    [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 142-143]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    * * * * *
                                sec. x.--address.

    Sec. 316. Addresses to the President.

      A  joint address of
    both Houses of Parliament is read by the Speaker of the House of Lords.
    It may be attended by both Houses in a body, or by a Committee from each
    House, or by the two Speakers only. An address of the House of Commons
    only may be presented by the Whole House, or by the Speaker, 9 Grey,
    473; 1 Chandler, 298, 301; or by such particular members as are of the
    privy council. 2 Hats., 278.

    [[Page 143]]

    From 1801 to 1913 all messages were sent in writing (V, 6629), but
    President Wilson resumed the custom of making addresses in person on
    April 8, 1913, and, with the exception of President Hoover (VIII, 3333),
    the custom has been followed generally by subsequent Presidents.

      In the first years of Congress the President annually delivered an
    address to the two Houses in joint session, and the House of
    Representatives then prepared an address, which the Speaker, attended by
    the House, carried to the President. A joint rule of 1789 also provided
    for the presentation of joint addresses of the two Houses to the
    President (V, 6630). In 1876 the joint rules of the House were
    abrogated, including the joint rule providing for presentation of the
    joint addresses of the two Houses to the President (V, 6782-6787). In
    1801 President Jefferson transmitted a message ``in writing'' and
    discontinued the practice of making addresses in person.