    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 108th Congress]
    [108th Congress]
    [House Document 107-284]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 202-203]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                      sec. xxiii--bills, leave to bring in

    Sec. 398. Obsolete provisions as to introduction of
    bills.

      When  a Member desires to bring in a bill on any subject, he states
    to the House in general terms the causes for doing it, and concludes by
    moving for leave to bring in a bill, entitled, &c. Leave being given, on
    the question, a committee is appointed to prepare and bring in the bill.
    The mover and seconder are always appointed of this committee, and one
    or more in addition. Hakew., 132; Scob., 40. It is to be presented
    fairly written, without any erasure or interlineation, or the Speaker
    may refuse it. Scob., 41; 1 Grey, 82, 84.

    [[Page 203]]

      This provision is obsolete, rule XII providing an entirely different
    method of introducing bills through the hopper. The introduction of
    bills by leave was gradually dropped by the practice of the House, and
    after 1850 the present free system of permitting Members to introduce at
    will bills for printing and reference began to develop (IV, 3365).