    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 105th Congress]
    [105th Congress]
    [House Document 104-272]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 206-207]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 206]]

                        sec. xxviii.--bill, recommitment.

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

      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.

    [[Page 207]]

    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).

      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,