    [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 189-190]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                     SEC. XXIII.--BILLS, LEAVE TO BRING IN.

    [[Page 190]]

    Sec. 398. Obsolete provisions as to introduction of
    bills.

      When  a Member desires to bring in a bill on any subject, he states
    to the House in general terms the causes for doing it, and concludes by
    moving for leave to bring in a bill, entitled, &c. Leave being given, on
    the question, a committee is appointed to prepare and bring in the bill.
    The mover and seconder are always appointed of this committee, and one
    or more in addition. Hakew., 132; Scob., 40. It is to be presented
    fairly written, without any erasure or interlineation, or the Speaker
    may refuse it. Scob., 41; 1 Grey, 82, 84.

      This provision is obsolete, clauses 1-4 of rule XXII providing an
    entirely different method of introducing bills. The introduction of
    bills by leave was gradually dropped by the practice of the House, and
    after 1850 the present free system of permitting Members to introduce at
    will bills for printing and reference began to develop (IV, 3365).