    [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 313-335]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 313]]

    ========================================================================

                      RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                      with

    ========================================================================

    [[Page 315]]

                              NOTES AND ANNOTATIONS

        RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WITH NOTES AND ANNOTATIONS

                                   __________

                                     Rule I.

                             DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER.

    Sec. 621. Journal;
    Speaker's approval.

      1. The Speaker shall take the Chair on every legislative day precisely
    at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned at the last sitting
    and immediately call the Members to order.  The Speaker, having examined the Journal of the
    proceedings of the last day's sitting and approved the same, shall
    announce to the House his approval of the Journal, and the Speaker's
    approval of the Journal shall be deemed to be agreed to subject to a
    vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval on the demand of any Member,
    which vote, if decided in the affirmative, shall not be subject to a
    motion to reconsider. It shall be in order to offer one motion that the
    Journal be read only if the Speaker's approval of the Journal is not
    agreed to, and such motion shall be determined without debate and shall
    not be subject to a motion to reconsider.

    [[Page 316]]

      This clause was adopted in 1789, amended in 1811, 1824 (II, 1310),
    1971 (Jan. 22, 1971, pp. 14-15, 140-44, with the implementation of the
    Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1140) and 1979 (H. Res.
    5, 96th Cong., Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16).

      The hour of meeting is fixed by standing order, and has traditionally
    been set at 12 m. (I, 104-109, 116, 117; IV, 4325); but beginning in the
    95th Congress, the House by standing order formalized the practice of
    varying its convening time to accommodate committee meetings on certain
    days of the week and to maximize time for floor action on other days. In
    the 100th through the 103d Congresses, the House adopted a resolution
    providing that it meet at noon on Mondays and Tuesdays, 2 p.m. on
    Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. on Thursdays and the balance of the week through
    May 14, after which the convening time for Wednesdays through Saturdays
    would advance to 10 a.m. for the remainder of the session (e.g., H. Res.
    7, 100th Cong., Jan. 6, 1987, p. 19). In the 104th Congress the House
    adopted a resolution providing that it meet at 2 p.m. on Mondays, 11
    a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. on Thursdays and the
    balance of the week through May 13, after which the convening time would
    advance to noon on Mondays and 10 a.m. for the balance of the week for
    the remainder of the session (H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----). The
    House retains the right to vary from this schedule by use of the motion
    to adjourn to a day or time certain as provided in clause 4 of rule XVI.
    By special order, the House may provide for a session of the House on a
    Sunday, traditionally a ``dies non'' under the precedents of the House
    (Dec. 17, 1982, p. 31946; Dec. 18, 1987, p. 36352; Nov. 19, 1989, p. --
    --; Aug. 20, 1994, p. ----). Beginning in the second session of the 103d
    Congress, the House has by unanimous consent agreed to convene at an
    earlier hour on Mondays and Tuesdays for morning-hour debate and then
    recess to the hour established for convening under this clause (Feb. 11,
    1994, p. ----; May 23, 1994, p. ----; June 8, 1994, p. ----; June 10,
    1994, p. ----; Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----; Feb. 16, 1995, p. ----; May 12,
    1995, p. ----; see Sec. 753b, infra).

    [[Page 317]]
    reading or amendment of the Journal, and there is an objection to the
    vote, a call of the House under clause 4 of rule XV is automatic (Feb.
    2, 1977, pp. 3342-43). Pursuant to clause 5(b)(1) of this rule as
    amended in the 98th Congress, the Speaker may postpone until a later
    time on the same legislative day a record vote on the Chair's approval
    of the Journal (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34). Where the House
    adjourns on consecutive days without having approved the Journal of the
    previous days' proceedings, the Speaker puts the question de novo in
    chronological order as the first order of business on the subsequent day
    (Nov. 3, 1987, p. 30592).
      Immediately after the Members are called to order prayer is offered by
    the Chaplain (IV, 3056), and the Speaker declines to entertain a point
    of no quorum before prayer is offered (VI, 663; clause 6(a)(1) of rule
    XV). Pursuant to clause 1 of rule I, as in effect in the 95th Congress,
    directing the Speaker to announce his approval of the Journal ``on the
    appearance of a quorum'' after having called the House to order, a point
    of order of no quorum could be made after the prayer and before the
    approval of the Journal when the House convened, notwithstanding the
    provisions of clause 6(e) of rule XV, allowing such points of order in
    the House only when the Speaker had put the pending motion or
    proposition to a vote (Oct. 3, 1977, p. 31987); prior practice had
    permitted a point of no quorum prior to the reading of the Journal (IV,
    2733; VI, 625) or during its reading (VI, 624). In the 96th Congress,
    the House eliminated the necessity for the appearance of a quorum before
    the Speaker's announcement of his approval of the Journal (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16). The current rule specifies that it is not in
    order to make or entertain a point of order that a quorum is not present
    unless the Speaker has put the pending motion or proposition to a vote
    (clause 6(e) of rule XV, as added in the 95th Congress). If a quorum
    fails to respond on a motion incident to the approval,

      Prior to the 92d Congress, the reading of the Journal was mandatory,
    could not be dispensed with except by unanimous consent (VI, 625; Sept.
    19, 1962, p. 19941), or by motion to suspend the rules (IV, 2747-2750).
    It had to be read in full when demanded by any Member (IV, 2739-2741;
    VI, 627, 628; Feb. 22, 1950, p. 2152), but the demand came too late
    after the Journal was approved (VI, 626). Under the rule as in effect
    before the 95th Congress, pending the Speaker's announcement of his
    approval of the Journal and prior to approval by the House, any Member
    could offer a privileged, non-debatable motion that the Journal be read
    (Apr. 23, 1975, p. 11482).

      The Journal of the last day of a session is not read on the first day
    of the next session (IV, 2742). No business is transacted before the
    reading (IV, 2751-2756; VI, 629, 630, 637); not even consideration of a
    conference report (VI, 630). However, the motion to adjourn (IV, 2757;
    Speaker Wright, Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30387) and the swearing in of a Member
    (I, 172) could take precedence, and a question of privilege relating to
    a breach of privilege (such as an assault) occurring during the reading
    or approval of the Journal may interrupt its reading or approval (II,
    1630).

      Once begun, the reading may not be interrupted, even by business so
    highly privileged as a conference report (V, 6443; rule XXVII); but a
    parliamentary inquiry (VI, 624), or an arraignment of impeachment may
    interrupt (VI, 469); and in cases of disorder the reading has been
    suspended (II, 1630; IV, 2759).

    <>   2. He shall preserve order and decorum, and, in case of
    disturbance or disorderly conduct in the gal

    [[Page 318]]
    leries, or in the lobby, may cause the same to be cleared.

      Under the prior rule, the Speaker's examination and approval of the
    Journal was preliminary to the reading and did not preclude subsequent
    amendment by the House itself (IV, 2734-2738). If the Speaker's approval
    of the Journal is rejected, a motion to amend takes precedence of a
    motion to approve (IV, 2760; VI, 633), and a Member offering an
    amendment is recognized under the hour rule (Mar. 19, 1990, p. 4488);
    but the motion is not admissible after the previous question is demanded
    on the motion to approve (IV, 2770; VI, 633; VIII, 2684; Sept. 13, 1965,
    p. 23600).

      This clause was adopted in 1789 and amended in 1794 (II, 1343).

      The Speaker may name a Member who is disorderly, but may not, of his
    own authority, censure or punish him (II, 1344, 1345; VI, 237). In cases
    of extreme disorder in Committee of the Whole the Speaker has taken the
    chair and restored order without a formal rising of the committee (II,
    1348, 1648-1653, 1657); and the Speaker, as an exercise of his authority
    under this clause, has on his own initiative declared the House in
    recess in an emergency (83d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 2324). The authority to
    have the galleries cleared has been exercised but rarely (II, 1352;
    Speaker Albert, Jan. 18, 1972, p. 9). On one occasion, acting on the
    basis of police reports and other evidence, the Speaker ordered the
    galleries cleared before the House convened (May 10, 1972, p. 16576) and
    then informed the House of his decision. In an early instance the
    Speaker ordered the arrest of a person in the gallery; but this exercise
    of power was questioned (II, 1605). While Members are permitted to use
    exhibits such as charts during debate (subject to the permission of the
    House under rule XXX), the Speaker may direct the removal of a chart
    from the well of the House which is not being utilized during debate
    (Apr. 1, 1982, p. 6304; Apr. 19, 1990, p. 7402). The Speaker's
    responsibility to preserve decorum requires that he disallow the use of
    exhibits in debate which would be demeaning to the House or which would
    be disruptive of the decorum thereof (Sept. 13, 1989, p. 20362; Oct. 16,
    1990, p. ----; Oct. 1, 1991, p. ----); thus he may inquire as to a
    Member's intentions, as to the use of exhibits, before conferring
    recognition to address the House (Mar. 21, 1984, p. 6187). In the 101st
    Congress both the Speaker and the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
    reinforced the Chair's authority to control the use of exhibits in
    debate, distinguishing between the constitutional authority of the House
    to make its own rules and first amendment rights of free speech, and the
    use of all exhibits was prohibited during the consideration of a bill in
    the Committee of the Whole (Oct. 11, 1990, p. ----).

    [[Page 319]]

      Questions having been raised concerning proper attire for Members in
    the Chamber (thermostat controls having been raised to comply with a
    Presidential directive conserving energy in the summer months), the
    Speaker announced he considered traditional attire for Members
    appropriate, including coats and ties for male Members and appropriate
    attire for female Members, but that he would recognize for a question of
    privileges of the House to relax such standards. The Speaker also
    requested a Member in violation of those standards to remove himself
    from the Chamber and appear in appropriate attire, and refused to
    recognize such Member until he did so (Speaker O'Neill, July 17, 1979,
    p. 11461). The House later agreed to a resolution (presented as a
    question of the privileges of the House) requiring Members to wear
    proper attire as determined by the Speaker (July 17, 1979, pp. 186-87).

      Recognition is within the discretion of the Chair, and in order to
    uphold order and decorum in the House as required under clause 2 of rule
    I, the Speaker may deny a Member recognition to address the House under
    the ``one-minute rule'' (Aug. 27, 1980, p. 23456), and may deny further
    recognition to a Member proceeding out of order beyond the one-minute
    for which recognized (Mar. 16, 1988, p. 4081). Even prior to adoption of
    the rules, the Speaker may maintain decorum by directing a Member who
    has not been recognized in debate beyond an allotted time to be removed
    from the well and by directing the Sergeant-at-Arms to present the mace
    as the traditional symbol of order (Jan. 3, 1991, p. ----). A Member's
    comportment may constitute a breach of decorum even though the content
    of that Member's speech is not, itself, unparliamentary (July 29, 1994,
    p. ----).

    Sec. 623. Speaker's control of the Hall, corridors, and
    rooms.

      3.  He shall have general control, except as provided by rule or
    law, of the Hall of the House, and of the corridors and passages and the
    disposal of the unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol
    assigned to the use of the House, until further order.

      This clause was adopted in 1811 and amended in 1824, 1885 (II, 1354),
    and April 5, 1911 (VI, 261).

      Control of the appropriated rooms in the House portion of the Capitol
    is exercised by the House itself (V, 7273-7279), but repairs and
    alterations have been authorized by statute (V, 7280-7281; 59 Stat.
    472). On January 15, 1979, the Speaker announced his directive
    concerning free access by Members in the corridors approaching the
    chamber (p. 19). The Speaker has declined to recognize for a unanimous
    consent request to change the decor in the Chamber, stating that he
    would take the ``suggestion'' under advisement in exercising his
    authority under this clause (Mar. 2, 1989, p. 3220).

    [[Page 320]]
    to sign enrolled bills whether or not the House is in session.

    Sec. 624. Speaker's signature to acts, warrants, subpoenas,
    etc.; and decision of questions of order subject to appeal.

      4.  He shall
    sign all acts, addresses, joint resolutions, writs, warrants, and
    subpoenas of, or issued by order of, the House, and decide all questions
    of order, subject to an appeal by any Member, on which appeal no Member
    shall speak more than once, unless by permission of the House. The
    Speaker is authorized

      The portion of this rule relating to decisions on points of order was
    adopted in 1789 and amended in 1811; and the portion relating to the
    signing of acts, etc., was adopted in 1794 (II, 1313). The last sentence
    of this clause, granting the Speaker standing authority to sign enrolled
    bills, even if the House is not in session, was added in the 97th
    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113).

    Sec. 625. Signing of enrolled bills.

      Enrolled  bills are
    signed first by the Speaker (IV, 3429). He has declined to sign in the
    absence of a quorum (IV, 3458), or pending a motion to reconsider (V,
    5705); and the report of a committee as to the accuracy of the
    enrollment is first submitted, unless, as in rare instances only, the
    House by consent waives the requirement (IV, 3452). In cases of error
    the House has permitted the Speaker's signature to be vacated (IV, 3453,
    3455-3457; VII, 1077-1080). Under the modern practice, the Committee of
    the Whole may rise informally without motion to enable the Speaker to
    assume the Chair and to sign an enrolled bill and lay it before the
    House (Jan. 28, 1980, p. 888; Apr. 30, 1980, p. 9505).

    Sec. 626. Signing of warrants, subpoenas,
    etc.

      Warrants,  subpoenas, etc., during recesses of Congress are signed only by
    authority specially given (III, 1753, 1763, 1806). The issuing of
    warrants must be specially authorized by the House (I, 287) or pursuant
    to a standing rule (clause 4 of rule XV; Sec. 774a, infra). Instance
    wherein the House authorized the Speaker to warrant for the arrest of
    absentees (VI, 638). The Speaker also signs the articles, replications,
    etc., in impeachments (III, 2370, 2455); and certifies cases of
    contumacious witnesses for action by the courts (III, 1691, 1769; VI,
    385; 2 U.S.C. 194). A subpoena validly issued by a committee authorized
    by the House under clause 2(m) of rule XI to issue subpoenas need only
    be signed by the chairman of that committee, whereas when the House
    issues an order or warrant, the Speaker must issue the summons under his
    hand and seal, and it must be attested by the Clerk (III, 1668; see H.
    Rept. 96-1078, p. 22).

    [[Page 321]]
    the question of order may be raised without waiting for the reading to
    be completed (V, 6886-7; VIII, 2912, 3378, 3437), though the Chair may
    decline to rule until the entire proposition has been read (Dec. 14,
    1973, pp. 41716-18). Debate being for his information is within his
    discretion (V, 6919, 6920; VIII, 3446-3448), and Members must address
    the Chair and cannot engage in ``colloquies'' on the point of order
    (Sept. 18, 1986, p. 24083). He is constrained to give precedent its
    proper influence (II, 1317; VI, 248). While the Chair will normally not
    disregard a decision of the Chair previously made on the same facts (IV,
    4045), such precedents may be examined and reversed where shown to be
    erroneous (IV, 4637; VI, 639; VII, 849; VIII, 2794, 3435; Sept. 12,
    1986, p. 23178). Preserving the authority and binding force of
    parliamentary law is as much the duty of each Member of the House as it
    is the duty of the Chair (VII, 1479). The Speaker's decisions are
    recorded in the Journal (IV, 2840, 2841), but responses to parliamentary
    inquiries are not so recorded (IV, 2842). Questions arising during a
    division are decided peremptorily (V, 5926), and when they arise out of
    any other question must be decided before that question (V, 6864).
    Recognition for parliamentary inquiry lies in the discretion of the
    Chair (VI, 541; Apr. 7, 1992, p. ----). The Speaker may recognize and
    respond to a parliamentary inquiry although the previous question may
    have been demanded (Speaker pro tempore Snell, Mar. 27, 1926, p. 6469).
    While the Chair may in his discretion recognize Members for
    parliamentary inquiries when no other Member is occupying the floor for
    debate, when another Member has the floor he must yield for a
    parliamentary inquiry (Oct. 1, 1986, p. 27465; July 13, 1989, p. 14633).

    Sec. 627. Practice governing the Speaker in deciding
    points of order.

      The  Speaker may require that a question of order be
    presented in writing (V, 6865). He is not required to decide a question
    not directly presented by the proceedings (II, 1314), and it is not his
    duty to decide a hypothetical question (VI, 249, 253; Nov. 20, 1989, p.
    ----), as the germaneness of an amendment not yet offered (Dec. 12,
    1985, p. 36167) or previously offered and entertained without a point of
    order (June 6, 1990, p. 13194), or concerning the propriety under
    applicable Budget Act allocations of an amendment not yet offered,
    particularly where the Chair's response may have depended upon the
    disposition of a prior amendment on which proceedings had been postponed
    (June 27, 1994, p. ----). When enough of a proposition has been read to
    show that it is out of order,

      A proper parliamentary inquiry relates to an interpretation of a House
    rule, not of a statute; the Chair has declined to anticipate whether
    bill language would trigger certain executive actions (Sept. 20, 1989,
    p. 20969). In rare instances the Speaker has declined to rule until he
    has taken time for examination of the question (III, 2725; VI, 432; VII,
    2106; VIII, 2174, 2396, 3475). Prior to the 104th Congress, precedents
    and applicable guidelines allowed the Chair to refine a ruling on a
    point of order in the Record in order to clarify the ruling without
    changing its substance, including one sustained by the House on appeal
    (Feb. 19, 1992, p. ----; see H. Res. 230, 99th Cong., July 31, 1985, p.
    21783, and H. Rept. 99-228 (in accordance with existing accepted
    practices, Speaker may make such technical or parliamentary corrections
    or insertions in transcript as may be necessary to conform to rule,
    custom, or precedent); see also H. Res. 330, 101st Cong., Feb. 7, 1990,
    p. 1515, and report of House Administration Task Force on Record
    inserted by Speaker Foley, Oct. 27, 1990, p. ----). However, the Speaker
    ruled that the requirement of clause 9 of rule XIV, which was adopted in
    the 104th Congress, that the Record be a substantially verbatim account
    of remarks made during House proceedings, extended to statements and
    rulings of the Chair (Jan. 20, 1995, p. ----).

    [[Page 322]]
    1992, p. ----). The Chair responds to parliamentary inquiries relating
    in a practical sense to the pending proceedings but does not respond to
    requests to place them in historical context (June 25, 1992, p. ----).
    The Chair will not respond to a parliamentary inquiry involving the
    propriety of words spoken in debate pending a demand under clause 4 of
    rule XIV that those words be ``taken down'' as unparliamentary (June 8,
    1995, p. ----). In interpreting the language of a special order adopted
    by the House, the Chair will not look behind the language of the
    resolution itself where no ambiguity exists therein (June 18, 1986, p.
    14267). He rarely submits a question directly to the House for its
    decision (IV, 3173, 3282, 4930; V, 5014, 5323, 6701; VI, 49; Speaker
    Longworth, Apr. 8, 1926, p. 7148), and rarely raises and submits a
    question on his own initiative (II, 1277, 1315, 1316; VIII, 3405). Even
    as to questions of privilege he usually, in later practice, makes a
    preliminary decision instead of submitting the question directly to the
    House (III, 2648, 2649, 2650, 2654, 2678; Speaker Wright, Mar. 11, 1987,
    p. 5404). He does not decide on the legislative or legal effect of
    propositions (II, 1274, 1323, 1324; VI, 254; VII, 2112; VIII, 2280,
    2841; Mar. 16, 1983, p. 5669), on the consistency of proposed action
    with other acts of the House (II, 1327-1336; VII, 2112, 2136; VIII,
    3237, 3458), whether Members have abused leave to print (V, 6998-7000;
    VIII, 3475), on the constitutional powers of the House (II, 1255, 1318-
    1320, 1490; IV, 3507; VI, 250, 251; VIII, 2225, 3031, 3071, 3427; July
    21, 1947, pp. 9522, 9551; May 13, 1948, p. 5817), on the propriety or
    expediency of a proposed course of action (II, 1275, 1325, 1326, 1337;
    IV, 3091-3093, 3127); and he does not consider contingencies which may
    arise in the future (VII, 1409), such as ruling on the germaneness of an
    amendment not yet offered (May 5, 1988, p. 9936; May 18, 1988, p.
    11404); or take cognizance of complaints relating to pairs (VIII, 3087).
    He passes on the validity of conference reports (V, 6409, 6410, 6414-
    6416; VIII, 3256, 3264), but not on the sufficiency of the accompanying
    statements as distinguished from the form (V, 6511-6513), or on the
    question of whether a conference report violates instructions of the
    House (V, 6395; VIII, 3246). As to reports of committees, he does not
    decide as to their sufficiency (II, 1339, IV, 4653), or whether the
    committee has followed instructions (II, 1338; IV, 4404, 4689); or on
    matters arising in Committee of the Whole (V, 6927, 6928, 6932-6937;
    Dec. 12, 1985, p. 36173); but he has decided as to the validity of the
    authorization of a report (IV, 4592, 4593) and has indicated that a
    point of order could be raised at a proper time where the content of a
    filed report varies from that approved by the committee (May 16, 1989,
    p. 9356). Questions concerning informal guidelines of the Committee on
    Rules for advance submission of amendments for possible inclusion under
    a ``modified closed'' rule may not be raised under the guise of
    parliamentary inquiries, since the Chair would not be called upon to
    interpret any rule of the House (May 5, 1988, p. 9938).

    [[Page 323]]

      The Chair may take a parliamentary inquiry under advisement,
    especially where not related to the pending proceedings (VIII, 2174;
    Apr. 7,

    Sec. 628. Practice, governing appeals.

      The  right of appeal
    insures the House against the arbitrary control of the Speaker and can
    not be taken away from the House (V, 6002); but appeals may not be
    entertained from responses to parliamentary inquiries (V, 6955; VIII,
    3457); when dilatory (V, 5715-5722; VIII, 2822); from decisions on
    recognition (II, 1425-1428; VI, 292; VIII, 2429, 2646, 2762; July 23,
    1993, p. ----; Apr. 4, 1995, p. ----); from decisions on dilatoriness of
    motions (V, 5731); while another is pending (V, 6939-6941); on a
    question on which an appeal has just been decided (IV, 3036; V, 6877);
    between the motion to adjourn and vote thereon (V, 5361); during a call
    of the yeas and nays (V, 6051); from the count by the Chair of the
    number rising to demand tellers (VIII, 3105) or a recorded vote (June
    24, 1976, p. 20390) or the yeas and nays (Sept. 12, 1978, p. 28950) or
    rising to object to a request under clause 2(i) of rule XI that a
    committee have permission to sit under the five-minute rule (Sept. 12,
    1978, p. 28984); from the Chair's count of a quorum (July 24, 1974, p.
    25012); from the Chair's call of a voice vote (July 13, 1994, p. ----;
    Aug. 10, 1994, p. ----); from decision refusing recapitulation of a vote
    (VIII, 3128); and from the Speaker's refusal under clause 6(e) of rule
    XV to entertain a point of order of no quorum when a pending question
    has not been put to a vote (Sept. 16, 1977, p. 29594). The Speaker may
    vote to sustain his own decision (IV, 4569; V, 5686, 6956, 6957).

      The appeal may be debated (VII, 1608; VIII, 2347, 2375, 3453-3455);
    unless the motion is made to lay on the table (V, 5301; Mar. 16, 1988,
    p. 4086), or the previous question is ordered (V, 5448, 5449). An appeal
    from a decision relating to the priority of business (V, 6952), or
    irrelevancy of debate (V, 5056-5063) is not debatable. In practice a
    Member favorable to the ruling usually moves to lay the appeal on the
    table, thus shutting off debate (e.g., Oct. 8, 1968, p. 30215; Apr. 6,
    1995, p. ----). A motion to postpone an appeal has been held in order
    (VIII, 2613). Debate in the House is under the hour rule (V, 4978), but
    may be closed at any time by the adoption of a motion for the previous
    question (V, 6947); or to lay on the table (VIII, 3453). Debate on an
    appeal in the Committee of the Whole is under the five-minute rule (VII,
    1608; VIII, 2347, 2556a, 3454, 3455), and may be closed by motion to
    close debate or to rise and report (V, 6947, 6950; VIII, 3453).

    [[Page 324]]
    tion shall first rise from their <> seats, and then those in the
    negative. If any Member requests a recorded vote and that request is
    supported by at least one-fifth of a quorum, such vote shall be taken by
    electronic device, unless the Speaker in his discretion orders clerks to
    tell the names of those voting on each side of the question, and such
    names shall be recorded by electronic device or by clerks, as the case
    may be, and shall be entered in the Journal, together with the names of
    those not voting. Members shall have not less than fifteen minutes to be
    counted from the ordering of the recorded vote or the ordering of clerks
    to tell the vote.

    Sec. 629. Putting of the question by the Speaker.

      5.  (a) He
    shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting; and shall put
    questions in this form, to wit: ``As many as are in favor (as the
    question may be), say `Aye'.''; and after the affirmative voice is
    expressed, ``As many as are opposed, say `No'.''; if he doubts, or a
    division is called for, the House shall divide; those in the affirmative
    of the ques

      This paragraph was first adopted in 1789 and its present form reflects
    the revisions and amendments of 1860, 1880 (II, 1311), 1972 (H. Res.
    1123, Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-08), and 1993 (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993,
    p. ----). From January 22, 1971 (when H. Res. 5 of the 92d Congress was
    adopted incorporating provisions in the Legislative Reorganization Act
    of 1970, 84 Stat. 1140), until October 13, 1972, this rule provided a
    two-step procedure for ordering ``tellers with clerks'' prior to
    installation of the electronic voting system, and for the first time
    permitted Members to be recorded on votes in Committee of the Whole. The
    last two sentences of this paragraph permitting a single-step ``recorded
    vote'' and voting by means of electronic device installed in the Chamber
    in 1972, were contained in House Resolution on October 13, 1972, and
    were made effective by adoption of the rules of the 93d Congress (H.
    Res. 6, Jan. 3, 1973, pp. 26-27). The general provision for demanding a
    vote by tellers was repealed in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5,
    1993, p. ----).

      The motion as stated by the Chair in putting the question and not as
    stated by the Member in offering the motion, is the proposition voted on
    (VI, 247). Under this paragraph the Speaker must put the pending
    question to a voice vote prior to entertaining a demand for a recorded
    vote or the yeas and nays (Speaker Foley, Mar. 9, 1992, p. ----). It is
    not in order for a Member having the floor in debate to conduct a
    ``straw vote'' or otherwise ask for a show of support for a proposition.
    See Procedure, ch. 30, sec. 3.1.

    [[Page 325]]
    (V, 6002) and the integrity of the Chair in counting a vote should not
    be questioned in the House (VIII, 3115; July 11, 1985, p. 18550), and
    the Chair's count of Members demanding a recorded vote is not appealable
    (June 24, 1976, pp. 20390-91). A vote by division takes no cognizance of
    Members present but not voting, and consequently the number of votes
    counted by division has no tendency to establish a lack of a quorum
    (June 29, 1988, p. 16504).
      One of the suppositions on which parliamentary law is founded is that
    the Speaker will not betray his duty to make an honest count on a
    division

      In a full House (total membership of 435), a recorded vote is ordered
    by one-fifth of a quorum (44), but in Committee of the Whole a recorded
    vote is ordered by 25 (clause 2(b) of rule XXIII, as added in 96th Cong.
    by H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16), rather than 20 in both cases as
    in prior practice (V, 5986; Dec. 20, 1974, p. 41793). The former right
    to demand tellers was not precluded by the fact that the yeas and nays
    had been refused (V. 5998; VIII, 3103), that a point of no quorum has
    been made against a division vote on the question on which tellers were
    requested (VIII, 3104, by a point of no quorum and a call of the House
    following a division vote on the question on which tellers were demanded
    (Sept. 25, 1969, pp. 27041-42), or by the intervention of a quorum call
    following the refusal of the Committee of the Whole to order a recorded
    vote (Feb. 27, 1974, p. 4447). But only one request for a recorded vote
    on a pending question is in order (Jan. 21, 1976, p. 508), and a demand
    for a recorded vote cannot interrupt a vote by division which is in
    progress (June 10, 1975, p. 18048). While a request for a recorded vote
    once denied may not be renewed, the request remains pending where the
    Chair interrupts the count of Members standing in favor of the request
    in order to count for a quorum pursuant to a point of order that a
    quorum is not present (Aug. 5, 1982, pp. 19658, 19659). Recognition by
    the Chair for a parliamentary inquiry immediately following the Chair's
    announcement of a voice vote on an amendment is not such intervening
    business as to prevent a demand for a recorded vote thereon where the
    Chair has not announced the final disposition of the amendment (May 23,
    1984, p. 13928; July 26, 1984, p. 21249). Where a division vote is
    demanded on a proposition in the House and the vote thereon is then
    postponed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this clause a division may again
    be demanded when the question is put de novo on the proposition as
    unfinished business (since a demand for a division may be made by any
    Member), whereas a demand for the yeas and nays if refused by the House
    may not be renewed (Mar. 18, 1980, pp. 5739-40). Ordinarily, however,
    only one demand for a vote by division on a pending question is in order
    (July 26, 1984, p. 21259; June 29, 1994, p. ----).

    [[Page 326]]
    pointed from the other side (V, 5988) or the position has been left
    vacant (V, 5989). A Delegate may be appointed teller (II, 1302). Where
    there is a doubt as to the count by tellers the Chair may order the vote
    taken again (V, 5991; July 19, 1946, p. 9466), but this must be done
    before he has announced the result (V, 5993-5995; VIII, 3098). The Chair
    may be counted without passing between the tellers (V, 5996, 5997; VIII,
    3100, 3101).

    Sec. 630b. Ordering of tellers and taking of the
    vote.

      In  Committee of the Whole, a request for a recorded vote on an
    amendment once denied may not be renewed even where the absence of a
    quorum is disclosed immediately following the refusal to order a
    recorded vote (June 6, 1979, p. 13648; Oct. 25, 1983, p. 29227). It is
    the duty of the Member to serve as teller when appointed by the Chair
    (V, 5987); but when Members of one side have declined, the second teller
    has been ap

    Sec. 631. Postponing rollcall votes on passage.

      (b)(1)  On
    any legislative day whenever a recorded vote is ordered or the yeas and
    nays are ordered, or a vote is objected to under clause 4 of rule XV on
    any of the following questions, the Speaker may, in his discretion,
    postpone further proceedings on each such question to a designated time
    or place in the legislative schedule on that legislative day in the case
    of the question of agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, or
    within two legislative days, in the case of the other questions listed
    herein:

          (A) the question of adopting a resolution;

          (B) the question of passing a bill;

          (C) the question of agreeing to a motion to instruct conferees as
    provided in clause 1(c) of rule XXVIII: Provided, however, That
    proceedings shall not resume on said question if the conferees have
    filed a report in the House;

          (D) the question of agreeing to a conference report;

          (E) the question of ordering the previous question on a question
    described in subdivision (A), (B), (C), or (D); and

          (F) the question of agreeing to a motion to suspend the rules.

    [[Page 327]]
    under subparagraph (1), the Speaker shall put each question on which
    further proceedings were postponed, in the order in which that question
    was considered.
      (2) At the time designated by the Speaker for further consideration of
    proceedings postponed

      (3) At any time after the vote has been taken on the first question on
    which the Speaker has postponed further proceedings under this
    paragraph, the Speaker may, in his discretion, reduce to not less than
    five minutes the period of time within which a rollcall vote by
    electronic device on the question may be taken without any intervening
    business on any or all of the additional questions on which the Speaker
    has postponed further proceedings under this paragraph.

      (4) If the House adjourns before all of the questions on which further
    proceedings were postponed under this paragraph have been put and
    determined, then, on the next following legislative day the unfinished
    business shall be the disposition of all such questions, previously
    undisposed of, in the order in which the questions were considered.

    [[Page 328]]
    5, Jan. 3, 1989, p. 72), along with the provision that a question so
    postponed not be put if the conferees sooner file their report. In the
    104th Congress the list of questions susceptible of postponement was
    reordered and expanded to include a vote on ordering the previous
    question on another question that is, itself, susceptible of
    postponement (sec. 223(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----).
      Paragraph (b) was added in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15,
    1979, p. 7), and subparagraph (b)(1) was amended in the 97th Congress
    (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113) to place all authority for the
    postponing of further proceedings on certain questions into rule I. This
    consolidation was accomplished with the addition of the authority to
    postpone further proceedings on reports from the Committee on Rules
    (formerly clause 4(e) of rule XI) and the authority to postpone further
    proceedings on motions to suspend the rules and pass bills or
    resolutions (formerly clause 3(b) of rule XXVII). The authority for the
    Speaker to postpone further proceedings on agreeing to his approval of
    the Journal until later that legislative day was added to subparagraph
    (b)(1) in the 98th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34). The
    authority for the Speaker to postpone further proceedings on motions to
    instruct conferees after 20 calendar days in conference was added to
    subparagraph (b)(1) in the 101st Congress (H. Res.

      The Speaker first exercised his authority to postpone a rollcall vote
    on the approval of the Journal on November 10, 1983 (p. 32097). That
    authority includes the power to postpone a division vote on the approval
    of the Journal that is objected to under clause 4 of rule XV (Sept. 21,
    1993, p. ----). But on questions not enumerated in this paragraph, such
    as the initial motion to instruct conferees, unanimous consent is
    required to permit the Speaker to postpone such record votes (Oct. 6,
    1986, p. 28704).

      Pursuant to clause 6(e) of rule XV, prohibiting a point of order of no
    quorum unless the Speaker has put the pending proposition to a vote, the
    Speaker announces, after postponing a vote on a motion to suspend the
    rules where objection has been made to the vote on the grounds that
    quorum is not present, that the point of order is considered as
    withdrawn, since the Chair is no longer putting the question (May 16,
    1977, p. 14785). At the conclusion of debate on all motions to suspend
    the rules on a legislative day, the Speaker announces that he will put
    the question on each motion on which further proceedings have been
    postponed--either de novo if objection to the vote has been made under
    clause 4 of rule XV or for a ``yea and nay'' or recorded vote if
    previously ordered by the House in the order in which the motions had
    been entered (June 4, 1974, pp. 17521-47).

      Under the authority to postpone further proceedings on a specified
    question to a designated time within two legislative days, the Speaker
    may simultaneously designate separate times for the resumption of
    proceedings on separate postponed questions (Mar. 3, 1992, p. ----).
    Once the Speaker has postponed rollcall votes to a designated place in
    the legislative schedule, he may subsequently redesignate the time when
    the votes will be taken within the appropriate period (June 6, 1984, p.
    15080; Oct. 3, 1988, pp. 27782, 27878).

    [[Page 329]]
    would not give adequate notice of the initial five-minute vote (Oct. 8,
    1985, p. 26666). But where a series of votes has been postponed to a
    subsequent day pursuant to this clause, to occur following a fifteen-
    minute vote on another measure not a part of that series, the vote on
    the first postponed measure may be reduced to five minutes only by
    unanimous consent (May 24, 1983, p. 13595). By unanimous consent waiving
    the five-minute minimum set by paragraph (b)(3) of this clause, the
    House has authorized the Speaker to put remaining postponed questions to
    two-minute electronic votes (Oct. 4, 1988, pp. 28126, 28148). The
    Speaker may ``cluster'' postponed votes on a motion to suspend the rules
    and on adoption of a resolution in the order in which those questions
    were considered on the preceding day (July 19, 1983, p. 19774). The
    requirement that the Speaker put each question on motions to suspend the
    rules in the order in which postponed, does not prevent the Speaker from
    entertaining a unanimous consent request for the consideration of a
    similar Senate measure following passage of a House bill and prior to
    the next postponed vote (Feb. 15, 1983, p. 2175). Since a resolution
    raising a question of the privileges of the House takes precedence over
    a motion to suspend the rules, it may be offered and voted on between
    motions to suspend the rules on which the Speaker has postponed record
    votes until after debate on all suspensions (May 17, 1983, p. 12486).
    Under this clause the Speaker is not required to announce his intention
    to postpone at the beginning of consideration of a motion to suspend the
    rules (although that is customarily the courtesy) but may postpone
    further proceedings after a record vote is ordered or an objection is
    raised under clause 4 of rule XV (Feb. 23, 1993, p. ----).

      Following the first postponed vote on motions to suspend the rules,
    the Speaker may in his discretion reduce to not less than 5 minutes the
    time for taking votes on any or all of the subsequent motions on which
    votes have been postponed (June 4, 1974, p. 17547). Having clustered
    record votes on motions to suspend the rules and then having clustered
    record votes on passage of other measures considered immediately after
    debate on the suspension motions, the Speaker may, pursuant to this
    clause, conduct all the postponed votes in one sequence and reduce to
    five minutes the time for all electronic votes after the first
    suspension vote (May 17, 1983, p. 12508; Oct. 2, 1989, p. 22724). But
    the Chair may decline, in his discretion, to recognize for a unanimous
    consent request to reduce to five minutes the first vote in the series,
    since the bell and light system

    Sec. 632. The Speaker's vote. Tie vote.

      6.  He shall not be
    required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings, except where his
    vote would be decisive, or where the House is engaged in voting by
    ballot; and in cases of a tie vote the question shall be lost.

      This clause was adopted in 1789, with amendment in 1850 (V, 5964), and
    1911.

    [[Page 330]]
    of the roll shows a condition wherein his vote would be decisive (V,
    5969, 6061-6063; VIII, 3075); and he also exercises the right to
    withdraw his vote in case a correction shows it to have been unnecessary
    (V, 5971). The Speakers have the same right as other Members to vote (V,
    5966, 5967) but rarely exercise it (V, 5964, footnote), and the Chair
    may not vote twice (V, 5964). The Chair may be counted on a vote by
    tellers (V, 5996, 5997; VIII, 3100, 3101).

      The Speaker's name is not on the roll from which the yeas and nays are
    called (V, 5970) and is not called unless on his request (V, 5965). It
    is then called at the end of the roll (V, 5965; VIII, 3075), the Clerk
    calling him by name. On an electronic vote, the Chair directs the Clerk
    to record him and verifies that instruction by submitting a vote card
    (Oct. 17, 1990, p. ----). The Chair may vote to make a tie and so decide
    a question in the negative, as he may vote to break a tie and so decide
    a question in the affirmative (VIII, 3100; Aug. 14, 1957, p. 14783). The
    duty of giving a decisive vote may be exercised after the intervention
    of other business, or after the announcement of the result or on another
    day, if a correction

    Sec. 633. Speaker pro tempore.

      7.  (a) He shall have the
    right to name any Member to perform the duties of the Chair, but such
    substitution shall not extend beyond three legislative days, except that
    with the permission of the House he may name a Member to act as Speaker
    pro tempore only to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions for a
    period of time specified in the designation, notwithstanding any other
    provision of this clause: Provided, however, That in case of his
    illness, he may make such appointment for a period not exceeding ten
    days, with the approval of the House at the time the same is made; and
    in his absence and omission to make such appointment, the House shall
    proceed to elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during his absence.-

    Sec. 633a. Fourterm limit.

      (b)  No person may serve as
    Speaker for more than four consecutive Congresses, beginning with the
    One Hundred Fourth Congress (disregarding for this purpose any service
    for less than a full session in any Congress).

    [[Page 331]]

      This clause was adopted in 1811, and amended in 1876 (II, 1377) and in
    1920 (VI, 263). Paragraph (b) was added in the 104th Congress (sec.
    103(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----).

    Sec. 634a. Election, oath, and designation of Speaker pro
    tempore.

      The  right of the House to elect a Speaker pro tempore in the
    absence of the Speaker was exercised before the rule was adopted (II,
    1405), although the House sometimes preferred to adjourn (I, 179). An
    elected Speaker pro tempore in the earlier practice was not sworn (I,
    229; II, 1386); but the Senate and sometimes the President were notified
    of his election (II, 1386-1389, 1405-1412; VI, 275). On August 31, 1961,
    p. 17765, the House adopted House Resolution 445, electing Hon. John W.
    McCormack as Speaker pro tempore in the absence and terminal illness of
    Speaker Rayburn. The resolution provided that the Clerk notify the
    President and the Senate. The Chairman of the Democratic Caucus then
    administered the oath. Elected Speakers pro tempore have signed enrolled
    bills, appointed committees, etc., functions not exercised by a Speaker
    pro tempore by designation (II, 1399, 1400, 1404; VI, 274, 277, Sept.
    21, 1961, p. 20572; June 21, 1984, p. 17708), but the clause was amended
    in the 99th Congress (H. Res. 7, Jan. 3, 1985, p. 393) to authorize the
    Speaker, with House approval, to designate a Speaker pro tempore to sign
    enrolled bills.

      A call of the House may take place with a Speaker pro tempore in the
    chair (IV, 2989), and the Speaker pro tempore may issue his warrant for
    the arrest of absent members under a call of the House (VI, 688). When
    the Speaker is not present at the opening of a session, including
    morning-hour debates, he designates a Speaker pro tempore in writing
    (II, 1378, 1401); but he does not always name in open House the Member
    whom he calls to the chair temporarily during the day's sitting (II,
    1379, 1400). The presence of the Speaker either at the opening of
    morning-hour debates or at the opening of the regular session on a day
    satisfies the requirement that the Speaker be present to convene the
    House at least every fourth day. A Speaker pro tempore sometimes
    designates another Speaker pro tempore (II, 1384; VI, 275). Members of
    the minority have been called to the chair on occasions of ceremony (II,
    1383; VI, 270; Jan. 31, 1951, p. 779), but in rare instances on other
    occasions (II, 1382, 1390; III, 2596; VI, 264).

    [[Page 332]]
    However, expenses may not be paid from the contingent fund for travel
    of a Member after the date of the general election of Members in which
    the Member has not been elected to the succeeding Congress, or in the
    case of a Member who is not a candidate in such general election, the
    earlier of the date of such general election or the adjournment sine die
    of the last regular session of the Congress.

    Sec. 634b. Travel authority.

      8.  He shall have the authority
    to designate any Member, officer or employee of the House of
    Representatives to travel on the business of the House of
    Representatives, as determined by him, within or without the United
    States, whether the House is meeting, has recessed or has adjourned, and
    all expenses for such travel may be paid for from the contingent fund of
    the House on vouchers solely approved and signed by the Speaker.

      This clause was adopted in the 94th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 14,
    1975, p. 20), and the last sentence was added in the 95th Congress (H.
    Res. 287, Mar. 2, 1977, p. 5941). See also Sec. 719b, infra, for
    discussion of the Speaker's authority under section 502(b) of the Mutual
    Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754) to authorize use of counterpart
    funds for Members and employees for foreign travel, except where
    authorized by the chairman of the committee for members and employees
    thereof.

    Sec. 634c. Broadcasting of House proceedings.

      9.  (a) He
    shall devise and implement a system subject to his direction and control
    for closed circuit viewing of floor proceedings of the House of
    Representatives in the offices of all Members and committees and in such
    other places in the Capitol and the House Office Buildings as he deems
    appropriate. Such system may include other telecommunications functions
    as he deems appropriate. Any such telecommunications function shall be
    subject to rules and regulations issued by the Speaker.

    [[Page 333]]
    news media, the storage of audio and video recordings of the
    proceedings, and the closed captioning of the proceedings for hearing-
    impaired individuals.
      (b)(1) He shall devise and implement a system subject to his direction
    and control for complete and unedited audio and visual broadcasting and
    recording of the proceedings of the House of Representatives. He shall
    provide for the distribution of such broadcasts and recordings thereof
    to

      (2) All television and radio broadcasting stations, networks,
    services, and systems (including cable systems) which are accredited to
    the House Radio and Television Correspondents' Galleries, and all radio
    and television correspondents who are accredited to the Radio and
    Television Correspondents' Galleries shall be provided access to the
    live coverage of the House of Representatives.

      (3) No coverage made available under this clause nor any recording
    thereof shall be used for any political purpose.

      (4) Coverage made available under this clause shall not be broadcast
    with commercial sponsorship except as part of bona fide news programs
    and public affairs documentary programs. No part of such coverage or any
    recording thereof shall be used in any commercial advertisment.

      (c) He may delegate any of his responsibilities under this clause to
    such legislative entity as he deems appropriate.

      This clause was adopted in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15,
    1979, p. 7). The requirement that the televised broadcasts of the
    proceedings of the House be closed captioned for hearing-impaired
    individuals was added to the second sentence of paragraph (b)(1) in the
    101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989, p. 72). The authority of the
    Speaker to make rules governing telecommunications functions within the
    House was added to paragraph (a) in the 102d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan.
    3, 1991, p. ----).

    [[Page 334]]
    over the Hall of the House for the audiovisual broadcast of House
    proceedings within the Capitol and House Office Buildings (H. Res. 404,
    Mar. 15, 1977, p. 7608). The resolution directed the Committee on Rules
    to report to the House at the earliest practicable date its findings and
    recommendations, including whether such coverage should be made
    available to the public. The Committee reported and the House adopted
    another resolution which: (1) authorized the Speaker to establish a
    closed-circuit system for in-House broadcasting of House proceedings;
    (2) directed the Committee on Rules to study methods for providing
    complete audio and visual broadcasting of House proceedings and to
    report to the House thereon; and (3) directed the Speaker after receipt
    of the committee's report to establish a system subject to his direction
    and control for audio and visual broadcast and recording of House
    proceedings and to provide for distribution and access to the news media
    (H. Res. 866, Oct. 27, 1977, pp. 35425-37). The Speaker, after receipt
    of that report (H. Rept. 95-881, Feb. 15, 1978), directed implementation
    of full audio coverage, with distribution to the media, on June 8, 1978
    (p. 16746). Public Law 95-391 (the Legislative Branch Appropriation Bill
    for fiscal year 1979) contained the following proviso in section 306
    relating to the broadcasting of House proceedings: ``No funds in this
    bill may be used to implement a system for televising and broadcasting
    the proceedings of the House pursuant to House Resolution 866, Ninety-
    Fifth Congress, under which the TV cameras in the Chamber purchased by
    the House are controlled and operated by persons not in the employ of
    the House.''
      In the 95th Congress the House considered as a question of the
    privileges of the House and adopted a resolution directing the Committee
    on Rules to investigate the impact on the safety, dignity, and integrity
    of House proceedings, of a test authorized by the Speaker under his
    general control

    [[Page 335]]

      Pursuant to his authority under this clause, the Speaker directed the
    Clerk in the 98th Congress to immediately implement periodic wide-angle
    television coverage of all ``special-order'' speeches at the end of
    legislative business (with captions at the bottom of the screen
    indicating that legislative business has been completed) (May 10, 1984,
    p. 11894) but not during ``interim'' special orders (Dec. 19, 1985, p.
    38106). However, in the 103d and 104th Congresses, the Speaker
    prohibited wide-angle coverage but continued the caption at the bottom
    of the screen not only during special order speeches but also during
    morning-hour debates (Speaker Foley, Feb. 11, 1994, p. ----; Speaker
    Gingrich, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----). In the 99th Congress, the House
    adopted a resolution, raised as a question of the privileges of the
    House, authorizing and directing the Speaker to provide for the audio
    and visual broadcast coverage of the chamber while Members are voting
    (H. Res. 150, Apr. 30, 1985, p. 9821). Although paragraph (b)(1) of this
    clause requires complete and unedited broadcast coverage of the
    proceedings of the House has held (by tabling an appeal of a ruling of
    the Chair) that it does not require in-House microphone amplification of
    disorderly conduct by a Member following expiration of his recognition
    for debate (Mar. 16, 1988, p. 4081).

    Sec. 634d. Office of the Historian.

      10.  There is
    established in the House of Representatives an office to be known as the
    Office of the Historian of the House of Representatives.

      This clause was added in the 101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989,
    p. 72). See Sec. 996a, infra.

    Sec. 634e. Office of General Counsel.

      11.  There is
    established in the House of Representatives an office to be known as the
    Office of General Counsel for the purpose of providing legal assistance
    and representation to the House. Legal assistance and representation
    shall be provided without regard to political affiliation. The Office of
    General Counsel shall function pursuant to the direction of the Speaker,
    who shall consult with a Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which shall
    include the majority and minority leaderships. The Speaker shall appoint
    and set the annual rate of pay for employees of the Office of General
    Counsel.

      This clause was added in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993,
    p. ----). The previous year, in section 12 of the House Administrative
    Reform Resolution of 1992 (H. Res. 423, Apr. 9, 1992, p. ----), the
    House had directed the Committee on House Administration to provide for
    an Office of General Counsel in a manner ensuring appropriate
    coordination with and participation by both the majority and minority
    leaderships in matters of representation and litigation.

    Sec. 634f. Authority to declare recesses.

      12.  To suspend the
    business of the House for a short time when no question is pending
    before the House, the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call
    of the Chair.

      This clause was added in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993,
    p. ----).