[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.