[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 106th Congress]
[106th Congress]
[House Document 105-358]
[Rules of the House of Representatives]
[Pages 757-781]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 


                   Rule XX.--VOTING AND QUORUM CALLS



Sec. 1012. Voting viva voce, by division, by electronic 
device.

  1. (a)  The House shall divide after the Speaker has put a question to 
a vote by voice as provided in clause 6 of rule I if the Speaker is in 
doubt or division is demanded. Those in favor of the question shall 
first rise from their seats to be counted, and then those opposed.



  (b) If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner requests a 
recorded vote, and that request is supported by at least one-fifth of a 
quorum, the vote shall be taken by electronic device unless the Speaker 
invokes another procedure for recording votes provided in this rule. A 
recorded vote taken in the House under this paragraph shall be 
considered a vote by the yeas and nays.


[[Page 758]]

vote'' and voting by means of electronic device installed in the Chamber 
in 1972, were contained in a House resolution on October 13, 1972, and 
were made effective by adoption of the rules of the 93d Congress (H. 
Res. 6, Jan. 3, 1973, p. 26). The general provision for demanding a vote 
by tellers was repealed in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, 
p. 49). The provision providing that a recorded vote taken pursuant 
thereto shall be considered a vote by the yeas and nays was added in the 
105th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, p. ----). Before the House 
recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in 
former clause 5(a) of rule I (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).
  This provision (former clause 5(a) of rule I) was adopted in 1789 and 
its present form reflects the revisions and amendments of 1860, 1880 
(II, 1311), 1972 (H. Res. 1123, Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-08), and 1993 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49). From January 22, 1971 (when H. Res. 5 
of the 92d Congress was adopted incorporating provisions in the 
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1140), until October 
13, 1972, this rule provided a two-step procedure for ordering ``tellers 
with clerks'' prior to installation of the electronic voting system, and 
for the first time permitted Members to be recorded on votes in 
Committee of the Whole. The last two sentences of this paragraph 
permitting a single-step ``recorded

  One of the suppositions on which parliamentary law is founded is that 
the Speaker will not betray his duty to make an honest count on a 
division (V, 6002) and the integrity of the Chair in counting a vote 
should not be questioned in the House (VIII, 3115; July 11, 1985, p. 
18550), and the Chair's count of Members demanding a recorded vote is 
not appealable (June 24, 1976, p. 20390). A vote by division takes no 
cognizance of Members present but not voting, and consequently the 
number of votes counted by division has no tendency to establish a lack 
of a quorum (June 29, 1988, p. 16504).


[[Page 759]]

is put de novo on the proposition as unfinished business (since a demand 
for a division may be made by any Member), whereas a demand for the yeas 
and nays if refused by the House may not be renewed (Mar. 18, 1980, p. 
5739). Ordinarily, however, only one demand for a vote by division on a 
pending question is in order (July 26, 1984, p. 21259; June 29, 1994, p. 
15206).
  In a full House (total membership of 435), a recorded vote is ordered 
by one-fifth of a quorum (44), but in Committee of the Whole a recorded 
vote is ordered by 25 (clause 6(e) of rule XVIII), rather than 20 in 
both cases as in prior practice (V, 5986; Dec. 20, 1974, p. 41793). The 
former right to demand tellers was not precluded by the fact that the 
yeas and nays had been refused (V, 5998; VIII, 3103), that a point of no 
quorum has been made against a division vote on the question on which 
tellers were requested (VIII, 3104, by a point of no quorum and a call 
of the House following a division vote on the question on which tellers 
were demanded (Sept. 25, 1969, p. 27041), or by the intervention of a 
quorum call following the refusal of the Committee of the Whole to order 
a recorded vote (Feb. 27, 1974, p. 4447). But only one request for a 
recorded vote on a pending question is in order (Jan. 21, 1976, p. 508), 
and a demand for a recorded vote cannot interrupt a vote by division 
which is in progress (June 10, 1975, p. 18048). While a request for a 
recorded vote once denied may not be renewed, the request remains 
pending where the Chair interrupts the count of Members standing in 
favor of the request in order to count for a quorum pursuant to a point 
of order that a quorum is not present (Aug. 5, 1982, pp. 19658, 19659). 
Recognition by the Chair for a parliamentary inquiry, or remarks uttered 
without recognition, immediately following the Chair's announcement of a 
voice vote on an amendment is not such intervening business as to 
prevent a demand for a recorded vote thereon where the Chair has not 
announced the final disposition of the amendment (May 23, 1984, p. 
13928; July 26, 1984, p. 21249; June 10, 1998, p. ----). Where a 
division vote is demanded on a proposition in the House and the vote 
thereon is then postponed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this clause a 
division may again be demanded when the question

  In Committee of the Whole, a request for a recorded vote on an 
amendment once denied may not be renewed even where the absence of a 
quorum is disclosed immediately following the refusal to order a 
recorded vote (June 6, 1979, p. 13648; Oct. 25, 1983, p. 29227). A 
record vote may be had in the House on a separate vote on an amendment 
adopted in the Committee of the Whole by a division vote after a 
recorded vote has been refused (May 13, 1998, p. ----).




Sec. 1013. Former ordering of tellers and taking of the 
vote.

  Under  the precedents recorded before the abolition of tellers, it was 
the duty of the Member to serve as teller when appointed by the Chair 
(V, 5987); but when Members of one side had declined, the second teller 
was appointed from the other side (V, 5988) or the position was left 
vacant (V, 5989). A Delegate could have been appointed teller (II, 
1302). Where there was doubt as to the count by tellers, the Chair could 
have ordered the vote taken again (V, 5991; July 19, 1946, p. 9466), but 
this must have been done before the result was announced (V, 5993-5995; 
VIII, 3098). The Chair could have counted without passing between the 
tellers (V, 5996, 5997; VIII, 3100, 3101).



  (c) In case of a tie vote, a question shall be lost.


  This provision was adopted in 1789. Before the House recodified its 
rules in the 106th Congress, it was found in former clause 6 of rule I 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).

                                                       Rule XX, clause 2
Rule XX, clause 2


[[Page 760]]

clause 3. Except as otherwise permitted under clause 9 or 10 of this 
rule or under clause 6 of rule XVIII, the minimum time for a record vote 
or quorum call by electronic device shall be 15 minutes.



Sec. 1014. Use of electronic equipment in recording 
roll calls.

  2. (a)  Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall 
conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic device. In such a 
case the Clerk shall enter on the Journal and publish in the 
Congressional Record, in alphabetical order in each category, the names 
of Members recorded as voting in the affirmative, the names of Members 
recorded as voting in the negative, and the names of Members answering 
present as if they had been called in the manner provided in


  The permissive use of an electronic voting system was incorporated in 
the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (sec. 121; 84 Stat. 1140) and 
was made a part of the standing rules in the 92d Congress (H. Res. 5, 
Jan. 22, 1971, p. 144). The electronic system was first utilized in the 
House on January 23, 1973 (p. 1793). The clause in its essential form 
was adopted the next year (former clause 5(a) of rule XV) (H. Res. 1123, 
Oct. 13, 1972, p. 36012).

  The Speaker has the discretion to continue to use the electronic 
system, even though the electronic display panels are temporarily 
inoperative, where the voting stations continue in operation and Members 
are able to verify their votes, or to use a backup voting procedure, 
such as calling the roll, where voting stations are inoperative (Speaker 
O'Neill, Sept. 19, 1985, p. 24245).

  The Speaker inserted in the Record a detailed statement describing 
procedures to be followed during votes and quorum calls by electronic 
device and by the backup procedures therefor (Jan. 15, 1973, pp. 1054-
57). The Speaker may direct that a call of the House be conducted by an 
alphabetical call of the roll by the Clerk where, in his discretion, he 
does not utilize the electronic voting device (Mar. 7, 1973, p. 6699), 
and pursuant to this clause and clause 6 (former clause 4 of rule XV) 
the Speaker may, in his discretion, direct the Clerk to call the roll, 
in lieu of taking the vote by electronic device, where a quorum fails to 
vote on any question and objection is made for that reason (May 16, 
1973, p. 15850). The Speaker declines to entertain unanimous-consent 
requests to correct the Journal and Record on votes taken by electronic 
device (Apr. 18, 1973, p. 13081; May 10, 1973, p. 15282; June 17, 1986, 
p. 14038), but the Speaker may announce a change in the result of a vote 
taken by electronic device where required to correct an error in 
identifying a signature on a voting card submitted in the well (June 11, 
1981).


[[Page 761]]

time during the conduct of the call (July 17, 1974, p. 23673). Since the 
Chair has the discretion to close the vote and to announce the result at 
any time after 15 minutes have elapsed, those precedents guaranteeing 
Members in the Chamber the right to have their votes recorded even if 
the Chair has announced the result (i.e., V, 6064, 6065; VIII, 2143), 
which predate the use of an electronic voting system, do not require the 
Chair to hold open indefinitely a vote taken by electronic device (Mar. 
14, 1978, p. 6838), and in the 103d Congress the Speaker inserted in the 
Record his announcement that, in order to expedite the conduct of votes 
by electronic device, the Cloakrooms were directed not to forward to the 
Chair individual requests to hold a vote open (Speaker Foley, Jan. 6, 
1993, p. 106). In the 104th and 105th Congresses the Speaker announced 
that each occupant of the Chair would have his full support in striving 
to close each electronic vote at the earliest opportunity and that 
Members should not rely on signals relayed from outside the Chamber to 
assume that votes will be held open until they arrive (Speaker Gingrich, 
Jan. 4, 1995, p. 552; June 10, 1998, p. ----); however, the Chair will 
not close a vote while a Member is in the well attempting to vote (Feb. 
10, 1995, p. 4385; June 22, 1995, p. 16814). At the end of a 15-minute 
vote, after the electronic voting stations are closed but before the 
Speaker's announcement of the result, a Member may cast an initial vote 
or change a vote by ballot card in the well (Speaker Albert, Sept. 23, 
1975, p. 29850; Speaker Wright, Oct. 29, 1987, p. 30239). In 1975, 
Speaker Albert announced that changes could no longer be made at the 
electronic stations but would have to be made by ballot card in the well 
(Speaker Albert, Sept. 17, 1975, p. 28903). In 1976, Speaker Albert 
announced that changes could be made electronically during the first 10 
minutes of a 15-minute voting period, but changes during the last 5 
minutes would have to be made by ballot card in the well (Speaker 
Albert, Mar. 22, 1976, p. 7394). In 1977, Speaker O'Neill announced that 
changes could be made electronically at any time during a vote reduced 
to five minutes under the rules (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-
70).
  On a call of the House, or a vote, conducted by electronic device, 
Members are permitted a minimum of 15 minutes to respond, but it is 
within the discretion of the Chair, following the expiration of 15 
minutes, to allow additional time for Members to record their presence, 
or vote, before announcing the result (June 6, 1973, p. 18403; Oct. 9, 
1997, p. ----), and since this clause is incorporated by reference into 
(clause 6 of rule XVIII (former clause 2 of rule XXIII)), the Chairman 
of the Committee of the Whole need not convert to a regular quorum call 
precisely at the expiration of 15 minutes if 100 Members have not 
appeared on a notice quorum call, but he may continue to exercise his 
discretion under that clause at any


  A request that the voting display be turned on during debate is not in 
order (Oct. 12, 1998, p. ----).


  (b) When the electronic voting system is inoperable or is not used, 
the Speaker or Chairman may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or 
quorum call as provided in clause 3 or 4.


  When the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this 
provision was added as a cross reference to the backup procedures found 
in clauses 3 and 4(a) and to clarify the Chair's discretion to choose 
either backup procedure (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).


[[Page 762]]

--  3. <> The 
Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call by 
call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of 
Members, alphabetically by surname. When two or more have the same 
surname, the name of the State (and, if necessary to distinguish among 
Members from the same State, the given names of the Members) shall be 
added. After the roll has been called once, the Clerk shall call the 
names of those not recorded, alphabetically by surname. Members 
appearing after the second call, but before the result is announced, may 
vote or announce a pair.

                                                       Rule XX, clause 3
Rule XX, clause 3

  The first form of this clause (former clause 1 of rule XV) was adopted 
in 1789, and amendments were added in 1870, 1880, 1890 (V, 6046), 1969 
(H. Res. 7, 91st Cong., Jan. 3, 1969, p. 35), and 1972 (H. Res. 1123, 
92d Cong., Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-012). The latter amendment, which 
became effective immediately prior to noon on January 3, 1973, 
introduced the concept and use of the electronic voting system. Before 
the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was 
found in former clause 1 of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).

  The names of Members who have not been sworn are not entered on the 
roll from which the yeas and nays are called for entry on the Journal 
(V, 6048; VI, 638; VIII, 3122).


[[Page 763]]

  Commencing in 1879 the Clerk, in calling the roll, called Members by 
the surnames with the prefix ``Mr.'' instead of calling the full names 
(V, 6047), but since the 62d Congress the practice has been discontinued 
in the interest of brevity (VIII, 3121). The Speaker's name is not on 
the voting roll and is not ordinarily called (V, 5970). When he votes 
his name is called at the close of the roll (V, 5965). In case of a tie 
which is revealed by a correction of the roll, he has voted after 
intervening business or even on another day (V, 5969, 6061-6063; VIII, 
3075). Where the Speaker through an error of the Clerk in reporting the 
yeas and nays announces a result different from that actually had, the 
status of the question is governed by the vote as recorded and 
subsequent announcement by the Speaker of the changed result is 
authoritative, or he may entertain a motion for correction of the 
Journal in accordance with the vote as finally ascertained (VIII, 3162).

  Under this clause, as under clause 6, the roll is called twice, and 
those Members appearing after their names are called but before the 
announcement of the result may vote or announce a live pair. Under the 
former practice, prior to the amendment adopted on January 3, 1969, a 
Member who had failed to respond on either the first or second call of 
the roll could not be recorded before the announcement of the result (V, 
6066-6070; VIII, 3134-3150) unless he qualified by declaring that he had 
been within the Hall, listening, when his name should have been called 
and failed to hear it (V, 6071-6072; VIII, 3144-3150), and then only on 
the theory that his name may have been inadvertently omitted by the 
Clerk (VIII, 3137). Under the former practice where the roll was called 
by the Clerk, either before announcement of the result (V, 6064) or 
after such announcement (VIII, 3125), the Speaker could order the vote 
recapitulated (V, 6049, 6050; VIII, 3128). A Member may not change his 
vote on recapitulation if the result has been announced (VIII, 3124), 
but errors in the record of such votes may be corrected (VIII, 3125). A 
motion that a vote be recapitulated is not privileged (VIII, 3126). The 
Speaker has declined to order a recapitulation of a vote taken by 
electronic device (Speaker Albert, July 30, 1975, p. 25841).



Sec. 1016. Bell system.

  The  legislative call system was 
designed to alert Members to certain occurrences on the floor of the 
House. The Speaker has directed that the bells and lights comprising the 
system be utilized as follows (Jan. 23, 1979, p. 701):


  Tellers--one ring and one light on left. Since teller votes were 
discontinued at the beginning of the 103d Congress, this signal is no 
longer utilized.

  Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic record vote taken either by 
electronic system or by use of tellers with ballot cards--two bells and 
two lights on left indicate a vote in House or in Committee of the Whole 
by which Members are recorded by name. Bells are repeated five minutes 
after the first ring. When by unanimous consent waiving the five-minute 
minimum set by clause 9 (former clause 5(b)(3) of rule I) the House 
authorized the Speaker to put remaining postponed questions to two-
minute electronic votes, two bells were rung (Oct. 4, 1988, pp. 28126, 
28148).

  Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic record electronic vote on 
recommittal to be immediately followed by possible five-minute vote on 
final passage--two bells rung at beginning of motion to recommit, 
followed by five bells, indicate that Chair will order five-minute votes 
if recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic vote is ordered 
immediately thereafter on final passage or adoption. Two bells repeated 
five minutes after first ring.


[[Page 764]]

is ordered on additional amendments on which separate votes have been 
demanded. Two bells repeated five minutes after first ring. Five bells 
on each subsequent amendment if roll call ordered.
  Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic record electronic vote on 
the first of several amendments reported to the House from the Committee 
of the Whole--two bells rung at beginning of first amendment on which 
separate vote is demanded, followed by five bells, indicate that Chair 
will order five-minute vote if recorded vote, yeas and nays, or 
automatic vote

  Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic roll call by call of the 
roll--two bells, followed by a brief pause, then two bells indicate such 
a vote taken by a call of the roll in the House. The bells are repeated 
when the Clerk reaches the ``R's'' in the first call of the roll.

  Regular quorum call--three bells and three lights on left indicate a 
quorum call either in the House or in Committee of the Whole by 
electronic system or by clerks. The bells are repeated five minutes 
after the first ring. Where quorum call is by call of the roll, three 
bells followed by a brief pause, then three more bells, with the process 
repeated when the Clerk reaches the ``R's'' in the first call of the 
roll, are utilized.

  Regular quorum call in Committee of the Whole, which will possibly be 
immediately followed by five-minute electronic recorded vote--three 
bells rung at beginning of quorum call, followed by five bells, indicate 
that Chair will order five-minute vote if recorded vote is ordered on 
pending question. Three bells repeated five minutes after first ring.

  Notice or short quorum call in Committee of the Whole--one long bell 
followed by three regular bells, and three lights on left, indicate that 
the Chair has exercised his discretion under clause 6 of rule XVIII and 
will vacate proceedings when a quorum of the Committee appears. Bells 
are repeated every five minutes unless (a) the call is vacated by 
ringing of one long bell and extinguishing of three lights, or (b) the 
call is converted into a regular quorum call and three regular bells are 
rung.

  Adjournment--four bells and four lights on left.

  Any five-minute vote--five bells and five lights on left.

  Postponed votes on (a) motions to suspend the rules; (b) final votes 
on bills, resolutions, or conference reports; or (c) previous question 
on questions that are, themselves, susceptible of postponement--two 
bells, followed by five bells, indicate start of 15-minute vote on first 
postponed question in each such series. Two bells repeated five minutes 
after first ring. Five bells on all subsequent five-minute votes in each 
series on which Speaker has reduced vote time.

  Recess of the House--six bells and six lights on left.

  Civil Defense Warning--twelve bells, sounded at two-second intervals, 
with six lights illuminated.

  The light on the far right--seven--indicates that the House is in 
session.

  Failure of the signal bells to announce a vote does not warrant 
repetition of the roll call (VIII, 3153-3155, 3157) nor does such a 
failure permit a Member to be recorded following the conclusion of the 
call (June 9, 1938, p. 8662).


[[Page 765]]

may change it to ``yea'' or ``nay'' (V, 6060). But a vote given by a 
Member may not be withdrawn without leave of the House (V, 5930).


Sec. 1017. Changes and corrections of votes.

  Before  the 
result of a vote has been finally and conclusively pronounced by the 
Chair, but not thereafter, a Member may change his vote (V, 5931-5933, 
6093, 6094; VIII, 3070, 3123, 3124, 3160), and a Member who has answered 
``present''


  When a vote actually given fails to be recorded during a call of the 
roll (V, 6061-6063) the Member may, before the approval of the Journal, 
demand as a matter of right that correction be made (V, 5969; VIII, 
3143). But statements of other Members as to alleged errors in a 
recorded vote must be very definite and positive to justify the Speaker 
in ordering a change of the roll (V, 6064, 6099). The Speaker declines 
to entertain requests to correct the Journal and Record on votes taken 
by electronic device, based upon the technical accuracy of the 
electronic system if properly utilized and upon the responsibility of 
each Member to correctly cast and verify his vote (Apr. 18, 1973, p. 
13081; May 10, 1973, p. 15282). By unanimous consent the House may 
vacate proceedings on a recorded vote conducted in the Committee of the 
Whole and require a vote de novo where it is alleged that Members were 
improperly prevented from being recorded (June 22, 1995, p. 16815).




Sec. 1018. Interruptions of the roll call.

  When  once begun 
the roll call may not be interrupted even by a motion to adjourn (V, 
6053; VIII, 3133), a parliamentary inquiry (VIII, 3132), a question of 
personal privilege (V, 6058, 6059; VI, 554, 564), the arrival of the 
time fixed for another order of business (V, 6056) or for a recess (V, 
6054, 6055; VIII, 3133), or the presentation of a conference report (V, 
6443). But it is interrupted for the reception of messages and by the 
arrival of the hour fixed for adjournment sine die (V, 6715-6718). 
Incidental questions arising during the roll call, such as the refusal 
of a Member to vote (V, 5946-5948), are considered after the completion 
of the call and the announcement of the vote (V, 5947). The rules do not 
preclude a Member from announcing after a recorded vote on which he 
failed to answer, how he would have voted if present (Speaker Rayburn, 
June 27, 1957, p. 10521; contra VIII, 3151), but neither the rules nor 
the practice permit a Member to announce after a recorded vote how 
absent colleagues would have voted if present (VI, 200; Apr. 3, 1933, p. 
1139; Apr. 28, 1933, p. 2587; May 20, 1933, p. 3834; Mar. 16, 1934, pp. 
4691, 4700; Apr. 14, 1937, pp. 3489, 3490; Apr. 15, 1937, p. 3563).


                                                       Rule XX, clause 4
Rule XX, clause 4


[[Page 766]]

shall be noted, but the doors may not be closed except when ordered by 
the Speaker. The minimum time for a record vote or quorum call by 
tellers shall be 15 minutes.



Sec. 1019. Quorum call by clerks.

  4. (a)  The Speaker may 
direct a record vote or quorum call to be conducted by tellers. In such 
a case the tellers named by the Speaker shall record the names of the 
Members voting on each side of the question or record their presence, as 
the case may be, which the Clerk shall enter on the Journal and publish 
in the Congressional Record. Absentees


  This paragraph was adopted as part of the general revision of this 
rule (former rule XV) which was required by the implementation of the 
electronic voting system (H. Res. 1123, 92d Cong., Oct. 13, 1972, p. 
36012). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, 
this provision was found in former clause 2(b) of rule XV (H. Res. 5, 
Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----). The Speaker, in his discretion, may direct that 
the presence of Members be recorded by this procedure in lieu of using 
the electronic system, or the Chair may, in his discretion, direct that 
a quorum call be taken by an alphabetical call of the roll (Mar. 7, 
1973, p. 6699). The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole also may 
direct that a quorum call be conducted by depositing quorum tally cards 
with clerk tellers, rather than by electronic device or a call of the 
roll (July 13, 1983, p. 18858).


  Exercising his authority under this paragraph, the Speaker ordered the 
doors to the Chamber closed and locked during a call of the House and 
instructed the Doorkeeper to enforce the rule and let no Members leave 
the Hall (Deschler's Precedents, vol. 5, ch. 20, sec. 6.3). This clause 
does not give the Speaker the authority to lock the doors during a 
recorded vote (June 11, 1997, p. ----).




Sec. 1020. Count of those not voting to make a quorum of 
record on a roll call.

  (b)  On the demand of a Member, or at the suggestion 
of the Speaker, the names of Members sufficient to make a quorum in the 
Hall of the House who do not vote shall be noted by the Clerk, entered 
on the Journal, reported to the Speaker with the names of the Members 
voting, and be counted and announced in determining the presence of a 
quorum to do business.



[[Page 767]]

to note names of Members under this rule even on a vote for which a 
quorum is not necessary (VIII, 3152).

  This clause was adopted in 1890 (IV, 2905), but it merely formalized a 
principle already established by a decision of the Chair (IV, 2895). It 
was much in use in the first years after its adoption (III, 2620; IV, 
2905-2907); but with the decline of obstruction in the House and the 
adoption of clause 6 (former clause 4 of rule XV) of this rule the 
necessity for its use has disappeared to a large extent. Before the 
House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was 
found in former clause 3 of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----). 
The Speaker may direct the Clerk

                                                       Rule XX, clause 5
Rule XX, clause 5



Sec. 1021. The call of the House.

  5. (a)  In the absence of a 
quorum, a majority comprising at least 15 Members, which may include the 
Speaker, may compel the attendance of absent Members.



  (b) Subject to clause 7(b) a majority of those present may order the 
Sergeant-at-Arms to send officers appointed by him to arrest those 
Members for whom no sufficient excuse is made and shall secure and 
retain their attendance. The House shall determine on what condition 
they shall be discharged. Unless the House otherwise directs, the 
Members who voluntarily appear shall be admitted immediately to the Hall 
of the House and shall report their names to the Clerk to be entered on 
the Journal as present.


[[Page 768]]

  The essential portions of this provision were adopted in 1789 and 
1795, with minor amendments in 1888, 1890 (IV, 2982), and 1971 (H. Res. 
5, 92d Cong., Jan. 22, 1971, p. 144). Later in the 92d Congress several 
provisions of this rule, including this clause, were amended to reflect 
the implementation of the electronic voting system (H. Res. 1123, Oct. 
13, 1972, pp. 36005-12). The provisions relating to the calling of the 
roll by the Clerk were deleted. Calls of the House are now taken by the 
electronic device unless the Speaker, in his discretion orders the use 
of the alternative procedure in clause 2(b). Together with clause 7 
(former clause 6(e)(2) of rule XV) this provision was further amended in 
the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7-16) to conform to the 
requirement in that provision that further proceedings under the call 
shall be dispensed with unless the Speaker in his discretion recognizes 
for a call of the House or a motion to compel attendance under this 
paragraph. This clause must be read in light of clause 7 (former clause 
6(e) of rule XV), which prohibits the point of order that a quorum is 
not present unless the Speaker has put a question to a vote. Before the 
House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was 
found in former clause 2(a) of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----
).



Sec. 1022. Ordering and conducting the call.

  Under  this rule 
a call may not be ordered by less than 15, and without that number 
present the motion for a call is not entertained (IV, 2983). It must be 
ordered by majority vote, and a minority of 15 or more favoring a call 
on such vote is not sufficient (IV, 2984). A quorum not being present no 
motion is in order but for a call of the House or to adjourn (IV, 2950, 
2988; VI, 680), and at this stage the motion to adjourn has precedence 
over the motion for a call of the House (VIII, 2642).


  While the following precedents predate the use of the electronic 
voting and recording system, they are retained in the Manual because of 
their general applicability with respect to calls of the House. A roll 
call under paragraph (a) may not be interrupted by a motion to dispense 
with further proceedings under the call (IV, 2992), and a recapitulation 
of the names of those who appear after their names have been called may 
not be demanded (IV, 2933). But during proceedings under the call the 
roll may be ordered to be called again by those present (IV, 2991).

  During a call less than a quorum may revoke leaves of absence (IV, 
3003, 3004) and excuse a Member from attendance (IV, 3000, 3001), but 
may not grant leaves of absence (IV, 3002). The roll is sometimes called 
for excuses, and motions to excuse are in order during this call (IV, 
2997), but neither the motion to excuse nor an incidental appeal are 
debatable (IV, 2999). After the roll has been called for excuses, and 
the House has ordered the arrest of those who are unexcused, a motion to 
excuse an absentee is in order when he is brought to the bar (IV, 3012).



Sec. 1023. Arrest of Members.

  An  order of arrest for absent 
Members may be made after a single calling of the roll (IV, 3015, 3016), 
and a warrant issued on direction of those present, such motion having 
precedence of a motion to dispense with proceedings under the call (IV, 
3036). The Sergeant-at-Arms is required to arrest Members wherever they 
may be found (IV, 3017), and leave for a committee to sit during 
sessions does not release its Members from liability to arrest (IV, 
3020). A motion to require the Sergeant-at-Arms to report progress in 
securing a quorum is in order during a call of the House (VI, 687). A 
Member who appears and answers is not subject to arrest (IV, 3019), and 
in a case where a Member complained of wrongful arrest the House ordered 
the Sergeant-at-Arms to investigate and amend the return of his warrant 
(IV, 3021). A Member once arrested having escaped it was held that he 
might not be brought back on the same warrant (IV, 3022). A privileged 
motion to compel the attendance of absent Members is in order after the 
Chair has announced that a quorum has not responded on a negative 
recorded vote on a motion to adjourn (Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30386).



[[Page 769]]

leaves of absence and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to deduct from the 
salary of Members compensation for days absent without leave (VI, 30, 
198), but this penalty has been of rare occurrence (IV, 3013, 3014, 
3025). Form of resolution for the arrest of Members absent without leave 
(VI, 686). Having rejected a motion to adjourn, less than a quorum of 
the House rejected a motion directing the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest 
absent Members, rejected a second motion to adjourn, and then adopted a 
motion authorizing the Speaker to compel the attendance of absent 
members (Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30387).
  The former practice of presenting Members at the bar during a call of 
the House (IV, 3030-3035) is obsolete, and Members now report to the 
Clerk and are recorded without being formally excused unless brought in 
under compulsion (VI, 684). Those present on a call may prescribe a fine 
as a condition of discharge, and the House has by resolution revoked all

  The motion to dispense with further proceedings under the call of the 
House is not in order when a motion to arrest absent Members is pending 
(IV, 3029, 3037); is not entertained until a quorum responds on the 
call, but may be agreed to by less than a quorum thereafter (IV, 3038, 
3040; VI, 689; Sept. 11, 1968, p. 26453; Dec. 22, 1970, p. 43311); is 
neither debatable nor subject to amendment, thus the motion to lay it on 
the table is not in order (Aug. 27, 1962, p. 17653; Dec. 18, 1970, p. 
42504).




Sec. 1024. Motions during a call.

  During  the call, which in 
later practice has been invoked only in absence of a quorum, incidental 
motions may be agreed to by less than a quorum (IV, 2994, 3029; VI, 
681), and under clause 7 (former clause 6(a)(4) of rule XV) a point of 
order of no quorum may not be made during the offering, consideration, 
and disposition of any motion incidental to a call of the House. This 
includes motions for the previous question (V, 5458), to reconsider and 
to lay the motion to reconsider on the table (V, 5607, 5608), to 
adjourn, which is in order even in the midst of the call of the roll for 
excuses (IV, 2998) or while the House is dividing on a motion for a call 
of the House (VIII, 2644), and which takes precedence over a motion to 
dispense with further proceedings under the call (VIII, 2643), and an 
appeal from a decision of the Chair (IV, 3010, 3037; VI, 681). The yeas 
and nays may also be ordered (IV, 3010), but a question of privilege may 
not be raised unless it be something connected immediately with the 
proceedings (III, 2545). Motions not strictly incidental to the call are 
not admitted, as for a recess (IV, 2995, 2996), to excuse a Member from 
voting even when otherwise in order (IV, 3007), to enforce the statute 
relating to deductions of pay of Members for absence (IV, 3011; VI, 
682), to construe a rule or make a new rule (IV, 3008), or to order a 
change of a Journal record (IV, 3009). A motion for a call of the House 
is not debatable (VI, 683, 688). The motion to compel the attendance of 
absent Members, being neither debatable nor amendable, is not subject to 
a motion to lay on the table (Speaker Wright, Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30389).


                                                       Rule XX, clause 6
Rule XX, clause 6


[[Page 770]]



Sec. 1025. The call of the House in the new 
form.

  6. (a)  When a quorum fails to vote on a question, a quorum is not 
present, and objection is made for that cause (unless the House shall 
adjourn)--


      (1) there shall be a call of the House;

      (2) the Sergeant-at-Arms shall proceed forthwith to bring in 
absent Members; and

      (3) the yeas and nays on the pending question shall at the same 
time be considered as ordered.

  (b) The Clerk shall record Members by the yeas and nays on the pending 
question, using such procedure as the Speaker may invoke under clause 2, 
3, or 4. Each Member arrested under this clause shall be brought by the 
Sergeant-at-Arms before the House, whereupon he shall be noted as 
present, discharged from arrest, and given an opportunity to vote; and 
his vote shall be recorded. If those voting on the question and those 
who are present and decline to vote together make a majority of the 
House, the Speaker shall declare that a quorum is constituted, and the 
pending question shall be decided as the requisite majority of those 
voting shall have determined. Thereupon further proceedings under the 
call shall be considered as dispensed with.



[[Page 771]]


  (c) At any time after Members have had the requisite opportunity to 
respond by the yeas and nays, but before a result has been announced, 
the Speaker may entertain a motion that the House adjourn if seconded by 
a majority of those present, to be ascertained by actual count by the 
Speaker. If the House adjourns on such a motion, all proceedings under 
this clause shall be considered as vacated.

  This clause (former clause 4 of rule XV) was adopted in 1896 (IV, 
3041; VI, 690); and amended in 1972 to make its provisions subject to 
clause 2 (former clause 5) of this rule (H. Res. 1123, 92d Cong., p. 
36012). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, 
this provision was found in former clause 4 of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 
6, 1999, p. ----). Where objection is raised to a vote in the House on 
the ground that a quorum is not present, and a quorum is in fact not 
present, the Speaker may direct that the call of the House be taken by 
electronic device under clause 2 (former clause 5), or may, in his 
discretion, direct the Clerk to call the roll pursuant to this clause 
(May 16, 1973, p. 15860).

  It applies only to votes wherein a quorum is required, and hence does 
not apply to an affirmative vote on a motion to adjourn (July 25, 1949, 
p. 10092; Nov. 4, 1983, p. 30946), or motions incidental to a call of 
the House which may be agreed to by less than a quorum (IV, 2994, 3029; 
VI, 681), or to a call when there is no question pending (IV, 2990). 
While a quorum is not required to adjourn, a point of no quorum on a 
negative vote on adjournment, if sustained, precipitates a call of the 
House under the rule (VI, 700; June 4, 1951, pp. 6097, 6098; June 15, 
1951, p. 6621). Where less than a quorum rejects a motion to adjourn, 
the House may not consider business but may dispose of motions to compel 
the attendance of absent Members (Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30387).


[[Page 772]]

  When a Member objects to a vote on the ground that a quorum is not 
present and makes the point of order under this clause, the Speaker may 
count the House and determine the presence of a quorum, and is not 
required to announce his actual count under the first sentence of this 
clause (Sept. 30, 1981, p. 22456). Where the Speaker ascertains the 
presence of a quorum by actual count following an objection to a vote 
under this clause, or on a rejected demand for the yeas and nays and a 
division vote is then had on the pending question, the division vote is 
intervening business (see VIII, 2804) permitting another objection to 
the lack of a quorum, and the Speaker must again count the House (Mar. 
17, 1976, p. 6792; Aug. 2, 1979, p. 22006). But where the announced 
absence of a quorum has resulted in a record vote under this clause (on 
the Speaker's approval of the Journal), the House may not, even by 
unanimous consent, vacate the vote in order to conduct another voice 
vote in lieu of the record vote, since no business, including a 
unanimous-consent agreement, is in order in the announced absence of a 
quorum (July 13, 1983, p. 18844; Feb. 24, 1988, p. 2450). The House 
having authorized the Speaker to compel the attendance of absent 
Members, the Speaker announced that the Sergeant-at-Arms would proceed 
with necessary and efficacious steps, and that pending the establishment 
of a quorum no further business, including unanimous-consent requests 
for recess authority, could be entertained (Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30389).




Sec. 1026. Conduct of the call in the new form.

  Under  this 
clause the roll is called over twice, and those appearing after their 
names are called may vote (IV, 3052). A motion to adjourn may be made 
before the call begins (IV, 3050). After the roll has been called, and 
while the proceedings to obtain a quorum are going on, motions to excuse 
Members are in order (IV, 3051). The Sergeant-at-Arms is required to 
detain those who are present and bring in absentees (IV, 3045-3048), and 
he does this without the authority of a resolution adopted by those 
present (IV, 3049). There is doubt as to whether or not a warrant is 
necessary but it is customary for the Speaker to issue one on the 
authority of the rule (IV, 3043; VI, 702). When arrested, Members are 
arraigned at the bar, and either vote or are noted as present, after 
which they are discharged (IV, 3044). When a quorum fails to vote on a 
yea-and-nay vote on a motion which requires a quorum to be present, and 
a quorum is not present, the Chair takes notice of the fact, and unless 
the House adjourns, a call of the House is ordered by the Chair under 
this rule, and the vote is taken on the question de novo (IV, 3045, 
3052; VI, 679). An automatic roll call results under this rule when the 
objection that a quorum is not present and voting is made after a viva 
voce vote (VI, 697). An automatic roll call under this rule is not in 
order in Committee of the Whole (Aug. 2, 1966, p. 17844). Pursuant to 
clause 8, where the Speaker has announced that he will postpone further 
proceedings on motions to suspend the rules on that day if any votes are 
objected to under this clause, and objection is then made to any such 
votes, further proceedings are automatically postponed and the question 
is put de novo when that vote recurs as unfinished business, when 
further proceedings are postponed, the point of order that a quorum is 
not present is considered as withdrawn, since no longer in order (a 
question not being pending after the Speaker's announcement of 
postponement). See clause 7, infra.


                                                       Rule XX, clause 7
Rule XX, clause 7



Sec. 1027. Quorum; when not required.

  7. (a)  The Speaker may 
not entertain a point of order that a quorum is not present unless a 
question has been put to a vote.



[[Page 773]]

Speaker recognizes for a motion to compel attendance of Members under 
clause 5(b).


Sec. 1028. Speaker's discretion to recognize for motion 
for call of House.

  (b)  Subject to paragraph (c) the Speaker may recognize 
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to move a call of the House 
at any time. When a quorum is established pursuant to a call of the 
House, further proceedings under the call shall be considered as 
dispensed with unless the





Sec. 1029. Relation of previous question to failure of a 
quorum.

  (c)  A call of the House shall not be in order after the previous 
question is ordered unless the Speaker determines by actual count that a 
quorum is not present.


  Paragraphs (a) and (b) were adopted in the 93d Congress (H. Res. 998, 
Apr. 9, 1974, pp. 10195-99) and amended in the 95th Congress (H. Res. 5, 
Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-70) and in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 
1979, pp. 7-16) to dispense with further proceedings under any call of 
the House when a quorum appears unless the Speaker at his discretion 
recognizes for a motion. Paragraph (c) (former clause 2 of rule XVII) 
was adopted in 1860 (V, 5447). Before the House recodified its rules in 
the 106th Congress, paragraphs (a) and (b) were found in former clause 6 
of rule XV and paragraph (c) was found in former clause 2 of rule XVII. 
The 106th Congress also transferred former clause 6(b) of rule XV to 
clause 6(d) of rule XVIII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).

  Under this clause the Speaker may not entertain a point of order of no 
quorum when he has not put a question to a vote in the House (Speaker 
O'Neill, Jan. 11, 1977, p. 891; Jan. 31, 1977, p. 2640; Sept. 30, 1997, 
p. ----; July 21, 1998, p. ----). The Chair may not entertain a point of 
order of no quorum pending a request that a committee be permitted to 
sit under the five-minute rule, since the Chair has not put the question 
on a pending proposition to a vote (June 18, 1980, p. 15316). But under 
this clause the Speaker may at any time in his discretion recognize a 
Member of his choice to move a call of the House (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 
19, 1977, p. 1719; Jan. 31, 1977, p. 2640; Aug. 6, 1986, p. 19370), or 
may choose not to do so (Sept. 30, 1997, p. ----), even, for example, 
prior to the call of the Private Calendar, which is in order after 
approval of the Journal and disposition of business on the Speaker's 
table (July 8, 1987, p. 18972).

  The Speaker's refusal to entertain a point of order of no quorum when 
a pending question has not been put to a vote is not subject to an 
appeal, since the clause contains an absolute and unambiguous 
prohibition against entertaining such a point of order (Sept. 16, 1977, 
p. 29562). During debate on a measure in the House the Speaker will not 
respond to an inquiry as to the number of Members present in the 
Chamber, since a point of no quorum is not admissible unless he has put 
the pending question to a vote (Oct. 28, 1987, p. 29682).


[[Page 774]]

of order of no quorum during debate only nor a point of order against 
the enforcement of this clause lies independently under the Constitution 
(Sept. 8, 1977, p. 28114; Sept. 12, 1977, p. 28800; Feb. 27, 1986, p. 
3060). See also clause 7(c) of rule XX, providing that after the 
previous question is ordered a call of the House shall only be in order 
if the Speaker determines by actual count of the House that a quorum is 
not present.

  In adopting this rule, the House has presumably determined that the 
mere conduct of debate in the House, where the Chair has not put the 
pending motion or proposition to a vote, is not such business as 
requires a quorum under the Constitution (art. I, sec. 5, cl. 1), and 
neither a point

                                                       Rule XX, clause 8
Rule XX, clause 8
Postponement of proceedings



1030. Postponing record votes on passage.

  8. (a)(1)  When a 
recorded vote is ordered, or the yeas and nays are ordered, or a vote is 
objected to under clause 6 on any of the questions specified in 
subparagraph (2), the Speaker may postpone further proceedings on that 
question to a designated place in the legislative schedule on that 
legislative day (in the case of the question of agreeing to the 
Speaker's approval of the Journal) or within two legislative days (in 
the case of any other question).


  (2) The questions described in the subparagraph (1) are as follows:

      (A) The question of passing a bill or joint resolution.

      (B) The question of adopting a resolution or concurrent 
resolution.

      (C) The question of agreeing to a motion to instruct managers on 
the part of the House (except that proceedings may not resume on such a 
motion under clause 7(c) of rule XXII if the managers have filed a 
report in the House).


[[Page 775]]

      (D) The question of agreeing to a conference report.

      (E) The question of agreeing to a motion to recommit a bill 
considered under clause 6 of rule XV.

      (F) The question of ordering the previous question on a question 
described in subdivision (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E).

      (G) The question of agreeing to an amendment to a bill considered 
under clause 6 of rule XV.

      (H) The question of agreeing to a motion to suspend the rules.

  (b) At the time designated by the Speaker for further proceedings on 
questions postponed under paragraph (a), the Speaker shall resume 
proceedings on each postponed question in the order in which it was 
considered.

  (c) The Speaker may reduce to five minutes the minimum time for 
electronic voting on a question postponed under this clause, or on a 
question incidental thereto, that follows another electronic vote 
without intervening business, so long as the minimum time for electronic 
voting on the first in any series of questions is 15 minutes.


  (d) If the House adjourns on a legislative day designated for further 
proceedings on questions postponed under this clause without disposing 
of such questions, then on the next legislative day the unfinished 
business is the disposition of such questions in the order in which they 
were considered.


[[Page 776]]

in the 97th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113) to place all 
authority for the postponing of further proceedings on certain questions 
into this clause. This consolidation was accomplished with the addition 
of the authority to postpone further proceedings on reports from the 
Committee on Rules and the authority to postpone further proceedings on 
motions to suspend the rules and pass bills or adopt resolutions. The 
authority for the Speaker to postpone further proceedings on agreeing to 
his approval of the Journal until later that legislative day was added 
in the 98th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34). The authority for 
the Speaker to postpone further proceedings on motions to instruct 
conferees after 20 calendar days in conference was added in the 101st 
Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989, p. 72). The authority for the Speaker 
to postpone further proceedings on the original motion to instruct 
conferees was added in the 106th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 
----). In the 104th Congress the list of questions susceptible of 
postponement was reordered and expanded to include a vote on ordering 
the previous question on another question that is, itself, susceptible 
of postponement (sec. 223(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 469). In the 
105th Congress subparagraph (1) was amended to enable postponement of 
certain questions during consideration of bills called from the 
Corrections Calendar, i.e., agreeing to an amendment, ordering the 
previous question on a motion to recommit, and agreeing to a motion to 
recommit (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, p. ----). In the 106th Congress the 
Speaker's authority to reduce to five minutes the minimum time for 
electronic voting on a question postponed under this clause was expanded 
to include questions incidental thereto and to permit the first 
postponed vote in a series to be a five-minute vote if it immediately 
follows a 15-minute vote. Before the House recodified its rules in the 
106th Congress, this provision was found in former clause 5(b) of rule I 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).
  This provision (former clause 5(b) of rule I) was added in the 96th 
Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, p. 7), and subparagraph (1) was 
amended

  The Speaker first exercised his authority to postpone a record vote on 
the approval of the Journal on November 10, 1983 (p. 32097). That 
authority includes the power to postpone a division vote on the approval 
of the Journal that is objected to under clause 6 of rule XX (former 
clause 4 of rule XV) (Sept. 21, 1993, p. 21820). However, on questions 
not enumerated in this paragraph, such as the initial motion to instruct 
conferees prior to the 106th Congress, unanimous consent was required to 
permit the Speaker to postpone such record votes (Oct. 6, 1986, p. 
28704).


[[Page 777]]

been postponed--either de novo if objection to the vote has been made 
under clause 6 of rule XX (former clause 4 of rule XV) or for a ``yea 
and nay'' or recorded vote if previously ordered by the House in the 
order in which the motions had been entered (June 4, 1974, pp. 17521-
47). Clause 8(a) of rule XX (former clause 5(b) of rule I) does not 
require the Chair's customary announcement at the beginning of 
consideration of motions to suspend the rules that the Chair intends to 
postpone possible record votes (Nov. 14, 1995, p. ----).
  Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XX (former clause 6(e) of rule XV), 
prohibiting a point of order of no quorum unless the Speaker has put the 
pending proposition to a vote, the Speaker announces, after postponing a 
vote on a motion to suspend the rules where objection has been made to 
the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present, that the point of 
order is considered as withdrawn, since the Chair is no longer putting 
the question (May 16, 1977, p. 14785). At the conclusion of debate on 
all motions to suspend the rules on a legislative day, the Speaker 
announces that he will put the question on each motion on which further 
proceedings have

  Under the authority to postpone further proceedings on a specified 
question to a designated time within two legislative days, the Speaker 
may simultaneously designate separate times for the resumption of 
proceedings on separate postponed questions (Mar. 3, 1992, p. 4072). 
Once the Speaker has postponed record votes to a designated place in the 
legislative schedule, he may subsequently redesignate the time when the 
votes will be taken within the appropriate period (June 6, 1984, p. 
15080; Oct. 3, 1988, pp. 27782, 27878).


[[Page 778]]

precedence over a motion to suspend the rules, it may be offered and 
voted on between motions to suspend the rules on which the Speaker has 
postponed record votes until after debate on all suspensions (May 17, 
1983, p. 12486). Under this clause the Speaker is not required to 
announce his intention to postpone at the beginning of consideration of 
a motion to suspend the rules (although that is customarily the 
courtesy) but may postpone further proceedings after a record vote is 
ordered or an objection is raised under clause 6 of rule XX (former 
clause 4 of rule XV) (Feb. 23, 1993, p. 3281). When the House adjourns 
on the second legislative day after postponement of a question under 
this clause without resuming proceedings thereon, the question remains 
unfinished business on the next legislative day (Oct. 1, 1997, p. ----). 
In recent years special rules adopted by the House have routinely 
provided the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole authority to 
postpone and cluster requests for recorded votes. For a discussion of 
such authority, see Sec. 984, supra.

  Following the first postponed vote on motions to suspend the rules, 
the Speaker may in his discretion reduce to not less than five minutes 
the time for taking votes on any or all of the subsequent motions on 
which votes have been postponed (June 4, 1974, p. 17547). Having 
clustered record votes on motions to suspend the rules and then having 
clustered record votes on passage of other measures considered 
immediately after debate on the suspension motions, the Speaker may, 
pursuant to this clause, conduct all the postponed votes in one sequence 
and reduce to five minutes the time for all electronic votes after the 
first suspension vote (May 17, 1983, p. 12508; Oct. 2, 1989, p. 22724). 
But the Chair may decline, in his discretion, to recognize for a 
unanimous-consent request to reduce to five minutes the first vote in 
the series, since the bell and light system would not give adequate 
notice of the initial five-minute vote (Oct. 8, 1985, p. 26666). 
However, prior to the 106th Congress, where a series of votes had been 
postponed pursuant to this clause to occur following a 15-minute vote on 
another measure not a part of that series, the vote on the first 
postponed measure could have been reduced to five minutes only by 
unanimous consent (May 24, 1983, p. 13595; July 22, 1996, p. 18410). By 
unanimous consent waiving the five-minute minimum set by paragraph (c) 
(former clause 5(b)(3) of rule I), the House has authorized the Speaker 
to put remaining postponed questions to two-minute electronic votes 
(Oct. 4, 1988, pp. 28126, 28148). The Speaker may ``cluster'' postponed 
votes on a motion to suspend the rules and on adoption of a resolution 
in the order in which those questions were considered on the preceding 
day (July 19, 1983, p. 19774). The requirement that the Speaker put each 
question on motions to suspend the rules in the order in which 
postponed, does not prevent the Speaker from entertaining a unanimous-
consent request for the consideration of a similar Senate measure 
following passage of a House bill and prior to the next postponed vote 
(Feb. 15, 1983, p. 2175). Since a resolution raising a question of the 
privileges of the House takes



Sec. 1031. Former pairs.

  Former  clause 2 of rule VIII 
(proposed to be recodified as clause 8 of rule XX) was adopted in 1880, 
although the practice of pairing had then existed in the House for many 
years (V, 5981). The language of the clause was slightly altered by 
amendment in 1972 to reflect the installation of electronic voting in 
the 93d Congress (H. Res. 1123, Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-12). It was 
amended in the 94th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 14, 1975, p. 20) to permit 
pairs to be announced in the Committee of the Whole. Former clause 2 of 
rule VIII was deleted in the 106th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 
----). The Rules of the House continue to permit the announcement of a 
live pair under clause 3 of rule XX (Sec. 1015, supra).



  Prior to the 106th Congress, pairs were not announced at a time other 
than that prescribed by the former rule (V, 6046), and the voting 
intentions of an absent Member were not otherwise announced by a 
colleague (VIII, 3151). Prior to the 94th Congress pairs were not 
permitted in Committee of the Whole (V, 5984; Speaker Albert, Jan. 15, 
1973, p. 1054). The House did not consider questions arising out of the 
breaking of a pair (V, 5982, 5983, 6095; VIII, 3082, 3085, 3087-3089, 
3093), or permit a Member to vote after the call on the plea that he had 
refrained because of misunderstanding as to a pair (V, 6080, 6081). 
Discussion of the origin of the practice of pairing in the House and 
Senate (VIII, 3076). On questions requiring a two-thirds majority 
Members were paired two in the affirmative against one in the negative 
(VIII, 3088; Nov. 15, 1983, p. 32685). For Speaker Clark's 
interpretation of the rule and practice of the House of Representatives 
as to pairs, see VIII, 3089.


[[Page 779]]

Five-minute votes--
                                                       Rule XX, clause 9
Rule XX, clause 9



1032. ``15and5'' voting.

  9.  The Speaker may reduce to five 
minutes the minimum time for electronic voting--


      (a) after a record vote on a motion for the previous question, on 
any underlying question that follows without intervening business, or on 
a question incidental thereto;

      (b) after a record vote on an amendment reported from the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, on any 
subsequent amendment to that bill or resolution reported from the 
Committee of the Whole, or on a question incidental thereto;

      (c) after a record vote on a motion to recommit a bill, 
resolution, or conference report, on the question of passage or 
adoption, as the case may be, of such bill, resolution, or conference 
report, or on a question incidental thereto, if the question of passage 
or adoption follows without intervening business the vote on the motion 
to recommit; or


      (d) as provided in clause 6(b)(3) of rule XVIII, clause 6(f) of 
rule XVIII, or clause 8 of this rule.


[[Page 780]]

was added in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49) to 
permit the Speaker to reduce to five minutes the vote on adoption of a 
special order of business resolution immediately following a 15-minute 
recorded vote on ordering the previous question thereon, former clause 5 
was organized into paragraphs. In the 104th Congress clause 9(a) (former 
clause 5(b)(1) of rule XV) was broadened to cover any previous question 
situation (sec. 223(e), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 469). In the 106th 
Congress the Speaker's authority to reduce to five minutes the minimum 
time for electronic voting on a question under this clause was expanded 
to include questions incidental thereto. The 106th Congress also, when 
the House recodified its rules, transferred this provision from former 
clause 5(b) of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).
  The authority now found in clause 9(c) (former clause 5(b)(3) of rule 
XV) was first added as an undesignated last sentence of former clause 5 
in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7-16) to permit the 
Speaker to reduce to five minutes the vote on final passage immediately 
following a 15-minute recorded vote on a motion to recommit. The 
authority now found in clause 9(b) (former clause 5(b)(2) of rule XV) 
was first added as an undesignated penultimate sentence of clause 5 in 
the 101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989, p. 72) to permit the 
Speaker to reduce to five minutes any record votes on amendments 
reported to the House from Committee of the Whole after a 15-minute vote 
on the first of such amendments. When the authority found in clause 9(a) 
(former clause 5(b)(1) of rule XV)

  Five-minute votes are now permitted at the discretion of the Chair in 
six circumstances: (1) under clause 8, on additional questions on which 
the Speaker has postponed further proceedings immediately following a 
15-minute vote; (2) under clause 9(a), on an underlying question (or on 
a question incidental thereto) immediately following a 15-minute 
recorded vote on ordering the previous question thereon; (3) under 
clause 9(b), on second and subsequent separate votes in the House on 
amendments reported from Committee of the Whole (or on a question 
incidental thereto) immediately following a 15-minute vote on the first 
such separate vote; (4) under clause 9(c), on final passage (or on a 
question incidental thereto) immediately following a 15-minute recorded 
vote on recommittal; (5) under clause 6(b)(3) of rule XVIII, on a 
pending question immediately following a regular quorum call in 
Committee of the Whole; and (6) under clause 6(f) of rule XVIII, on any 
or all pending amendments immediately following a 15-minute recorded 
vote on the first such pending amendment in Committee of the Whole. In 
recent years special rules adopted by the House have routinely provided 
the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole authority to postpone and 
cluster requests for recorded votes. For a discussion of such authority, 
see Sec. 984, supra. This clause does not give the Chair the authority 
to reduce to five minutes the vote on a motion to recommit occurring 
immediately after a recorded vote on an amendment reported from the 
Committee of the Whole, and the Chair will not entertain a unanimous-
consent request to reduce that vote to five minutes after Members had 
already left the Chamber with the expectation that the next vote would 
be a 15-minute vote (June 29, 1994, p. 15107; July 14, 1999, p. ----).


  In the 95th Congress, the Speaker announced that changes could be made 
electronically at any time during a vote reduced to five minutes under 
the rules (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-70).


[[Page 781]]

Automatic yeas and nays
                                                      Rule XX, clause 10
Rule XX, clause 10




1033. Yeas and nays ordered on certain questions.

  10.  The 
yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered when the Speaker puts the 
question on passage of a bill or joint resolution, or on adoption of a 
conference report, making general appropriations, or increasing Federal 
income tax rates (within the meaning of clause 5 of rule XXI), or on 
final adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget or conference 
report thereon.



  This clause was adopted in the 104th Congress (sec. 214, H. Res. 6, 
Jan. 4, 1995, p. 468). Before the House recodified its rules in the 
106th Congress, this provision was found in former clause 7 of rule XV 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).

                                                      Rule XX, clause 11
Rule XX, clause 11
Ballot votes




1034. Elections by ballot.

  11.  In a case of ballot for 
election, a majority of the votes shall be necessary to an election. 
When there is not such a majority on the first ballot, the process shall 
be repeated until a majority is obtained. In all balloting blanks shall 
be rejected, may not be counted in the enumeration of votes, and may not 
be reported by the tellers.



  This rule was first adopted in 1789 and was amended in 1837 (V, 6003). 
It was renumbered January 3, 1953 (p. 24). The last election by ballot 
seems to have occurred in 1868 (V, 6003).