    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 119th Congress]
    [119th Congress]
    [House Document 118-187]
    [Rules of the House of Representatives]
    [Pages 870-901]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                     Rule XX

                             voting and quorum calls

    Sec. 1012. Voting viva voce, by division, by electronic
    device.

      1. (a)  The House shall divide after the Speaker has put a question to
    a vote by voice as provided in clause 6 of rule I if the Speaker is in
    doubt or division is demanded. Those in favor of the question shall
    first rise or otherwise indicate from their seats and be counted, and
    then those opposed.

    [[Page 871]]

    paragraph shall be considered a vote by the yeas and nays.

      (b) If a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner requests a
    recorded vote, and that request is supported by at least one-fifth of a
    quorum, the vote shall be taken by electronic device unless the Speaker
    invokes another procedure for recording votes provided in this rule. A
    recorded vote taken in the House under this

      This provision (formerly clause 5(a) of rule I) was adopted in 1789
    and its present form reflects the revisions and amendments of 1860, 1880
    (II, 1311), 1972 (H. Res. 1123, Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-08), 1993 (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49), 1997 (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, p. 121),
    and 2017 (sec. 2(e), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2017, p. 37). From January 22,
    1971 (when H. Res. 5 of the 92d Congress was adopted incorporating
    provisions in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 84 Stat.
    1140), until October 13, 1972, this rule provided a two-step procedure
    for ordering ``tellers with clerks'' before installation of the
    electronic voting system, and for the first time permitted Members to be
    recorded on votes in the Committee of the Whole. The last two sentences
    of this paragraph permitting a single-step ``recorded vote'' and voting
    by means of electronic device installed in the Chamber in 1972, were
    contained in a House resolution adopted on October 13, 1972, and were
    made effective by adoption of the rules of the 93d Congress (H. Res. 6,
    Jan. 3, 1973, p. 26). The general provision for demanding a vote by
    tellers was repealed in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p.
    49). The provision providing that a recorded vote taken pursuant thereto
    shall be considered a vote by the yeas and nays was added in the 105th
    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, p. 121). Before the House recodified
    its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in former
    clause 5(a) of rule I (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

      One of the suppositions on which parliamentary law is founded is that
    the Speaker will not betray the duty to make an honest count on a
    division (V, 6002) and the integrity of the Chair in counting a vote
    should not be questioned in the House (VIII, 3115; July 11, 1985, p.
    18550). A vote by division takes no cognizance of Members present but
    not voting, and consequently the number of votes counted by division has
    no tendency to establish a lack of a quorum (June 29, 1988, p. 16504).
    Only one demand for a vote by division on a pending question is in order
    (July 26, 1984, p. 21259; June 29, 1994, p. 15206). However, where a
    division vote is demanded on a proposition in the House and the vote
    thereon is then postponed pursuant to clause 8, a division may again be
    demanded when the question is put de novo on the proposition as
    unfinished business (since a demand for a division may be made by any
    Member) (Mar. 18, 1980, p. 5739).

      In a full House (total membership of 435), a recorded vote is ordered
    by one-fifth of a quorum (44), but in the Committee of the Whole a
    recorded vote is ordered by 25 (clause 6(e) of rule XVIII), rather than
    20 in both cases as in prior practice (V, 5986; Dec. 20, 1974, p.
    41793). The Chair's count of those demanding a recorded vote is not
    appealable (June 24, 1976, p. 20390).

    [[Page 872]]

    of a quorum is disclosed immediately following the refusal to order a
    recorded vote (June 6, 1979, p. 13648; Oct. 25, 1983, p. 29227).
    However, although a request for a recorded vote once denied may not be
    renewed, the request remains pending where the Chair interrupts the
    count of Members supporting the request in order to count for a quorum
    pursuant to a point of order that a quorum is not present (Aug. 5, 1982,
    pp. 19658, 19659; July 22, 2003, p. 18993). A recorded vote may be had
    in the House on a separate vote on an amendment adopted in the Committee
    of the Whole on which a recorded vote therein had been refused (May 13,
    1998, p. 9134). A demand for the yeas and nays if refused by the House
    may not be renewed, even when the question is put de novo as unfinished
    business (Deschler-Brown, ch. 30, Sec. 55.5).
      Only one request for a recorded vote on a pending question is in order
    (Jan. 21, 1976, p. 508). The request may not be renewed where the
    absence

      A demand for a record vote cannot interrupt a vote by division that is
    in progress (June 10, 1975, p. 18048). Where both a division vote and a
    recorded vote are requested, the Chair will count for a recorded vote
    (July 22, 2003, p. 18993). A parliamentary inquiry, or remarks uttered
    without recognition, immediately following the Chair's announcement of a
    voice vote on an amendment is not such intervening business as to
    prevent a demand for a recorded vote thereon where the Chair has not
    announced the final disposition of the amendment (May 23, 1984, p.
    13928; July 26, 1984, p. 21249; June 10, 1998, p. 11856). A demand for a
    recorded vote may be untimely even if the body has not moved on to other
    business (June 26, 2007, p. 7148; July 23, 2014, p. 12755). A Member
    requesting a recorded vote (or declining to make such request) should
    not preface such action with debate (July 20, 2017, p. 11343).

      The ordering of a recorded vote may be vacated by unanimous consent
    (May 28, 2010, pp. 9947, 9948). 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 pursuant to this clause (sec. 3(a), H. Res. 965, May 15,
    2020, p. _; sec. 3(s), H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).

    Sec. 1013. Former ordering of tellers and taking of the
    vote.

      For  precedents related to the former right to demand tellers,
    ordering of tellers, and taking of the vote, see Sec. Sec. 1012 and 1013
    of the House Rules and Manual for the 115th Congress (H. Doc. 114-192).

      (c) In case of a tie vote, a question shall be lost.

    [[Page 873]]

      This provision was adopted in 1789. Before the House recodified its
    rules in the 106th Congress, it was found in former clause 6 of rule I
    (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

    Sec. 1014. Use of electronic equipment in recording
    roll calls.

      2. (a)  Unless the Speaker directs otherwise, the Clerk shall
    conduct a record vote or quorum call by electronic device. In such a
    case the Clerk shall enter on the Journal and publish in the
    Congressional Record, in alphabetical order in each category, the names
    of Members recorded as voting in the affirmative, the names of Members
    recorded as voting in the negative, and the names of Members answering
    present as if they had been called in the manner provided in clause 3.
    Except as otherwise permitted under clause 8 or 9 of this rule or under
    clause 6 of rule XVIII, the minimum time for a record vote or quorum
    call by electronic device shall be 15 minutes.

      The permissive use of an electronic voting system was incorporated in
    the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (sec. 121; 84 Stat. 1140) and
    was made a part of the standing rules in the 92d Congress (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 22, 1971, p. 144). The clause in its essential form was adopted the
    next year (formerly clause 5(a) of rule XV) (H. Res. 1123, Oct. 13,
    1972, p. 36012). A technical correction to paragraph (a) was effected in
    the 108th Congress (sec. 2(u), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7). The
    electronic system was first utilized in the House on January 23, 1973
    (p. 1793). Under paragraph (a), a record vote is conducted by electronic
    device unless the Speaker directs otherwise (Mar. 21, 2010, p. 4175, p.
    4444; Oct. 11, 2013, p. 15715).

      The Speaker inserted in the Record a detailed statement describing
    procedures to be followed during votes and quorum calls by electronic
    device and by the backup procedures therefor (Jan. 15, 1973, pp. 1054-
    57). The Speaker may direct that a call of the House be conducted by an
    alphabetical call of the roll by the Clerk in lieu of utilizing the
    electronic voting device (Mar. 7, 1973, p. 6699), and pursuant to this
    clause and clause 6 (formerly clause 4 of rule XV) the Speaker may
    direct the Clerk to call the roll, in lieu of taking the vote by
    electronic device, where a quorum fails to vote on any question and
    objection is made for that reason (May 16, 1973, p. 15850).

    [[Page 874]]

      A request that the voting display be turned on during debate is not in
    order (Oct. 12, 1998, p. 25770).

      On a call of the House, or a vote, conducted by electronic device,
    Members are permitted a minimum of 15 minutes to respond, but it is
    within the discretion of the Chair, following the expiration of 15
    minutes, to allow additional time for Members to record their presence,
    or vote, before announcing the result (June 6, 1973, p. 18403; Oct. 9,
    1997, p. 22016; Sept. 9, 2003, p. 21558; Mar. 30, 2004, pp. 5577, 5578;
    July 8, 2004, pp. 14781-83; July 9, 2004, p. 14972). When an emergency
    recess under clause 12(b) of rule I occurred during an electronic vote,
    the Chair extended the period of time in which to cast a vote by 15
    additional minutes (May 11, 2005, p. 9164; June 29, 2005, p. 14835). In
    order to permit Members to vote in smaller groups and maintain public
    health protocols during an ongoing public health emergency, the Chair
    refrained from announcing the 15-minute minimum voting time, and the
    time for each vote conducted by electronic device was significantly
    extended (e.g., Apr. 23, 2020, p. _). The Speaker subsequently announced
    the continued adherence to this voting practice during the pendency of
    the public health emergency (Speaker Pelosi, Nov. 18, 2020, p. _). A
    resolution alleging intentional misuse of House practices and customs in
    holding a vote open for approximately three hours for the sole purpose
    of circumventing the will of the House, and directing the Speaker to
    take such steps as necessary to prevent further abuse, constitutes a
    question of the privileges of the House (Dec. 8, 2003, pp. 32099, 32100;
    Dec. 8, 2005, pp. 27811, 27812). Similarly, resolutions directing the
    Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (now Ethics) to review
    irregularities in the conduct of a vote in the House (Aug. 3, 2007, p.
    22746) or alleging irregularities in the conduct of a vote, directing
    House officers to preserve all records relating thereto, and
    establishing a select committee of investigation thereof (Aug. 3, 2007,
    pp. 22768, 22769) constitute questions of the privileges of the House.

      Where the Chair attempted to prematurely close a vote by electronic
    device while voting cards submitted in the well were still being
    tabulated, he allowed such tabulation to conclude before announcing the
    outcome of the vote (Aug. 2, 2007, p. 22545). The ``scoreboard''
    components of the electronic voting system are for display only, such
    that when the former clock-setting on the board read ``final'' the Chair
    continued to allow Members in the well to cast votes or enter changes
    (Sept. 18, 2007, p. 24524).

    [[Page 875]]

    could be made electronically at any time during a vote reduced to five
    minutes under the rules (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-70) and
    the electronic voting system now is programmed to accommodate changes at
    the stations throughout any electronic vote of a minimum duration of
    less than 15 minutes. Once the Clerk has announced changes, the voting
    stations close and further changes must be made in the well (Nov. 17,
    2005, p. 26580), and where it was alleged that changes were made
    electronically in the Committee of the Whole on an earlier two-minute
    vote, the Speaker pro tempore opined that the chair of the Committee of
    the Whole may not yet have asked for changes (a sign to the body that
    the vote was nearing closure) at the time the votes were changed (May
    19, 2016, p. 6772).
      At the end of a 15-minute vote, after the electronic voting stations
    are closed but before the Speaker's announcement of the result, a Member
    may cast an initial vote or change a vote by ballot card in the well
    (Speaker Albert, Sept. 23, 1975, p. 29850; Speaker Wright, Oct. 29,
    1987, p. 30239). In 1975 Speaker Albert announced that changes could no
    longer be made at the electronic stations but would have to be made by
    ballot card in the well (Speaker Albert, Sept. 17, 1975, p. 28903). In
    1976 Speaker Albert announced that changes could be made electronically
    during the first 10 minutes of a 15-minute voting period, but changes
    during the last 5 minutes would have to be made by ballot card in the
    well (Speaker Albert, Mar. 22, 1976, p. 7394). In 1977 Speaker O'Neill
    announced that changes

      The Speaker declines to entertain unanimous-consent requests to
    correct the Journal and Record on votes taken by electronic device (Apr.
    18, 1973, p. 13081; May 10, 1973, p. 15282; June 17, 1986, p. 14038),
    unless the request is to delete a vote that was not actually cast
    (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 14.3). A recorded vote or quorum call
    may not be reopened once the Chair has announced the result (June 15,
    2000, p. 11098). However, the Speaker may announce a change in the
    result of a vote taken by electronic device where required to correct an
    error in identifying a signature on a voting card submitted in the well
    (Speaker O'Neill, June 11, 1981) or as a result of an untabulated voting
    card (Sept. 25, 2008, p. 21960).

    [[Page 876]]

    Jan. 3, 2025, p. _); however, the Chair will not close a vote while a
    Member is in the well attempting to vote (Feb. 10, 1995, p. 4385; June
    22, 1995, p. 16814). In recent Congresses, the Speaker reiterated the
    need for Members to come to the floor in a timely manner to vote
    (Speaker Boehner, Feb. 26, 2013, p. 1680; Speaker Boehner, Mar. 25,
    2014, p. 4783; Speaker Boehner, Feb. 25, 2015, p. 2554) but that the
    Chair would endeavor to preserve the entitlement to vote for a Member
    attempting to be recorded while in the well (Speaker Ryan, Jan. 7, 2016,
    p. 161; Speaker Ryan, June 23, 2017, p. 9794; Speaker Pelosi, Mar. 10,
    2020, p. _).
      Because the Chair has the discretion to close the vote and to announce
    the result at any time after 15 minutes have elapsed, those precedents
    guaranteeing Members in the Chamber the right to have their votes
    recorded even if the Chair has announced the result (e.g., V, 6064,
    6065; VIII, 2143), which predate the use of an electronic voting system,
    do not require the Chair to hold open indefinitely a vote taken by
    electronic device (Mar. 14, 1978, p. 6838). In the 103d Congress the
    Speaker inserted in the Record his announcement that, in order to
    expedite the conduct of votes by electronic device, the Cloakrooms were
    directed not to forward to the Chair individual requests to hold a vote
    open (Speaker Foley, Jan. 6, 1993, p. 106). Starting in the 104th
    Congress, the Speaker has announced that each occupant of the Chair
    would have the Speaker's full support in striving to close each
    electronic vote at the earliest opportunity and that Members should not
    rely on signals relayed from outside the Chamber to assume that votes
    will be held open until they arrive (Speaker Gingrich, Jan. 4, 1995, p.
    552; June 10, 1998, p. 11849; Speaker Hastert, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 249;
    Speaker Hastert, Jan. 3, 2001, p. 41; Speaker Hastert, Jan. 7, 2003, p.
    24; Jan. 8, 2003, p. 172; Speaker Hastert, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 70; Speaker
    Pelosi, Jan. 5, 2007, p. 273; Speaker Pelosi, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 24;
    Speaker Boehner, Jan. 5, 2011, p. 80; Speaker Boehner, Jan. 3, 2013, p.
    46; Speaker Boehner, Jan. 6, 2015, p. 62; Speaker Ryan, Jan. 3, 2017, p.
    65; Speaker Pelosi, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _; Speaker Pelosi, Jan. 4, 2021, p.
    _; Speaker McCarthy, Jan. 9, 2023, p. _; Speaker Johnson,

      Because this clause is incorporated by reference into clause 6 of rule
    XVIII (formerly clause 2 of rule XXIII), the chair of the Committee of
    the Whole need not convert to a regular quorum call precisely at the
    expiration of 15 minutes if 100 Members have not appeared on a notice
    quorum call, but may continue to exercise discretion under that clause
    at any time during the conduct of the call (July 17, 1974, p. 23673).

      A provision regarding holding a vote open for the sole purpose of
    reversing its outcome was added in the 110th Congress (sec. 302, H. Res.
    6, Jan. 4, 2007, p. 19 (adopted Jan. 5, 2007)). A select committee to
    investigate certain voting irregularities recommended its repeal (H.
    Rept. 110-885), and the 111th Congress did so (sec. 2(h), H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7). That provision did not establish a point of order
    (Apr. 15, 2008, p. 6045; May 8, 2008, pp. 8147, 8148) but a vote could
    have been subject to collateral challenge as a question of the
    privileges of the House (Mar. 12, 2008, p. 3856; Apr. 15, 2008, p.
    6054).

    Sec. 1014a. Procedure when electronic voting system
    inoperable.

      (b) When  the electronic voting system is inoperable or is not used,
    the Speaker or Chair may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or
    quorum call as provided in clause 3 or 4.

      When the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this
    provision was added as a cross reference to the backup procedures found
    in clauses 3 and 4(a) and to clarify the Chair's discretion to choose
    either backup procedure (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).

    [[Page 877]]

    tronic display panels or certain voting stations were temporarily
    inoperative, while urging Members to verify their votes (Sept. 19, 1985,
    p. 24245; Feb. 9, 1994, p. 1633; Feb. 10, 2000, p. 1021; Apr. 9, 2002,
    p. 4054; Sept. 19, 2002, p. 17237; Sept. 4, 2003, pp. 21151, 21152).
    Similarly, where the electronic voting system malfunctioned only
    temporarily, the Chair continued an electronic vote but advised Members
    to verify that they were recorded correctly (Mar. 25, 2004, p. 5262). On
    the other hand, the Chair vacated the results of an electronic vote and
    directed that the record vote be taken by call of the roll where there
    was a malfunction in the electronic display panel and the Chair could
    not obtain from the Clerk verification that the vote would be recorded
    with 100 percent accuracy (Oct. 6, 1999, p. 24198). On one occasion,
    when the electronic voting system became inoperative during a vote, the
    Chair announced that (1) the vote would be held open until all Members
    were recorded; (2) the Clerk would retrieve the names of Members already
    recorded from the electronic display board; (3) the Clerk would combine
    the names of Members voting electronically and those who signed tally
    cards to form a valid vote; and (4) the vote would remain open until
    Members had returned from a memorial service at the National Cathedral
    (Sept. 14, 2001, p. 17103).

    --  3. <> The
    Speaker may direct the Clerk to conduct a record vote or quorum call by
    call of the roll. In such a case the Clerk shall call the names of
    Members, alphabetically by surname. When two or more have the same
    surname, the name of the State (and, if necessary to distinguish among
    Members from the same State, the given names of the Members) shall be
    added. After the roll has been called once, the Clerk shall call the
    names of those not recorded, alphabetically by surname. Members
    appearing after the second call, but before the result is announced, may
    vote or announce a pair.

      In the event of a malfunction in the electronic voting system during a
    record vote, the Chair may vacate the results of the electronic vote and
    direct that the record vote be conducted by call of the roll under
    clause 3 of rule XX (May 4, 1988, pp. 9846, 9847; Oct. 6, 1999, p.
    24198) or may direct a new electronic vote with a new 15-minute voting
    period (July 13, 2004, p. 15214). The determination that the electronic
    voting system is functioning reliably is in the discretion of the Chair,
    who may base a judgment on certification by the Clerk (Oct. 6, 1999, p.
    24198). For example, the Speaker continued to use the electronic system,
    even though the elec

    [[Page 878]]

    clause 2 of rule VIII was deleted in the 106th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan.
    6, 1999, p. 47; see Sec. 1031, infra).
      The first form of this clause (formerly clause 1 of rule XV) was
    adopted in 1789, and amendments were added in 1870, 1880, 1890 (V,
    6046), 1969 (H. Res. 7, 91st Cong., Jan. 3, 1969, p. 35), and 1972 (H.
    Res. 1123, 92d Cong., Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-012). Before the House
    recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in
    former clause 1 of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). Although
    this clause permits the announcement of a ``live'' pair, the practice of
    general pairs found in former

      The names of Members who have not been sworn are not entered on the
    roll from which the yeas and nays are called for entry on the Journal
    (V, 6048; VI, 638; VIII, 3122).

      Commencing in 1879 the Clerk, in calling the roll, called Members by
    surname with prefix in lieu of calling full names (V, 6047), but since
    the 62d Congress that practice has been discontinued in the interest of
    brevity (VIII, 3121). The Speaker's name is not on the voting roll and
    is not ordinarily called (V, 5970). When voting, the Speaker's name is
    called at the close of the roll (V, 5965), such as when a resigning
    Speaker chooses to vote for a successor (Speaker Wright, June 6, 1989,
    p. 10800; Speaker Boehner, Oct. 29, 2015, p. 16823) or during a vote on
    a resolution declaring the Office of Speaker vacant (Speaker McCarthy,
    Oct. 3, 2023, p. _). In case of a tie that is revealed by a correction
    of the roll, the Speaker has voted after intervening business or even on
    another day (V, 5969, 6061-6063; VIII, 3075). Where the Speaker through
    an error of the Clerk in reporting the yeas and nays announces a result
    different from that actually had, the status of the question is governed
    by the vote as recorded and subsequent announcement by the Speaker of
    the changed result is authoritative, or the Speaker may entertain a
    motion for correction of the Journal in accordance with the vote as
    finally ascertained (VIII, 3162).

    [[Page 879]]

      Under this clause, as under clause 6, the roll is called twice, and
    those Members appearing after their names are called but before the
    announcement of the result may vote or announce a ``live'' pair. Under
    the former practice, before the amendment adopted on January 3, 1969, a
    Member who had failed to respond on either the first or second call of
    the roll could not be recorded before the announcement of the result (V,
    6066-6070; VIII, 3134-3150) unless the Member qualified by declaring
    that the Member had been within the Hall, listening, when the name
    should have been called and failed to hear it (V, 6071-6072; VIII, 3144-
    3150), and then only on the theory that the name may have been
    inadvertently omitted by the Clerk (VIII, 3137). Under the former
    practice in which the roll was called by the Clerk, either before
    announcement of the result (V, 6064) or after such announcement (VIII,
    3125), the Speaker could order the vote recapitulated (V, 6049, 6050;
    VIII, 3128). A Member may not change a vote on recapitulation if the
    result has been announced (VIII, 3124), but errors in the record of such
    votes may be corrected (VIII, 3125). A motion that a vote be
    recapitulated is not privileged (VIII, 3126). The Speaker has declined
    to order a recapitulation of a vote taken by electronic device (Speaker
    Albert, July 30, 1975, p. 25841). The decision to conduct a record vote
    by call of the roll is entirely within the discretion of the Speaker,
    who may refuse to speculate whether he would exercise such discretion on
    a future vote (Mar. 21, 2010, p. 4175).

    Sec. 1016. Bell system.

      The  legislative call system was
    designed to alert Members to certain occurrences on the floor of the
    House. The Speaker has directed that the bells and lights comprising the
    system be utilized as follows (Jan. 23, 1979, p. 701):

      Tellers--one ring and one light on left. Because the demand for teller
    votes was discontinued at the beginning of the 103d Congress, this
    signal is no longer utilized.

      Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic record vote taken either by
    electronic system or by use of tellers with ballot cards--two bells and
    two lights on left indicate a vote by which Members are recorded by
    name. Bells are repeated five minutes after the first ring. When by
    unanimous consent waiving the five-minute minimum set by clause 9
    (formerly clause 5(b)(3) of rule I) the House authorized the Speaker to
    put remaining postponed questions (Oct. 4, 1988, pp. 28126, 28148) or
    any question following another vote by electronic device (e.g., May 23,
    2006, p. 9274) to two-minute electronic votes, two bells were rung.

      Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic record electronic vote to
    be followed immediately by possible reduced-time vote under clause 9 of
    rule XX or clauses 6(f) or 6(g) of rule XVIII--two bells rung at
    beginning of first vote, followed by five bells, indicate that Chair
    will order five-minute votes if recorded vote, yeas and nays, or
    automatic vote is ordered immediately thereafter. Two bells repeated
    five minutes after first ring. Five bells on each subsequent electronic
    vote.

      Recorded vote in the Committee of the Whole to be followed immediately
    by possible two-minute vote under clauses 6(f) or 6(g) of rule XVIII--
    two bells rung at beginning of first vote, followed by two bells,
    indicate that Chair will order two-minute votes if recorded vote is
    ordered immediately thereafter. Two bells repeated five minutes after
    first ring. Two bells on each subsequent electronic vote.

      Recorded vote, yeas and nays, or automatic roll call by call of the
    roll--two bells, followed by a brief pause, then two bells indicate such
    a vote taken by a call of the roll in the House. The bells are repeated
    when the Clerk reaches the ``R's'' in the first call of the roll.

      Regular quorum call--three bells and three lights on left indicate a
    quorum call either in the House or in the Committee of the Whole by
    electronic system or by clerks. The bells are repeated five minutes
    after the first ring. Where quorum call is by call of the roll, three
    bells followed by a brief pause, then three more bells, with the process
    repeated when the Clerk reaches the ``R's'' in the first call of the
    roll, are used.

    [[Page 880]]

      Regular quorum call in the Committee of the Whole, which may be
    followed immediately by five-minute electronic recorded vote--three
    bells rung at beginning of quorum call, followed by five bells, indicate
    that Chair will order five-minute vote if recorded vote is ordered on
    pending question. Three bells repeated five minutes after first ring.
    Five bells for recorded vote on pending question if ordered.

      Notice or short quorum call in the Committee of the Whole--one long
    bell followed by three regular bells, and three lights on left, indicate
    that the Chair has exercised discretion under clause 6 of rule XVIII and
    will vacate proceedings when a quorum of the Committee appears. Bells
    are repeated every five minutes unless (a) the call is vacated by
    ringing of one long bell and extinguishing of three lights, or (b) the
    call is converted into a regular quorum call and three regular bells are
    rung.

      Adjournment--four bells and four lights on left.

      Any two-minute vote--two bells and two lights on left.

      Any five-minute vote--five bells and five lights on left.

      Recess of the House--six bells and six lights on left.

      Civil Defense Warning--twelve bells, sounded at two-second intervals,
    with six lights illuminated.

      The light on the far right--seven--indicates that the House is in
    session.

      Failure of the signal bells to announce a vote does not warrant
    repetition of the roll call (VIII, 3153-3155, 3157) nor does such a
    failure permit a Member to be recorded following the conclusion of the
    call (June 9, 1938, p. 8662).

    Sec. 1017. Changes and corrections of votes.

      Before  the
    result of a vote has been finally and conclusively pronounced by the
    Chair, but not thereafter, a Member may change a vote (V, 5931-5933,
    6093, 6094; VIII, 3070, 3123, 3124, 3160), and a Member who has answered
    ``present'' may change it to ``yea'' or ``nay'' (V, 6060). However, a
    vote given by a Member may not be withdrawn without leave of the House
    (V, 5930).

      When a vote actually cast fails to be recorded during a call of the
    roll (V, 6061-6063) the Member may, before the approval of the Journal,
    demand as a matter of right that correction be made (V, 5969; VIII,
    3143). However, statements of other Members as to alleged errors in a
    recorded vote must be very definite and positive to justify the Speaker
    in ordering a change of the roll (V, 6064, 6099). The Speaker declines
    to entertain requests to correct the Journal and Record on votes taken
    by electronic device, based upon the technical accuracy of the
    electronic system if properly utilized and upon the responsibility of
    each Member to correctly cast and verify his or her vote (Apr. 18, 1973,
    p. 13081; May 10, 1973, p. 15282). By unanimous consent the House may
    vacate proceedings on a recorded vote conducted in the Committee of the
    Whole and require a vote de novo where it is alleged that Members were
    improperly prevented from being recorded (June 22, 1995, p. 16815; see
    June 6, 2012, p. 8473, for similar order in the Committee of the Whole).

    [[Page 881]]

    report (V, 6443). However, it is interrupted for the reception of
    messages and by the arrival of the hour fixed for adjournment sine die
    (V, 6715-6718). A Member-elect may be sworn during a record vote (e.g.,
    Jan. 4, 2005, p. 46; Jan. 6, 2005, p. 242). Incidental questions arising
    during the roll call, such as the refusal of a Member to vote (V, 5946-
    5948), are considered after the completion of the call and the
    announcement of the vote (V, 5947). The rules do not preclude a Member
    from announcing after a recorded vote how the Member would have voted if
    present (Speaker Rayburn, June 27, 1957, p. 10521; contra VIII, 3151),
    but neither the rules nor practice permit a Member to announce after a
    recorded vote how absent colleagues would have voted if present (VI,
    200; Apr. 3, 1933, p. 1139; Apr. 28, 1933, p. 2587; May 20, 1933, p.
    3834; Mar. 16, 1934, pp. 4691, 4700; Apr. 14, 1937, pp. 3489, 3490; Apr.
    15, 1937, p. 3563).

    Sec. 1018. Interruptions of the roll call.

      Once  begun the
    roll call may not be interrupted even by a motion to adjourn (V, 6053;
    VIII, 3133), a parliamentary inquiry (VIII, 3132) except in the
    discretion of the Chair and if related to the call (Deschler-Brown, ch.
    31, Sec. Sec.  15.14, 15.15), a question of personal privilege (V, 6058,
    6059; VI, 554, 564), the arrival of the time fixed for another order of
    business (V, 6056) or for a recess (V, 6054, 6055; VIII, 3133), or the
    presentation of a conference

    Sec. 1019. Quorum call by clerks.

      4. (a)  The Speaker may
    direct a record vote or quorum call to be conducted by tellers. In such
    a case the tellers named by the Speaker shall record the names of the
    Members voting on each side of the question or record their presence, as
    the case may be, which the Clerk shall enter on the Journal and publish
    in the Congressional Record. Absentees shall be noted, but the doors may
    not be closed except when ordered by the Speaker. The minimum time for a
    record vote or quorum call by tellers shall be 15 minutes.

      This paragraph was adopted as part of the general revision of this
    rule (formerly rule XV) that was required by the implementation of the
    electronic voting system (H. Res. 1123, 92d Cong., Oct. 13, 1972, p.
    36012). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress,
    this provision was found in former clause 2(b) of rule XV (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). The Speaker has discretion to direct that the
    presence of Members be recorded by this procedure in lieu of using the
    electronic system, or the Chair may direct that a quorum call be taken
    by an alphabetical call of the roll (Mar. 7, 1973, p. 6699). The chair
    of the Committee of the Whole also may direct that a quorum call be
    conducted by depositing quorum tally cards with clerk tellers, rather
    than by electronic device or a call of the roll (July 13, 1983, p.
    18858). The last vote by tellers occurred on June 23, 1992, p. 15735).

    [[Page 882]]

    the Hall (Deschler, ch. 20, Sec. 6.3). This clause does not give the
    Speaker the authority to lock the doors during a recorded vote
    (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 4, Sec. 1.6). For a discussion of the count
    to determine a quorum, see House Practice, ch. 43, Sec. 5.

      Exercising authority under this paragraph, the Speaker ordered the
    doors to the Chamber closed and locked during a call of the House and
    instructed the Doorkeeper to enforce the rule and let no Members leave

    Sec. 1020. Count of those not voting to make a quorum of
    record on a roll call.

      (b)  On the demand of a Member, or at the suggestion
    of the Speaker, the names of Members sufficient to make a quorum in the
    Hall of the House who do not vote shall be noted by the Clerk, entered
    on the Journal, reported to the Speaker with the names of the Members
    voting, and be counted and announced in determining the presence of a
    quorum to do business.

      This clause was adopted in 1890 (IV, 2905), but it merely formalized a
    principle already established by a decision of the Chair (IV, 2895). It
    was much in use in the first years after its adoption (III, 2620; IV,
    2905-2907); but with the decline of obstruction in the House and the
    adoption of clause 6 (formerly clause 4 of rule XV) of this rule the
    necessity for its use has disappeared to a large extent. Before the
    House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was
    found in former clause 3 of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).
    The Speaker may direct the Clerk to note names of Members under this
    rule even on a vote for which a quorum is not necessary (VIII, 3152).
    For a discussion of the count to determine a quorum, see House Practice,
    ch. 43, Sec. 5.

    Sec. 1021. The call of the House.

      5. (a)  In the absence of a
    quorum, a majority comprising at least 15 Members, which may include the
    Speaker, may compel the attendance of absent Members.

    [[Page 883]]

    bers who voluntarily appear shall be admitted immediately to the Hall of
    the House and shall report their names to the Clerk to be entered on the
    Journal as present.

      (b) Subject to clause 7(b) a majority described in paragraph (a) may
    order the Sergeant-at-Arms to send officers appointed by the Sergeant-
    at-Arms to arrest those Members for whom no sufficient excuse is made
    and shall secure and retain their attendance. The House shall determine
    on what condition they shall be discharged. Unless the House otherwise
    directs, the Mem

      The essential portions of this provision were adopted in 1789 and
    1795, with minor amendments in 1888, 1890 (IV, 2982), and 1971 (H. Res.
    5, 92d Cong., Jan. 22, 1971, p. 144). Later in the 92d Congress several
    provisions of this rule, including this clause, were amended to reflect
    the implementation of the electronic voting system (H. Res. 1123, Oct.
    13, 1972, pp. 36005-12). The provisions relating to the call of the roll
    by the Clerk were deleted. Calls of the House are now taken by
    electronic device unless the Speaker orders the use of the alternative
    procedure in clause 2(b). Together with clause 7 (formerly clause
    6(e)(2) of rule XV) this provision was further amended in the 96th
    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7-16) to conform to the
    requirement in that provision that further proceedings under the call
    shall be dispensed with unless the Speaker chooses to recognize for a
    call of the House or a motion to compel attendance under this paragraph.
    This clause must be read in light of clause 7 (formerly clause 6(e) of
    rule XV), which prohibits the point of order that a quorum is not
    present unless the Speaker has put a question to a vote. A technical
    correction to paragraph (b) was effected in the 109th Congress (sec.
    2(l), H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 44). 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, this
    provision was found in former clause 2(a) of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6,
    1999, p. 47).

    Sec. 1022. Ordering and conducting the call.

      Under  this rule
    a call may not be ordered by less than 15, and without that number
    present the motion for a call is not entertained (IV, 2983). It must be
    ordered by majority vote, and a minority of 15 or more favoring a call
    on such vote is not sufficient (IV, 2984). A quorum not being present no
    motion is in order but for a call of the House or to adjourn (IV, 2950,
    2988; VI, 680), and at this stage the motion to adjourn has precedence
    over the motion for a call of the House (VIII, 2642).

      Although the following precedents predate the use of the electronic
    voting and recording system, they are retained in the Manual because of
    their general applicability with respect to calls of the House. A roll
    call under paragraph (a) may not be interrupted by a motion to dispense
    with further proceedings under the call (IV, 2992), and a recapitulation
    of the names of those who appear after their names have been called may
    not be demanded (IV, 2933). However, during proceedings under the call
    the roll may be ordered to be called again by those present (IV, 2991).

    [[Page 884]]

    for excuses, and motions to excuse are in order during this call (IV,
    2997), but neither the motion to excuse nor an incidental appeal are
    debatable (IV, 2999). After the roll has been called for excuses, and
    the House has ordered the arrest of those who are unexcused, a motion to
    excuse an absentee is in order when brought to the bar (IV, 3012).
      During a call less than a quorum may revoke leaves of absence (IV,
    3003, 3004) and excuse a Member from attendance (IV, 3000, 3001), but
    may not grant leaves of absence (IV, 3002). The roll is sometimes called

    Sec. 1023. Arrest of Members.

      An  order of arrest for absent
    Members may be made after a single calling of the roll (IV, 3015, 3016),
    and a warrant issued on direction of those present, such motion having
    precedence of a motion to dispense with proceedings under the call (IV,
    3036). The Sergeant-at-Arms is required to arrest Members wherever they
    may be found (IV, 3017), and the former leave for a committee to sit
    during sessions did not release its members from liability to arrest
    (IV, 3020). A motion to require the Sergeant-at-Arms to report progress
    in securing a quorum is in order during a call of the House (VI, 687). A
    Member who appears and answers is not subject to arrest (IV, 3019), and
    in a case in which a Member complained of wrongful arrest the House
    ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to investigate and amend the return of his
    warrant (IV, 3021). A Member once arrested having escaped it was held
    that he might not be brought back on the same warrant (IV, 3022). A
    privileged motion to compel the attendance of absent Members is in order
    after the Chair has announced that a quorum has not responded on a
    negative recorded vote on a motion to adjourn (Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30386).

      The former practice of presenting Members at the bar during a call of
    the House (IV, 3030-3035) is obsolete, and Members now report to the
    Clerk and are recorded without being formally excused unless brought in
    under compulsion (VI, 684). Those present on a call may prescribe a fine
    as a condition of discharge, and the House has by resolution revoked all
    leaves of absence and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to deduct from the
    salary of Members compensation for days absent without leave (VI, 30,
    198), but this penalty has been of rare occurrence (IV, 3013, 3014,
    3025). Having rejected a motion to adjourn, less than a quorum of the
    House rejected a motion directing the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest absent
    Members, rejected a second motion to adjourn, and then adopted a motion
    authorizing the Speaker to compel the attendance of absent Members (Nov.
    2, 1987, p. 30387).

      The motion to dispense with further proceedings under the call of the
    House is not in order when a motion to arrest absent Members is pending
    (IV, 3029, 3037); is not entertained until a quorum responds on the
    call, but may be agreed to by less than a quorum thereafter (IV, 3038,
    3040; VI, 689; Sept. 11, 1968, p. 26453; Dec. 22, 1970, p. 43311); and
    is neither debatable nor subject to amendment, thus the motion to lay it
    on the table is not in order (Aug. 27, 1962, p. 17653; Dec. 18, 1970, p.
    42504).

    [[Page 885]]

      Form of resolution for the arrest of Members absent without leave (VI,
    686).

    Sec. 1024. Motions during a call.

      During  the call, which in
    later practice has been invoked only in the absence of a quorum,
    incidental motions may be agreed to by less than a quorum (IV, 2994,
    3029; VI, 681), and under clause 7 (formerly clause 6(a)(4) of rule XV)
    a point of order of no quorum may not be made during the offering,
    consideration, and disposition of any motion incidental to a call of the
    House. This includes motions for the previous question (V, 5458); to
    reconsider and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table (V, 5607,
    5608); to adjourn, which is in order even in the midst of the call of
    the roll for excuses (IV, 2998) or while the House is dividing on a
    motion for a call of the House (VIII, 2644), and which takes precedence
    over a motion to dispense with further proceedings under the call (VIII,
    2643); and an appeal from a decision of the Chair (IV, 3010, 3037; VI,
    681). The yeas and nays may also be ordered (IV, 3010), but a question
    of privilege may not be raised unless connected immediately with the
    proceedings (III, 2545). Motions not strictly incidental to the call are
    not admitted, as for a recess (IV, 2995, 2996), to excuse a Member from
    voting even when otherwise in order (IV, 3007), to enforce the statute
    relating to deductions of pay of Members for absence (IV, 3011; VI,
    682), to construe a rule or make a new rule (IV, 3008), or to order a
    change of a Journal record (IV, 3009). An appeal also may not be
    entertained during a call of the yeas and nays (V, 6051). A motion for a
    call of the House is not debatable (VI, 683, 688). The motion to compel
    the attendance of absent Members, being neither debatable nor amendable,
    is not subject to a motion to lay on the table (Speaker Wright, Nov. 2,
    1987, p. 30389).

    Sec. 1024a. ``Provisional quorum.''

      (c)(1) If  the House
    should be without a quorum due to catastrophic circumstances, then--

          (A) until there appear in the House a sufficient number of
    Representatives to constitute a quorum among the whole number of the
    House, a quorum in the House shall be determined based upon the
    provisional number of the House; and

    [[Page 886]]

          (B) the provisional number of the House, as of the close of the
    call of the House described in subparagraph (3)(C), shall be the number
    of Representatives responding to that call of the House.

      (2) If a Representative counted in determining the provisional number
    of the House thereafter ceases to be a Representative, or if a
    Representative not counted in determining the provisional number of the
    House thereafter appears in the House, the provisional number of the
    House shall be adjusted accordingly.

      (3) For the purposes of subparagraph (1), the House shall be
    considered to be without a quorum due to catastrophic circumstances if,
    after a motion under paragraph (a) has been disposed of and without
    intervening adjournment, each of the following occurs in the stated
    sequence:

          (A) A call of the House (or a series of calls of the House) is
    closed after aggregating a period in excess of 72 hours (excluding time
    the House is in recess) without producing a quorum.

          (B) The Speaker--

              (i) with the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader (or their
    respective designees), receives from the Sergeant-at-Arms (or a
    designee) a catastrophic quorum failure report, as described in
    subparagraph (4);

              (ii) consults with the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader
    (or their respective designees) on the content of that report; and

              (iii) announces the content of that report to the House.

    [[Page 887]]

    ing time the House is in recess) without producing a quorum.
          (C) A further call of the House (or a series of calls of the
    House) is closed after aggregating a period in excess of 24 hours
    (exclud

      (4)(A) For purposes of subparagraph (3), a catastrophic quorum failure
    report is a report advising that the inability of the House to establish
    a quorum is attributable to catastrophic circumstances involving natural
    disaster, attack, contagion, or similar calamity rendering
    Representatives incapable of attending the proceedings of the House.

      (B) Such report shall specify the following:

          (i) The number of vacancies in the House and the names of former
    Representatives whose seats are vacant.

          (ii) The names of Representatives considered incapacitated.

          (iii) The names of Representatives not incapacitated but otherwise
    incapable of attending the proceedings of the House.

          (iv) The names of Representatives unaccounted for.

      (C) Such report shall be prepared on the basis of the most
    authoritative information available after consultation with the
    Attending Physician to the Congress and the Clerk (or their respective
    designees) and pertinent public health and law enforcement officials.

    [[Page 888]]

      (D) Such report shall be updated every legislative day for the
    duration of any proceedings under or in reliance on this paragraph. The
    Speaker shall make such updates available to the House.

      (5) An announcement by the Speaker under subparagraph (3)(B)(iii)
    shall not be subject to appeal.

      (6) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to a proposal to create a vacancy
    in the representation from any State in respect of a Representative not
    incapacitated but otherwise incapable of attending the proceedings of
    the House.

      (7) For purposes of this paragraph:

          (A) The term ``provisional number of the House'' means the number
    of Representatives upon which a quorum will be computed in the House
    until Representatives sufficient in number to constitute a quorum among
    the whole number of the House appear in the House.

          (B) The term ``whole number of the House'' means the number of
    Representatives chosen, sworn, and living whose membership in the House
    has not been terminated by resignation or by the action of the House.

      This paragraph was added in the 109th Congress (sec. 2(h), H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 4, 2005, p. 43). It was amended in the 111th Congress to correct a
    cross-reference and to eliminate a gender-based reference (secs. 2(l),
    2(m), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7) and in the 113th Congress to add
    designees to subparagraph (3)(B) (sec. 2(f), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2013, p.
    26). In extraordinary circumstances, section 8 of title 2, United States
    Code, prescribes special election rules to expedite the filling of
    vacancies in representation of the House.

    [[Page 889]]

    er may lay before the House such documentation from Federal, State, or
    local officials as the Speaker deems pertinent.

    Sec. 1024b. Accounting for vacancies.

      (d)  Upon the death,
    resignation, expulsion, disqualification, removal, or swearing of a
    Member, the whole number of the House shall be adjusted accordingly. The
    Speaker shall announce the adjustment to the House. Such an announcement
    shall not be subject to appeal. In the case of a death, the Speak

      This paragraph was added in the 108th Congress (sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7). In the 109th Congress it was redesignated from
    paragraph (c) to paragraph (d) and the Speaker's responsibility to
    announce an adjustment was extended to the swearing of a Member (sec.
    2(h), H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 43). A gender-based reference was
    eliminated in the 111th Congress (sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p.
    7).

    [[Page 890]]

    Sec. 1024c. Modifications during public health
    emergency.

        During the 116th Congress, the House adopted a series of
    temporary modifications to proceedings in the House and its committees
    in response to a global pandemic, to be effective for 45 calendar days
    (subject to extension) upon designation by the Speaker following
    notification from the Sergeant-at-Arms of a public health emergency,
    including: (1) authority for a Member to designate another Member as a
    proxy for purposes of voting and recording presence in the House and
    requirements for service as a proxy; (2) restriction on any Member
    serving as a proxy for more than 10 Members; (3) counting for purposes
    of establishing a quorum under House rules any Member voting or
    recording their presence by proxy; (4) automatic ordering of yeas and
    nays upon demand for yeas and nays, recorded vote, or objection pursuant
    to clause 6 of rule XX; (5) authorization for committees to conduct
    proceedings remotely in whole or in part, including remote voting and
    counting for purposes of a quorum those participating remotely; (6)
    ability for committees to file reports, including views, electronically;
    (7) authority for the issuance of subpoenas signed and sealed in
    electronic form and designated for return at a remote committee hearing
    or deposition; and (8) providing for the certification of operable and
    secure technology to conduct remote voting in the House and subsequent
    implementation of a remote voting system (H. Res. 965, May 15, 2020, p.
    _). Such modifications were continued in the 117th Congress with
    revisions (sec. 3(s), H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _). In addition, the
    Speaker announced policies permitting the electronic introduction of
    bills and submission of cosponsors, as well as permitting the electronic
    submission of extensions of remarks and other insertions into the
    Congressional Record (Speaker Pelosi, Apr. 7, 2020, p. _). Such
    announced policies were subsequently tied to the designated public
    health emergency (Speaker Pelosi, July 31, 2020, p. _), and were later
    established on a permanent basis by Speaker's announced policies at the
    outset of the 117th Congress (Speaker Pelosi, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).

    Sec. 1025. The call of the House in the new
    form.

      6. (a)  When a quorum fails to vote on a question, a quorum is not
    present, and objection is made for that cause (unless the House shall
    adjourn)--

          (1) there shall be a call of the House;

          (2) the Sergeant-at-Arms shall proceed forthwith to bring in
    absent Members; and

          (3) the yeas and nays on the pending question shall at the same
    time be considered as ordered.

      (b) The Clerk shall record Members by the yeas and nays on the pending
    question, using such procedure as the Speaker may invoke under clause 2,
    3, or 4. Each Member arrested under this clause shall be brought by the
    Sergeant-at-Arms before the House, whereupon the Member shall be noted
    as present, discharged from arrest, and given an opportunity to vote;
    and such vote shall be recorded. If those voting on the question and
    those who are present and decline to vote together make a majority of
    the House, the Speaker shall declare that a quorum is constituted, and
    the pending question shall be decided as the requisite majority of those
    voting shall have determined. Thereupon further proceedings under the
    call shall be considered as dispensed with.

    [[Page 891]]

    actual count by the Speaker. If the House adjourns on such a motion, all
    proceedings under this clause shall be considered as vacated.

      (c) At any time after Members have had the requisite opportunity to
    respond by the yeas and nays ordered under this clause, but before a
    result has been announced, a motion that the House adjourn shall be in
    order if seconded by a majority of those present, to be ascertained by

      This clause (formerly clause 4 of rule XV) was adopted in 1896 (IV,
    3041; VI, 690); and amended in 1972 to make its provisions subject to
    clause 2 (formerly clause 5) of this rule (H. Res. 1123, 92d Cong., p.
    36012). Paragraph (c) was amended to clarify the privileged nature of
    the motion to adjourn during the call in the 108th Congress (sec. 2(m),
    H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7) and the 111th Congress (sec. 2(m), H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 9), when gender-based references were also
    eliminated (sec. 2(l), H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 2009, p. 7). Before the House
    recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in
    former clause 4 of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

      Where objection is raised to a vote in the House on the ground that a
    quorum is not present, and a quorum is in fact not present, the Speaker
    may direct that the call of the House be taken by electronic device
    under clause 2 (formerly clause 5), or may direct the Clerk to call the
    roll pursuant to this clause (May 16, 1973, p. 15860).

      It applies only to votes in which a quorum is required, and hence does
    not apply to an affirmative vote on a motion to adjourn (July 25, 1949,
    p. 10092; Nov. 4, 1983, p. 30946; Aug. 4, 2007, p. 22990), or motions
    incidental to a call of the House that may be agreed to by less than a
    quorum (IV, 2994, 3029; VI, 681), or to a call when there is no question
    pending (IV, 2990). Although a quorum is not required to adjourn, a
    point of no quorum on a negative vote on adjournment, if sustained,
    precipitates a call of the House under the rule (VI, 700; June 4, 1951,
    pp. 6097, 6098; June 15, 1951, p. 6621). Where less than a quorum
    rejects a motion to adjourn, the House may not consider business but may
    dispose of motions to compel the attendance of absent Members (Nov. 2,
    1987, p. 30387).

    [[Page 892]]

    Feb. 24, 1988, p. 2450). The House having authorized the Speaker to
    compel the attendance of absent Members, the Speaker announced that the
    Sergeant-at-Arms would proceed with necessary and efficacious steps, and
    that pending the establishment of a quorum no further business,
    including unanimous-consent requests for recess authority, could be
    entertained (Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30389).
      When a Member objects to a vote on the ground that a quorum is not
    present and makes the point of order under this clause, the Speaker may
    count the House and determine the presence of a quorum and is not
    required to announce the actual count under the first sentence of this
    clause (Sept. 30, 1981, p. 22456). Where the Speaker ascertains the
    presence of a quorum by actual count following an objection to a vote
    under this clause, or on a rejected demand for the yeas and nays and a
    division vote is then taken on the pending question, the division vote
    is intervening business (see VIII, 2804) permitting another objection to
    the lack of a quorum, and the Speaker must again count the House (Mar.
    17, 1976, p. 6792; Aug. 2, 1979, p. 22006). However, where the announced
    absence of a quorum has resulted in a record vote under this clause (on
    the Speaker's approval of the Journal), the House may not, even by
    unanimous consent, vacate the vote in order to conduct another voice
    vote in lieu of the record vote, because no business, including a
    unanimous-consent agreement, is in order in the announced absence of a
    quorum (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 12.1;

      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 objection for lack of a quorum under
    this clause (sec. 3(a), H. Res. 965, May 15, 2020, p. _; sec. 3(s), H.
    Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).

    Sec. 1026. Conduct of the call in the new form.

      Under  this
    clause the roll is called twice, and those appearing after their names
    are called may vote (IV, 3052). A motion to adjourn may be made before
    the call begins (IV, 3050). After the roll has been called, and while
    the proceedings to obtain a quorum are going on, motions to excuse
    Members are in order (IV, 3051).

      The Sergeant-at-Arms is required to detain those who are present and
    bring in absentees (IV, 3045-3048), and does this without the authority
    of a resolution adopted by those present (IV, 3049). There is doubt as
    to whether or not a warrant is necessary but it is customary for the
    Speaker to issue one on the authority of the rule (IV, 3043; VI, 702).
    When arrested, Members are arraigned at the bar, and either vote or are
    noted as present, after which they are discharged (IV, 3044).

      When a quorum fails to vote on a yea-and-nay vote on a motion that
    requires a quorum to be present, and a quorum is not present, the Chair
    takes notice of the fact, and unless the House adjourns, a call of the
    House is ordered by the Chair under this rule, and the vote is taken on
    the question de novo (IV, 3045, 3052; VI, 679). If the House does
    adjourn, the question is put de novo the next meeting day (Oct. 10,
    1940, p. 13535).

      An automatic roll call results under this rule when the objection that
    a quorum is not present and voting is made after a viva voce vote (VI,
    697). An automatic roll call under this rule is not in order in the
    Committee of the Whole (Aug. 2, 1966, p. 17844). Pursuant to clause 8,
    if a vote is objected to under this clause, further proceedings may be
    postponed, in which case the question is put de novo when that vote
    recurs as unfinished business. Furthermore, when such proceedings are
    postponed, the point of order that a quorum is not present is considered
    as withdrawn because no longer in order (a question not being put after
    the Speaker's announcement of postponement) (see clause 7, infra).

    [[Page 893]]

    Sec. 1027. Quorum; when not required.

      7. (a)  The Speaker may
    not entertain a point of order that a quorum is not present unless a
    question has been put to a vote.

    Sec. 1028. Speaker's discretion to recognize for motion
    for call of House.

      (b)  Subject to paragraph (c) the Speaker may recognize
    a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to move a call of the House
    at any time. When a quorum is established pursuant to a call of the
    House, further proceedings under the call shall be considered as
    dispensed with unless the Speaker recognizes for a motion to compel
    attendance of Members under clause 5(b).

    Sec. 1029. Relation of previous question to failure of a
    quorum.

      (c)  A call of the House shall not be in order after the previous
    question is ordered unless the Speaker determines by actual count that a
    quorum is not present.

      Paragraphs (a) and (b) were adopted in the 93d Congress (H. Res. 998,
    Apr. 9, 1974, pp. 10195-99) and amended in the 95th Congress (H. Res. 5,
    Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-70) and in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15,
    1979, pp. 7-16) to dispense with further proceedings under any call of
    the House when a quorum appears unless the Speaker chooses to recognize
    for a motion. Paragraph (c) (formerly clause 2 of rule XVII) was adopted
    in 1860 (V, 5447). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th
    Congress, paragraphs (a) and (b) were found in former clause 6 of rule
    XV and paragraph (c) was found in former clause 2 of rule XVII. The
    106th Congress also transferred former clause 6(b) of rule XV to clause
    6(d) of rule XVIII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).

    [[Page 894]]

    When one Member is already under recognition for debate, however,
    another Member may be recognized to move a call of the House only if the
    first Member yields for that purpose (July 23, 1998, p. 16989). For
    precedents addressing timeliness in raising a point of order of no
    quorum, see Deschler, ch. 20, Sec. 13.
      Under this clause the Speaker may not entertain a point of order of no
    quorum when the Speaker has not put a question to a vote in the House
    (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 11, 1977, p. 891; Jan. 31, 1977, p. 2640; Sept.
    30, 1997, p. 20837; July 21, 1998, p. 16342; June 14, 2001, p. 10725).
    The Chair may not entertain a point of order of no quorum pending a
    request that a committee be permitted to sit under the five-minute rule,
    because the Chair has not put the question on a pending proposition to a
    vote (June 18, 1980, p. 15316). However, under this clause the Speaker
    may at any time choose to recognize a Member to move a call of the House
    (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 19, 1977, p. 1719; Jan. 31, 1977, p. 2640; Aug.
    6, 1986, p. 19370), or may choose not to do so (Sept. 30, 1997, p.
    20837), or by unanimous consent may initiate a call of the House without
    motion (Speaker Foley, Mar. 14, 1990, p. 4324) even, for example, before
    the call of the Private Calendar, which is in order after approval of
    the Journal and disposition of business on the Speaker's table (July 8,
    1987, p. 18972).

      The Speaker's refusal to entertain a point of order of no quorum when
    a pending question has not been put to a vote is not subject to an
    appeal, because the clause contains an absolute and unambiguous
    prohibition against entertaining such a point of order (Sept. 16, 1977,
    p. 29562). During debate on a measure in the House the Speaker will not
    respond to an inquiry as to the number of Members present in the
    Chamber, because a point of no quorum is not admissible unless the
    Speaker has put the pending question to a vote (Oct. 28, 1987, p.
    29682).

    Postponement of proceedings
      In adopting this rule, the House has manifested a determination that
    the mere conduct of debate in the House, where the Chair has not put the
    pending motion or proposition to a vote, is not such business as
    requires a quorum under the Constitution (art. I, sec. 5, cl. 1), and
    neither a point of order of no quorum during debate only nor a point of
    order against the enforcement of this clause lies independently under
    the Constitution (Sept. 8, 1977, pp. 28123, 28124; Precedents (Wickham),
    ch. 5, Sec. 3.1; Feb. 27, 1986, p. 3060).

    1030. Postponing record votes.

      8. (a)(1)  When a recorded
    vote is ordered, or the yeas and nays are ordered, or a vote is objected
    to under clause 6--

          (A) on any of the questions specified in subparagraph (2), the
    Speaker may postpone further proceedings to a designated place in the
    legislative schedule within two additional legislative days; and

          (B) on the question of agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the
    Journal, the Speaker may postpone further proceedings to a designated
    place in the legislative schedule on that legislative day.

    [[Page 895]]

      (2) The questions described in subparagraph (1) are as follows:

          (A) The question of passing a bill or joint resolution.

          (B) The question of adopting a resolution or concurrent
    resolution.

          (C) The question of agreeing to a motion to instruct managers on
    the part of the House (except that proceedings may not resume on such a
    motion under clause 7(c) of rule XXII if the managers have filed a
    report in the House).

          (D) The question of agreeing to a conference report.

          (E) The question of adopting a motion to recommit.

          (F) The question of adopting a motion to concur in a Senate
    amendment, with or without amendment.

          (G) The question of agreeing to an amendment.

          (H) The question of ordering the previous question on a question
    described in subdivisions (A) through (G).

          (I) The question of agreeing to a motion to suspend the rules.

          (J) The question of agreeing to a motion to reconsider or the
    question of agreeing to a motion to lay on the table a motion to
    reconsider.

      (b) At the time designated by the Speaker for further proceedings on
    questions postponed under paragraph (a), the Speaker shall resume
    proceedings on each postponed question.

    [[Page 896]]

    postponed under this clause without disposing of such questions, then on
    the next legislative day the unfinished business is the disposition of
    such questions.

      (c) If the House adjourns on a legislative day designated for further
    proceedings on questions

    [[Page 897]]

    corrections to paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) of clause 8 were effected in
    the 108th Congress (sec. 2(u), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7).
      This provision (formerly clause 5(b) of rule I) was added in the 96th
    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, p. 7), and paragraph (a) was amended
    in the 97th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113) to
    consolidate most authority for the postponing of further proceedings on
    certain questions into this paragraph. This consolidation was
    accomplished with the addition of the authority to postpone further
    proceedings on reports from the Committee on Rules and motions to
    suspend the rules. The Speaker was granted additional authority to
    postpone further proceedings as follows: (1) the Speaker's approval of
    the Journal until later that legislative day in the 98th Congress (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34); (2) motions to instruct conferees under
    clause 7(c) of rule XXII in the 101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989,
    p. 72); (3) the original motion to instruct conferees in the 106th
    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47); (4) ordering the previous
    question on another question that is, itself, susceptible of
    postponement (and the list was reordered) in the 104th Congress (sec.
    223(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 469); (5) certain questions during
    consideration of bills called from the Corrections Calendar in the 105th
    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 1997, p. 121), but that provision was
    stricken in the 109th Congress when the Corrections Calendar was
    repealed (sec. 2(f), H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 43); (6) questions
    incidental to a postponed question (and to permit the first postponed
    vote in a series to be a five-minute vote if it immediately follows a
    15-minute vote (now addressed by clause 9) in the 106th Congress (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47); (7) the question of agreeing to the motion
    to reconsider, the question of agreeing to the motion to lay on the
    table a motion to reconsider, and the question of agreeing to an
    amendment reported from the Committee of the Whole in the 109th Congress
    (sec. 2(i), H. Res. 5, Jan. 4, 2005, p. 43); (8) adopting a motion to
    recommit and adopting a motion to concur in a Senate amendment in the
    115th Congress (sec. 2(p), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2017, p. 37); (9) the
    question of agreeing to any amendment and the question of ordering the
    previous question thereon (and repealing existing authority to postpone
    only certain amendments) (sec. 102(aa), H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _).
    Paragraph (c)(2) was added in the 113th Congress to grant the Chair
    discretion to conduct a five-minute vote in the House following a report
    of the Committee of the Whole in certain circumstances (sec. 2(b)(2), H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2013, p. 25), but paragraph (c) was repealed in its
    entirety in the 116th Congress (and the authority thereunder
    consolidated within clause 9 of this rule) (sec. 102(bb)(1), H. Res. 6,
    Jan. 3, 2019, p. _). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th
    Congress, this provision was found in former clause 5(b) of rule I (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). Technical

      The Speaker first exercised the authority to postpone a record vote on
    the approval of the Journal on November 10, 1983 (p. 32097). That
    authority includes the power to postpone a division vote on the approval
    of the Journal that is objected to under clause 6 of rule XX (formerly
    clause 4 of rule XV) (Precedents (Wickham), ch. 5, Sec. 12.12). On
    questions not enumerated in this paragraph, unanimous consent is
    required to permit the Speaker to postpone such record votes. The House
    by unanimous consent (e.g., Sept. 17, 2003, p. 22272) or special order
    of business (e.g., June 16, 2015, p. 9656) has authorized the Speaker to
    postpone further proceedings on a specified record vote, or specified
    class thereof, to a date certain beyond the two legislative days
    permitted under this clause. Before the question of agreeing to any
    amendment was incorporated within this clause, the Chair used the
    authority to postpone proceedings on ordering the previous question on
    an amendment and the underlying resolution (e.g., Sept. 17, 2015, p.
    14462).

      Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XX (formerly clause 6(e) of rule XV),
    prohibiting a point of order of no quorum unless the Speaker has put the
    pending proposition to a vote, the Speaker announces, after postponing a
    vote on a motion to suspend the rules where objection has been made to
    the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present, that the point of
    order is considered as withdrawn, because the Chair is no longer putting
    the question (May 16, 1977, p. 14785). An objection under clause 6 to a
    voice vote takes precedence over a demand for the yeas and nays if used
    as the basis for postponing proceedings under this clause (Sept. 29,
    1997, p. _; Dec. 19, 2018, p. _). Clause 8(a) of rule XX (formerly
    clause 5(b) of rule I) does not require the Chair's customary
    announcement at the beginning of consideration of motions to suspend the
    rules that the Chair intends to postpone possible record votes (Feb. 23,
    1993, p. 3281; Nov. 14, 1995, p. 32385).

      Under the authority to postpone further proceedings on a specified
    question to a designated time within two legislative days, the Speaker
    may simultaneously designate separate times for the resumption of
    proceedings on separate postponed questions (Mar. 3, 1992, p. 4072).
    Once the Speaker has postponed record votes to a designated place in the
    legislative schedule, the Speaker may subsequently redesignate the time
    when the votes will be taken within the appropriate period (June 6,
    1984, p. 15080; Oct. 3, 1988, pp. 27782, 27878). When the House adjourns
    on the second legislative day after postponement of a question under
    this clause without resuming proceedings thereon, the question remains
    unfinished business on the next legislative day (Precedents (Wickham),
    ch. 5, Sec. 12.7).

    [[Page 898]]

    the standing rules by adoption of a new clause 6(g) of rule XVIII. For a
    discussion of such authority, see Sec. 984, supra.

      For several years before the 107th Congress, special rules adopted by
    the House commonly provided the chair of the Committee of the Whole
    authority to postpone and cluster requests for recorded votes on
    amendments. In the 107th Congress that authority was given to the chair
    in

    Sec. 1031. Former pairs.

      Former  clause 2 of rule VIII was
    adopted in 1880, although the practice of pairing had then existed in
    the House for many years (V, 5981). The language of the clause was
    slightly altered by amendment in 1972 to reflect the installation of
    electronic voting in the 93d Congress (H. Res. 1123, Oct. 13, 1972, pp.
    36005-12). It was amended in the 94th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 14,
    1975, p. 20) to permit pairs to be announced in the Committee of the
    Whole. Former clause 2 of rule VIII was deleted in the 106th Congress
    (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). ``Live'' pairs still may be announced
    under clause 3 (Sec. 1015, supra).

    Two-minute votes-
      Before the 106th Congress, pairs were not announced at a time other
    than that prescribed by the former rule (V, 6046), and the voting
    intentions of an absent Member were not otherwise announced by a
    colleague (VIII, 3151). Before the 94th Congress pairs were not
    permitted in the Committee of the Whole (V, 5984; Speaker Albert, Jan.
    15, 1973, p. 1054). The House did not consider questions arising out of
    the breaking of a pair (V, 5982, 5983, 6095; VIII, 3082, 3085, 3087-
    3089, 3093), or permit a Member to vote after the call on the plea that
    he had refrained because of misunderstanding as to a pair (V, 6080,
    6081). Discussion of the origin of the practice of pairing in the House
    and Senate (VIII, 3076). On questions requiring a two-thirds majority
    Members were paired two in the affirmative against one in the negative
    (VIII, 3088; Nov. 15, 1983, p. 32685). For Speaker Clark's
    interpretation of the rule and practice regarding pairs, see VIII, 3089.

    1032. 2minute voting.

      9.  (a) The Speaker may reduce to not
    less than two minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any
    question that follows another electronic vote or a report from the
    Committee of the Whole, if in the discretion of the Speaker Members
    would be afforded an adequate opportunity to vote.

      (b) To the maximum extent practicable, notice of possible reduced
    voting times for a given series of votes shall be issued prior to the
    first electronic vote in the series.

    [[Page 899]]

    Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7-16); (2) on amendments
    reported from the Committee of the Whole following a vote on the first
    such amendment, as added in the 101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989,
    p. 72); (3) on adoption of a special order of business following a vote
    on ordering the previous question thereon as added in the 103d Congress
    (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49), and expanded to any underlying
    question following a vote on ordering the previous question in the 104th
    Congress (sec. 223(e), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 469); (4) on any
    incidental question under this clause as added in the 106th Congress (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47); and (5) on any question arising without
    intervening business after an electronic vote on another question in the
    108th Congress (sec. 2(n), H. Res. 5, Jan. 7, 2003, p. 7), in each
    instance provided the first vote in any series was a 15-minute vote and
    provided the minimum time for subsequent votes be not less than five
    minutes. In the 113th Congress, paragraphs (b) and (c) were added to
    allow five-minute voting in certain circumstances not immediately
    preceded by a 15-minute vote (sec. 2(b)(2), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2013, p.
    25), and this authority was subjected to the same guidance found in
    clause 8(c)(2) that Members have an adequate opportunity to vote in such
    circumstances (sec. 2(q), H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 2017, p. 37), and in the
    116th Congress, the rule was rewritten entirely to allow reduced-time
    voting on any vote following another electronic vote if Members have an
    adequate opportunty to vote, notwithstanding intervening business (sec.
    102(bb), H. Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _). In the 118th Congress, the rule
    was amended to permit two-minute voting (sec. 2(c), H. Res. 5, Jan. 9,
    2023, p. _). A prior version of this clause did not give the Chair the
    authority to reduce to five minutes the vote on a motion to recommit
    occurring immediately after a recorded vote on an amendment reported
    from the Committee of the Whole (June 29, 1994, p. 15107). Before the
    House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was
    found in former clause 5(b) of rule XV (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).
      The Speaker's authority to reduce the time for record votes gradually
    expanded over the years as follows: (1) on a bill, resolution, or
    conference report following a vote on a motion to recommit as first
    added in the 96th

      The Chair does not entertain a unanimous-consent request to reduce a
    vote below the minimum if Members have not been given sufficient notice
    (e.g., July 14, 1999, p. 16008; June 23, 2004, p. 13734; Sept. 15, 2005,
    p. 20442; July 19, 2007, p. 19838). However, the Chair may entertain
    such a request when circumstances ensure sufficient notice (June 24,
    2005, pp. 14220, 14232; June 15, 2007, pp. 15971, 15999), but the Chair
    may decline to recognize for a unanimous-consent request to reduce to
    five minutes the first vote in a series, because the bell and light
    system would not give adequate notice of the initial five-minute vote
    (Oct. 8, 1985, p. 26666). Prior to the inclusion of two-minute voting in
    the current form of the rule, the House by unanimous consent authorized
    the Speaker to reduce to two minutes electronic votes conducted under
    this clause (e.g., July 23, 2007, p. 20108).

    [[Page 900]]

    be made electronically on a vote of a minimum duration of less than 15
    minutes. Once the Clerk has announced changes, the voting stations close
    and further changes must be made in the well (Nov. 17, 2005, p. 26580),
    and where it was alleged that changes were made electronically in the
    Committee of the Whole on an earlier two-minute vote, the Speaker pro
    tempore opined that the chair of the Committee of the Whole may not yet
    have asked for changes (a sign to the body that the vote was nearing
    closure) at the time the votes were changed (May 19, 2016, p. 6772).

    Automatic yeas and nays
      In the 95th Congress, the Speaker announced that changes could be made
    electronically at any time during a vote reduced to five minutes under
    the rules (Speaker O'Neill, Jan. 4, 1977, pp. 53-70) and changes may now

    1033. Yeas and nays ordered on certain questions.

      10.  The
    yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered when the Speaker puts the
    question on passage of a bill or joint resolution, or on adoption of a
    conference report, making general appropriations or increasing Federal
    income tax rates (within the meaning of clause 5 of rule XXI), or on
    final adoption of a concurrent resolution on the budget or conference
    report thereon.

      This clause was adopted in the 104th Congress (sec. 214, H. Res. 6,
    Jan. 4, 1995, p. 468). It was amended in the 116th Congress to conform
    with the repeal of a provision of clause 5 of rule XXI (sec. 102(dd), H.
    Res. 6, Jan. 3, 2019, p. _), and again in the 118th Congress to conform
    with the reinstatement of such provision (sec. 2(b)(1), H. Res. 5, Jan.
    9, 2023, p. _). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th
    Congress, this provision was found in former clause 7 of rule XV (H.
    Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47). The Chair announced the ordering of the
    yeas and nays under this clause on passage of a measure not only further
    continuing appropriations for the current fiscal year but also: (1)
    enacting by reference six general appropriation bills (Oct. 21, 2003,
    pp. 25314, 25315); (2) including the texts of two general appropriation
    bills (Mar. 6, 2013, p. 2850).

    [[Page 901]]

    Ballot votes
      During the 116th and 117th Congresses the House adopted a provision,
    effective during a designated public health emergency, considering the
    yeas and nays as ordered on a question upon any request for a recorded
    vote or the yeas and nays, or any objection for lack of a quorum
    pursuant to clause 6 (sec. 3(a), H. Res. 965, May 15, 2020, p. _; sec.
    3(s), H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 2021, p. _).

    1034. Elections by ballot.

      11.  In a case of ballot for
    election, a majority of the votes shall be necessary to an election.
    When there is not such a majority on the first ballot, the process shall
    be repeated until a majority is obtained. In all balloting blanks shall
    be rejected, may not be counted in the enumeration of votes, and may not
    be reported by the tellers.

      This rule was first adopted in 1789 and was amended in 1837 (V, 6003).
    It was renumbered January 3, 1953 (p. 24). The last election by ballot
    seems to have occurred in 1868 (V, 6003).