    [United States Senate Manual, 112th Congress]
    [S. Doc. 112-1]
    [Rules for Regulation of the Senate Wing of the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings]
    [Pages 203-210]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

           155                             RULE VI

                                          GALLERIES

                    The Sergeant at Arms shall keep the aisles of the
                galleries clear, and shall not allow admittance into the
                galleries of more than their seating capacity, nor shall he
                allow admittance of children under the age of six into the
                galleries. He shall not permit any person to enter a gallery
                with or carrying any firearms or dangerous weapons except
                for law enforcement and other personnel performing duties
                under the direction of the Senate, or any package, bundle,
                suitcase, briefcase, or camera; he shall not permit any
                person in any gallery to smoke, applaud, or commit any other
                type of demonstration either by sound or sign; except in the
                press, radio, television, and correspondents' galleries he
                shall not permit any person to read (except the Senate
                seating diagram) or to write or take notes (except bona fide
                employees of the Senate when sitting in the Staff Gallery
                and making notes in the course of their employment); he
                shall not permit any person to take any picture or
                photograph or to sketch or draw; he shall not permit any
                person to place any object whatsoever--including hats,
                coats, or other personal apparel--or portion of a person on
                any railing, or any male to wear a hat, except that where a
                man's religious beliefs require that he wear a head-cover in
                such public places as the Senate Gallery, then such head-
                cover shall be permitted; \1\ and he shall not allow any
                person to lean forward over the railings or to place his or
                her hands thereon.
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                    \1\ Adopted Apr. 1, 1987.
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                    The galleries of the Senate shall be set apart and
                occupied as follows:
         155.1                          press gallery

                    The gallery in the rear of the Vice President's chair
                shall be set apart for reporters of daily newspapers.
                    The administration of the Press Gallery shall be vested
                in a Standing Committee of Correspondents elected by
                accredited members of the gallery. The committee shall
                consist of five persons elected to serve for terms of two
                years: Provided, however, That at the election in January
                1951, the three candidates receiving the highest number of
                votes shall serve for two years and the remaining two for
                one year. Thereafter, three members shall be elected in odd-

    [[Page 204]]

                numbered years and two in even-numbered years. Elections
                shall be held in January. The committee shall elect its own
                chairman and secretary. Vacancies on the committee shall be
                filled by special election to be called by the Standing
                Committee.
                    Persons desiring admission to the Press Gallery in the
                Senate wing shall make application in accordance with rule
                XXXIII for the regulation of the Senate wing of the Capitol,
                which rule shall be interpreted and administered by the
                Standing Committee of Correspondents, subject to the review
                and approval by the Senate Committee on Rules and
                Administration.
                    The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall limit
                membership in the Press Gallery to bona fide correspondents
                of repute in their profession, under such rules as the
                Standing Committee of Correspondents shall prescribe:
                Provided, however, That the Standing Committee of
                Correspondents shall admit to the Press Gallery no person
                who does not establish to the satisfaction of the Standing
                Committee all of the following:
                    a. That his or her principal income is obtained from
                news correspondence intended for publication in newspapers
                entitled to second-class mailing privileges.
                    b. That he or she is not engaged in paid publicity or
                promotion work or in prosecuting any claim before Congress
                or before any department of the Government, and will not
                become so engaged while a member of the Press Gallery.
                    c. That he or she is not engaged in any lobbying
                activity and will not become so engaged while a member of
                the Press Gallery.
                    Members of the families of correspondents are not
                entitled to the privileges of the Press Gallery.
                    The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall propose
                no change or changes in these rules except upon petition in
                writing signed by not less than 100 accredited members of
                the Press Gallery.
         155.2           radio and television correspondents gallery

                    The front row in the northeast public gallery shall be
                set apart for the use of the radio-television
                correspondents.
                    Persons desiring admission to the Radio and Television
                Correspondents Gallery of the Senate shall make application
                to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate,
                as required by rule XXXIII for the regulation of

    [[Page 205]]

                the Senate wing of the Capitol; and shall also state, in
                writing, the names of all radio stations, television
                stations, systems, or news-gathering organizations by which
                they are employed; and what other occupation or employment
                they may have, if any; and shall further declare that they
                are not engaged in the prosecution of claims or promotion of
                legislation pending before Congress, the departments, or the
                independent agencies, and that they will not become so
                employed without resigning from the gallery. They shall
                further declare that they are not employed in any
                legislative or executive department or independent agency of
                the Government, or by any foreign government or
                representative thereof; that they are not engaged in any
                lobbying activities; that they do not and will not, directly
                or indirectly, furnish special information to any
                organization, individual, or group of individuals, for the
                influencing of prices on any commodity or stock exchange;
                that they will not do so during the time they retain
                membership in the gallery. Holders of visitors' cards who
                may be allowed temporary admission to the gallery must
                conform to all the restrictions of this paragraph.
                    It shall be prerequisite to membership that the radio
                station, television station, system, or news-gathering
                agencies which the applicants represent shall certify, in
                writing, to the Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery
                that the applicants conform to the foregoing regulations.
                    The applications required by the above rule shall be
                authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfactory to the
                Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
                Correspondents Gallery, which shall see that the occupation
                of the gallery is confined to bona fide news gatherers and/
                or reporters of reputable standing in their business who
                represent radio stations, television stations, systems, or
                news-gathering agencies engaged primarily in serving radio
                stations, television stations, or systems. It shall be the
                duty of the Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
                Correspondents Gallery to report, at its discretion,
                violation of privileges of the gallery to the Senate
                Committee on Rules and Administration, and, pending action
                thereon, the offending individual may be suspended.
                    Persons engaged in other occupations, whose chief
                attention is not given to--or more than one-half of their
                earned income is not derived from--the gathering or
                reporting of news for radio stations, television stations,
                systems, or

    [[Page 206]]

                news-gathering agencies primarily serving radio stations,
                television stations, or systems, shall not be entitled to
                admission to the Radio and Television Correspondents
                Gallery. The Radio and Television Correspondents list in the
                Congressional Directory shall be a list only of persons
                whose chief attention is given to the gathering and
                reporting of news for radio stations, television stations,
                and systems engaged in the daily dissemination of news, and
                of representatives of news-gathering agencies engaged in the
                daily service of news to such radio stations, television
                stations, or systems.
                    Members of the families of correspondents are not
                entitled to the privileges of the gallery.
                    The Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery shall be
                under the control of the Executive Committee of the Radio
                and Television Correspondents Gallery, subject to the
                approval and supervision of the Senate Committee on Rules
                and Administration.

         155.3                    periodical press gallery

                    The front row in the northwest public gallery shall be
                set aside for the use of the periodical press.
                    1. Persons eligible for admission to the Periodical
                Press Gallery of the Senate must be bona fide resident
                correspondents of reputable standing, giving their chief
                attention to the gathering and reporting of news. They shall
                state in writing the names of their employers and their
                additional sources of earned income; and they shall declare
                that, while a member of the Gallery, they will not act as an
                agent in the prosecution of claims, and will not become
                engaged or assist, directly or indirectly, in any lobbying,
                promotion, advertising, or publicity activity intended to
                influence legislation or any other action of the Congress,
                nor any matter before any independent agency, or any
                department or other instrumentality of the Executive Branch;
                and that they will not act as an agent for, or be employed
                by the federal, or any state, local or foreign government or
                representatives thereof; and that they will not, directly or
                indirectly, furnish special or ``insider'' information
                intended to influence prices or for the purpose of trading
                on any commodity or stock exchange; and that they will not
                become employed, directly or indirectly, by any stock
                exchange, board of trade or other organization or member
                thereof, or brokerage house or broker engaged in the buying
                and selling of any security or commodity. Applications

    [[Page 207]]

                shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of the
                Periodical Correspondents' Association and shall be
                authenticated in a manner satisfactory to the Executive
                Committee.
                    2. Applicants must be employed by periodicals that
                regularly publish a substantial volume of news material of
                either general, economic, industrial, technical, cultural or
                trade character. The periodical must require such Washington
                coverage on a continuing basis and must be owned and
                operated independently of any government, industry,
                institution, association, or lobbying organization.
                Applicants must also be employed by a periodical that is
                published for profit and is supported chiefly by advertising
                or by subscription, or by a periodical meeting the
                conditions in this paragraph but published by a non-profit
                organization that, first, operates independently of any
                government, industry, or institution and, second, does not
                engage, directly or indirectly, in any lobbying or other
                activity intended to influence any matter before Congress or
                before any independent agency or any department or other
                instrumentality of the Executive Branch. House organs are
                not eligible.
                    3. Members of the families of correspondents are not
                entitled to the privileges of the gallery.
                    4. The Executive Committee may issue temporary
                credentials permitting the privileges of the Gallery to
                individuals who meet the rules of eligibility but who may be
                on short term assignment or temporarily resident in
                Washington.
                    5. Under the authority of Rule XXXIII of the Senate, the
                Periodical Press Gallery of the Senate shall be under the
                control of the Executive Committee, subject to the approval
                and supervision of the Senate Committee on Rules and
                Administration. It shall be the duty of the Executive
                Committee, at its discretion, to report violations of the
                privileges of the Gallery to the Senate Committee on Rules
                and Administration, and pending action thereon, the
                offending correspondent may be suspended. The Committee
                shall be elected at the start of each Congress by members of
                the Periodical Correspondents' Association, and shall
                consist of seven members with no more than one member from
                any one publishing organization. The Committee shall elect
                its own officers, and a majority of the Committee may fill
                vacancies on the Committee. The list in the Congres

    [[Page 208]]

                sional Directory shall be a list only of members of the
                Periodical Correspondents' Association.

         155.4                  press photographers' gallery

                    1. (a) Administration of the Press Photographers'
                Gallery is vested in a Standing Committee of Press
                Photographers consisting of six persons elected by
                accredited members of the gallery. The Committee shall be
                composed of one member each from Associated Press Photos,
                United Press International Newspictures, magazine media, and
                local newspapers and two ``at large'' members. ``At large''
                members may be, but need not be, selected from a media
                otherwise represented on the Committee.
                    (b) The term of office of a member of the Committee
                elected as the Associated Press Photos member, the local
                newspapers member, or one of the ``at large'' members shall
                expire on the day of the election held in the first odd-
                numbered year following the year in which he was elected,
                and the term of office of a member of the Committee elected
                as the United Press International Newspictures member, the
                magazine media member, or the remaining ``at large'' member
                shall expire on the day of the election held in the first
                even-numbered year following the year in which he was
                elected, except that a member elected to fill a vacancy
                occurring prior to the expiration of a term shall serve only
                for the unexpired portion of such term.
                    (c) Elections shall be held as early as practicable in
                each year, and in no case later than March 31. A vacancy in
                the membership of the Committee occurring prior to the
                expiration of a term shall be filled by special election
                called for that purpose by the Committee.
                    (d) The Standing Committee of the Press Photographers'
                Gallery shall propose no change or changes in these rules
                except upon petition in writing signed by not less than 25
                accredited members of the gallery.
                    2. Persons desiring admission to the Press
                Photographers' Gallery of the Senate shall make application
                in accordance with Rule XXXIII of the Senate, which rule
                shall be interpreted and administered by the Standing
                Committee of Press Photographers subject to the review and
                approval of the Senate Committee on Rules and
                Administration.
                    3. The Standing Committee of Press Photographers shall
                limit membership in the photographers' gallery to bona fide
                news photographers of repute in their profession and to

    [[Page 209]]

                heads of Photographic Bureaus under such rules as the
                Standing Committee of Press Photographers shall prescribe.
                    4. Provided, however, That the Standing Committee of
                Press Photographers shall admit to the gallery no person who
                does not establish to the satisfaction of the Committee all
                of the following:
                            (a) That any member is not engaged in paid
                        publicity or promotion work or in prosecuting any
                        claim before Congress or before any department of
                        the Government, and will not become so engaged while
                        a member of the gallery.
                            (b) That he or she is not engaged in any
                        lobbying activity and will not become so engaged
                        while a member of the gallery.

         155.5               presidential and diplomatic gallery

                    The southern gallery over the main entrance to the
                Senate Chamber, except the first three rows on the eastern
                side of the aisle, shall be set apart for the use of the
                Diplomatic Corps, and no person shall be admitted to it
                excepting the Secretary of State, foreign ministers, their
                families and suites, and Senators.
                    The cards of admission to said gallery shall be issued
                by the Secretary of State, or the chairman of the Committee
                on Rules and Administration, to such persons as are entitled
                to its privileges.
                    The first row on the eastern side of this gallery shall
                be set apart for the use of the President; the second row on
                the eastern side of this gallery shall be set apart for the
                use of the Vice President; and the third row on the eastern
                side of this gallery shall be set apart for the use of the
                President pro tempore of the Senate.

         155.6                         senate gallery

                    The first two rows of the gallery over the east entrance
                to the Senate shall be set apart for the exclusive use of
                the wives and other members of the immediate families of
                Senators.
                    The remainder of the gallery shall be set apart for the
                exclusive use of the families of Senators and guests
                visiting their families who shall be designated by some
                member of the Senator's family, and for the families of ex-
                Presidents of the United States, as well as families of
                incumbent Secretary and Sergeant at Arms of the Senate.

    [[Page 210]]

                    Employees of the Senate, except those on duty at the
                gallery door, shall be excluded.

         155.7                       visitors' galleries

                    The visitors' galleries shall be governed by the
                following rule:
                    The galleries over the western entrance to the Senate
                Chamber and over the southeastern, northwestern, and
                northeastern corners of said Chamber shall be set apart for
                the use of persons holding a card issued by a Senator. The
                period to which such card of admission shall be limited
                rests entirely in the discretion of the Senator issuing it,
                except that such cards shall expire at the end of each
                session and cards of a different color shall be furnished by
                the Sergeant at Arms for the following session. The Sergeant
                at Arms shall in his discretion limit occupancy of the
                visitors' galleries to such periods as may be required to
                accommodate with reasonable expediency all card bearers who
                are seeking admission.

         155.8                         special gallery

                    The gallery adjoining and west of the Diplomatic Gallery
                shall be reserved for guided tours and other special
                parties.