The committee to whom it was referred to prepare such standing rules, and orders of proceeding as may be proper to be observed in this House, have, according to order, prepared the same, and agreed to the following report:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the rules and orders following are proper to be established as the standing rules and orders of this House, to wit:

First.–Touching the Duty of the Speaker.

He shall take the chair every day at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned on the preceding day; shall immediately call the members to order, and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the Journal of the preceding day to be read.

He shall preserve decorum and order; may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose, and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two members.

He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting.

Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, viz. 'As many as are of opinion that (as the question may be) say Aye:' And, after the affirmative voice is expressed– 'As many as are of a contrary opinion, say No.'

If the Speaker doubts, or a division be called for, the House shall divide; those in the affirmative going to the right, and those in the negative to the left of the chair. If the Speaker still doubt, or a count be required, the Speaker shall name two members, one from each side, to tell the numbers in the affirmative; which being reported, he shall then name two others, one from each side, to tell those in the negative; which being also reported, he shall rise and state the decision to the House.

The Speaker shall appoint committees, unless it be determined by the House that the committee shall consist of more than three members, in which case the appointment shall be by ballot of the House.

In all cases of ballot by the House, the Speaker shall vote; in other cases he shall not vote, unless the House be equally divided, or unless his vote, if given to the minority, will make the division equal, and in case of such equal division, the question shall be lost.

When the House adjourns, the members shall keep their seats until the Speaker go forth; and then the members shall follow.

Secondly.–Of Decorum and Debate.

When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver any matter to the House, he shall rise from his seat, and respectfully address himself to Mr. Speaker.

If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules of the House, the Speaker shall, or any member may, call to order; in which case the member called to order, shall immediately sit down, unless permitted to explain, and the House shall, if appealed to, decide on the case, but without debate. If there be no appeal, the decision of the Chair shall be submitted to. If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, he shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, and the case require it, he shall he liable to the censure of the House.

When two or more members happen to rise at once, the Speaker shall name the member who is first to speak.

No member shall speak more than twice to the same question without leave of the House; nor more than once, until every member choosing to speak, shall have spoken.

Whilst the Speaker is putting any question, or addressing the House, none shall walk out of, or across the House; nor either in such case, or when a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse, or read any printed book or paper; nor whilst a member is speaking, shall pass between him and the chair.

No member shall vote on any question, in the event of which he is immediately and particularly interested; or in any other case where he was not present when the question was put.

Every member who shall be in the House when a question is put, shall vote on the one side or the other, unless the House for special reasons shall excuse him.

When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Speaker, or being in writing, it shall be handed to the Chair, and read aloud by the Clerk before debated.

Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the Speaker or any member desire it.

After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or read by the Clerk, it shall be deemed to be in possession of the House, but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or amendment.

When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, unless to amend it; to commit it, for the previous question, or to adjourn.

A motion to adjourn shall be always in order, and shall be decided without debate.

The previous question shall be in this form: 'Shall the main question be now put?' It shall only be admitted when demanded by five, members; and until it is decided, shall preclude all amendment and further debate of the main question.

On a previous question no member shall speak more than once without leave.

Any member may call for the division of a question, where the sense will admit of it.

A motion for commitment, until it is decided, shall preclude all amendment of the main question.

Motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the House.

No new motion or proposition shall be admitted, under color of amendment, as a substitute for the motion or proposition under debate.

Committees consisting of more than three members shall be balloted for by the House; if upon such ballot the number required shall not be elected by a majority of the votes given, the House shall proceed to a second ballot, in which a plurality of votes shall prevail; and in case a greater number than are required to compose or complete the committee shall have an equal number of votes, the House shall proceed to a further ballot or ballots.

In all other cases of ballot than for committees, a majority of the votes given shall be necessary to an election, and where there shall not be such majority on the first ballot, the ballot shall be repeated until a majority be obtained.

In all cases where others than members of the House may be eligible, there shall be a previous nomination.

If a question depending be lost by adjournment of the House, and revived on the succeeding day, no member who has spoken twice on the day preceding shall be permitted again to speak without leave.

Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the Senate shall be necessary, shall be read to the House, and laid on the table, on a day preceding that in which the same shall be moved, unless the House shall otherwise expressly allow.

Petitions, memorials, and other papers addressed to the House, shall be presented through the Speaker, or by a member in his place, and shall not be debated or decided on the day of their being first read, unless where the House shall direct otherwise; but shall lie on the table to be taken up in the order they were read.

Any fifteen members (including the Speaker, if there is one) shall be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members.

Upon calls of the House, or in taking the ayes and noes on any question, the names of the members shall be called alphabetically.

Thirdly.–Of Bills.

Every bill shall be introduced by motion for leave, or by an order of the House on the report of a committee, and in either case a committee to prepare the same shall be appointed. In cases of a general nature, one day's notice at least shall be given of the motion to bring an a bill; and every such motion may be committed.

Every bill shall receive three several readings in the House previous to its passage; and all bills shall be despatched in order as they were introduced, unless where the House shall direct otherwise; but no bill shall be twice read on the same day without special order of the House.

The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and if opposition be made to it, the question shall be, 'Shall the bill be rejected?' If no opposition be made, or the question to reject be negatived, the bill shall go to its second reading without a question.

Upon the second reading of a bill, the Speaker shall state it as ready for commitment or engrossment, and if committed, then a question shall be whether to a Select Committee, or to a Committee of the Whole House; if to a Committee of the Whole House, the House shall determine on what day. But if the bill be ordered to be engrossed, the House shall appoint the day when it shall be read the third time. After commitment, and a report thereof to the House, a bill may be re-committed, or at any time before its passage.

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

The enacting style of bills shall be, 'Be it enacted by the Senators and Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled.'

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

No bill amended by the Senate shall be committed.

Fourthly.–Of Committees of the Whole House.

It shall be a standing order of the day, throughout the session, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union.

Informing a Committee of the Whole House, the Speaker shall leave his chair and a Chairman to preside in committee shall be appointed.

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.

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

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

All questions, whether in committee or in the House, shall be propounded in the order they were moved, except that, in filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest day shall be first put.

The rules of proceeding in the House shall be observed in committee, so far as they may be applicable, except that limiting the times of speaking.

• Proposed Rules and Standing Orders (introduced on 1789-04-07 12:00:00 - CREATE - e127122) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • None (introduced on 1789-04-07 12:00:00 - REPORT_PROPOSAL - e127123) [view current proposal at this moment]