter not otherwise
    privileged (Dec. 16, 1987, p. 35816).

    <>   2.
    Business on the Speaker's table shall be disposed of as follows:
    Messages from the President shall be referred to the appropriate
    committees without debate. Reports and communications from heads of
    departments, and other communications addressed to the House, and bills,
    resolutions, and messages from the Senate may be referred to the
    appropriate committees in the same manner and with the same right of
    correction as public bills presented by Members; but House bills with
    Senate amendments which do not require consideration in a Committee of
    the Whole may be at once disposed of as the House may determine, as may
    also Senate bills sub

    [[Page 695]]
    stantially the same as House bills already favorably reported by a
    committee of the House, and not required to be considered in Committee
    of the Whole, be disposed of in the same manner on motion directed to be
    made by such committee.

    Sec. 881. The interruption of the order of business
    by the request for unanimous consent.

      When the  House has no rule establishing
    an order of business, as at the beginning of a session before the
    adoption of rules, it is in order for any Member who is recognized by
    the Chair to offer a proposition relating to the order of business
    without asking consent of the House (IV, 3060). But after the adoption
    of the rule for the order of business, interruptions are confined to
    matters privileged to interrupt or to cases wherein the House gives
    unanimous consent for an interruption. A request for unanimous consent
    to consider a bill is in effect a request to

      A rule to govern disposition of business on the Speaker's table (to be
    distinguished from the table of the House, which is the Clerk's table)
    was adopted in 1832. In 1880 and 1885 efforts were made to so modify the
    rule as to prevent delays in business on the Speaker's table, but it was
    not until 1890 that the present rule was adopted (IV, 3089).

    [[Page 696]]
    of Senate amendments at the Speaker's table (Apr. 26, 1984, p. 10194;
    Feb. 4, 1987, p. 2676) discussed in Sec. 757, supra. A Senate bill to
    come before the House directly from the table must conform to the
    conditions prescribed by the rule (IV, 3098, 3099; VI, 727, 734, 737),
    and must have come to the House after and not before the House bill
    ``substantially the same'' has been placed on the House Calendar (IV,
    3096; VI, 727, 736, 738). In the event the House bill has passed before
    the Senate bill is received, the Senate bill may nevertheless be
    disposed of on motion directed by the committee (VI, 734, 735). The
    House bill must be correctly on the House Calendar (VI, 736). In
    determining whether the House bill is substantially the same as the
    Senate bill, amendments recommended by the House committee must be
    considered (VI, 734, 736). The rule applies to private as well as to
    public Senate bills (IV, 3101), and to concurrent resolutions as well as
    to bills (IV, 3097). Although a committee must authorize the calling up
    of the Senate bill (VI, 739), the actual motion need not be made by one
    of the committee (IV, 3100). The authority of a committee to call up a
    bill must be given at a formal meeting of the committee (VIII, 2211,
    2212, 2222).

    Sec. 883. Matters on Speaker's table for action by the
    House or by the Speaker alone.

      Such  portions of messages from the Senate as
    require action by the House, all messages from the President except
    those transmitting his objections to bills (IV, 3534-3536), and all
    communications and reports from the heads of departments go to the
    Speaker's table when received, to be disposed of under this rule. Simple
    resolutions of the Senate that do not require any action by the House
    are not referred (VII, 1048). All of the President's messages and such
    portions of Senate messages as, being House bills with Senate
    amendments, do not require consideration in Committee of the Whole are
    laid before the House for action; but communications other than messages
    from the President, all portions of Senate messages requiring
    consideration in Committee of the Whole (IV, 3101), and Senate bills of
    all kinds (with the exception noted in the rule) are referred to the
    appropriate standing committees under direction of the Speaker without
    action by the House (IV, 3107, 3111; VI, 727). A House bill returned
    with Senate amendments involving a new matter of appropriation, whether
    with or without a request for a conference, may be referred directly to
    a standing committee (VI, 731), and on being reported therefrom is
    referred directly to the Committee of the Whole (IV, 3094, 3095, 3108-
    3110). The usual practice, however, is to take from the Speaker's table
    and send to conference by unanimous consent (VI, 732). The Speaker's
    authority under this clause includes the discretionary authority to
    refer from the Speaker's table Senate amendments to House passed bills,
    to standing committees, under any conditions permitted under clause 5 of
    rule X for referral of introduced bills; he may for example impose a
    time limitation for consideration only of a portion of the Senate
    amendment, not germane to the original House bill, by the standing
    committee with subject-matter jurisdiction, without referring the
    remainder of the Senate amendment to the House committee with
    jurisdiction over the original House bill (Speaker O'Neill, H.R. 31,
    Mar. 26, 1981, p. 5397). The Speaker announced his policy regarding
    referral of nongermane Senate amendments to committee (Jan. 3, 1983, p.
    54; Jan. 6, 1987, p. 21); and his policy regarding recognition for
    unanimous consent requests to dispose

    Sec. 884. Reference of President's messages from the
    Speaker's table.

      A  message of the President on the Speaker's table is
    regularly laid before the House only at the time prescribed by the order
    of business (V, 6635-6638). While it is always read in full and entered
    on the Journal and the Congressional Record (V, 6963), the accompanying
    documents are not read on demand of a Member or entered in the Journal
    or Record (V, 5267-5271; VII, 1108). The annual message of the President
    is usually referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of
    the Union by the House on motion (V, 6631). In the earlier practice it
    was distributed to appropriate standing committees by resolutions
    reported from the Committee on Ways and Means (V, 6621, 6622) but since
    the first session of the 64th Congress the practice has been
    discontinued (VIII, 3350). A portion of the annual message has been
    referred directly to a select committee (V, 6628). A message other than
    an annual message is usually referred directly to a standing committee
    by direction of the Speaker (IV, 4053; VIII, 3346), but may be referred
    by the House itself on motion by a Member (V, 6631; VIII, 3348), and
    such motion is privileged (VIII, 3348). This reference may be to a
    select as well as to a standing committee (V, 6633, 6634).

    [[Page 697]]
    after until disposed of, and the consideration of all other unfinished
    business shall be resumed whenever the class of business to which it
    belongs shall be in order under the rules.

    Sec. 885. Unfinished business.

      3. The  consideration of the
    unfinished business in which the House may be engaged at an adjournment,
    except business in the morning hour, shall be resumed as soon as the
    business on the Speaker's table is finished, and at the same time each
    day there

      The first rule relating to unfinished business was adopted in 1794.
    Changes were made in 1860 and 1880, but the rule finally became
    unsatisfactory, because of delays caused by it, and in 1890 the present
    form was adopted (IV, 3112).

    Sec. 886. Construction of rule as to unfinished
    business.

      The ``business  in which the House may be engaged at an adjournment'' means,
    literally, business in the House, as distinguished from the Committee of
    the Whole; and it further means business in which the House is engaged
    in its general legislative time, as distinguished from the special
    periods set aside for classes of business, like the morning hour for
    calls of committee, Tuesdays for private bills, etc. In general, all
    business unfinished in the general legislative time goes over as
    unfinished business under the rule, but there are a few exceptions.
    Thus, a motion relating to the order of business does not recur as
    unfinished business on a succeeding day, even though the yeas and nays
    may have been ordered on it (IV, 3114). The question of consideration,
    also, when not disposed of at an adjournment, does not recur as
    unfinished business on a succeeding day (V, 4947, 4948), but may be
    again raised on a subsequent day when the matter is again called up as
    unfinished business (VIII, 2438). Where the House adjourns during the
    consideration of a report from the Committee on Rules, further
    consideration of the report becomes the unfinished business on the
    following day, and debate resumes from the point where interrupted
    (Sept. 27, 1993, p. ----; Sept. 28, 1993, p. ----).

    [[Page 698]]

    Sec. 887. Effect of previous question.

      When the  House
    adjourns before voting on a proposition on which the previous question
    has been ordered, either directly or by the terms of a special order
    (IV, 3185), the matter comes up the next day as unfinished business (V,
    5510-5517; VIII, 2691; Aug. 2, 1989, p. 18187). If several bills come
    over in this situation, they have precedence in the order in which the
    several motions for the previous question were made (V, 5518). When the
    previous question is ordered on a bill undisposed of at adjournment on
    Friday, the bill comes up for disposition on the next legislative day
    (VIII, 2694). A bill going over from Calendar Wednesday with the
    previous question ordered on it should be disposed of on the next
    legislative day (VII, 967), but when the previous question is ordered on
    a bill undisposed of when the House adjourns Tuesday, the bill goes over
    until Thursday (VII, 890-894; VIII, 2674, 2691). A bill coming over from
    a preceding day with the previous question ordered was of equal
    privilege with business on the former Consent Calendar (VII, 990).

    Sec. 888. Business unfinished in periods set apart
    for classes of business.

      The rule  excepts by its terms certain classes of
    business which are considered in periods set apart for classes of
    business, viz: l  (a) Bills considered in the morning hour and on
    Calendar Wednesday for the call of committees. l  (b) Bills in Committee
    of the Whole.

      (c) Private bills considered on Tuesdays.

      (d) District of Columbia bills.

      (e) Bills brought up under the rule setting apart days for motions to
    suspend the rules, the Corrections Calendar, motions to discharge
    committees, and bills under consideration after a committee has been
    discharged.

      A bill brought up in the morning hour and undisposed of when the call
    ceases for the day remains as unfinished business in the morning hour
    (IV, 3113, 3120), i.e., it is considered when the House next goes to a
    call of committees. Business unfinished when the Committee of the Whole
    rises remains unfinished, to be considered first in order when the House
    next goes into Committee of the Whole to consider that business (IV,
    4735, 4736). Private bills unfinished on a Tuesday go over to the next
    Tuesday, and must be considered before the motion to go into Committee
    of the Whole House to consider other private bills. But when public
    business is considered on a Tuesday the unfinished business goes over
    until the next legislative day.

      On District of Columbia day business unfinished on the preceding
    District day is in order for consideration, but does not come before the
    House unless called up (IV, 3307; VII, 879). Unless postponed under
    clause 5 of rule I, a motion to suspend the rules on which a second has
    been ordered, and which is undisposed of on one suspension day, goes
    over as unfinished business to the next suspension day, individual
    motions going over to a committee day, and vice versa (V, 6814-6816;
    VII, 1005; VIII, 3411, 3412). Where the second has not been ordered,
    there is doubt as to whether or not the motion goes over as unfinished
    business (V, 6817, 6818).

    [[Page 699]]
    sideration: Provided, That whenever any committee shall have occupied
    the morning hour on two days, it shall not be in order to call up any
    other bill until the other committees have been called in their turn.

    Sec. 889. The morning hour for the call of
    committees.

      4. After the  unfinished business has been disposed of, the Speaker
    shall call each standing committee in regular order, and then select
    committees, and each committee when named may call up for consideration
    any bill reported by it on a previous day and on the House Calendar, and
    if the Speaker shall not complete the call of the Committees before the
    House passes to other business, he shall resume the next call where he
    left off, giving preference to the last bill under con

      The ``morning hour'' is one of the oldest devices of the rules for
    devoting an early portion of the session to a specific class of
    business. Until 1885 it was the hour for the reception of reports from
    committees. In 1890 it was provided that reports should be filed with
    the clerk, and the morning hour was by this rule devoted to a call of
    committees for the consideration of House Calendar bills (IV, 3181).
    Since the adoption of the Calendar Wednesday rule (clause 7 of rule
    XXIV), the ``morning hour'' has been used but a very few times.

    [[Page 700]]

    Sec. 890. Procedure in the morning
    hour.

      Originally the  morning hour was a fixed period of sixty minutes (IV, 3118); but
    under the present rules (clause 4 of rule XXIV) it does not terminate
    until the call is exhausted or until the House adjourns (IV, 3119),
    unless the House on motion made at the end of sixty minutes votes to go
    into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union (clause 5 of
    rule XXIV; IV, 3134), or unless other privileged matter intervenes (IV,
    3131, 3132). Before the expiration of the sixty minutes the Speaker has
    declined to permit the call to be interrupted by a privileged report
    (IV, 3132) or by unanimous consent (IV, 3130). Where the business for
    which the call is interrupted is concluded, the call is resumed unless
    there be other interrupting business or the House adjourns (IV, 3133). A
    bill once brought up on the call continues before the House in that
    order of business until disposed of (IV, 3120), unless withdrawn by
    authority of the committee before action which puts it in possession of
    the House (IV, 3129); and may not be made a special order for a future
    day by a motion to postpone to a day certain (IV, 3164). In order to be
    called up in this order a bill must actually be on the House Calendar,
    and properly there, in order to be considered (IV, 3122-3126), and a
    bill on the Union Calendar may not be brought up on call of committees
    under this clause (VI, 753). In case the authority of the committee to
    call up a bill is disputed the Speaker does not consider it his duty to
    decide the question (IV, 3127), but has made decision on statements from
    the chairman and other members of the committee (IV, 3128).

    Sec. 891. Interruption of the call of committees by
    motion to go into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
    Union.

      5. After  one hour shall have been devoted to the consideration of bills
    called up by committees, it shall be in order, pending consideration or
    discussion thereof, to entertain a motion to go into Committee of the
    Whole House on the state of the Union, or, when authorized by a
    committee, to go into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of
    the Union to consider a particular bill, to which motion one amendment
    only, designating another bill, may be made; and if either motion be
    determined in the negative, it shall not be in order to make either
    motion again until the disposal of the matter under consideration or
    discussion.

      This portion of the rule was adopted in 1890 as part of the plan for
    enabling the House at will to go at any time to any public bill on its
    calendars (IV, 3134).

    [[Page 701]]

    Sec. 892. Conditions of the motion to go into
    Committee of the Whole at the end of one hour.

      The words  of the rule ``one hour
    after'' have been interpreted to mean a less time in case the call of
    committees shall have exhausted itself before the expiration of one hour
    (IV, 3135); but not otherwise (IV, 3141). After the House has been in
    Committee of the Whole under this order and has risen and reported, and
    the report has been acted on by the House, other motions to go into
    committee to consider other bills are in order (IV, 3136). The motion to
    go into committee generally may be made by the individual Member (IV,
    3138), but when it is proposed to designate a particular bill he must
    have the authority of a committee (IV, 3138). The amendment to the
    motion to consider a particular bill must refer to a bill on the Union
    Calendar (IV, 3139). This order of business is used entirely for non-
    privileged bills and is not used in the House for consideration of bills
    in Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union if otherwise
    privileged (such as general appropriation bills and revenue bills, which
    have priority for consideration under clause 9 of rule XVI, and bills
    reported under the leave to report to the House at any time pursuant to
    clause 4(a) of rule XI).

    Sec. 893. Interruption of the regular order on
    Tuesdays for consideration of the Private Calendar.

      6. On the  first Tuesday of
    each month after disposal of such business on the Speaker's table as
    requires reference only, the Speaker shall direct the Clerk to call the
    bills and resolutions on the Private Calendar. Should objection be made
    by two or more Members to the consideration of any bill or resolution so
    called, it shall be recommitted to the committee which reported the bill
    or resolution, and no reservation of objection shall be entertained by
    the Speaker. Such bills and resolutions, if considered, shall be
    considered in the House as in the Committee of the Whole. No other
    business shall be in order on this day unless the House, by two-thirds
    vote on motion to dispense therewith, shall otherwise determine. On such
    motion debate shall be limited to five minutes for and five minutes
    against said motion.

    [[Page 702]]
    reported the bill or resolution and no reservation of objection shall
    be entertained by the Speaker.
      On the third Tuesday of each month after the disposal of such business
    on the Speaker's table as requires reference only, the Speaker may
    direct the Clerk to call the bills and resolutions on the Private
    Calendar, preference to be given to omnibus bills containing bills or
    resolutions which have previously been objected to on a call of the
    Private Calendar. All bills and resolutions on the Private Calendar so
    called, if considered, shall be considered in the House as in the
    Committee of the Whole. Should objection be made by two or more members
    to the consideration of any bill or resolution other than an omnibus
    bill, it shall be recommitted to the committee which

      Omnibus bills shall be read for amendment by paragraph, and no
    amendment shall be in order except to strike out or to reduce amounts of
    money stated or to provide limitations. Any item or matter stricken from
    an omnibus bill shall not thereafter during the same session of Congress
    be included in any omnibus bill.

      Upon passage of any such omnibus bill, said bill shall be resolved
    into the several bills and resolutions of which it is composed, and such
    original bills and resolutions, with any amendments adopted by the
    House, shall be engrossed, where necessary, and proceedings thereon had
    as if said bills and resolutions had been passed in the House severally.

      In the consideration of any omnibus bill the proceedings as set forth
    above shall have the same force and effect as if each Senate and House
    bill or resolution therein contained or referred to were considered by
    the House as a separate and distinct bill or resolution.

    Sec. 894. Tuesday as a day for private
    business.

      This  provision was adopted in the 62d Congress in lieu of special
    orders under which pension and private business formerly had been
    considered. The rule was amended on April 23, 1932 (VII, 846) and was
    adopted in its present form on March 27, 1935, pp. 4480-89, 4538. Clause
    2 of rule XXII prohibits consideration of certain private bills. Under
    clause 6(e)(2) of rule XV, the Speaker may in his discretion recognize a
    Member to move a call of the House prior to the call of the Private
    Calendar (July 8, 1987, p. 18972).

    [[Page 703]]
    the five-minute rule are not entertained (Speaker Byrns, Mar. 17, 1936,
    pp. 3890, 3894-95).

    Sec. 895. Methods of considering omnibus
    bills.

      During the  consideration of omnibus bills the Chair declines to recognize
    Members for unanimous consent requests to address the House, (Speaker
    pro tempore O'Connor, May 7, 1935, p. 7100); motions to strike out the
    last word are not in order, and requests for extension of time under

      An omnibus private bill is normally passed over by the Clerk when the
    Private Calendar is called on the first Tuesday of the month, but the
    House may prescribe, by special order, that such omnibus bills shall be
    passed over (June 27, 1968, p. 19106). During the consideration of the
    First Omnibus Bill of 1968, seven roll calls occurred and seven of the
    15 bills carried therein were stricken by motion (Sept. 17, 1968, pp.
    27165-84). Amendments to the bill were strictly limited by the rule to
    those striking out or reducing amounts of money carried in the bill or
    to provide limitations, and debate on those permissible motions was
    under the five-minute rule. After the passage of an omnibus bill, it is
    resolved into the various private bills of which it is composed and each
    is engrossed and messaged to the Senate as if individually passed; thus
    it is possible, after passage of the omnibus bill, to lay on the table a
    private House or Senate bill which was included therein (by unanimous
    consent) (Sept. 17, 1968, pp. 27184-85).

      On the third Tuesday of the month, the calendar is not called unless
    the Speaker so directs (Oct. 16, 1990, p. ----); and when he does direct
    the Clerk to call the Private Calendar, omnibus bills on the Calendar
    are called before individual bills thereon (Feb. 17, 1970, pp. 3605-13).
    A motion to dispense with the call of the Private Calendar on the third
    Tuesday of each month, when the call of the Calendar is within the
    discretion of the Chair, is likewise in order in the Chair's discretion
    (although this clause only specifically provides for a motion to
    dispense with the call on the first Tuesday of each month), since no
    rule or precedent prohibits the motion and it is consistent with the
    discretionary authority of the Chair to dispense with the call of the
    entire Calendar (appeal from the Chair's ruling laid on the table) (Nov.
    17, 1981, pp. 27770-71).

    [[Page 704]]
    the Whole House on the state of the Union. This rule shall not apply
    during the last two weeks of the session. It shall not be in order for
    the Speaker to entertain a motion for a recess on any Wednesday except
    during the last two weeks of the session: Provided, That not more than
    two hours of general debate shall be permitted on any measure called up
    on Calendar Wednesday, and all debate must be confined to the subject
    matter of the bill, the time to be equally divided between those for and
    against the bill: Provided further, That whenever any committee shall
    have occupied one Wednesday it shall not be in order, unless the House
    by a two-thirds vote shall otherwise determine, to consider any
    unfinished business previously called up by such committee, unless the
    previous question had been ordered thereon, upon any succeeding
    Wednesday until the other committees have been called in their turn
    under this rule: Provided, That when, during any one session of a
    Congress, all of the committees of the House are not called under the
    Calendar Wednesday rule, at the next session of that Congress the call
    shall commence where it left off at the end of the preceding session.

    Sec. 897. Calendar Wednesday business.

      7. On  Wednesday of
    each week no business shall be in order except as provided by clause 4
    of this rule unless the House by a two-thirds vote on motion to dispense
    therewith shall otherwise determine. On such a motion there may be
    debate not to exceed five minutes for and against. On a call of
    committees under this rule bills may be called up from either the House
    or the Union Calendar, excepting bills which are privileged under the
    rules; but bills called up from the Union Calendar shall be considered
    in the Committee of

    [[Page 705]]
    gible for consideration on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 932-935). House
    Calendar bills have no preference over Union Calendar bills (VII, 938).
    The motion to dispense with a call of committees under this rule is
    privileged and may be made prior to the consideration of District of
    Columbia business under clause 8 of this rule (June 11, 1973, pp. 19028-
    30).

    Sec. 898. Decisions on Calendar Wednesday.

      The first  portion
    of this rule was adopted March 1, 1909, and amended March 15, 1909. The
    first and second provisos were adopted January 18, 1916. The last
    proviso was adopted December 8, 1931 (VII, 881), and was amended in the
    102d Congress to specify that the alphabetical call of the committees
    under Calendar Wednesday resumes where left off between sessions within
    a Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1991, p. ----). The rule applies to
    unprivileged bills only, and when a bill otherwise unprivileged is given
    a privileged status by unanimous consent or by rule it is automatically
    rendered ineli

      When a bill on the Union Calendar is called up on Calendar Wednesday
    the House automatically resolves itself into the Committee of the Whole
    House on the state of the Union (VII, 939; Jan. 25, 1984, p. 358), and
    when a Union Calendar bill is the unfinished business the Speaker
    declares the House in Committee of the Whole without motion (VII, 940,
    942).

      The question of consideration may be raised on a bill on the House
    Calendar on Calendar Wednesday, even after one Wednesday has been
    devoted to its consideration (VIII, 2447), and the question of
    consideration is properly raised on Union Calendar bills in the House
    before automatically going into Committee of the Whole House on the
    state of the Union (VII, 952).

      During the 61st and 62d Congresses it was held that the call of
    committees rested where the call left off on the preceding day, whether
    the last call was on a Wednesday or during the morning hour on another
    day, thus making but one committee call under the two rules. But under
    the later practice there have been two distinct calls of committees, one
    under clause 4 of rule XXIV, the morning hour, and another under clause
    7 of rule XXIV, Calendar Wednesday (VII, 944). Prior to the adoption of
    the second paragraph of the rule, it was held that one committee could
    not occupy more than two Calendar Wednesdays (except for unfinished
    business) until other committees were called, notwithstanding the fact
    that the call rested on said committee (VII, 944), but the adoption of
    the second paragraph of the rule has defined the status of debate and
    unfinished business more explicitly. It was formerly held that a bill
    undisposed of on Calendar Wednesday became the unfinished business on
    the following Calendar Wednesday (VII, 965), but since the adoption of
    the second paragraph of the rule, one committee can occupy but one
    Calendar Wednesday for the consideration of its business (unless the
    House by two-thirds vote shall otherwise determine).

      The same rule of debate applies to House Calendar bills called up on
    Calendar Wednesday as on other days, and the Member in charge of the
    bill may move the previous question at any time (VII, 955).

      The previous question having been ordered on a bill undisposed of when
    the House adjourns Tuesday, the bill goes over as unfinished business
    until Thursday, and is not in order for consideration on Calendar
    Wednesday (VII, 890-894). The previous question having been ordered on a
    bill on Calendar Wednesday, the bill becomes the unfinished business on
    Thursday (VII, 895, 967).

    [[Page 706]]
    appropriation bill (VII, 904), or a bill under consideration by reason
    of a special order, unless the special order expressly sets aside
    Calendar Wednesday (VII, 773), or a conference report (VII, 899). A
    motion to reconsider an action taken on a bill on Tuesday may be
    entered, but may not be considered on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 905).
    Privileged bills may be reported but not considered on Calendar
    Wednesday (VII, 907), except by unanimous consent (Jan. 25, 1984, p.
    357). The Speaker has entertained a unanimous consent request for
    business (to send a bill to conference) before the call of committees on
    Calendar Wednesday (Mar. 28, 1984, p. 6869). District of Columbia
    business is eligible for consideration on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 937).
    Once the call of committees on Calendar Wednesday is completed, other
    business may be conducted (VII, 921).
      It is in order to consider a vetoed bill on Calendar Wednesday, since
    such a question is privileged under the Constitution of the United
    States (VII, 912), but a bill privileged by reason of the rules of the
    House cannot be called up on Calendar Wednesday (VII, 932); for example,
    a general

      The Committee on Rules cannot report a rule which is aimed strictly or
    directly toward setting aside Calendar Wednesday, but the committee is
    not thereby prevented from reporting a resolution couched in general
    terms which may indirectly accomplish that ultimate result, such as a
    resolution providing for six days' suspension of the rules (VIII, 2267).

      The motion to grant a committee an additional Wednesday under the
    second proviso of the Calendar Wednesday rule is in order prior to the
    Wednesday on which the committee is called (VII, 946).

      It has been held that if no Member opposed to the bill desires to
    claim the hour specified in the rule for general debate against the
    bill, the time may be claimed by some Member who is in favor of the bill
    (VII, 962), but this principle has been questioned (VII, 961).

      Clause 2(l)(1)(A) of rule XI, requiring the chairman of each committee
    to report or cause to be reported promptly measures approved by his
    committee and to take such necessary steps to bring the matter to a
    vote, is sufficient authority for the chairman to call up a bill on
    Calendar Wednesday, but any other committee member must obtain specific
    authority of his committee to call up a reported bill on Calendar
    Wednesday (IV, 3128; VII, 928, 929; Feb. 22, 1950, p. 2162; Feb. 1,
    1984, p. 1193; Sept. 12, 1984, p. 25100). Prior to the Legislative
    Reorganization Act of 1946 and the subsequent adoption of clause
    2(l)(1)(A) of rule XI, authority to call up a bill on Calendar Wednesday
    must have been given to a chairman by his committee (IV, 3127). A Member
    not authorized to do so may not call up such bill under the Calendar
    Wednesday rule (IV, 3128; VII, 928, 929).

    [[Page 707]]
    form and Oversight, be set apart for the consideration of such business
    relating to the District of Columbia as may be presented by said
    committee.

    Sec. 899. District of Columbia.

      8. The  second and fourth
    Mondays in each month, after the disposition of motions to discharge
    committees and after the disposal of such business on the Speaker's
    table as requires reference only, shall, when claimed by the Committee
    on Government Re

      The first rule allocating a fixed day for District of Columbia
    business was adopted in 1870. In 1890 the rule was amended (IV, 3304).
    It was again amended December 8, 1931 (VII, 872). In the 104th Congress
    clause 8 was amended to reflect that the jurisdiction of the former
    Committee on the District of Columbia had been subsumed within the
    amalgamated jurisdiction of the newly designated Committee on Government
    Reform and Oversight (H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----).

      The Committee on Government Reform and Oversight may not, on a
    District day, call up a bill reported from another committee (IV, 3311).
    If certain of the committee's bills are on one of the calendars of the
    Committees of the Whole, a motion to go into committee to consider them
    is in order (IV, 3310). Bills reported from the District Committee are
    not so privileged as to prevent their being take up under call of
    committees on Wednesday (VII, 937). Business unfinished on one District
    day does not come up on the next unless called up (IV, 3307; VII, 879,
    880). The question of consideration may not be demanded against District
    business generally, but may be demanded against any bill as it is
    presented (IV, 3308, 3309).

      On District days it is in order to go into the Committee of the Whole
    to consider revenue or general appropriation bills (VI, 716-718; VII,
    876, 1123). Consideration of conference reports is in order on District
    Monday (VIII, 3202). District of Columbia business is in order on the
    second and fourth Mondays of the month before or after other business
    (such as motions to suspend the rules), and the fact that the House has
    considered some District of Columbia business before motions to suspend
    the rules does not affect the eligibility of further such business after
    suspensions have been completed (Sept. 17, 1984, p. 25523).