    [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 290-291]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                              SEC. L.--ADJOURNMENT.

    Sec. 584. Parliamentary law as to adjournment of the
    Commons and Lords.

      The two  Houses of Parliament have the sole, separate, and
    independent power of adjourning each their respective Houses. The King
    has no authority to adjourn them; he can only signify his desire, and it
    is in the wisdom and prudence of either House to comply with his
    requisition, or not, as they see fitting. 2 Hats., 232; 1 Blackst., 186;
    5 Grey, 122.

             *            *            *            *            *

    Sec. 585. Motion to adjourn not to be amended.

      A motion  to
    adjourn, simply cannot be amended, as by adding ``to a particular day;''
    but must be put simply ``that this House do now adjourn;'' and if
    carried in the affirmative, it is adjourned to the next sitting day,
    unless it has come to a previous resolution, ``that at its rising it
    will adjourn to a particular day,'' and then the House is adjourned to
    that day. 2 Hats., 82.

    [[Page 291]]
    ent with article I, section 5, clause 4 of the Constitution, not in
    excess of three days).

      The modern practice of the House of Representatives adheres to this
    principle (Secs. 783-784, infra). Clause 4 of rule XVI admits at the
    discretion of the Speaker a separate motion of equal privilege that when
    the House adjourns on that day it stand adjourned to a day and time
    certain (consist

    Sec. 586. Motion for a recess.

      Where it is  convenient that
    the business of the House be suspended for a short time, as for a
    conference presently to be held, &c., it adjourns during pleasure; 2
    Hats., 305; or for a quarter of an hour. 4 Grey, 331.

      An adjournment during pleasure is effected in the House of
    Representatives by a motion for a recess. A recess may not be taken by
    less than a quorum (IV, 2958-2960), and consequently the motion for it
    is not in order in the absence of a quorum (IV, 2955-2957). When the
    hour previously fixed for a recess arrives, the Chair declares the House
    in recess even in the midst of a division or when a quorum is not
    present (V, 6665, 6666; IV, 664); but a roll call is not in this way
    interrupted (V, 6054, 6055). Where a special order requires a recess at
    a certain hour of a certain day, the recess is not taken if the
    encroachment of a prior legislative day prevents the existence of the
    said certain day as a legislative day (IV, 3192). And an adjournment at
    a time prior to the hour fixed for a recess vacates the recess (IV,
    3283). A motion for a recess must, when entertained, be voted on, even
    though the taking of the vote may have been prevented until after the
    hour specified for the conclusion of the proposed recess (V, 6667). A
    Committee of the Whole takes a recess only by permission of the House
    (V, 6669-6671; VIII, 3362). The motion for a recess is not privileged
    (V, 4302, 5301, 6740), in the House or in Committee of the Whole (June
    26, 1981, p. 14356) against a demand that business proceed in the
    regular order (V, 6663; VIII, 3354-3356). However, beginning in the 102d
    Congress a motion to authorize the Speaker to declare a recess was given
    a privilege equal to that of the motion to adjourn (clause 4 of rule
    XVI); and beginning in the 103d Congress the Speaker was authorized to
    declare a recess ``for a short time when no question is pending''
    (clause 12 of rule I).

    Sec. 587. Adjournment pronounced by the
    Speaker.

      If a  question be put for adjournment, it is no adjournment till
    the Speaker pronounces it. 5 Grey, 137. And from courtesy and respect,
    no member leaves his place till the Speaker has passed on.