[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 113th Congress]
[113rd Congress]
[House Document 112-161]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[Pages 173-174]
[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.



[[Page 174]]

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.



  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