    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 104th Congress]
    [104th Congress]
    [House Document 103-342]
    [Provisions of the Legislative Reorganization Act]
    [Pages 853-854]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 853]]

                         LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION ACTS

       PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION ACTS OF 1946 AND 1970

    section 132 of the legislative reorganization act of 1946, as amended by
    section 461 of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 (2 u.s.c. 198)

    Sec. 132. (a) <> Unless
    otherwise provided by the Congress, the two Houses shall--
                            APPLICABLE TO BOTH HOUSES

                 (1) adjourn sine die not later than July 31 of each year;
    or

              (2) in the case of an odd-numbered year, provide, not later

            than July 31 of such year, by concurrent resolution adopted in

            each House by rollcall vote, for the adjournment of the two

            Houses from that Friday in August which occurs at least thirty

            days before the first Monday in September (Labor Day) of such

            year to the second day after Labor Day.

      (b) This section shall not be applicable in any year if on July 31 of
    such year a state of war exists pursuant to a declaration of war by the
    Congress.

      The present form of this section is derived from the Legislative
    Reorganization Act of 1970 (sec. 461; 84 Stat. 1140). Prior to that
    revision, the 1946 Act (60 Stat. 812) provided for adjournment sine die
    of the two Houses not later than the last day of July each year except
    during time of war or a national emergency proclaimed by the President.
    Presidentially declared emergencies of May 8, 1939, and May 27, 1941,
    negated operation of the provision (see Speaker Rayburn, Aug. 1, 1949,
    p. 10486; Aug. 2, 1949, p. 10591; and Aug. 4, 1949, p. 10778), as did
    the later emergency declared by President Truman on December 16, 1950.

      The Committee on Rules has jurisdiction of matters relative to
    recesses and final adjournment of Congress (clause 1(m)(2) of rule X).

    [[Page 854]]
    1972, pp. 25145-46; July 24, 1974, p. 25008; July 29, 1982, pp. 18562,
    18563; July 30, 1986, p. 18146; July 29, 1994, p. ----).

    Sec. 948. Not a statutory adjournment sine die.

      Under  this
    provision of law, a concurrent resolution providing in an odd-numbered
    year for an adjournment of the two Houses from the first Friday in
    August until the second day after Labor Day or until notified to
    reassemble pursuant to a joint agreement of the Leadership of the two
    Houses is called up as privileged and requires a yea and nay vote for
    adoption (July 30, 1973, pp. 26657-58), and is not debatable (July 31,
    1991, p. ----); but the House may adjourn by simple motion on July 31 to
    meet on August 1 (July 31, 1991, p. ----). In even-numbered years, the
    House has agreed to concurrent resolutions waiving the provisions of
    this law to provide that the two Houses shall not adjourn for more than
    three days or sine die until they have adopted a concurrent resolution
    to that effect (July 25,

      section 141 of the legislative reorganization act of 1946 (2 u.s.c.

                                      145a)

    Sec. 949. Preservation of committee
    hearings.

      Sec. 141. The  Librarian of the Library of Congress is authorized and
    directed to have bound at the end of each session of Congress the
    printed hearings of testimony taken by each committee of the Congress at
    the preceding session.

      This provision became effective on August 2, 1946.