    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 112th Congress]
    [112nd Congress]
    [House Document 111-157]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Page 173]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    * * * * *
                                 sec. xv--order

    Sec. 351. Precedent in Parliament and the
    House.

      In  Parliament, ``instances make order,'' per Speaker Onslow. 2
    Hats., 141. But what is done only by one Parliament, cannot be called
    custom of Parliament, by Prynne. 1 Grey, 52.

      In the House the Clerk is required to note all questions of order and
    the decisions thereon and print the record thereof as an appendix to the
    Journal (clause 2 of rule II). The Parliamentarian has the
    responsibility for compiling and updating the precedents (2 U.S.C. 28).
    The Committee Reform Amendments of 1974 gave the Speaker the
    responsibility to prepare an updated compilation of such precedents
    every two years (H. Res. 988, 93d Cong., Oct. 8, 1974, p. 34470). The
    Speaker feels constrained in rulings to give precedent its proper
    influence (II, 1317), because the advantage of such a course is
    undeniable (IV, 4045). But decisions of the Speakers on questions of
    order are not like judgments of courts that conclude the rights of
    parties, but may be reexamined and reversed (IV, 4637), except on
    discretionary matters of recognition (II, 1425). It is rare, however,
    that such a reversal occurs.