    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 115th Congress]
    [115th Congress]
    [House Document 114-192]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 202-204]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                               sec. xix--petition

    Sec. 389. Petitions, remonstrances, and memorials.

        A
    petition prays something. A remonstrance has no prayer. 1 Grey, 58.

    [[Page 203]]

      The Rules of the House make no mention of remonstrances, but do
    mention petitions and memorials (clause 3 of rule XII). Resolutions of
    State legislatures and of primary assemblies of the people are received
    as memorials (IV, 3326, 3327), but papers general or descriptive in form
    may not be presented as memorials (IV, 3325).

    Sec. 390. Signing and presentation of
    petitions.

      Petitions  must be subscribed by the petitioners Scob., 87; L. Parl.,
    c. 22; 9 Grey, 362, unless they are attending, 1 Grey, 401 or unable to
    sign, and averred by a member, 3 Grey, 418. But a petition not
    subscribed, but which the member presenting it affirmed to be all in the
    handwriting of the petitioner, and his name written in the beginning,
    was on the question (March 14, 1800) received by the Senate. The
    averment of a member, or of somebody without doors, that they know the
    handwriting of the petitioners, is necessary, if it be questioned. 6
    Grey, 36. It must be presented by a member, not by the petitioners, and
    must be opened by him holding it in his hand. 10 Grey, 57.

      In the House petitions have been presented for many years by filing
    with the Clerk (clause 3 of rule XII). Members file them, and
    petitioners do not attend on the House in the sense implied in the
    parliamentary law. In cases in which a petition set forth serious
    changes, the petitioner was required to have his signature attested by a
    notary (III, 2030, footnote).

    Sec. 391. Parliamentary law for the reception of
    petitions.

      Regularly  a motion for receiving it must be made and seconded, and a
    question put, whether it shall be received, but a cry from the House of
    ``received,'' or even silence, dispenses with the formality of this
    question. It is then to be read at the table and disposed of.

    [[Page 204]]

      Before the adoption of the provisions of clause 3 of rule XII,
    petitions were presented from the floor by Members, and questions
    frequently arose as to the reception thereof (IV, 3350-3356). But under
    the present practice such procedure does not occur.