[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 203-204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 

                    SEC. XXVIII.--BILL, RECOMMITMENT.


[[Page 204]]
new resolution must be again moved, as if nothing had passed. 3 Hats., 
131--note.


Sec. 420. Recommittal of a bill to a committee.

  After  a bill 
has been committed and reported, it ought not, in any ordinary course, 
to be recommitted; but in cases of importance, and for special reasons, 
it is sometimes recommitted, and usually to the same committee. Hakew, 
151. If a report be recommitted before agreed to in the House, what has 
passed in committee is of no validity; the whole question is again 
before the committee, and a 



  In Senate, January, 1800, the salvage bill was recommitted three times 
after the commitment.


  Where a matter is recommitted with instructions the committee must 
confine itself within the instructions (IV, 4404), and if the 
instructions relate to a certain portion only of a bill, other portions 
may not be reviewed (V, 5526). When a report has been disposed of 
adversely a motion to recommit it is not in order (V, 5559). Bills are 
sometimes recommitted to the Committee of the Whole as the indirect 
result of the action of the House (clause 7 of rule XXIII; IV, 4784) or 
directly on motion either with or without instructions (V, 5552, 5553).




Sec. 421. Division of matters for reference to 
committees.

  A  particular clause of a bill may be committed without the 
whole bill, 3 Hats., 131; or so much of a paper to one and so much to 
another committee.





  In the usage of the House before the rules provided that petitions 
should be filed with the Clerk instead of being referred from the floor, 
it was the practice to refer a portion of a petition to one committee 
and the remainder to another when the subject matter called for such 
division (IV, 3359). Clause 5 of rule X now permits the Speaker to refer 
bills, and resolutions, with or without time limitations, either (1) 
simultaneously to two or more committees for concurrent consideration, 
while indicating one committee of primary jurisdiction, (2) sequentially 
to appropriate committees after the report of the committee or 
committees initially considering the matter, (3) to divide the matter 
for referral, (4) to appoint an ad hoc committee with the approval of 
the House, or (5) to make other appropriate provisions, in order to 
assure that to the maximum extent feasible each committee with subject 
matter jurisdiction over provisions in that measure may consider and 
report to the House with respect thereto. Under former precedents a 
bill, resolution, or communication could not be divided for reference 
(IV, 4372, 4376).