    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 113th Congress]
    [113rd Congress]
    [House Document 112-161]
    [Front Matter]
    [Pages i-xii]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page i]]

     112th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - House Document No. 112-161
    ______________________________________________________________________

                                  CONSTITUTION

                               JEFFERSON'S MANUAL

                                       AND

                              RULES OF THE HOUSE OF

                                 REPRESENTATIVES

                              OF THE UNITED STATES

                         ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

                                THOMAS J. WICKHAM

                                 PARLIAMENTARIAN

              [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

    ________________________________________________________________________

     For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
                77-900          WASHINGTON : 2013

                                     Office

    [[Page iii]]

                              Washington, DC 20402

                              HOUSE RESOLUTION 836

                                In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                        December 19, 2012.

        Resolved, That a revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the
    House of Representatives for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress be
    printed as a House document, and that three thousand additional copies
    shall be printed and bound for the use of the House of Representatives,
    of which nine hundred sixty copies shall be bound in leather with thumb
    index and delivered as may be directed by the Parliamentarian of the
    House.

        Attest:

                                                        Karen L. Haas,

                                                                    Clerk.

    [[Page v]]

                                      (III)

                                  P R E F A C E

        The House Rules and Manual contains the fundamental source material
    for parliamentary procedure used in the House of Representatives: the
    Constitution of the United States; applicable provisions of Jefferson's
    Manual; Rules of the House (as of the date of this preface); provisions
    of law and resolutions having the force of Rules of the House; and
    pertinent decisions of the Speakers and other presiding officers of the
    House and Committee of the Whole interpreting the rules and other
    procedural authority used in the House of Representatives.

        The rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress were adopted on
    January 3, 2013, when the House agreed to House Resolution 5. In
    addition to a series of changes to various standing rules, House
    Resolution 5 included separate free-standing orders constituting
    procedures to be followed in the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.
    Explanations of the changes to the standing rules appear in the
    annotations following each rule in the text of this Manual.

        In the One Hundred Sixth Congress, the House adopted a
    recodification of the Rules of the House. For an explanation of the
    recodified format, see the Preface and other introductory matter for the
    House Rules and Manual for the One Hundred Sixth Congress (H. Doc. 105-
    358).

        The substantive changes in the standing rules made by House
    Resolution 5 of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress included:

        (1) clarification of the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland
    Security over general management of the Department of Homeland Security
    (clause 1(j) of rule X);

        (2) expansion of the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural
    Resources to include certain insular areas (clause 1(m) of rule X);

        (3) reduction in frequency of committee activity reports from
    biannually to annually (clause 1(d) of rule XI);

        (4) elimination of requirement that a regular committee meeting be
    held, unless noticed (clause 2(b) of rule XI);

    [[Page vi]]

    Committee on Ethics by the Office of Congressional Ethics are required
    to be made (clause 3(b)(8) of rule XI);
        (5) clarification of the circumstances in which certain public
    statements regarding matters transmitted to the

        (6) expansion of the Ramseyer rule to include provisions of law
    adjacent to those being amended or repealed by a measure if useful for
    context (clause 3(e) of rule XIII);

        (7) requirement that waivers be specified in a report accompanying a
    special order of business reported by the Committee on Rules (instead of
    in the resolution) (clause 6(g) of rule XIII);

        (8) authority for chair of the Committee of the Whole to reduce to
    not less than two minutes (instead of 15) the minimum time for certain
    votes after the House resolves into the Committee, and authority for the
    Speaker to reduce to not less than five minutes (instead of 15) the
    minimum time for the vote on a motion to recommit or certain other votes
    after the Committee of the Whole rises (clause 6(g) of rule XVIII;
    clause 8(c) of rule XX; clause 9(b) and clause 9(c) of rule XX);

        (9) expansion of electronic availability of conference reports to
    satisfy layover requirements (clause 8(a) of rule XXII); and

        (10) with regard to the Code of Official Conduct: expansion of the
    restriction on retaining the spouse of a Member in a paid position to
    cover a broader class of relatives; partial transfer of responsibility
    from the Clerk to the Sergeant-at-Arms for keeping records of the oath
    for access to classified information; and modification of the
    restriction on, and establishment of waiver authority for, use of
    certain funds for flights on certain private aircraft (clause 8(c),
    clause 13, and clause 15 of rule XXIII).

        Citations in this edition refer to:

        (1) Hinds' Precedents of the House of Representatives of the United
    States (volumes I through V) and Cannon's Precedents of the House of
    Representatives of the United States (volumes VI through VIII), by
    volume and section (e.g., V, 5763; VIII, 2852);

        (2) Deschler's Precedents of the U.S. House of Representatives
    (volumes 1 through 9), Deschler-Brown Precedents of the U.S. House of
    Representatives (volumes 10 through 16), Deschler-Brown-Johnson
    Precedents of the U.S. House of Representatives (volume 17), and
    Deschler-Brown-Johnson-Sullivan Precedents of the U.S. House of
    Representatives (volume 18), by chapter and section (e.g., Deschler, ch.
    26, Sec. 79.7; Deschler-Brown, ch. 28, Sec. 4.26);

    [[Page vii]]

        (3) the Congressional Record, by date and page (e.g., Jan. 29, 1986,
    p. 684);

        (4) House Practice (2011), by chapter and section (e.g., House
    Practice, ch. 1, Sec. 2);

        (5) Deschler-Brown Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives
    (4th edition and 1987 supplement), by chapter and section (e.g.,
    Procedure, ch. 5, Sec. 8.1);

        (6) the United States Code, by title and section (e.g., 2 U.S.C.
    287); and

        (7) the United States Reports, by volume and page (e.g., 395 U.S.
    486).

        Readers are invited to refer to the prefaces of Hinds', Cannon's,
    and Deschler's Precedents (Volumes I, VI, and 1, respectively) for
    comprehensive overviews by those editors of the procedural history of
    the House of Representatives from 1789 to 1976. Volume 18 of Deschler-
    Brown-Johnson-Sullivan Precedents also features a commentary by former
    Parliamentarian Charles W. Johnson, III, noting procedural highlights
    during his nearly 50 years of affiliation with the House.

        All of the members of the Office of the Parliamentarian -- Ethan
    Lauer, Carrie Wolf, Jay Smith, Anne Gooch, Severin Randall, Brian
    Cooper, Lloyd Jenkins, and Monica Rodriguez, as well as Charles Johnson,
    Max Spitzer, Andrew Neal, Deborah Khalili, and Bryan Feldblum -- worked
    diligently to annotate the decisions of the Chair and other
    parliamentary precedents of the 112th Congress and of the 113th Congress
    to the date of publication of this edition. Their contributions, and
    their devotion to the pursuit of excellence in the procedural practices
    of the House, are gratefully acknowledged. Particular appreciation goes
    to Ethan Lauer for his initiative and steady hand in managing the
    project.

        Finally, we are grateful to John V. Sullivan for his many years of
    service to the office. His unique blend of intellect, work ethic, and
    vision enriched all those who sought his counsel. His vast knowledge of
    law and precedent and his quick and precise application of that
    knowledge were indispensable elements in the formation of current House
    procedure.

                                                    Thomas J. Wickham, Jr.

    [[Page ix]]

      May 31, 2013

                                 C O N T E N T S

                                   __________

                                THE CONSTITUTION

                                                                        Page
    Preamble..........................................................     3

                Article I.--The legislative power.....................     4

                       II.--The executive power.......................    66

                      III.--The judicial power........................    78

                       IV.--Obligations, duties, etc., of the States..    80

                        V.--Amendments to.............................    82

                       VI.--Law of the land, etc......................    84

                      VII.--Ratification of...........................    88

                            Amendments ratified.......................    91

                               JEFFERSON'S MANUAL

                Section I.--Importance of adhering to rules...........   127

                      III.--Privilege.................................   130

                       VI.--Quorum....................................   150

                      VII.--Call of the House.........................   150

                       IX.--Speaker...................................   151

                        X.--Address...................................   153

                       XI.--Committees................................   154

                      XII.--Committee of the Whole....................   157

                     XIII.--Examination of witnesses..................   166

                      XIV.--Arrangement of business...................   171

                       XV.--Order.....................................   173

                      XVI.--Order respecting papers...................   173

                     XVII.--Order in debate...........................   174

                    XVIII.--Orders of the House.......................   196

                      XIX.--Petition..................................   199

                       XX.--Motion....................................   201

                      XXI.--Resolutions...............................   202

                    XXIII.--Bills, leave to bring in..................   204

                     XXIV.--Bills, first reading......................   204

                      XXV.--Bills, second reading.....................   205

                     XXVI.--Bills, commitment.........................   206

    [[Page x]]

                    XXVII.--Report of committee.......................   216

                                                                        Page

           Section XXVIII.--Bill, recommitment........................   217

                     XXIX.--Bills, reports taken up...................   218

                      XXX.--Quasi-committee...........................   220

                     XXXI.--Bill, second reading in the House.........   224

                    XXXII.--Reading papers............................   226

                   XXXIII.--Privileged questions......................   228

                    XXXIV.--The previous question.....................   241

                     XXXV.--Amendments................................   243

                    XXXVI.--Division of the question..................   252

                   XXXVII.--Coexisting questions......................   255

                  XXXVIII.--Equivalent questions......................   256

                    XXXIX.--The question..............................   258

                       XL.--Bills, third reading......................   259

                      XLI.--Division of the House.....................   263

                     XLII.--Titles....................................   268

                    XLIII.--Reconsideration...........................   269

                     XLIV.--Bills sent to the other House.............   272

                      XLV.--Amendments between the Houses.............   273

                     XLVI.--Conferences...............................   283

                    XLVII.--Messages..................................   296

                   XLVIII.--Assent....................................   300

                     XLIX.--Journals..................................   303

                        L.--Adjournment...............................   305

                       LI.--A session.................................   307

                      LII.--Treaties..................................   310

                     LIII.--Impeachment...............................   314

                               RULES OF THE HOUSE

                   Rule I.--The Speaker...............................   335

                       II.--Other Officers and Officials..............   358

                      III.--The Members, Delegates, and Resident

                            Commissioner of Puerto Rico...............   377

                       IV.--The Hall of the House.....................   382

                        V.--Broadcasting the House....................   390

                       VI.--Official Reporters and News Media

                            Galleries.................................   392

                      VII.--Records of the House......................   404

                     VIII.--Response to Subpoenas.....................   408

                       IX.--Questions of Privilege....................   412

                        X.--Organization of Committees................   432

                       XI.--Procedures of Committees and Unfinished

                            Business..................................   544

                      XII.--Receipt and Referral of Measures and

                            Matters...................................   612

                     XIII.--Calendars and Committee Reports...........   627

                      XIV.--Order and Priority of Business............   662

    [[Page xi]]

                       XV.--Business in Order on Special Days.........   672

                                                                        Page

                 Rule XVI.--Motions and Amendments....................   691

                     XVII.--Decorum and Debate........................   746

                    XVIII.--The Committee of the Whole House on the

                            state of the Union........................   775

                      XIX.--Motions Following the Amendment Stage.....   805

                       XX.--Voting and Quorum Calls...................   820

                      XXI.--Restrictions on Certain Bills.............   850

                     XXII.--House and Senate Relations................   907

                    XXIII.--Code of Official Conduct..................   934

                     XXIV.--Limitations on Use of Official Funds......   946

                      XXV.--Limitations on Outside Earned Income and

                            Acceptance of Gifts.......................   951

                     XXVI.--Financial Disclosure......................   980

                    XXVII.--Disclosure by Members and Staff of

                            Employment Negotiations...................  1006

                   XXVIII.--[Reserved]................................  1008

    Provisions of Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as Amended by the
                     XXIX.--General Provisions........................  1008

    Congressional adjournment.........................................  1013
    Preservation of committee hearings................................  1014

        Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, Applicable to Both Houses

    Economic Committee, Joint.........................................  1015
    Taxation, Joint Committee on......................................  1015
    Library, Joint Committee of Congress on the.......................  1016
    Printing, Joint Committee on......................................  1016
    Inaugural Ceremonies, Joint Congressional Committee on............  1016
    Select committees.................................................  1016

                           Joint and Select Committees

    House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards...............  1017
    House Office Building Commission..................................  1017
    Government Accountability Office..................................  1017
    Office of Compliance..............................................  1017
    Congressional Research Service....................................  1018
    Legislative Counsel...............................................  1018
    Congressional Budget Office.......................................  1018
    Law Revision Counsel..............................................  1018
    Technology Assessment.............................................  1018
    Office of the Parliamentarian.....................................  1018
    Office of Floor Assistants........................................  1019

    [[Page xii]]

                         House and Congressional Offices

                                                                        Page
    Office of Interparliamentary Affairs..............................  1019
    House Recording Studio............................................  1019
    United States Capitol Preservation Commission.....................  1019
    Office of General Counsel.........................................  1019
    Former Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations.  1020
    Office of Attending Physician.....................................  1020
    Office of Architect of the Capitol................................  1020
    House Democracy Partnership.......................................  1020
    Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission................................  1020
    Office of Congressional Ethics....................................  1020
    Early organization of the House...................................  1023

    Congressional Budget Act of 1974..................................  1029
    Budget Enforcement Act of 1990....................................  1109
    Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010...............................  1113

              Miscellaneous Provisions of Congressional Budget Laws

    Measures privileged for consideration in House....................  1117
                      Legislative Procedures Enacted in Law

    [[Page xiii]

                                      Index
    Index.............................................................  1291

                            GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

                                    Rule XIV

                  First. Prayer by Chaplain.

                  Second. Approval of Journal.

                  Third. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

                  Fourth. Correction of reference of public bills.

                  Fifth. Disposal of business on Speaker's table.

                  Sixth. Unfinished business.

                  Seventh. The morning hour for the consideration of bills.

                  Eighth. Motions to go into Committee of the Whole.

                  Ninth. Orders of the day.

                            SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

    Second and fourth Mondays:

                                     Mondays

                  Motions to discharge committees. Rule XV, clause 2.

    Every Monday:

                  District of Columbia Business. Rule XV, clause 4.

                  Motions to suspend rules. Rule XV, clause 1.

    First and third Tuesdays:

                                    Tuesdays

      Private Calendar. Rule XV, clause 5. Individual private bills

            considered on first Tuesday of each month, omnibus private bills

    Every Tuesday:

            may be considered on third Tuesday of each month.

                  Motions to suspend rules. Rule XV, clause 1.

    Call of Committees under Calendar Wednesday. Rule XV, clause 7.

    Every Wednesday:

                                   Wednesdays

                  Motions to suspend rules. Rule XV, clause 1.