Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 119th Congress-Preface

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

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________________________________________________________________________

118th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - House Document No. 118-187

CONSTITUTION

JEFFERSON'S MANUAL

AND

RULES OF THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE UNITED STATES

ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS

JASON A. SMITH

PARLIAMENTARIAN

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

59-700 WASHINGTON : 2025

________________________________________________________________________

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

Office

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Washington, DC 20402

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1611

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

December 9, 2024.

Resolved, That a revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the
House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress be
printed as a House document, and that three thousand additional copies
shall be printed and bound for the use of the House of Representatives,
of which nine hundred eighty copies shall be bound in leather with thumb
index and delivered as may be directed by the Parliamentarian of the
House.

Attest:

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.

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(III)

PREFACE

The House Rules and Manual contains the fundamental source material
for parliamentary procedure used in the House of Representatives: the
Constitution of the United States; applicable provisions of Jefferson's
Manual; Rules of the House (as of the date of this preface); provisions
of law and resolutions having the force of Rules of the House; and
pertinent decisions of the Speakers and other presiding officers of the
House and Committee of the Whole interpreting the rules and other
procedural authority used in the House of Representatives.

The rules for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress were adopted on
January 3, 2025, when the House agreed to House Resolution 5. In
addition to a series of changes to various standing rules, House
Resolution 5 included separate free-standing orders constituting
procedures to be followed in the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress.
Explanations of the changes to the standing rules appear in the
annotations following each rule in the text of this Manual.

The substantive changes in the standing rules made by House
Resolution 5 of the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress included:

(1) establishment of the following set of procedures to apply during
any district work period designated by the Speaker: automatic approval
of the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day; authority for the
Chair to declare the House adjourned to meet at any time within the
three-day limit required by clause 4, section 5, article I of the
Constitution; authority for the Speaker to appoint Members to perform
duties of the Chair as though under clause 8(a) of rule I; and the
tolling of periods of time under specified rules and statutory
procedures (clause 13 of rule I);

(2) clarification that the Chief Administrative Officer shall assist
with the Clerk's responsibilities under clause 2(i) of rule II with
respect to vacant Member offices (clause 4(e) of rule II);

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(3) elimination of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and
references thereto (clause 9 of rule II; clause 4(d) of rule X);

(4) restriction on privilege of resolutions causing a vacancy in the
Office of Speaker to only those offered by a member of the majority
party and which have accumulated eight cosponsors from the majority
party at the time offered (clause 2(a) of rule IX);

(5) redesignation of the Committee on Education and the Workforce as
the Committee on Education and Workforce, and of the Committee on
Oversight and Accountability as the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform (clause 1 of rule X);

(6) authorization for committees to adopt a rule or motion enabling
electronic voting in committee, in accordance with regulations issued by
the chair of the Committee on Rules and the chair of the Committee on
House Administration (clause 2(n) of rule XI);

(7) requirement that petitions from state legislatures purporting to
call for constitutional conventions or to rescind such calls be made
publicly available, codifying previous separate orders to that effect
(clause 3 of rule XII);

(8) reservation of the first 10 numbers for bills for assignment by
the Speaker and the second 10 numbers for bills for assignment by the
Minority Leader, codifying previous separate orders to that effect
(clause 7 of rule XII);

(9) restriction on the availability of motions to suspend the rules
to only Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (clause 1 of rule XV); and

(10) reinstatement of gendered language in certain portions of the
Code of Official Conduct (clauses 8 and 15 of rule XXIII).

In addition to the amendments cited above, the House in the 118th
Congress amended clause 8 of rule XXIV to ensure that the restriction on
the use of franked mail in that clause matches the same restriction in
law, and amended clause 1(k)(7) of rule X to reflect the renaming of the
Franking Commission as the House Communications Standards Commission (H.
Res. 731, Dec. 5, 2023).

Citations in this edition refer to:

(1) Hinds' Precedents of the House of Representatives of the United
States (volumes I through V) and Cannon's Precedents of the House of
Representatives of the United States (volumes VI through VIII), by
volume and section (e.g., V, 5763; VIII, 2852);

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U.S. House of Representatives (volume 17), and
Deschler-Brown-Johnson-Sullivan Precedents of the U.S. House of
Representatives (volume 18), by chapter and section (e.g., Deschler, ch.
26, Sec. 79.7; Deschler-Brown, ch. 28, Sec. 4.26);
(2) Deschler's Precedents of the U.S. House of Representatives
(volumes 1 through 9), Deschler-Brown Precedents of the U.S. House of
Representatives (volumes 10 through 16), Deschler-Brown-Johnson
Precedents of the

(3) Precedents of the U.S. House of Representatives (volumes 1
through 3), by Parliamentarian last name, chapter and section (e.g.,
Precedents (Wickham), ch. 1, Sec. 1.1);

(4) the Congressional Record, by date and page (e.g., Jan. 29, 1986,
p. 684);

(5) House Practice (2024), by chapter and section (e.g., House
Practice, ch. 1, Sec. 2);

(6) Deschler-Brown Procedure in the U.S. House of Representatives
(4th edition and 1987 supplement), by chapter and section (e.g.,
Procedure, ch. 5, Sec. 8.1);

(7) the United States Code, by title and section (e.g., 2 U.S.C.
287); and

(8) the United States Reports, by volume and page (e.g., 395 U.S.
486).

All of the members of the Office of the Parliamentarian - Anne
Gooch, Julia Cook, Ben Osheroff, Christina Reid, Norma Volkmer, Lloyd
Jenkins, Kristen Donahue, and Matthew Kowalewski, as well as Charles
Johnson, Max Spitzer, Allison Torres-Cherry, and Tim Abel - worked
diligently to annotate the decisions of the Chair and other
parliamentary precedents of the 118th Congress and of the 119th Congress
to the date of publication of this edition. Their contributions, and
their devotion to the pursuit of excellence in the procedural practices
of the House, are gratefully acknowledged.

As explained further in section 283a of this publication, there is
included for the first time language unique to the second edition of
Jefferson's Manual, largely consisting of added insights gleaned by
Jefferson from his review of the fourth volume of Precedents of
Proceedings in the House of Commons, published by Clerk to the House of
Commons John Hatsell in 1796. Such additions were omitted from
subsequent editions of Jefferson's Manual prior to its incorporation
into the rules of the House in 1837. Acknowledgment is due to numerous
scholars who have explored this issue, particularly in recent years. Of
particular note is an addition located at section 285 of this
publication, highlighting the importance of consistency and
predictability with respect to matters of form. It is an admonition that
continues to ring true today.

Jay Smith

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January 20, 2025

CONTENTS

__________

THE CONSTITUTION

Page
Preamble.......................................................... 3

Article I.--The legislative power..................... 4

II.--The executive power....................... 69

III.--The judicial power........................ 83

IV.--Obligations, duties, etc., of the States.. 85

V.--Amendments to............................. 87

VI.--Law of the land, etc...................... 89

VII.--Ratification of........................... 94

Amendments ratified....................... 96

JEFFERSON'S MANUAL

Section I.--Importance of adhering to rules........... 131

III.--Privilege................................. 135

VI.--Quorum.................................... 156

VII.--Call of the House......................... 157

IX.--Speaker................................... 157

X.--Address................................... 160

XI.--Committees................................ 161

XII.--Committee of the Whole.................... 164

XIII.--Examination of witnesses.................. 173

XIV.--Arrangement of business................... 178

XV.--Order..................................... 180

XVI.--Order respecting papers................... 181

XVII.--Order in debate........................... 182

XVIII.--Orders of the House....................... 208

XIX.--Petition.................................. 212

XX.--Motion.................................... 213

XXI.--Resolutions............................... 214

XXIII.--Bills, leave to bring in.................. 216

XXIV.--Bills, first reading...................... 217

XXV.--Bills, second reading..................... 217

XXVI.--Bills, commitment......................... 218

XXVII.--Report of committee....................... 229

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Section XXVIII.--Bill, recommitment........................ 230

XXIX.--Bills, reports taken up................... 231

XXX.--Quasi-committee........................... 233

XXXI.--Bill, second reading in the House......... 236

XXXII.--Reading papers............................ 239

XXXIII.--Privileged questions...................... 241

XXXIV.--The previous question..................... 254

XXXV.--Amendments................................ 256

XXXVI.--Division of the question.................. 265

XXXVII.--Coexisting questions...................... 268

XXXVIII.--Equivalent questions...................... 269

XXXIX.--The question.............................. 271

XL.--Bills, third reading...................... 272

XLI.--Division of the House..................... 276

XLII.--Titles.................................... 281

XLIII.--Reconsideration........................... 281

XLIV.--Bills sent to the other House............. 285

XLV.--Amendments between the Houses............. 286

XLVI.--Conferences............................... 296

XLVII.--Messages.................................. 310

XLVIII.--Assent.................................... 315

XLIX.--Journals.................................. 317

L.--Adjournment............................... 319

LI.--A session................................. 321

LII.--Treaties.................................. 324

LIII.--Impeachment............................... 328

RULES OF THE HOUSE

Rule I.--The Speaker............................... 351

II.--Other Officers and Officials.............. 379

III.--The Members, Delegates, and Resident

Commissioner of Puerto Rico............... 404

IV.--The Hall of the House..................... 409

V.--Broadcasting the House.................... 417

VI.--Official Reporters and News Media

Galleries................................. 420

VII.--Records of the House...................... 432

VIII.--Response to Subpoenas..................... 437

IX.--Questions of Privilege.................... 440

X.--Organization of Committees................ 463

XI.--Procedures of Committees and Unfinished

Business.................................. 577

XII.--Receipt and Referral of Measures and

Matters................................... 651

XIII.--Calendars and Committee Reports........... 667

XIV.--Order and Priority of Business............ 705

XV.--Business in Order on Special Days......... 716

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Page

Rule XVI.--Motions and Amendments.................... 735

XVII.--Decorum and Debate........................ 792

XVIII.--The Committee of the Whole House on the

state of the Union........................ 825

XIX.--Motions Following the Amendment Stage..... 856

XX.--Voting and Quorum Calls................... 870

XXI.--Restrictions on Certain Bills............. 901

XXII.--House and Senate Relations................ 962

XXIII.--Code of Official Conduct.................. 989

XXIV.--Limitations on Use of Official Funds...... 1006

XXV.--Limitations on Outside Earned Income and

Acceptance of Gifts....................... 1011

XXVI.--Financial Disclosure...................... 1040

XXVII.--Disclosure by Members and Staff of

Employment Negotiations................... 1042

XXVIII.--[Reserved]................................ 1043

XXIX.--General Provisions........................ 1044
Provisions of Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, as Amended by the

Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, Applicable to Both Houses
Congressional adjournment......................................... 1049
Preservation of committee hearings................................ 1050

Joint and Select Committees
Economic Committee, Joint......................................... 1051
Taxation, Joint Committee on...................................... 1051
Library, Joint Committee of Congress on the....................... 1052
Printing, Joint Committee on...................................... 1052
Inaugural Ceremonies, Joint Congressional Committee on............ 1052
Select committees................................................. 1052

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House and Congressional Offices
House Communications Standards Commission......................... 1055
House Office Building Commission.................................. 1055
Government Accountability Office.................................. 1055
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.......................... 1055
Congressional Research Service.................................... 1056
Legislative Counsel............................................... 1056
Congressional Budget Office....................................... 1056
Law Revision Counsel.............................................. 1056
Technology Assessment............................................. 1056
Office of the Parliamentarian..................................... 1056
Speaker's Office for Legislative Floor Activities................. 1057

Page

Office of Interparliamentary Affairs.............................. 1057
House Recording Studio............................................ 1057
United States Capitol Preservation Commission..................... 1057
Office of General Counsel......................................... 1057
Former Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations. 1058
Office of Attending Physician..................................... 1058
Office of Architect of the Capitol................................ 1058
House Democracy Partnership....................................... 1058
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission................................ 1058
Office of Congressional Conduct................................... 1059
Early organization of the House................................... 1061

Miscellaneous Provisions of Congressional Budget Laws
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.................................. 1067
Budget Enforcement Act of 1990.................................... 1149
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010............................... 1153

Legislative Procedures Enacted in Law
Measures privileged for consideration in House.................... 1158

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Index
Index............................................................. 1363

GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

Rule XIV

First. Prayer by Chaplain.

Second. Approval of Journal.

Third. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Fourth. Correction of reference of public bills.

Fifth. Disposal of business on Speaker's table.

Sixth. Unfinished business.

Seventh. The morning hour for the consideration of bills.

Eighth. Motions to go into Committee of the Whole.

Ninth. Orders of the day.

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

Every Monday:

Mondays

Motions to suspend rules. Rule XV, clause 1.

First Tuesday:

Tuesdays

Private Calendar. Rule XV, clause 5. Individual private bills

Every Tuesday:

considered on first Tuesday of each month.

Motions to suspend rules. Rule XV, clause 1.

Call of Committees under Calendar Wednesday. Rule XV, clause 6.

Every Wednesday:

Wednesdays

Motions to suspend rules. Rule XV, clause 1.