    [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 185-186]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <>   A
    petition prays something. A remonstrance has no prayer. 1 Grey, 58.

                              SEC. XIX.--PETITION.

      The rules of the House of Representatives make no mention of
    remonstrances, but do mention petitions and memorials (rule XXII).
    Resolutions of state legislatures and of primary assemblies of the
    people are received as memorials (IV, 3326, 3327), but papers general or
    descriptive in form may not be presented as memorials (IV, 3325).

    [[Page 186]]
    presented by a member, not by the petitioners, and must be opened by
    him holding it in his hand. 10 Grey, 57.

    Sec. 390. Signing and presentation of
    petitions.

      Petitions  must be subscribed by the petitioners Scob., 87; L. Parl.,
    c. 22; 9 Grey, 362, unless they are attending, 1 Grey, 401 or unable to
    sign, and averred by a member, 3 Grey, 418. But a petition not
    subscribed, but which the member presenting it affirmed to be all in the
    handwriting of the petitioner, and his name written in the beginning,
    was on the question (March 14, 1800) received by the Senate. The
    averment of a member, or of somebody without doors, that they know the
    handwriting of the petitioners, is necessary, if it be questioned. 6
    Grey, 36. It must be

      In the House of Representatives petitions have been presented for many
    years by filing with the Clerk (clause 1 of rule XXII). Members file
    them, and petitioners do not attend on the House in the sense implied in
    the parliamentary law. In cases where a petition set forth serious
    changes, the petitioner was required to have his signature attested by a
    notary (III, 2030, footnote).

    Sec. 391. Parliamentary law for the reception of
    petitions.

      Regularly  a motion for receiving it must be made and seconded, and a
    question put, whether it shall be received, but a cry from the House of
    ``received,'' or even silence, dispenses with the formality of this
    question. It is then to be read at the table and disposed of.

      Prior to the adoption of the provisions of clause 1 of rule XXII,
    petitions were presented from the floor by Members, and questions
    frequently arose as to the reception thereof (IV, 3350-3356). But under
    the present practice such procedure does not occur.