[United States Senate Manual, 112th Congress]
[S. Doc. 112-1]
[Rules for Regulation of the Senate Wing of the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings]
[Page 201]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 201]]

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            RULES FOR REGULATION OF THE SENATE WING OF THE UNITED STATES 
                       CAPITOL AND SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS \1\

            ------------------------------------------------------------

               [Adopted by the Committee on Rules and Administration 
            pursuant to rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate]

       150                             RULE I

                                  SERGEANT AT ARMS

                The Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, under the direction 
            of the Presiding Officer, shall be the Executive Officer of 
            the body for the enforcement of all rules made by the 
            Committee on Rules and Administration for the regulation of 
            the Senate wing of the Capitol and the Senate Office 
            Buildings. The Senate floor shall be at all times under his 
            immediate supervision, and he shall see that the various 
            subordinate officers of his department perform the duties to 
            which they are especially assigned.
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                \1\ Title changed effective June 22, 1998.
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                The Sergeant at Arms shall see that the messengers 
            assigned to the doors upon the Senate floor are at their 
            posts and that the floor, cloakrooms, and lobby are cleared 
            at least five minutes before the opening of daily sessions 
            of all persons not entitled to remain there. In the absence 
            of the Sergeant at Arms the duties of his office, so far as 
            they pertain to the enforcement of the rules, shall devolve 
            upon the Deputy Sergeant at Arms.

       151                             RULE II

                          MAJORITY AND MINORITY SECRETARIES

                The secretary for the majority and the secretary for the 
            minority shall be assigned, during the daily sessions of the 
            Senate, to duty upon the Senate floor.


[[Page 202]]


       152                            RULE III

                              USE OF THE SENATE CHAMBER

                In order to secure and protect the Senate Chamber and 
            its furniture and furnishings, the language contained in 
            paragraph numbered one of rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules 
            of the Senate, which reads ``The Senate Chamber shall not be 
            granted for any other purpose than for the use of the 
            Senate,'' shall be interpreted to mean that when the Senate 
            is not sitting in session or otherwise using the Chamber for 
            some function of the Senate, no Senator shall seat any 
            person or persons in chairs of Senators others than the 
            chair assigned to him (other persons shall not seat anyone 
            in a chair of a Senator); and lectures, talks, or speeches 
            shall not be given at such times to groups on the floor by 
            Senators or others except for the purpose of explaining the 
            Chamber.

       153                             RULE IV

                TAKING OF PICTURES PROHIBITED; \1\ USE OF MECHANICAL 
                                EQUIPMENT IN CHAMBER

     153.1      1. The taking of pictures of any kind is prohibited in 
            the Senate Chamber, the Senate Reading Rooms (Marble Room 
            and Lobby), the Senate Cloakrooms, and the Private Dining 
            Room of the Senate.
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                \1\ Paragraph 1 of rule IV has been temporarily 
            suspended on numerous occasions for the taking of official 
            photographs of the Senate in session, and on Dec. 19, 1974, 
            for telecasting the inauguration of Vice President Nelson A. 
            Rockefeller. Senate authorization for the telecasting of the 
            New Hampshire contested senatorial election debate was not 
            utilized.
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     153.2      2. The Sergeant at Arms shall be authorized to admit 
            into the Senate Chamber such mechanical equipment and/or 
            devices which, in the judgment of the Sergeant at Arms, are 
            necessary and proper in the conduct of official Senate 
            business and which by their presence shall not in any way 
            distract, interrupt, or inconvenience the business or 
            Members of the Senate.
       154                             RULE V

                     MESSENGERS ACTING AS ASSISTANT DOORKEEPERS

                The messengers acting as Assistant Doorkeepers shall be 
            assigned to their duties by the Sergeant at Arms.

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       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-

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            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.

       156                            RULE VII

                                     MARBLE ROOM

                The anteroom known as the Marble Room is a part of the 
            floor of the Senate.

       157                            RULE VIII

                                     CLOAKROOMS

                No persons shall be admitted to the cloakrooms adjoining 
            the Senate Chamber excepting those entitled to the 
            privileges of the Senate floor under Standing Rule XXIII.

       158                             RULE IX

                         HEATING AND VENTILATING DEPARTMENT

                No person shall be admitted to the heating and 
            ventilating department of the Senate wing of the Capitol, 
            except upon a pass from the Sergeant at Arms, or unless 
            accompanied by an officer of the Senate.


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       159                             RULE X

                                 SMOKING POLICY \1\

                Smoking is prohibited in all public places and 
            unassigned space within the Senate Wing of the Capitol and 
            the Senate Office Building. Senators and Chairmen of 
            Committees in consultation with the Ranking Member may each 
            establish smoking policies for office space assigned to them 
            in the Senate Wing of the Capitol and the Senate Office 
            Buildings.
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                \1\ Adopted March 27, 2009.

       160                             RULE XI

                                 SENATE RESTAURANTS

                The management of the Senate Restaurants and all matters 
            connected therewith are under the jurisdiction, control, and 
            direction of the Committee on Rules and Administration.\2\
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                \2\Rule XXV (n)(1) 12 of the Standing Rules of the 
            Senate.

                Note.--Pursuant to Public Law 87-82 (75 Stat. 199, July 
            6, 1961) the management of the Senate Restaurants was 
            transferred to the Architect of the Capitol, subject to 
            approval by the Committee on Rules and Administration as to 
            matters of general policy. See Senate Manual Section 921.
       161                            RULE XII

                                   CORRIDORS, ETC.

                The corridors and passageways of the Senate wing of the 
            Capitol shall be kept open and free from obstructions and 
            free from any person or persons loitering or loafing in or 
            around such places without any visible or lawful business 
            and not giving a good account of themselves; and no stands, 
            booths, or counters for the exhibition or sale of any 
            article shall be placed therein.

       162                            RULE XIII

                               PEDDLING, BEGGING, ETC.

                Peddling, begging, and the solicitation of book or other 
            subscriptions are strictly forbidden in the Senate wing of 
            the Capitol, and no portion of said wing shall be occupied 
            by signs or other devices for advertising any article 
            whatsoever excepting timetables in the Post Office and such 
            signs

[[Page 212]]

            as may be necessary to designate the entrances to the Senate 
            Restaurant.

       163                            RULE XIV

                                 SWEEPING, CLEANING

                All sweeping, cleaning, and dusting of the Senate wing 
            of the Capitol shall be done, as far as practicable, 
            immediately after the adjournment of each day's session of 
            the Senate, and must, in any event, be completed before 8 
            o'clock a.m.
       164                             RULE XV

                        LEGISLATIVE BUZZERS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS

                Effective May 15, 1981, the system of legislative 
            buzzers and signal lights shall be as follows:
            Pre-session signals:    One long ring at hour of convening.
                                    One red light to remain lighted at 
                                        all times while Senate is in 
                                        actual session.
            Session signals:        One ring--Yeas and nays.
                                    Two rings--quorum call.
                                    Three rings--Call of absentees.
                                    Four rings--Adjournment or recess. 
                                        (End of daily session.)
                                    Five rings--Seven and a half minutes 
                                        remaining on yea and nay vote.
                                    Six rings--Morning business 
                                        concluded. (Six rings with 
                                        corresponding lights. Lights cut 
                                        off immediately.)
                                    Recess during daily session. (Six 
                                        rings with corresponding lights. 
                                        Lights stay on during period of 
                                        recess.)
                Effective July 13, 1967, the legislative call system 
            shall be used for alerting Members of Congress, 
            Congressional employees, and visitors of enemy attack or 
            other major disaster conditions. There will be two signals:
                        1. Attack warning.--Notification to all 
                    occupants that the United States is under attack and 
                    that there is real danger of loss of life. This 
                    warning would be given by a sequence of two-second 
                    sounds of the legislative bells separated by two-
                    second silent intervals. This signal would be 
                    repeated for 3 to 5 minutes.

[[Page 213]]

                        2. Attention signal.--Notification of peacetime 
                    disasters, such as accidental presence of 
                    radioactive materials or severe weather or natural 
                    disaster conditions. This signal would be given by a 
                    series of 16-second bell sounds separately by 16-
                    second silent intervals, repeated for 3 to 5 
                    minutes.

                            (Where lights exist they will correspond 
                            with rings.)
       165                            RULE XVI

                SENATE OFFICE BUILDING\1\ AND OTHER SENATE BUILDINGS

                All provisions of the foregoing rules so far as 
            practicable are made applicable to the Senate Office 
            Buildings,\1\ the buildings used for the storage of Senate 
            documents, and the Senate garage.
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                \1\See Senate Manual Secs. 125, 126.
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       166                            RULE XVII

                 USE OF DISPLAY MATERIALS IN THE SENATE CHAMBER \2\

                Graphic displays in the Senate Chamber are limited to 
            the following:

                \2\ Effective July 25, 1986; amended Nov. 4, 1993.
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                Charts, photographs, or renderings:
                Size--No larger than 36 inches by 48 inches.
                Where--On an easel stand next to the Senator's desk or 
            at the rear of the Chamber.
                When--Only at the time the Senator is engaged in debate.
                Number--No more than two may be displayed at a time.