[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 109th Congress]
[109th Congress]
[House Document 108-241]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[Page 151]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 

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                             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.






  In the first years of Congress the President annually delivered an 
address to the two Houses in joint session, and the House 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. 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.