[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 118th Congress]
[118th Congress]
[House Document 117-161]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[Pages 210-211]
[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.



  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.



[[Page 211]]

  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.



  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.