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R. 121. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed in a fair round hand.

R. 122. No amendment by way of rider shall be received to any bill on its third reading.

R. 123. When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified by the Clerk, noting the day of its passage at the foot thereof.

OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE.

ADOPTED.

April 7, 1789.

April 8, 1814.

April 7, 1789.

1789.

R. 124. It shall be a standing order of the day, through- April 7, out the session, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.*

1789.

R. 125. In forming a Committee of the Whole House, April 7, the Speaker shall leave his chair, and a chairman, to preside in committee, shall be appointed by the Speaker.t

R. 126. Whenever the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, or the Committee of the Whole House, finds itself without a quorum, the chairman shall cause the roll of the House to be called, and thereupon the committee shall rise, and the chairman shall report the

could be recommitted at any time before its passage. Of late years, it has been decided that, if the previous question, on its passage, be ordered, a motion to recommit is not in order, but that the question must be put on the passage of the bill. I think the practice unsound. The intention of a recommitment is for the purpose of perfecting the bill, and it is endangered by forcing its passage in an imperfect state.

* For more than forty years it was held and practised, under this rule, that the House could resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union at any time. Recently, however, a different practice prevailed, it being held that several of the rules prescribing the order of business, as well as special orders, interposed to prevent it; in consequence of which, the House, on the 1st June, 1840, amended the 136th rule so as to go into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union at any time: in other words, restored the ancient practice under the 124th rule.

Originally the rule was silent as to the mode of appointing a chairman of the Committee of the Whole. He was appointed by the House by nomination and vote thereon. That practice became very inconvenient; and on the 13th November, 1794, the rule was amended by adding "by the Speaker."

Dec. 18, 1847.

ADOPTED.

April 7,

1789.

April 7, 1789.

April 7, 1789.

April 7, 1789.

Nov'r 13, 1794.

Nov. 13,

1794.

names of the absentees to the House, which shall be entered on the Journal.†

R. 127. Upon bills committed to a Committee of the Whole House, the bill shall be first read throughout by the Clerk, and then again read and debated by clauses, leaving the preamble to be last considered: the body of the bill shall not be defaced or interlined; but all amendments, noting the page and line, shall be duly entered by the Clerk on a separate paper, as the same shall be agreed to by the committee, and so reported to the House.* After report, the bill shall again be subject to be debated and amended by clauses, before a question to engross it be taken.

R. 128. All amendments made to an original motion in committee shall be incorporated with the motion, and so reported.

R. 129. All amendments made to a report committed to a Committee of the Whole House shall be noted, and reported, as in the case of bills.

R. 130. All questions, whether in Committee or in the House, shall be propounded in the order in which they were moved, except that, in filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be first put.

R. 131. No motion or proposition for a tax or charge upon the people shall be discussed the day in which it is made or offered; and every such proposition shall receive its first discussion in a Committee of the Whole House.

R. 132. No sum or quantum of tax or duty, voted by a Committee of the Whole House, shall be increased in the House until the motion or proposition for such increase shall be first discussed and voted in a Committee of the Whole House; and so in respect to the time of its continuance.

* This refers to bills in manuscript and bills from the Senate. It was long after the date of this rule that the practice of printing the bills was adopted. See rule 63-64 & 65.

ADOPTED.

1794.

R. 133. All proceedings touching appropriations of Nov. 13, money shall be first discussed in a Committee of the Whole House.*

April 7, 1789.

R. 134. The rules of proceedings in the House shall be observed in a Committee of the Whole House, so far as they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the times of speaking; [but no member shall speak twice to any Dec. 17 question, until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.]

1805.

1848.

R. 135. In Committee of the Whole on the state of the July 27, Uniont the bills shall be taken up and disposed of in their order on the calendar; but when objection is made to the consideration of a bill, a majority of the committee shall decide, without debate, whether it shall be taken up and disposed of, or laid aside; provided that general appropriation bills, and, in time of war, bills for raising men or money, and bills concerning a treaty of peace, shall be preferred to all other bills, at the discretion of the committee, and when demanded by any member, the question shall first be put in regard to them.

1794.

R. 136. No standing rule or order of the House shall Nov. 13, be rescinded or changed‡ without one day's notice being given of the motion therefor; [nor shall any rule be suspended, except by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members present;§] nor shall the order of business, as

* This rule, as first adopted, required all proceedings touching appropriations of money to be first moved in Committee of the Whole. The word "moved" was struck out on the 17th December, 1805, as it was found, in practice, greatly to retard public business.

† See note to rule 30, page 76.

The words " or changed" were added on the 23d December, 1811.

This rule was amended at this place, June 18, 1841, [extra session 27th Congress,] by inserting these words: "It shall not be in order to move a suspension of the rules for any purpose, until after the daily call for petitions, reports of committees, and resolutions shall be completed, except for a motion to proceed to the orders of the day." At the commencement of the next ses

March 13, 1822.

April 26, 1828.

ADOPTED.

1848.

established by the rules, be postponed or changed, except by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members present. Jan 25, [The House may, at any time, by a vote of a majority of the members present, suspend the rules and orders for the purpose of going into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and also for providing for the discharge of the Committee of the Whole House, and the Committee of the Whole House on the state of! March 11 the Union] from the further consideration of any bill referred to it, after acting without debate on all amendments pending, and that may be offered.*

1844.

Dec. 18,

1847.

March 13,

R. 137. Except during the last ten days of the session, the Speaker shall not entertain a motion to suspend the rules of the House at any time, except on Monday of every week: provided nothing herein contained shall be construed to alter so much of the 136th rule as provided as follows: "The House may at any time, by a vote of a majority of the members present, suspend the rules and orders for the purpose of going into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and, also, for providing for the discharge of the committee from the further consideration of any bill referred to it, after acting without debate on all amendments pending, and that may be offered.

R. 138. It shall be in order for the Committee on En

1822. rolled Bills to report at any time.

Sept. 15,

1837

R. 139. The rules of Parliamentary Practice, comprised in Jefferson's Manual, shall govern the House in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Standing Rules and Orders of the

sion, the House adopted the rules of the 26th Congress, by which this and all other amendments made at the extra session fell."

* December 4, 1843, the rules of the 27th Congress were adopted, with the exception of this rule. On the 11th March, 1844, this rule was readopted.

House, and the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of
Representatives.*

ADOPTED.

1804.

R. 140. No person shall be permitted to perform divine May 19, service in the chamber occupied by the House of Representatives, unless with the consent of the Speaker.

R. 141. The rule for paying witnesses summoned to appear before this House, or either of its committees, shall be as follows: For each day a witness shall attend, the sum of two dollars; for each mile he shall travel in coming to or going from the place of examination, the sum of ten cents each way; but nothing shall be paid for travelling home when the witness has been summoned at the place of trial.

June 5,

1832.

1832.

R. 142. The Clerk shall, within thirty days after the June 18, close of each session of Congress, cause to be completed the printing and primary distribution, to members and delegates, of the Journal of the House, together with an accurate index to the same.

R. 143. There shall be retained in the library of the Clerk's office, for the use of the members there, and not to be withdrawn therefrom, two copies of all the books and printed documents deposited in the library.

R. 144. The Clerk shall have preserved for each member of the House an extra copy, in good binding, of all the documents printed by order of either House at each future session of Congress.

Dec. 22,

1826.

Febr'y 9, 1831.

1836.

R. 145. The Clerk shall make a weekly statement of April 21, the resolutions and bills (Senate bills inclusive) upon the Speaker's table, accompanied with a brief reference to the orders and proceedings of the House upon each, and the date of such orders and proceedings; which statement shall be printed for the use of the members.

* The rules of Congress embrace all that is essential in common legislative proceedings. In order, however, to meet any contingency and gratify curiosity, Jefferson's Manual, with all the Latin phrases translated, has been inserted in the latter part of this volume. See page 147.

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