    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 119th Congress]
    [119th Congress]
    [House Document 118-187]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 272-276]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                          sec. xl--bills, third reading

    Sec. 492. Obsolete requirements as to reading and
    passage of bills.

      To prevent  bills from being passed by surprise, the House, by a
    standing order, directs that they shall not be put on their passage
    before a fixed hour, naming one at which the house is commonly full.
    Hakew., 153.

      The usage of the Senate is not to put bills on their passage till
    noon.

    [[Page 273]]

      A bill reported and passed to the third reading, cannot on that day be
    read the third time and passed; because this would be to pass on two
    readings in the same day.

    Sec. 493. Obsolete parliamentary law as to third
    reading.

      At the  third reading the Clerk reads the bill and delivers it to the
    Speaker, who states the title, that it is the third time of reading the
    bill, and that the question will be whether it shall pass. Formerly the
    Speaker, or those who prepared a bill, prepared also a breviate or
    summary statement of its contents, which the Speaker read when he
    declared the state of the bill, at the several readings. Sometimes,
    however, he read the bill itself, especially on its passage. Hakew.,
    136, 137, 153; Coke, 22, 115. Latterly, instead of this, he, at the
    third reading, states the whole contents of the bill verbatim, only,
    instead of reading the formal parts, ``Be it enacted,'' &c., he states
    that ``preamble recites so and so--the 1st section enacts that, &c.; the
    2d section enacts,'' &c.

      But in the Senate of the United States, both of these formalities are
    dispensed with; the breviate presenting but an imperfect view of the
    bill, and being capable of being made to present a false one; and the
    full statement being a useless waste of time, immediately after a full
    reading by the Clerk, and especially as every member has a printed copy
    in his hand.

      These restrictions are not in effect in the modern practice of the
    House and therefore a bill may be read a third time and passed on the
    same day. Clause 8 of rule XVI provides for the third reading by title
    and not by the presentation of an abbreviated summary.

    [[Page 274]]

    fered, but as a thing very unusual. Hakew., 156. Thus, 27 El., 1584, a
    bill was committed on the third reading, having been formerly committed
    on the second, but is declared not usual. D'Ewes, 337, col. 2; 414, col.
    2.

    Sec. 494. Committal of a bill on third
    reading.

      A bill on  the third reading is not to be committed for the matter or
    body thereof, but to receive some particular clause or proviso, it hath
    been sometimes suf

      In the House it is in order to commit a bill after the engrossment and
    third reading if the previous question is not ordered (V, 5562); and by
    clause 2 of rule XIX the House has preserved this opportunity to commit
    even after the previous question has been ordered.

    Sec. 495. Obsolete parliamentary practice as to
    riders.

      When an  essential provision has been omitted, rather than erase the
    bill and render it suspicious, they add a clause on a separate paper,
    engrossed and called a rider, which is read and put to the question
    three times. Elsynge's Memo., 59; 6 Grey, 335; 1 Blackst., 183. For
    examples of riders, see 3 Hats., 121, 122, 124, 156. Every one is at
    liberty to bring in a rider without asking leave. 10 Grey, 52.

      This practice is never followed in the House.

    Sec. 496. Obsolete requirements as to reading of
    amendments.

      It is  laid down, as a general rule, that amendments proposed at
    the second reading shall be twice read, and those proposed at the third
    reading thrice read; as also all amendments from the other House. Town.,
    col. 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

      In the practice of the House, amendments, whether offered in the House
    or coming from the other House, do not come under the rule requiring
    different readings.

    [[Page 275]]

    times a proviso has been cut off from a bill; sometimes erased. 9 Grey,
    513.

    Sec. 497. Amendments before the third reading.

      It is  with
    great and almost invincible reluctance that amendments are admitted at
    this reading, which occasion erasures or interlineations. Some

      This is the proper stage for filling up blanks; for if filled up
    before, and now altered by erasure, it would be peculiarly unsafe.

      In the House bills are amended after the second reading (IV, 3392),
    and before the engrossment and third reading (V, 5781; VII, 1051, 1052)
    but not afterwards. Under modern practice of the House, readings are
    governed by clause 8 of rule XVI and clause 5 of rule XVIII.

    Sec. 498. Debate in relation to the third
    reading.

      At this  reading the bill is debated afresh, and for the most part is
    more spoken to at this time than on any of the former readings. Hakew.,
    153.

      The debate on the question whether it should be read a third time, has
    discovered to its friends and opponents the arguments on which each side
    relies, and which of these appear to have influence with the House; they
    have had time to meet them with new arguments, and to put their old ones
    into new shapes. The former vote has tried the strength of the first
    opinion, and furnished grounds to estimate the issue; and the question
    now offered for its passage is the last occasion which is ever to be
    offered for carrying or rejecting it.

      In the House it is usual to debate a bill before and not after the
    engrossment and third reading, probably because of the frequent use of
    the previous question, which prevents all debate after it is ordered.
    When the previous question is not ordered, debate may occur pending the
    vote on passage.

    [[Page 276]]

    opinion that this bill shall pass, say aye;'' and after the answer of
    the ayes, ``All those of the contrary opinion, say no.'' Hakew., 154.

    Sec. 499. Putting the question on the passage of a
    bill.

      When the  debate is ended, the Speaker, holding the bill in his hand, puts
    the question for its passage, by saying, ``Gentlemen, all you who are of

      In the House the bill is usually in the custody of the Clerk. The
    Speaker states that ``The question is on the passage of the bill,'' and
    puts the question in the form prescribed by clause 6 of rule I.

    Sec. 500. Bills not altered after their passage.

        After the
    bill is passed, there can be no further alteration of it in any point.
    Hakew., 159.

      This principle controls the practice of the House. However, a bill may
    be changed if the votes on passage, engrossment, and ordering the
    previous question have been reconsidered. In addition, the Clerk may be
    authorized to make changes in the engrossed copy by unanimous consent or
    by special order of business. Title amendments are transacted following
    passage (Sec. 512, infra).