Standing Rules of the Senate
RULE XIX
DEBATE
1. (a) When a Senator desires to speak, he shall rise and address
the Presiding Officer, and shall not proceed until he is recognized, and the
Presiding Officer shall recognize the Senator who shall first address him. No
Senator shall interrupt another Senator in debate without his consent, and to
obtain such consent he shall first address the Presiding Officer, and no Senator
shall speak more than twice upon any one question in debate on the same legislative
day without leave of the Senate, which shall be determined without debate.
(b) At the conclusion of the morning hour at the beginning of
a new legislative day or after the unfinished business or any pending business
has first been laid before the Senate on any calendar day, and until after the
duration of three hours of actual session after such business is laid down except
as determined to the contrary by unanimous consent or on motion without debate,
all debate shall be germane and confined to the specific question then pending
before the Senate.
2. No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any
form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or
motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.
3. No Senator in debate shall refer offensively to any State of
the Union.
4. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, in the opinion of
the Presiding Officer transgress the rules of the Senate the Presiding Officer
shall, either on his own motion or at the request of any other Senator, call
him to order; and when a Senator shall be called to order he shall take his
seat, and may not proceed without leave of the Senate, which, if granted, shall
be upon motion that he be allowed to proceed in order, which motion shall be
determined without debate. Any Senator directed by the Presiding Officer to
take his seat, and any Senator requesting the Presiding Officer to require a
Senator to take his seat, may appeal from the ruling of the Chair, which appeal
shall be open to debate.
5. If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate,
upon the demand of the Senator or of any other Senator, the exceptionable words
shall be taken down in writing, and read at the table for the information of
the Senate.
6. Whenever confusion arises in the Chamber or the galleries,
or demonstrations of approval or disapproval are indulged in by the occupants
of the galleries, it shall be the duty of the Chair to enforce order on his
own initiative and without any point of order being made by a Senator.
7. No Senator shall introduce to or bring to the attention of
the Senate during its sessions any occupant in the galleries of the Senate.
No motion to suspend this rule shall be in order, nor may the Presiding Officer
entertain any request to suspend it by unanimous consent.
8. Former Presidents of the United States shall be entitled to
address the Senate upon appropriate notice to the Presiding Officer who shall
thereupon make the necessary arrangements. |