[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 117th Congress]
[117th Congress]
[House Document 116-177]
[Rules of the House of Representatives]
[Pages 345-371]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 
                                 Rule I


Approval of the Journal
                              the speaker




621. Journal; Speaker's approval.

  1. The Speaker shall take the Chair on every legislative day precisely 
at the hour to which the House last adjourned and immediately call the 
House to order.  Having 
examined and approved the Journal of the last day's proceedings, the 
Speaker shall announce to the House approval thereof. The Speaker's 
approval of the Journal shall be deemed agreed to unless a Member, 
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner demands a vote thereon. If such a 
vote is decided in the affirmative, it shall not be subject to a motion 
to reconsider. If such a vote is decided in the negative, then one 
motion that the Journal be read shall be privileged, shall be decided 
without debate, and shall not be subject to a motion to reconsider.



[[Page 346]]

  This clause was adopted in 1789, amended in 1811, 1824 (II, 1310), 
1971 (H. Res. 5, Jan. 22, 1971, pp. 140-44, with the implementation of 
the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1140), and 1979 (H. 
Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16). Clerical and stylistic changes were 
effected when the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress (H. 
Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). A gender-based reference was eliminated in 
the 111th Congress (sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7).

  The hour of meeting is fixed by standing order, and was traditionally 
set at noon (I, 104-109, 116, 117; IV, 4325); but beginning in the 95th 
Congress, the House by standing order formalized the practice of varying 
its convening time to accommodate committee meetings on certain days of 
the week and to maximize time for floor action on other days (e.g., H. 
Res. 7, Jan. 4, 1977, p. 70). The House retains the right to vary from 
this schedule by use of the motion to fix the day and time to which the 
House shall adjourn as provided in clause 4 of rule XVI. The House may 
provide for a session of the House on a Sunday, traditionally a ``dies 
non'' under the precedents of the House (e.g., Dec. 17, 1982, p. 31946; 
Dec. 18, 1987, p. 36352; Oct. 10, 1998, p. 25483; Dec. 15, 2019, p. _). 
Beginning in the second session of the 103d Congress, the House has by 
unanimous consent agreed to convene earlier on certain days for morning-
hour debate and then recess to the hour established for convening under 
a previous order (see Sec. 951, infra).

  Immediately after the Members are called to order, the prayer is 
offered by the Chaplain (IV, 3056), and the Speaker declines to 
entertain a point of no quorum before prayer is offered (VI, 663; clause 
7 of rule XX). Before the 96th Congress, clause 1 of rule I directed the 
Speaker to announce the approval of the Journal on the appearance of a 
quorum after having called the House to order. Under that form of the 
rule, a point of no quorum could be made after the prayer and before the 
approval of the Journal when the House convened, notwithstanding the 
provisions of former clause 6(e) of rule XV (now clause 7 of rule XX), 
allowing such points of order in the House only when the Speaker had put 
the pending motion or proposition to a vote (Oct. 3, 1977, p. 31987). 
Similarly, prior practice had permitted a point of no quorum before the 
reading of the Journal (IV, 2733; VI, 625) or during its reading (VI, 
624). In the 96th Congress, the House eliminated the necessity for the 
appearance of a quorum before the Speaker's announcement of the approval 
of the Journal (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16). If a quorum fails 
to respond on a motion incident to the approval, reading, or amendment 
of the Journal, and there is an objection to the vote, a call of the 
House under clause 6 of rule XX is automatic (Feb. 2, 1977, p. 3342).

  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Speaker may postpone until a 
later time on the same legislative day a record vote on the Speaker's 
approval of the Journal. Where the House adjourns on consecutive days 
without having approved the Journal of the previous days' proceedings, 
the Speaker puts the question de novo in chronological order as the 
first order of business on the subsequent day (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 
5, Sec. 12.6).


[[Page 347]]

(IV, 2757; Speaker Wright, Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30387) and the swearing of a 
Member (I, 172) could take precedence.
  The Journal of the last day of a session is not read on the first day 
of the next session (IV, 2742). No business is transacted before the 
approval of the Journal (or the postponement of a vote under clause 8 of 
rule XX on agreeing to the Speaker's approval), including the filing of 
a conference report (IV, 2751-2756; VI, 629, 630, 637). However, the 
motion to adjourn

  Once begun, the reading may not be interrupted, even by business so 
highly privileged as a conference report (V, 6443; clause 7(a) of rule 
XXII). However, a parliamentary inquiry (VI, 624), an arraignment of 
impeachment (VI, 469), or a question of privilege relating to a breach 
of privilege (such as an assault occurring during the reading) may 
interrupt its reading or approval (II, 1630).

  If the Speaker's approval of the Journal is rejected, a motion to 
amend takes precedence of a motion to approve (IV, 2760; VI, 633), and a 
Member offering an amendment is recognized under the hour rule 
(Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 14.1); but the motion is not 
admissible after the previous question is demanded on the motion to 
approve (IV, 2770; VI, 633; VIII, 2684; Sept. 13, 1965, p. 23600). The 
House by unanimous consent has permitted an untimely demand for a vote 
on approval of the Journal (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 12.3).

  Before the 92d Congress, the reading of the Journal was mandatory and 
could not be dispensed with except by unanimous consent (VI, 625; Sept. 
19, 1962, p. 19941) or by motion to suspend the rules (IV, 2747-2750). 
It had to be read in full when demanded by any Member (IV, 2739-2741; 
VI, 627, 628; Feb. 22, 1950, p. 2152), but the demand came too late 
after the Journal was approved (VI, 626). The Speaker's examination and 
approval of the Journal was preliminary to the reading and did not 
preclude subsequent amendment by the House itself (IV, 2734-2738). Under 
the rule as in effect from the 92d Congress through the 95th Congress, 
any Member could offer a privileged, nondebatable motion that the 
Journal be read pending the Speaker's announcement of approval and 
before agreement by the House (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 13.1).


Preservation of order
  The House has adopted the provisions of this clause as a matter of 
general parliamentary law prior to the adoption of standing rules at the 
beginning of a Congress (Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).




622. Speaker preserves order on floor and in galleries and 
lobby.

    2. The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum and, in case of 
disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, may 
cause the same to be cleared.


  This clause was adopted in 1789 and amended in 1794 (II, 1343). 
Clerical and stylistic changes were effected when the House recodified 
its rules in the 106th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).


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Speaker has taken the chair and restored order without a formal rising 
of the Committee (II, 1348, 1648-1653, 1657). Before the establishment 
of recess authority in clause 12(b), the Speaker, as an exercise of 
authority under this clause, has on initiative declared the House in 
recess in an emergency (Speaker Martin, Mar. 1, 1954, p. 2424; see also 
Speaker Rayburn, Mar. 1, 1943, p. 1487 (air-raid drill)). A former 
Member must observe the rules of decorum while on the floor, and the 
Speaker may request the Sergeant-at-Arms to assist in maintaining such 
decorum (Sept. 17, 1997, pp. 19026, 19027). The Chair announced that 
failure to heed the gavel constitutes an act of stark incivility 
(Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 6.2), and the Chair has taken 
initiative to remind Members to closely consider their words during 
contentious proceedings in order to maintain decorum in the House (July 
16, 2019, p. _).
  The Speaker may name a Member who is disorderly, but may not, of the 
Speaker's own authority, censure or punish the Member (II, 1344, 1345; 
VI, 237). In cases of extreme disorder in the Committee of the Whole the

  The authority to have the galleries cleared has been exercised but 
rarely (II, 1352; Speaker Albert, Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, 
Sec. 4.1). On one occasion, acting on the basis of police reports and 
other evidence, the Speaker ordered the galleries cleared before the 
House convened (May 10, 1972, p. 16576) and then informed the House of 
his decision. In an early instance the Speaker ordered the arrest of a 
person in the gallery; but this exercise of power was questioned (II, 
1605). In response to a disruptive demonstration in the gallery, the 
Chair notes for the Record the disruptive character of the demonstration 
and enlists the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove the offending parties (see, 
e.g., Oct. 8, 2002, p. 19543; Apr. 29, 2010, p. 6858), including during 
the pendency of a vote by electronic device (Dec. 19, 2017, p. _). After 
repeated disturbances in the gallery, the chair of the Committee of the 
Whole warned occupants of the gallery of possible prosecution (under 40 
U.S.C. 5104) (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 4.6). Occupants of the 
gallery are not to manifest approval or disapproval of, or otherwise 
disrupt, proceedings on the floor (see, e.g., Speaker Foley, June 12, 
1990, p. 13593) and the Speaker may quell such demonstrations before the 
adoption of the rules (Speaker Gingrich, Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, 
Sec. 6.6).


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impairs decorum under clause 5 of rule XVII (June 22, 2018, p. _). 
Although a Member may have enlisted the assistance of a House Page to 
manage the placement of an exhibit on an easel, it was not appropriate 
to refer to the Page or to use the Page as though part of the exhibit 
(June 11, 2003, p. 14417; Speaker Hastert, June 12, 2003, p. 14576). The 
Chair will distinguish between using an exhibit in the immediate area 
the Member is addressing the House as a visual aid for the edification 
of Members and staging an exhibition; for example, a Member having a 
large number of his colleagues accompany him in the well, each carrying 
a part of his exhibit, was held to impair the decorum of the House (June 
12, 2003, p. 14627; July 7, 2016, p. _; June 20, 2018, p. _ (children 
used as the exhibit)). Mass presence of Members in the well while not 
under recognition (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 6.1), and a 
gathering of Members improperly displaying electronic and non-electronic 
exhibits (Mar. 13, 2014, p. 4393), each constitutes a breach of decorum. 
The Chair has admonished Members to observe proper decorum before the 
adoption of the rules (Jan. 3, 2017, p. _).
  Although Members are permitted to use exhibits such as charts during 
debate (subject to clause 6 of rule XVII), the Speaker may direct the 
removal of a chart from the well of the House that is not being utilized 
during debate (Apr. 1, 1982, p. 6304; Apr. 19, 1990, p. 7402). The 
Speaker may inquire concerning a Member's intentions, as to the use of 
exhibits, before conferring recognition to address the House (Mar. 21, 
1984, p. 6187). The Speaker's responsibility to preserve decorum 
requires the disallowance of exhibits in debate that would be demeaning 
to the House, or to any Member of the House, or that would be disruptive 
of the decorum thereof (Sept. 13, 1989, p. 20362; Oct. 16, 1990, p. 
29647; Oct. 1, 1991, p. 24828; Nov. 16, 1995, p. 33395; Jan. 3, 1996, p. 
42; July 27, 2017, p. _). The Speaker has disallowed the use of a person 
on the floor as a guest of the House as an ``exhibit,'' including a 
Member's child (see Sec. 678, infra). The Chair also has cautioned 
Members to refrain from using audio devices during debate (May 24, 2005, 
p. 11008), including a mobile device that

  In the 101st Congress both the Speaker and the chair of the Committee 
of the Whole reinforced the Chair's authority to control the use of 
exhibits in debate, distinguishing between the constitutional authority 
of the House to make its own rules and first amendment rights of free 
speech, and the use of all exhibits was prohibited during the 
consideration of a bill in the Committee of the Whole (Oct. 11, 1990, p. 
28650). The Speaker may permit the display of an exhibit in the 
Speaker's lobby during debate on a measure (May 20, 1999, p. 10280). 
Just as an appeal may be entertained on a decision from the Chair that a 
Member has engaged in personalities in debate (Sept. 28, 1996, pp. 
25780-82; see also clause 4 of rule XVII), so also may an appeal be 
entertained on a ruling of the Chair on the propriety of an exhibit 
(Nov. 16, 1995, p. 33395; Jan. 20, 2018, p. _).

  At the request of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (now 
Ethics), the Speaker announced that (1) all handouts distributed on or 
adjacent to the floor must bear the name of a Member authorizing the 
distribution; (2) the content of such handouts must comport with the 
standards applicable to words used in debate; (3) failure to comply with 
these standards may constitute a breach of decorum and thus give rise to 
a question of privilege; (4) staff are prohibited in the Chamber or 
rooms leading thereto from distributing handouts and from attempting to 
influence Members with regard to legislation; and (5) Members should 
minimize the use of handouts to enhance the quality of debate (Sept. 27, 
1995, p. 26567; Mar. 20, 1996, p. 5644; Mar. 4, 1998, p. 2523; Mar. 21, 
2010, p. 4095).


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privileges of the House to relax such standards. The Speaker also 
requested a Member in violation of those standards to remove himself 
from the Chamber and appear in appropriate attire, and refused to 
recognize such Member until he did so (Speaker O'Neill, Precedents 
(Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 1.2; see also Mar. 28, 2012, pp. 4361, 4362). The 
House later agreed to a resolution (presented as a question of the 
privileges of the House) requiring Members to wear proper attire as 
determined by the Speaker (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 1.3). See 
also Sec. 962, infra.
  Questions having been raised concerning proper attire for Members in 
the Chamber (thermostat controls having been raised to comply with a 
Presidential directive conserving energy in the summer months), the 
Speaker announced he considered traditional attire for Members 
appropriate, including coats and ties for male Members and appropriate 
attire for female Members, but that he would recognize for a question of 
the

  Recognition is within the discretion of the Chair, and in order to 
uphold order and decorum in the House as required under clause 2 of rule 
I, the Speaker may deny a Member recognition for a ``one-minute speech'' 
(Aug. 27, 1980, p. 23456). Furthermore, it is a breach of decorum for a 
Member to continue to speak beyond the time for which recognized (Mar. 
22, 1996, p. 6086; May 22, 2003, p. 12965; Oct. 2, 2003, pp. 23949, 
23950), and the Speaker may deny further recognition to such Member 
(Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 3.13; Mar. 29, 2012, p. 4500; July 
19, 2013, pp. 11946, 11947; Oct. 2, 2013, p. 14981), from which there is 
no appeal (see Sec. 629, infra). In the event of disorder in the well, 
the Chair may ask Members to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House 
so that business can be conducted in an orderly fashion (Speaker Ryan, 
June 22, 2016, p. _) or may order that the well be cleared (Speaker 
McCormack, Dec. 9, 1963, p. 23831). Even before adoption of the rules, 
the Speaker may maintain decorum by directing a Member engaging in such 
breach of decorum to be removed from the well and by directing the 
Sergeant-at-Arms to present the mace as the traditional symbol of order 
(Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, Sec. 6.5). A Member's comportment may 
constitute a breach of decorum even though the content of that Member's 
speech is not, itself, unparliamentary (July 29, 1994, p. 18609). Under 
this standard the Chair may deny further recognition to a Member engaged 
in unparliamentary debate who ignores repeated admonitions by the Chair 
to proceed in order (unless the Member is permitted to proceed by order 
of the House) (Sept. 18, 1996, p. 23535). The Chair has announced that 
time consumed (1) obtaining order (Mar. 21, 2010, p. 4104; Apr. 18, 
2012, p. 5130), (2) admonishing a Member for failing to address remarks 
to the Chair (July 23, 2015, p. 12275), (3) admonishing the gallery 
(Apr. 8, 2003, p. 8761), or (4) responding to a Member interrupting 
debate without being recognized (Feb. 7, 1985, p. 2229; Feb. 6, 2002, p. 
640), would not be charged to the Member under recognition.


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(e.g., Dec. 16, 2020, p. _) or were wearing them improperly (e.g., Mar. 
3, 2021, p. _).

Control of Capitol facilities
  During the 116th and 117th Congresses, the Speaker established a 
series of policies requiring the wearing of masks in the Chamber in 
response to a designated public health emergency, each of which 
reiterated the Speaker's authority to enforce those policies as a matter 
of decorum (July 29, 2020, p. _; Nov. 18, 2020, p. _; Dec. 15, 2020, p. 
_; Jan. 4, 2021, p. _). Pursuant to these policies the Chair took the 
initiative in admonishing Members seeking or under recognition who were 
not wearing masks




623. Speaker's control of the Hall, corridors, and 
rooms.

  3.  Except as otherwise provided by rule or law, the Speaker shall 
have general control of the Hall of the House, the corridors and 
passages in the part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House, 
and the disposal of unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol.


  This clause was adopted in 1811 and amended in 1824, 1885 (II, 1354), 
and 1911 (VI, 261). Clerical and stylistic changes were effected when 
the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 
1999, p. 47).


Signature of documents
  Control of the appropriated rooms in the House portion of the Capitol 
is exercised by the House itself (V, 7273-7279), but repairs and 
alterations have been authorized by statute (V, 7280-7281; 59 Stat. 
472). On January 15, 1979, the Speaker announced his directive 
concerning free access by Members in the corridors approaching the 
Chamber (p. 19). The Speaker has declined to recognize for a unanimous-
consent request to change the decor in the Chamber, stating that he 
would take the suggestion under advisement in exercising his authority 
under this clause (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 1.4). The Speaker 
has announced that a joint Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus 
meeting would be held in the Chamber following the adjournment of the 
House on that day (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 1.13). The Speaker 
has announced standards for use of the Chamber when the House is not in 
session (Speaker Pelosi, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 25; Speaker Boehner, Jan. 5, 
2011, p. 106; Speaker Boehner, Jan. 3, 2013, p. 47; Speaker Boehner, 
Jan. 6, 2015, p. 63; Speaker Ryan, Jan. 3, 2017, p. _; Speaker Pelosi, 
Jan. 3, 2019, p. _; Speaker Pelosi, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).


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and joint resolutions whether or not the House is in session.



624. Speaker's signature to acts, warrants, subpoenas, 
etc.

  4.  The Speaker shall sign all acts and joint resolutions passed by 
the two Houses and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas of, or issued by 
order of, the House. The Speaker may sign enrolled bills


  The Speaker was given authority to sign acts, warrants, subpoenas, 
etc., in 1794 (II, 1313). The last sentence of this clause, granting the 
Speaker standing authority to sign enrolled bills, even if the House is 
not in session, was added in the 97th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, 
pp. 98-113). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th 
Congress, clauses 4 and 5 occupied a single clause (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 
1999, p. 47).



Sec. 625. Signing of enrolled bills.

  Enrolled  bills are 
signed first by the Speaker (IV, 3429) or a Speaker pro tempore under 
clause 8 of rule I. For precedents relevant to the signing of enrolled 
bills before this clause was amended to permit the Speaker to sign at 
any time, see IV, 3458, and V, 5705. Before the adoption of clause 
2(d)(2) of rule II (enabling the Clerk to examine enrolled bills), the 
House authorized the Speaker to sign an enrolled bill before the 
Committee on Enrolled Bills could attest to its accuracy (IV, 3452). In 
cases of error the House has permitted the Speaker's signature to be 
vacated (IV, 3453, 3455-3457; VII, 1077-1080; Mar. 11, 1986, p. 4240; 
Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 14.9).



Questions of order


Sec. 626. Signing of warrants, subpoenas, 
etc.

  Warrants,  subpoenas, etc., during recesses of Congress are signed only by 
authority specially given (III, 1753, 1763, 1806). The issuing of 
warrants must be specially authorized by the House (I, 287) or pursuant 
to a standing rule (clause 6 of rule XX; Sec. 1026, infra). The House 
has authorized the Speaker to issue a warrant for the arrest of 
absentees (VI, 638). The Speaker also signs the articles, replications, 
etc., in impeachments (III, 2370, 2455; e.g., H. Res. 611, Dec. 19, 
1998, p. 28112); and certifies cases of contumacious witnesses for 
action by the courts (III, 1691, 1769; VI, 385; 2 U.S.C. 194). A 
subpoena validly issued under clause 2(m) of rule XI need only be signed 
by the chair of that committee, whereas when the House issues an order 
or warrant, the summons is issued under the hand and seal of the 
Speaker, and it must be attested by the Clerk (III, 1668; see H. Rept. 
96-1078, p. 22).




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627. Questions of order.

  5.  The Speaker shall decide all 
questions of order, subject to appeal by a Member, Delegate, or Resident 
Commissioner. On such an appeal a Member, Delegate, or Resident 
Commissioner may not speak more than once without permission of the 
House.


  This rule was adopted in 1789 and amended in 1811. Before the House 
recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, clauses 4 and 5 occupied a 
single clause (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).



Sec. 628. Practice governing the Speaker in deciding 
points of order.

  The  Speaker may require that a question of order be 
presented in writing (V, 6865). When enough of a proposition has been 
read to show that it is out of order, the question of order may be 
raised without waiting for the reading to be completed (V, 6886, 6887; 
VIII, 2912, 3378, 3437; July 9, 2009, pp. 17309-11), though the Chair 
may decline to rule until the entire proposition has been read (Dec. 14, 
1973, pp. 41716-18). For example, the Chair declined to entertain a 
point of order that a motion to recommit was not germane before any 
nongermane portion of the motion had been read (May 9, 2003, p. 11110); 
and a motion to recommit with instructions was ruled out of order before 
the entire motion had been read as a matter of form where a special 
order of business precluded instructions (May 6, 2004, pp. 8590, 8591). 
A point of order may be withdrawn as a matter of right before action 
thereon (e.g., June 24, 2008, p. 13500), including withdrawal in favor 
of reservation (June 2, 2015, p. 8358). Present insistence on a point of 
order takes precedence over reservation (Nov. 19, 2009, pp. 28235, 
28243). A point of order against consideration of a measure must be 
raised (or reserved) before commencement of debate on the measure (e.g., 
Feb. 15, 1995, p. 5012; June 1, 2011, p. 8475; July 11, 2013, p. 11417; 
May 29, 2014, pp. 9256, 9257; July 11, 2014, p. 11815) and a timely 
reservation of a point of order by one Member inures to the benefit of 
any other Member who desires to raise a point of order (V, 6906; July 
18, 1990, p. 17930). Questions arising during a division are decided 
peremptorily (V, 5926), and when they arise out of any other question 
must be decided before that question (V, 6864). In rare instances the 
Speaker has declined to rule until taking time for examination of the 
question (III, 2725; VI, 432; VII, 2106; VIII, 2174, 2396, 3475; Mar. 
24, 2010, p. 4767). In one instance, when the Chair announced an 
abandonment of the gavel in lieu of issuing a ruling on a pending demand 
that words be taken down, another Member took the Chair to rule on such 
demand (July 16, 2019, p. _).



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22, 2000, p. 12078). Members must address the Chair and cannot engage in 
colloquies on the point of order (e.g., Sept. 18, 1986, p. 24083; May 
19, 2005, p. 10337; June 18, 2014, p. 10412; June 7, 2017, p. _), nor 
can they offer pro forma amendments to debate the point of order (July 
21, 1998, p. 16369; June 27, 2007, pp. 17715, 17716) or the underlying 
proposition (Feb. 16, 2011, p. 2174). To ensure that the arguments 
recorded on a question of order are those actually heard by the Chair 
before ruling, the Chair will not entertain a unanimous-consent request 
to permit a Member to revise and extend remarks on a point of order 
(Sept. 22, 1976, p. 31873; May 15, 1997, pp. 8493, 8494; Precedents 
(Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 20.16; Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 20.18). 
However, a Member has been allowed by unanimous consent to revise and 
extend remarks, or to insert extraneous material, to appear following 
the ruling on a point of order (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 20.17; 
May 17, 2017, p. _). A Member may raise multiple points of order 
simultaneously, and the Chair may hear argument and rule on each 
question individually (Mar. 28, 1996, pp. 6931, 6933); or the Chair may 
choose to rule on only one of the points of order raised (July 24, 1998, 
p. 17278). If a Member incorrectly demands the ``regular order,'' rather 
than making a point of order to assert that remarks are not confined to 
the question under debate, the Chair may treat the demand as a point of 
order and rule thereon (May 1, 1996, p. 9889).
  Debate on a point of order, being for the Chair's information, is 
within the Chair's discretion (see, e.g., V, 6919, 6920; VIII, 3446-
3448; Deschler-Brown, ch. 29, Sec. 67.3; Jan. 24, 1996, p. 1248; Sept. 
12, 1996, p. 22901; Oct. 10, 1998, p. 25420; July 10, 2014, p. 11693) 
and is solely to edify the judgment of the Chair, who may decline to 
hear more when prepared to rule (Mar. 3, 2011, pp. 3171, 3172; Oct. 8, 
2013, p. 15438; July 6, 2016, p. _; Mar. 7, 2017, p. _; Mar. 15, 2017, 
p. _; June 7, 2017, p. _; June 21, 2017, p. _) and may decline to 
respond to questions in advance of ruling (Oct. 2, 2013, p. 14997). 
Debate is confined to the question of order and may not extend to the 
merits of the proposition against which it lies or to parliamentarily 
similar propositions permitted to remain in the pending bill by waivers 
of points of order (e.g., July 18, 1995, p. 19335; June

  The Chair is constrained to give precedent its proper influence (II, 
1317; VI, 248). Although the Chair will normally not disregard a 
decision of the Chair previously made on the same facts (IV, 4045), such 
precedents may be examined and reversed if shown to be erroneous (IV, 
4637; VI, 639; VII, 849; VIII, 2794, 3435; Sept. 12, 1986, p. 23178). 
The authoritative source for proper interpretation of a rule is a 
statement made directly from the Chair and not a comment made by the 
Speaker in another context (May 25, 1995, p. 14437; Sept. 19, 1995, p. 
25454). Preserving the authority and binding force of parliamentary law 
is as much the duty of each Member of the House as it is the duty of the 
Chair (VII, 1479). The Speaker's decisions are recorded in the Journal 
(IV, 2840, 2841), but responses to parliamentary inquiries are not so 
recorded (IV, 2842).

  The Chair does not decide on the legislative or legal effect of 
propositions (II, 1274, 1323, 1324; VI, 254; VII, 2112; VIII, 2280, 
2841; Mar. 16, 1983, p. 5669; May 13, 1998, p. 9129), on the consistency 
of proposed action with other acts of the House (II, 1327-1336; VII, 
2112, 2136; VIII, 3237, 3458), whether Members have abused leave to 
print (V, 6998-7000; VIII, 3475), or on the propriety or expediency of a 
proposed course of action (II, 1275, 1325, 1326, 1337; IV, 3091-3093, 
3127).


[[Page 355]]

21, 1947, pp. 9522, 9551; May 13, 1948, p. 5817; Oct. 10, 1998, p. 
25424); (3) the constitutional rights of Members (VIII, 3071).
  Also, the Chair does not rule on: (1) the constitutional power of the 
House (II, 1490; IV, 3507), such as the constitutional authority of the 
House to propose a rule of the House, such matter appropriately being 
decided by way of the question of consideration or disposition of the 
proposal (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 5.8); (2) the constitutional 
competency of proposed legislation (II, 1255, 1318-1322, VI, 250, 251; 
VIII, 2225, 3031, 3427; July


[[Page 356]]

  The Chair is not required to decide a question not directly presented 
by the proceedings (II, 1314). Furthermore, it is not the duty of the 
Chair to decide a hypothetical question (VI, 249, 253; Precedents 
(Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 4.2), including: (1) the germaneness of an 
amendment not yet offered (Dec. 12, 1985, p. 36167; May 5, 1988, p. 
9936; May 18, 1988, p. 11404; Mar. 22, 2000, p. 3283) or previously 
offered and entertained without a point of order (June 6, 1990, p. 
13194); (2) the admissibility under existing Budget Act allocations of 
an amendment not yet offered, particularly if the Chair's response might 
depend on the disposition of a prior amendment on which proceedings had 
been postponed (June 27, 1994, p. 14593; June 12, 2000, p. 10377); (3) 
the admissibility under clause 2 of rule XXI of an amendment already 
pending (July 29, 1998, p. 17963), against which all points of order had 
been waived (July 27, 1995, p. 20800); (4) the admissibility of an 
amendment at a future date, pending a ruling of the Chair on its 
immediate admissibility (June 25, 1997, p. 12488). The Chair will not 
declare judgment on the propriety of words taken down before they are 
read to the House (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 4.3). The Chair 
does not take cognizance of complaints relating to pairs (VIII, 3087). 
The Chair passes on the validity of conference reports (V, 6409, 6410, 
6414-6416; VIII, 3256, 3264), but not on the sufficiency of the 
accompanying statements as distinguished from the form (V, 6511-6513), 
or on the question of whether a conference report violates instructions 
of the House (V, 6395; VIII, 3246). As to reports of committees, the 
Chair does not decide as to their sufficiency (II, 1339; IV, 4653) or 
whether the committee has followed instructions (II, 1338; IV, 4404, 
4689); or on matters arising in the Committee of the Whole (V, 6927, 
6928, 6932-6937; Dec. 12, 1985, p. 36173); but has decided as to the 
validity of the authorization of a report (IV, 4592, 4593) and has 
indicated that a point of order could be raised at a proper time where 
the content of a filed report varies from that approved by the committee 
(May 16, 1989, p. 9356). An objection to the use of an exhibit under 
clause 6 of rule XVII (formerly rule XXX) is not a point of order on 
which the Chair must rule (July 31, 1996, pp. 20694, 20700). Before the 
rule was rewritten in the 107th Congress, it required that the Chair put 
the question whether the exhibit may be used. It now merely permits the 
Chair to put such question (sec. 2(o), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2001, p. 25). 
A complaint that certain remarks that might be uttered in debate would 
improperly disclose executive-session material of a committee is not 
cognizable as a point of order in the House if the Chair is not aware of 
the executive-session status of the information (Nov. 5, 1997, p. 
24648). The assertion that a Member may be inconvenienced by the 
legislative schedule announced by the Leadership does not give rise to a 
point of order that the Member cannot attend both to House and 
constituent duties at the same time (Nov. 10, 1999, p. 29537).

  Under long practice, precedents and applicable guidelines allowed the 
Chair to refine a ruling on a point of order in the Record in order to 
clarify the ruling without changing its substance, including one 
sustained by the House on appeal (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, 
Sec. 19.13; see H. Res. 230, 99th Cong., July 31, 1985, p. 21783; and H. 
Rept. 99-228 (in accordance with existing accepted practices, the Chair 
may make such technical or parliamentary corrections or insertions in 
transcript as may be necessary to conform to rule, custom, or 
precedent); see also H. Res. 330, 101st Cong., Feb. 7, 1990, p. 1515, 
and report of House Administration task force on Record inserted by 
Speaker Foley, Oct. 27, 1990, p. 37124). The Chair ruled that the 
requirement of former clause 9 of rule XIV (now clause 8 of rule XVII), 
that the Record be a substantially verbatim account of remarks made 
during House proceedings, extended to statements and rulings of the 
Chair (Speaker Gingrich, Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 19.15).

  In interpreting the language of a special order adopted by the House, 
the Chair will not look behind the unambiguous language of the 
resolution itself (June 18, 1986, p. 14267). Questions concerning 
informal guidelines of the Committee on Rules for advance submission of 
amendments for possible inclusion under a ``modified closed'' rule may 
not be raised under the guise of parliamentary inquiry (May 5, 1988, p. 
9938). Because the Chair refrains from issuing advisory opinions on 
hypothetical or anticipatory questions of order, the Chair will not 
interpret a special order before it is adopted by the House (Oct. 14, 
1986, p. 30862; July 27, 1993, p. 17116; July 27, 1995, p. 20741; Jan. 
5, 1996, p. 366; Mar. 28, 1996, p. 7064; June 28, 2000, p. 12649; Mar. 
8, 2001, p. 3229; May 22, 2002, p. 8681; Oct. 17, 2003, pp. 25031, 
25032). Thus, the Chair has declined to identify provisions in a bill as 
ostensible objects of a waiver in the pending resolution providing a 
special order for that bill (Oct. 19, 1995, pp. 28503, 28504; Oct. 26, 
1995, p. 29477; Mar. 28, 1996, p. 7064); to determine whether a bill, 
for which the pending resolution provides a special order waiving any 
requirement for a three-fifths vote on passage, actually ``carries'' a 
Federal income tax rate increase under former clause 5(b) of rule XXI 
(Oct. 26, 1995, p. 29477); or to opine whether an amendment might be in 
order in the Committee of the Whole (May 22, 2002, p. 8681; Oct. 17, 
2003, pp. 25031, 25032), including one required to be printed in the 
Congressional Record where the Record had not yet been printed 
(Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 24.13). The Chair will not compare 
the text made in order by a pending special order as original text for 
further amendment with the text reported by the committee of 
jurisdiction (Oct. 19, 1995, p. 28503). Similarly, the Chair will not 
issue an advisory opinion on how debate on a pending resolution will 
bear on the Chair's ultimate interpretation of the resolution as an 
order of the House (Sept. 18, 1997, p. 19343).


[[Page 357]]

as to questions of privilege the Speaker usually, in later practice, 
makes a preliminary decision instead of submitting the question directly 
to the House (III, 2648, 2649, 2650, 2654, 2678; Speaker Wright, Mar. 
11, 1987, p. 5404).
  The Speaker rarely submits a question directly to the House for its 
decision (IV, 3173, 3282, 4930; V, 5014, 5323, 6701; VI, 49; Speaker 
Longworth, Apr. 8, 1926, p. 7148; Dec. 19, 1998, p. 28107), and rarely 
takes initiative to raise and submit a question (II, 1277, 1315, 1316; 
VIII, 3405). Even



Sec. 628a. Practice governing the Speaker in 
entertaining parliamentary inquiries.

  Recognition  for parliamentary inquiry lies 
in the discretion of the Chair (VI, 541; Apr. 7, 1992, p. 8273; Mar. 21, 
2010, p. 4106; Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5786; June 18, 2015, p. 9874). As such, 
the Chair may recognize for a demand for the yeas and nays rather than 
entertain a parliamentary inquiry (Aug. 4, 2007, p. 23233). The Speaker 
may recognize and respond to a parliamentary inquiry although the 
previous question may have been demanded (Mar. 27, 1926, p. 6469; Feb. 
14, 2017, p. _). Although the Chair has discretion to recognize Members 
for parliamentary inquiries when no other Member is occupying the floor 
for debate, a parliamentary inquiry may not be raised unless the Member 
having the floor yields for that purpose (Oct. 1, 1986, p. 27465; July 
13, 1989, p. 14633; May 29, 2014, p. 4660; June 12, 2014, pp. 10057, 
10058; Jan. 13, 2015, p. 527; July 7, 2016, p. _) and the yielding 
Member is charged time consumed thereby (Deschler-Brown, ch. 31, 
Sec. 15.4; Feb. 5, 2014, p. 2578). A Member under recognition for a 
parliamentary inquiry may not yield to another Member (Nov. 22, 2002, p. 
23510; Oct. 12, 2013, p. 15788) and may not engage in debate (June 24, 
2011, p. 10018; Oct. 12, 2013, p. 15788; Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5786; June 12, 
2014, p. 10058; June 18, 2015, p. 9874). A proper parliamentary inquiry 
relates to an interpretation of a House rule, not of a statute or of the 
Constitution (July 28, 1982, p. 18385; Oct. 10, 1998, p. 25424; July 18, 
2006, p. 14784). The Chair may entertain a parliamentary inquiry during 
argument on a point of order if relevant thereto (June 24, 2003, p. 
15832).


  The Speaker may take a parliamentary inquiry under advisement, 
especially if not related to the pending proceedings (VIII, 2174; Apr. 
7, 1992, p. 8273). The Chair responds to parliamentary inquiries 
relating in a practical sense to the pending proceedings but does not 
respond to requests to place them in historical context (June 25, 1992, 
p. 16174; Jan. 3, 1996, pp. 36-41; Nov. 5, 1997, p. 24653; Sept. 9, 
2003, pp. 21557, 21558). The Chair announced parameters for a proper 
parliamentary inquiry (Mar. 21, 2010, p. 4106) and announced an 
intention to refuse further recognition on a particular line of improper 
inquiry (Mar. 21, 2010, p. 4093; Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5785; June 18, 2015, 
p. 9869).


[[Page 358]]

p. 4093), or (3) state the vote tally as it stood upon expiration of the 
minimum time (May 8, 2008, p. 8147).
  The Speaker may entertain a parliamentary inquiry during a record vote 
if it relates to the vote (Oct. 9, 1997, p. 22017; Oct. 6, 1999, p. 
24199; Sept. 9, 2003, pp. 21557, 21558; Mar. 30, 2004, pp. 5577, 5578). 
However, the Speaker will not (1) respond to a request to place the 
length of a record vote in historical context (Sept. 9, 2003, p. 21558), 
(2) explain the exercise of discretion to hold a vote open beyond the 
minimum time prescribed under clause 2 of rule XX (Mar. 30, 2004, pp. 
5577, 5578; Mar. 21, 2010,


[[Page 359]]

committee action (Feb. 6, 2012, p. 1005) or the operation of committee 
rules (July 27, 2007, p. 21124; Oct. 10, 2007, p. 26993), although the 
Chair confirmed that the adoption of a motion to recommit with 
instructions to report ``promptly'' did not necessarily suspend the 
operation of any rule of the House (Feb. 27, 2008, p. 2640) or of a 
committee (Nov. 15, 2007, p. 31789); (19) advise whether a cost estimate 
exists for a measure being considered by a committee (Mar. 8, 2017, p. 
_) or issue an advisory opinion regarding whether hypothetical committee 
action would violate a rule of the House (Mar. 8, 2017, p. _); (20) 
speculate whether Members-elect are entitled to compensation prior to 
taking the oath of office (Jan. 7, 2011, p. 228); (21) identify the 
number or party membership of cosponsors of a measure (Precedents 
(Wickham), ch. 3, Sec. 1.1; Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5785; Feb. 26, 2015, p. 
2672) or signatories to a discharge petition (Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5785); 
(22) address the legislative schedule (Sept. 28, 2012, p. 14956; Dec. 1, 
2015, p. 19156; Dec. 9, 2015, pp. 19792, 19793; Speaker Ryan, June 13, 
2016, p. _; June 21, 2016, p. _; June 23, 2016, p. _), including 
advising on the Speaker's designation of a time to consider a purported 
question of the privileges of the House noticed under rule IX (Mar. 20, 
2017, p. _); (23) prejudge who would be recognized as the leader of 
successful opposition to the previous question (Oct. 26, 2015, p. 
16530); (24) explain a technical issue an outside entity may have had 
with the House broadcast feed (Jan. 12, 2017, p. _); (25) confirm 
differences between a reported text and a separate substitute text (July 
19, 2017, p. _); (26) interpret the meaning of the remarks of another 
Member (Jan. 22, 2018, p. _); (27) advise whether a specified discharge 
petition is at the desk (Mar. 21, 2018, p. _); (28) explain the status 
of current law (June 7, 2018, p. _); (29) advise as to the status of an 
impeachment inquiry in the House (Oct. 15, 2019, p. _); (30) respond to 
inquiries regarding whether the status of an administrative duty of the 
Speaker could give rise to a vacancy in the Office of Speaker under 
clause 8(b)(3) (Jan. 9, 2020, p. _).
  The Chair will not respond to a parliamentary inquiry to: (1) judge 
the propriety of words spoken in debate pending a demand that those 
words be taken down as unparliamentary (June 8, 1995, p. 15267; July 16, 
2009, p. 18146; Feb. 11, 2011, p. 1585; July 11, 2013, p. 11408); (2) 
judge the propriety of words uttered earlier in debate (June 15, 2000, 
p. 11106; July 18, 2007, p. 19560; Nov. 20, 2013, p. 17591; Jan. 8, 
2016, pp. 237, 238); (3) judge the veracity of remarks in debate (June 
5, 1996, p. 13195; June 17, 2004, p. 12886); (4) decide whether certain 
remarks in debate were confined to the question under consideration (as 
required by clause 1 of rule XVII) (May 27, 2010, p. 9652); (5) decide 
whether a Member revealed classified information during debate (June 18, 
2015, p. 9868) or issue an advisory opinion regarding the authority to 
publicize classified documents pursuant to a House rule (Feb. 2, 2018, 
p. _; Feb. 6, 2018, p. _); (6) reexamine and explain the validity of a 
prior ruling (Oct. 26, 1995, p. 29477; June 8, 2005, pp. 11945, 11946; 
May 15, 2008, p. 9229); (7) anticipate the precedential effect of a 
ruling (Oct. 10, 1998, p. 25424) or whether a future ruling by the Chair 
will ``result in a vote'' (Oct. 9, 2015, p. 16022); (8) opine as to the 
substantive effect of an objection to a unanimous-consent request (July 
11, 2013, p. 11330); (9) judge the accuracy of the content of an exhibit 
(Nov. 10, 1995, p. 32142); (10) indicate which side of the aisle has 
failed under the Speaker's guidelines to clear a unanimous-consent 
request (Feb. 1, 1996, p. 2260; Nov. 22, 2002, p. 23510; Oct. 11, 2013, 
p. 15713; Oct. 12, 2013, p. 15788); (11) respond to political commentary 
(June 25, 1998, p. 13978; Apr. 4, 2001, p. 5417; Oct. 8, 2004, p. 22634; 
Mar. 17, 2016, pp. 3369, 3370); (12) comment on the effect of time 
consumed on a pending amendment as a tactic to prevent the offering of 
other amendments under a special order adopted by the House (May 10, 
2000, p. 7508); (13) anticipate whether bill language would trigger 
certain executive actions (Sept. 20, 1989, p. 20969); (14) interpret a 
pending proposition (May 13, 1998, p. 9129; July 9, 2009, p. 17233; Mar. 
20, 2010, p. 4041) (although the Chair may explain the application of 
the procedural status quo to a pending proposal to change that status 
quo by way of an amendment to the standing rules (Feb. 1, 2006, p. 541)) 
or advise whether a pending proposition conflicts with certain ethics 
rules of the House (Mar. 17, 2016, pp. 3369, 3370); (15) interpret, 
construe, or characterize a pending special order of business resolution 
(May 22, 2002, p. 8681; Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5787; Feb. 14, 2017, p. _) 
(although the Chair may interpret or construe the terms of a previously 
adopted order under which the House may be operating (such as to respond 
to a question of order) (May 22, 2002, p. 8681)); (16) identify which 
points of order were waived by a special order of business for a measure 
then pending (July 11, 2014, p. 11815); (17) judge the appropriateness 
of Senate action (Apr. 10, 2003, p. 9279); (18) characterize proceedings 
of a committee (June 15, 2006, p. 11409; Apr. 8, 2014, p. 5785; July 9, 
2015, p. 11116; June 28, 2018, p. _) or speculate as to hypothetical

  The Chair may clarify a prior response to a parliamentary inquiry 
(July 31, 1996, p. 20700; Mar. 21, 2010, p. 4106).



Sec. 629. Practice, governing appeals.

  The  right of appeal 
insures the House against the arbitrary control of the Speaker and 
cannot be taken away from the House (V, 6002). Although a decision of 
the Chair on a point of order is subject to appeal on demand of any 
Member, a Member cannot secure a recorded vote on a point of order 
absent an appeal and the Chair's putting the question thereon (June 20, 
1996, p. 14847).



[[Page 360]]

supporting a demand for tellers (VIII, 3105), for a recorded vote (June 
24, 1976, p. 20390; June 14, 2000, p. 10841) or for the yeas and nays 
(Sept. 12, 1978, p. 28950), or objecting to a request under the former 
rule that required a committee have permission to sit during floor 
proceedings under the five-minute rule (Sept. 12, 1978, p. 28984); (6) 
count of a quorum (July 24, 1974, p. 25012); (7) call of a voice vote 
(Aug. 10, 1994, p. 20766); (8) refusal to recapitulate a vote (VIII, 
3128); (9) refusal under clause 7 of rule XX (formerly clause 6(e) of 
rule XV) to entertain a point of no quorum when a pending question has 
not been put to a vote (Sept. 16, 1977, p. 29594); (10) determination 
that a Member's time in debate has expired (Mar. 22, 1996, p. 6086); 
(11) announcement of the whole number of the House upon the death, 
resignation, expulsion, disqualification, or removal of a Member (clause 
5(d) of rule XX); (12) announcement of the content of a catastrophic 
quorum failure report under clause 5(c) of rule XX (Sec. 1024a, infra); 
(13) determination that a majority vote is required on a pending 
proposition pursuant to the clear and unambiguous terms of a special 
order of business (Feb. 13, 2020, p. _); (14) refusal to entertain a 
prior appeal on any grounds (Feb. 13, 2020, p. _). Although an 
announcement by the Chair that an objection to a unanimous-consent 
request has been heard is not subject to appeal (Precedents (Wickham), 
ch. 5, Sec. 20.28), the Chair's ruling on the timeliness of the 
objection is subject to appeal (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 21.4). 
Although the timeliness of the Chair's recognition of a Member to offer 
a motion to table an appeal is not subject to appeal (June 22, 2006, p. 
12299), the Chair's ruling on timeliness of a Member's demand that words 
be taken down is subject to appeal (Jan. 22, 2007, p. 1899). The 
decision of the Chair that a unanimous-consent request to revise and 
extend remarks contains oratory extending beyond a simple declarative 
statement of the Member's attitude toward the underlying measure and 
thus constitutes debate is subject to appeal (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 
5, Sec. 20.28).
  An appeal may not be entertained from the following: (1) response to a 
parliamentary inquiry (V, 6955; VIII, 3457; July 11, 2013, p. 11329); 
(2) decision on recognition (II, 1425-1428; VI, 292; VIII, 2429, 2646, 
2762; July 23, 1993, p. 16820; Apr. 4, 1995, p. 10298; June 17, 1999, p. 
13465; June 22, 2006, p. 12299; July 9, 2009, p. 17233; Jan. 17, 2019, 
p. _); (3) decision on dilatoriness of motions (V, 5731); (4) question 
on which an appeal has just been decided (IV, 3036; V, 6877); (5) count 
of the number

  An appeal also may not be entertained: (1) while another is pending 
(V, 6939-6941); (2) between the motion to adjourn and vote thereon (V, 
5361); (3) during a call of the yeas and nays (V, 6051); (4) when 
dilatory (V, 5715-5722; VIII, 2822).


[[Page 361]]

may be closed by motion to close debate or to rise for such motion in 
the House (V, 6947, 6950; VIII, 3453). Debate on an appeal in the 
Committee of the Whole must be confined to the question of sustaining 
the ruling of the Chair and may not extend to the merits of the 
underlying proposition (V, 5055; Sept. 6, 2017, p. _). An appeal may be 
withdrawn in the Committee of the Whole as a matter of right (June 8, 
2000, p. 9954).
  An appeal may be debated (VII, 1608; VIII, 2347, 2375, 3453-3455; June 
24, 2003, pp. 15854-56); unless laid on the table (V, 5301; Mar. 16, 
1988, p. 4086), or the previous question has been ordered (V, 5448, 
5449). An appeal from a decision relating to the priority of business 
(V, 6952), or relevancy of debate (V, 5056-5063) is not debatable. 
Debate in the House is under the hour rule (V, 4978), but may be closed 
at any time by the adoption of a motion for the previous question (V, 
6947); or to lay on the table (VIII, 3453). An appeal may be withdrawn 
at any time before action by the House thereon (as where the Chair has 
not even stated the question on appeal) (May 6, 2004, pp. 8590, 8591). 
Debate on an appeal in the Committee of the Whole is under the five-
minute rule (VII, 1608; VIII, 2347, 2556a, 3454, 3455; June 24, 2003, 
pp. 15854-56; Sept. 6, 2017, p. _), and


Form of a question
  The House has postponed, along with the underlying matter, an appeal 
from a decision of the Chair thereon (VIII, 2613). The Speaker may vote 
to sustain the Speaker's own decision (IV, 4569; V, 5686, 6956, 6957).




630. Putting of the question by the Speaker.

  6.  The Speaker 
shall put a question in this form: ``Those in favor (of the question), 
say `Aye.'''; and after the affirmative voice is expressed, ``Those 
opposed, say `No.'''. After a vote by voice under this clause, the 
Speaker may use such voting procedures as may be invoked under rule XX.


  This clause was adopted in 1789 (II, 1311) and amended in the 115th 
Congress to remove a requirement that the Speaker rise to put a question 
(sec. 2(e), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2017, p. _). Before the House recodified 
its rules in the 106th Congress, this clause (formerly clause 5) 
consisted of this clause and current clause 1(a), clause 1(b), and 
clause 2(a) of rule XX (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

  The motion as stated by the Chair in putting the question and not as 
stated by the Member in offering the motion, is the proposition voted on 
(VI, 247). Under this paragraph the Speaker must put the pending 
question to a voice vote before entertaining a demand for a recorded 
vote or the yeas and nays (Speaker Foley, Mar. 9, 1992, p. 4698). It is 
not in order for a Member having the floor in debate to conduct a 
``straw vote'' or otherwise ask for a show of support for a proposition 
(Nov. 18, 1995, p. 33973).



[[Page 362]]

Discretion to vote
  In the 116th and 117th Congresses the House adopted a provision, 
effective during a designated public health emergency, considering the 
yeas and nays as ordered upon any request for a recorded vote or the 
yeas and nays, or any objection under clause 6 of rule XX, 
notwithstanding the directive under this clause to follow the procedures 
invoked under rule XX (sec. 3(a), H. Res. 965, May 15, 2020, p. _; sec. 
3(s), H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).




631. The Speaker's vote. Tie vote.

  7.  The Speaker is not 
required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings, except when such 
vote would be decisive or when the House is engaged in voting by ballot.


  This clause was adopted in 1789, and amended in 1850 (V, 5964) and 
1911. A gender-based reference was eliminated in the 111th Congress 
(sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7). Before the House recodified 
its rules in the 106th Congress, clause 7 (formerly clause 6) consisted 
of this clause and current clause 1(c) of rule XX (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 
1999, p. 47).

  Although the amendment of 1850 granted the Speaker the same right to 
vote as other Members (V, 5966, 5967), it has historically rarely been 
exercised (V, 5964, footnote). The Speaker's name is not on the roll 
from which the yeas and nays are called (V, 5970), is called only on the 
Speaker's request (V, 5965), and is then called at the end of the roll 
by name (V, 5965; VIII, 3075). During an electronic vote, the Speaker 
directs the Clerk to record the Speaker's vote and verifies that 
instruction by submitting a vote card (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, 
Sec. 5.5). The Speaker may vote to make a tie and so decide a question 
in the negative, or may vote to break a tie and so decide a question in 
the affirmative (VIII, 3100; Aug. 14, 1957, p. 14783). The Speaker never 
has two votes on the same question; that is, having voted as a Member, 
the Speaker may not vote again should the result be a tie (V, 5964). The 
duty of giving a decisive vote may be exercised after the intervention 
of other business, or after the announcement of the result or on another 
day, if a correction of the roll shows a condition wherein the Speaker's 
vote would be decisive (V, 5969, 6061-6063; VIII, 3075). In one instance 
the Speaker asserted a right to withdraw a vote where a correction 
indicated that it was unnecessary (V, 5971). The Speaker has voted for a 
successor in that role where his resignation was effective ``upon the 
election of my successor'' (Speaker Wright, June 6, 1989, p. 10800; 
Speaker Boehner, Oct. 29, 2015, p. 16821).


Speaker pro tempore
  Before the vote by tellers was repealed (Sec. Sec. 1012, 1013, infra), 
the chair of the Committee of the Whole could be counted on a vote by 
tellers without passing through the tellers (V, 5996, 5997; VIII, 3100, 
3101).


[[Page 363]]



632. Speaker pro tempore.

  8.  (a) The Speaker may appoint a 
Member to perform the duties of the Chair. Except as specified in 
paragraph (b), such an appointment may not extend beyond three 
legislative days.


  (b)(1) In the case of illness, the Speaker may appoint a Member to 
perform the duties of the Chair for a period not exceeding 10 days, 
subject to the approval of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has 
omitted to make such an appointment, then the House shall elect a 
Speaker pro tempore to act during the absence of the Speaker.

  (2) With the approval of the House, the Speaker may appoint a Member 
to act as Speaker pro tempore only to sign enrolled bills and joint 
resolutions for a specified period of time.

  (3)(A) In the case of a vacancy in the Office of Speaker, the next 
Member on the list described in subdivision (B) shall act as Speaker pro 
tempore until the election of a Speaker or a Speaker pro tempore. 
Pending such election the Member acting as Speaker pro tempore may 
exercise such authorities of the Office of Speaker as may be necessary 
and appropriate to that end.

  (B) As soon as practicable after the election of the Speaker and 
whenever appropriate thereafter, the Speaker shall deliver to the Clerk 
a list of Members in the order in which each shall act as Speaker pro 
tempore under subdivision (A).


  (C) For purposes of subdivision (A), a vacancy in the Office of 
Speaker may exist by reason of the physical inability of the Speaker to 
discharge the duties of the office.


[[Page 364]]

H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7). Gender-based references were eliminated 
in the 111th Congress (sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7). Before 
the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, clause 8 (formerly 
clause 7) and clause 9 occupied a single clause (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 
1999, p. 47). The Speaker delivers to the Clerk the list required under 
paragraph (b)(3)(B) and announces such delivery to the House (e.g., Mar. 
13, 2003, p. 6118; Jan. 20, 2005, p. 266).
  Paragraph (a) was adopted in 1811 and limited to three legislative 
days in 1920 (VI, 263). Paragraph (b)(1) was adopted in 1876 (II, 1377). 
Paragraph (b)(2) was adopted in the 99th Congress (H. Res. 7, Jan. 3, 
1985, p. 393). Paragraph (b)(3) was adopted in the 108th Congress (sec. 
2(a),



Sec. 634. Election, oath, and designation of Speaker pro 
tempore.

  The  right of the House to elect a Speaker pro tempore in the 
absence of the Speaker was exercised before the rule was adopted (II, 
1405), although the House sometimes preferred to adjourn (I, 179). An 
elected Speaker pro tempore in the earlier practice was not sworn (I, 
229; II, 1386); but the Senate and sometimes the President were notified 
of such election (II, 1386-1389, 1405-1412; VI, 275). On August 31, 1961 
(p. 17765), the House adopted House Resolution 445, electing Hon. John 
W. McCormack as Speaker pro tempore in the absence and terminal illness 
of Speaker Rayburn. The resolution provided that the Clerk notify the 
President and the Senate. The chair of the Democratic Caucus then 
administered the oath. The Speaker has appointed a Speaker pro tempore 
to perform the duties of the Chair for a fourth consecutive day on 
account of illness (Speaker Hastert, Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, 
Sec. 10.3). Elected Speakers pro tempore have signed enrolled bills, 
appointed select committees, administered the oath of office to a 
Member-elect (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 2, Sec. 3.12), etc., functions 
not exercised by a Speaker pro tempore designated under paragraph (a) of 
this clause (II, 1399, 1400, 1404; VI, 274, 277; Sept. 21, 1961, p. 
20572; Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 11.3). The House may permit the 
Speaker to make appointments beyond the limit in paragraph (a) (e.g., 
Dec. 16, 2009, pp. 32039, 32040). The House may agree by unanimous 
consent to the Speaker's appointment under this clause of Members in the 
alternative to act as Speakers pro tempore to sign enrollments through a 
date certain (e.g., Aug. 6, 1998, p. 19128) or for an entire Congress 
(e.g., Jan. 6, 2009, p. 25).



[[Page 365]]

Jan. 31, 1951, p. 779), but rarely otherwise (II, 1382, 1390; III, 2596; 
VI, 264).

Other responsibilities
  A call of the House may take place with a Speaker pro tempore in the 
chair (IV, 2989), and the Speaker pro tempore may issue a warrant for 
the arrest of absent Members under a call of the House (VI, 688). When 
the Speaker is not present at the opening of a session, including 
morning-hour debate, the Speaker designates a Speaker pro tempore in 
writing (II, 1378, 1401); but does not usually announce the Members 
called to the chair temporarily during the day's sitting (II, 1379, 
1400). The presence of the Speaker either at the opening of morning-hour 
debate or at the opening of the regular session on a day satisfies the 
requirement that the Speaker be present to convene the House at least 
every fourth day. A Speaker pro tempore elected under clause 8 of rule I 
may in turn designate another Member to act as Speaker pro tempore on a 
day certain (II, 1384; VI, 275; Precedents (Wickham), ch. 6, Sec. 12.3). 
Members of the minority have been called to the chair on occasions of 
ceremony (II, 1383; VI, 270;




635. Drug testing in the House.

  9.  The Speaker, in 
consultation with the Minority Leader, shall develop through an 
appropriate entity of the House a system for drug testing in the House. 
The system may provide for the testing of a Member, Delegate, Resident 
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, and otherwise shall be 
comparable in scope to the system for drug testing in the executive 
branch pursuant to Executive Order 12564 (Sept. 15, 1986). The expenses 
of the system may be paid from applicable accounts of the House for 
official expenses.



  This clause was added in the 105th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, 
p. 121). Clerical and stylistic changes to this clause were effected 
when the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress (H. Res. 5, 
Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). This clause was redesignated from clause 13 to 
clause 9 in the 108th Congress (sec. 2(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 
7).


Designation of travel


Sec. 635a. Former term limit.

  Clause 9  formerly was occupied 
by a prohibition against the Speaker serving for more than four 
consecutive Congresses, which was added in the 104th Congress (sec. 
103(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 462) and repealed in the 108th 
Congress (sec. 2(b), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7). Before the House 
recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, the former term-limit rule 
and current clause 8 occupied a single clause (formerly clause 7) (H. 
Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).



[[Page 366]]

penses for such travel may be paid from applicable accounts of the House 
described in clause 1(k)(1) of rule X on vouchers approved and signed 
solely by the Speaker.



636. Travel authority.

  10.  The Speaker may designate a 
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the 
House to travel on the business of the House within or without the 
United States, whether the House is meeting, has recessed, or has 
adjourned. Ex



Committee appointment
  This clause was adopted in the 94th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 14, 
1975, p. 20). In the 105th Congress this clause was amended to update 
archaic references to the ``contingent fund'' (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, 
p. 121). In the 106th, 109th, and 112th Congresses, clerical corrections 
were effected with respect to the ``applicable accounts of the House'' 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47; sec. 2(a), H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 
42; sec. 2(e)(8), H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 2011, p. 80). Before the House 
recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this clause and the 
provision now found in clause 10 of rule XXIV together occupied former 
clause 8 of this rule (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). See also 
Sec. Sec. 769, 770, infra, for discussion of the Speaker's authority 
under section 502(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754) 
to authorize use of counterpart funds for Members and employees for 
foreign travel, except where authorized by the chair of the committee 
for members and employees thereof.


[[Page 367]]

of the bill or resolution passed or adopted by the House.



637. Select and conference committees.

  11. The  Speaker 
shall appoint all select, joint, and conference committees ordered by 
the House. At any time after an original appointment, the Speaker may 
remove Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from, or appoint 
additional Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner to, a select 
or conference committee. In appointing Members, Delegates, or the 
Resident Commissioner to conference committees, the Speaker shall 
appoint no less than a majority who generally supported the House 
position as determined by the Speaker, shall name those who are 
primarily responsible for the legislation, and shall, to the fullest 
extent feasible, include the principal proponents of the major 
provisions


  The provision of this clause relating to select committees was adopted 
in 1880, and the provision relating to conference committees was first 
adopted in 1890, although the practice of leaving the appointment of 
conference committees to the Speaker had existed from the earliest years 
of the House's history (IV, 4470; VIII, 2192). The provision authorizing 
the Speaker to add or remove select committee members or conferees after 
the initial appointment was added in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 
5, 1993, p. 49). The provision requiring the Speaker to appoint a 
majority of Members who generally supported the House position became 
effective on January 3, 1975 (H. Res. 988, 93d Cong., Oct. 8, 1974, p. 
34470). The provision requiring the Speaker to appoint Members primarily 
responsible for the legislation was added in the 95th Congress (H. Res. 
5, Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-70). Before the House recodified its rules in 
the 106th Congress, this provision was found in former clause 6(f) of 
rule X (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

  Before 1880 the House could take from the Speaker the appointment of a 
select committee (IV, 4448, 4470; VIII, 2192) and on several occasions 
did so (IV, 4471-4476). In the earlier practice of the House, the Member 
moving a select committee was appointed its chair (II, 1275; III, 2342; 
IV, 4514-4516). However, in modern practice, except for matters of 
ceremony, the inconvenience and even impropriety of the usage has caused 
it often to be disregarded (IV, 4517-4523, 4671). The Speaker has 
removed Members from a select committee (e.g., Sept. 8, 2004, pp. 17754, 
17755).

  It is within the discretion of the Chair whom to appoint as conferees 
(June 24, 1932, p. 13876; July 8, 1947, p. 8469), and such discretion is 
not subject to challenge on a point of order even though clause 11 
requires the Speaker to appoint as conferees Members who are primarily 
responsible for the legislation (Speaker O'Neill, Oct. 12, 1977, p. 
33434). A motion to instruct the Speaker as to the number and 
composition of a conference committee on the part of the House is not in 
order (VIII, 2193, 3221), and a motion to instruct conferees does not 
necessarily form the basis for the Speaker's determination under this 
clause as to which Members support the legislation (May 9, 1990, p. 
9830).


[[Page 368]]

20132). The Speaker has appointed as sole conferees on a nongermane 
portion of a Senate bill or amendment only members from the committee 
having jurisdiction over the subject matter thereof (Speaker O'Neill, 
Aug. 27, 1980, p. 23548; July 24, 1986, p. 17644), and also members from 
such committees as additional rather than exclusive conferees on other 
nongermane portions of the Senate bill (July 24, 1986, p. 17644). Where 
a comprehensive matter is committed to conference, the Speaker may 
appoint separate groups of conferees from several committees for 
concurrent or exclusive consideration of provisions within their 
respective jurisdictions (Feb. 7, 1990, p. 1522; May 9, 1990, p. 9830). 
In the 102d Congress the Speaker reiterated the announced policy of 
simplifying conference appointments by noting on the occasion of a 
relatively complex appointment that, inasmuch as conference committees 
are select committees that dissolve when their report is acted upon, 
conference appointments should not be construed as jurisdictional 
precedent (Speaker Foley, June 3, 1992, p. 13288).
  The Speaker may appoint conferees from committees: (1) that have not 
reported a measure; (2) that have jurisdiction over provisions of a non-
germane Senate amendment to a House amendment to a Senate bill 
originally narrower in scope (Speaker O'Neill, Nov. 28, 1979, p. 33904); 
(3) that have jurisdiction over provisions of an original Senate bill 
where the House amendment was narrower in scope (Speaker O'Neill, July 
28, 1980, p. 19875; July 11, 1985, p. 18545). The Speaker may also 
appoint one who, although not a member of the committee of jurisdiction, 
is a principal proponent of the measure (Speaker Gingrich, Feb. 1, 1995, 
p. 3258) or a principal proponent of an adopted floor amendment (June 
21, 1977, p.

  Pursuant to this clause the Speaker may by the terms of the 
appointment empower a group of exclusive conferees to report in total 
disagreement (June 10, 1988, p. 14077; Sept. 20, 1989, p. 20955). The 
Speaker may modify an appointment by removal (e.g., Mar. 10, 1998, p. 
3049), addition (e.g., Nov. 14, 2005, p. 25816), or substitution of one 
conferee for another (Dec. 16, 2005, p. 29212; Oct. 6, 2009, p. 23628; 
Nov. 14, 2013, p. 17073; Oct. 19, 2017, p. _), or by expansion of the 
specification of provisions for which a conferee is appointed (Oct. 3, 
2002, p. 19011; Nov. 14, 2005, p. 25816). The Speaker may fill a vacancy 
on a conference committee by appointment but may not accept a 
resignation from a conference committee (as contrasted with the 
authority to remove) absent an order of the House (Nov. 4, 1987, p. 
30808). The Speaker may choose to appoint minority conferees on the 
recommendation of the Minority Leader (Speaker Boehner, Precedents 
(Wickham), ch. 3, Sec. 6.11; Dec. 23, 2011, p. 21485).


Recess and Convening Authorities
  For a further discussion of the Speaker's authority to appoint 
conferees, see Sec. 536, supra. For the Speaker's authority to appoint 
Delegates to select, joint, and conference committees, see clause 3(b) 
of rule III (Sec. 676, infra).




638. Short recess authority.

  12.  (a) To suspend the 
business of the House for a short time when no question is pending 
before the House, the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call 
of the Chair.



[[Page 369]]

withdrawn recognition for a special-order speech (Nov. 4, 2009, p. 
26795), the Speaker may declare a recess for a short time under this 
paragraph (there being no question then pending before the House). A 
Member's mere revelation that the Member seeks to offer a motion to 
adjourn does not suffice to make that motion ``pending,'' and thus the 
Chair remains able to declare a short recess under this paragraph (Oct. 
28, 1997, p. 23524; June 25, 2003, p. 16241; July 13, 2009, p. 17493).

  This paragraph was added as clause 12 of rule I in the 103d Congress 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49). It was redesignated as paragraph (a) 
in the 108th Congress (sec. 2(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7). Having 
postponed proceedings on a pending question (Apr. 30, 1998, p. 7381) or 
having



Sec. 639. Emergency recess and reconvening 
authority.

  (b)(1)  To suspend the business of the House when notified of an 
imminent threat to its safety, the Speaker may declare an emergency 
recess subject to the call of the Chair.


  (2) To suspend the business of the Committee of the Whole House on the 
state of the Union when notified of an imminent threat to its safety, 
the chair of the Committee of the Whole may declare an emergency recess 
subject to the call of the Chair.

  (c) During any recess or adjournment of not more than three days, if 
the Speaker is notified by the Sergeant-at-Arms of an imminent 
impairment of the place of reconvening at the time previously appointed, 
then the Speaker may, in consultation with the Minority Leader--

      (1) postpone the time for reconvening within the limits of clause 
4, section 5, article I of the Constitution and notify Members, 
Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner accordingly; or


[[Page 370]]

      (2) reconvene the House before the time previously appointed 
solely to declare the House in recess within the limits of clause 4, 
section 5, article I of the Constitution and notify Members, Delegates, 
and the Resident Commissioner accordingly.

  (d) The Speaker may convene the House in a place at the seat of 
government other than the Hall of the House if, in the opinion of the 
Speaker, the public interest shall warrant it.

  (e) During any recess or adjournment of not more than three days, if 
in the opinion of the Speaker the public interest so warrants, then the 
Speaker, after consultation with the Minority Leader, may reconvene the 
House at a time other than that previously appointed, within the limits 
of clause 4, section 5, article I of the Constitution, and notify 
Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner accordingly.


  (f) The Speaker may name a designee for purposes of paragraphs (c), 
(d), and (e).


[[Page 371]]

3, 2018, p. _). The House previously provided the public interest 
reconvening authority now in paragraph (e) by standing order (see 
Sec. 83a, supra, discussing also similar authority in the Senate). The 
Speaker executes by letter the designation under paragraph (f) (e.g., 
Jan. 6, 2015, p. 63).



  Paragraphs (b)-(d) were added in the 108th Congress (sec. 2(c), H. 
Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7) and the application of paragraph (b) to the 
Committee of the Whole was clarified in the 110th Congress (sec. 505(a), 
H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 2007, p. 19 (adopted Jan. 5, 2007)). Gender-based 
references were eliminated in the 111th Congress (sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5, 
Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7). Paragraphs (e) and (f) were added in the 114th 
Congress (sec. 2(d), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2015, p. 35). A clarifying 
change to paragraph (d) was effected in the 115th Congress (sec. 2(f), 
H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2017, p. _). Notification requirements under this 
clause were applied to Delegates and the Resident Commissioner in the 
116th Congress (sec. 102(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _). An 
emergency recess under paragraph (b) has been declared by the Speaker 
pro tempore (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 1.10 (drill); May 11, 
2005, p. 9163; Oct. 3, 2013, p. 15082; Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, 
Sec. 11.6; Jan. 6, 2021, p. _; Jan. 6, 2021, p. _) and by the chair of 
the Committee of the Whole (June 29, 2005, p. 14835). For the Speaker's 
inherent authority to declare a recess under clause 2 of rule I, see 
Sec. 622, supra. The Speaker has dispensed with morning-hour debate 
(Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, Sec. 11.18; see Sec. 951, infra), 
postponed the time for reconvening (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, 
Sec. 11.16; Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, Sec. 11.17), or reconvened the 
House before the time previously appointed (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, 
Sec. 11.14; Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, Sec. 11.15; Mar. 13, 2017, p. 
_) under paragraph (c) upon notification by the Sergeant-at-Arms of an 
imminent impairment to reconvening. The Speaker has reconvened the House 
before the time previously appointed under paragraph (e) upon a 
determination that doing so was in the public interest (Dec.