[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 111th Congress]
[111st Congress]
[House Document 110-162]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[Pages 302-304]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 

                           sec. l--adjournment


[[Page 303]]

House to comply with his requisition, or not, as they see fitting. 2 
Hats., 232; 1 Blackst., 186; 5 Grey, 122.
* * * * *


Sec. 584. Parliamentary law as to adjournment of the 
Commons and Lords.

  The two  Houses of Parliament have the sole, separate, and 
independent power of adjourning each their respective Houses. The King 
has no authority to adjourn them; he can only signify his desire, and it 
is in the wisdom and prudence of either





Sec. 585. Motion to adjourn not to be amended.

  A motion  to 
adjourn, simply cannot be amended, as by adding ``to a particular day;'' 
but must be put simply ``that this House do now adjourn;'' and if 
carried in the affirmative, it is adjourned to the next sitting day, 
unless it has come to a previous resolution, ``that at its rising it 
will adjourn to a particular day,'' and then the House is adjourned to 
that day. 2 Hats., 82.



  The modern practice of the House adheres to this principle 
(Sec. Sec. 912, 913, infra). Clause 4 of rule XVI admits at the 
discretion of the Speaker a separate motion of equal privilege that when 
the House adjourns on that day it stand adjourned to a day and time 
certain (consistent with article I, section 5, clause 4 of the 
Constitution, not in excess of three days).




Sec. 586. Motion for a recess.

  Where it is  convenient that 
the business of the House be suspended for a short time, as for a 
conference presently to be held, &c., it adjourns during pleasure; 2 
Hats., 305; or for a quarter of an hour. 4 Grey, 331.



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fied for the conclusion of the proposed recess (V, 6667). A Committee of 
the Whole takes a recess only by permission of the House (V, 6669-6671; 
VIII, 3362). The motion for a recess is not privileged (V, 4302, 5301, 
6740), in the House or in Committee of the Whole (June 26, 1981, p. 
14356) against a demand that business proceed in the regular order (V, 
6663; VIII, 3354-3356). However, beginning in the 102d Congress a motion 
to authorize the Speaker to declare a recess was given a privilege equal 
to that of the motion to adjourn (clause 4 of rule XVI); and beginning 
in the 103d Congress the Speaker was authorized to declare a recess 
``for a short time when no question is pending'' (clause 12 of rule I). 
For the Speaker's authority to declare an emergency recess when notified 
of an imminent threat to the safety of the House, see Sec. 639, infra.

  An adjournment during pleasure is effected in the House by a motion 
for a recess. A recess may not be taken by less than a quorum (IV, 2958-
2960), and consequently the motion for it is not in order in the absence 
of a quorum (IV, 2955-2957). When the hour previously fixed for a recess 
arrives, the Chair declares the House in recess even in the midst of a 
division or when a quorum is not present (IV, 664; V, 6665, 6666); but a 
roll call is not in this way interrupted (V, 6054, 6055). Where a 
special order requires a recess at a certain hour of a certain day, the 
recess is not taken if the encroachment of a prior legislative day 
prevents the existence of said certain day as a legislative day (IV, 
3192). And an adjournment at a time before the hour fixed for a recess 
vacates the recess (IV, 3283). A motion for a recess must, when 
entertained, be voted on, even though the taking of the vote may have 
been prevented until after the hour speci






Sec. 587. Adjournment pronounced by the 
Speaker.

  If a  question be put for adjournment, it is no adjournment till 
the Speaker pronounces it. 5 Grey, 137. And from courtesy and respect, 
no member leaves his place till the Speaker has passed on.