    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 117th Congress]
    [117th Congress]
    [House Document 116-177]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 314-315]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                               sec. l--adjournment

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

    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.

    [[Page 315]]

    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 (V, 6665, 6666; VI, 664); 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 specified 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 the
    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

    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.