[United States Senate Manual, 117th Congress]
[S. Doc. 117-1]
[Standing Rules of the Senate]
[Pages 2-4]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


         2                             RULE II

               PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS AND QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE

       2.1      1. The presentation of the credentials of Senators elect 
            or of Senators designate and other questions of privilege 
            shall always be in order, except during the reading and 
            correction of the Journal, while a question of order or a 
            motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is voting 
            or ascertaining the presence of a quorum; and all questions 
            and motions arising or made upon the presentation of such 
            credentials shall be proceeded with until disposed of.
       2.2      2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the certificates 
            of election and certificates of appointment of Senators by 
            entering in a well-bound book kept for that purpose the date 
            of the election or appointment, the name of the person 
            elected or appointed, the date of the certificate, the name 
            of the governor and the secretary of state signing and 
            counter-signing the same, and the state from which such 
            Senator is elected or appointed.
       2.3      3. The Secretary of the Senate shall send copies of the 
            following recommended forms to the governor and secretary of 
            state of each state wherein an election is about to take 
            place or an appointment is to be made so that they may use 
            such forms if they see fit.
            
            THE RECOMMENDED FORMS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION AND 
                CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:\1\

                     ``CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FOR SIX-YEAR TERM

            ``To the President of the Senate of the United States:
                ``This is to certify that on the -- day of --, 20--, A--
            -- B---- was duly chosen by the qualified electors of the 
            State of ---- a Senator from said State to represent said 
            State in the Senate of the United States for the term of six 
            years, beginning on the 3d day of January, 20--.
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                \1\Certificate year designations were changed from 19-- 
            to 20-- by S. Res. 299, 106-2, Apr. 27, 2000.
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                ``Witness: His excellency our governor ----, and our 
            seal hereto affixed at ---- this -- day of --, in the year 
            of our Lord 20--.

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                ``By the governor:
                                              ``C---- D----,
                                                         ``Governor.
                ``E---- F----,
                  ``Secretary of State.''

                    ``CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FOR UNEXPIRED TERM

            ``To the President of the Senate of the United States:
                ``This is to certify that on the -- day of ----, 20--,
            A---- B---- was duly chosen by the qualified electors of the 
            State of ---- a Senator for the unexpired term ending at 
            noon on the 3d day of January, 20--, to fill the vacancy in 
            the representation from said State in the Senate of the 
            United States caused by the -- of C---- D----.
                ``Witness: His excellency our governor ----, and our 
            seal hereto affixed at ---- this -- day of --, in the year 
            of our Lord 20--.
                ``By the governor:
                                              ``E---- F----,
                                                         ``Governor.
                ``G---- H----,
                  ``Secretary of State.''

                            ``CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT

            ``To the President of the Senate of the United States:
                ``This is to certify that, pursuant to the power vested 
            in me by the Constitution of the United States and the laws 
            of the State of ----, I, A---- B----, the governor of said 
            State, do hereby appoint C---- D---- a Senator from said 
            State to represent said State in the Senate of the United 
            States until the vacancy therein caused by the ---- of E---- 
            F----, is filled by election as provided by law.
                ``Witness: His excellency our governor ----, and our 
            seal hereto affixed at ---- this -- day of --, in the year 
            of our Lord 20--.
                ``By the governor:
                                              ``G---- H----,
                                                         ``Governor.
                ``I---- J----,
                  ``Secretary of State.''

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