[Deschler's Precedents]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access]
[DOCID:52093c06_txt-14]                         

[Page 560-562]
 
                               CHAPTER 6
 
                   Officers, Officials, and Employees
 
                         B. SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
 
Sec. 13.--House Approval

    The House rules provide:

        [The Speaker] shall have the right to name any Member to 
    perform the duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not 
    extend beyond three legislative days: Provided, however, That in 
    case of his illness, he may make such appointment for a period not 
    exceeding ten days, with the approval of 
    the House at the time the same is made. . . .<SUP>(6)</SUP>
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 6. Rule I clause 7 of the House Rules and Manual Sec. 633 (1973).
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    The approval of the House has been obtained by The Speaker pursuant 
to a unanimous-consent request where The Speaker, though not ill, 
wished to appoint a Speaker pro tempore who could serve beyond three 
legislative days<SUP>(7)</SUP> and to allow a designated Speaker pro 
tempore to sign enrolled bills during the period of his 
designation.<SUP>(8)</SUP>
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 7. See Sec. 13.1, infra.
 8. See Sec. 13.2, infra.
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    Because of this procedure's infrequent use in modern times it

[[Page 561]]

appears that a Speaker will more often invite the election of a Speaker 
pro tempore when the necessity arises, thus enabling him to sign 
enrolled bills and joint resolutions and vesting in him the fuller 
powers of an elected officer.<SUP>(9)</SUP>
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 9. See Sec. 14, infra.
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    The President and Senate are notified when a designated Speaker pro 
tempore has been given the approval of the House.<SUP>(10)</SUP>
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10. See Sec. Sec. 13.1, 13.2, 
        infra.                          -------------------
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House Approval of Designated Speaker Pro Tempore

Sec. 13.1 On rare occasions a Speaker, though not ill, will designate a 
    Speaker pro tempore and the House will approve the designation so 
    that the designated Speaker pro tempore may serve beyond three 
    legislative days.

    On Apr. 7, 1930,<SUP>(11)</SUP> Speaker Nicholas Longworth, of 
Ohio, designated a Speaker pro tempore to serve for a three-day period 
and ``thereafter'' until his return from a brief vacation.
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11. 72 Cong. Rec. 6661, 71st Cong. 2d Sess. See also  12.1, supra.
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        Mr. [Bertrand H.] Snell [of New York]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution and ask its immediate consideration.
        The Speaker: The gentleman from New York [Mr. Snell] offers a 
    resolution, which the Clerk will report.
        The Clerk read as follows:

            Resolved, That the designation of Hon. John Q. Tilson, a 
        Representative from the State of Connecticut, as Speaker pro 
        tempore be approved by the House and that the President and the 
        Senate be notified thereof.

        The Speaker: The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
        The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

Sec. 13.2 A designated Speaker pro tempore must be formally approved by 
    the House in order to sign enrolled bills during the period of time 
    of his designation.

    On Feb. 24, 1949,<SUP>(12)</SUP> the designated Speaker pro tempore 
John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, received the approval of the House 
in order that he might sign enrolled bills.
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12. 95 Cong. Rec. 1489, 81st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Mike] Mansfield [of Montana]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    privileged resolution (H. Res. 116) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

            Resolved, That the designation of Hon. John W. McCormack, a 
        Representative from the State of Massachusetts, as Speaker pro 
        tempore be approved by the House, and that the President of the 
        United States and the Senate be notified thereof.

[[Page 562]]

        Mr. [Francis H.] Case of South Dakota: Mr. Speaker, will the 
    gentleman yield?
        Mr. Mansfield: I yield to the gentleman from South Dakota.
        Mr. Case of South Dakota: As I understand, this is the 
    customary resolution to meet a situation, so that bills may be duly 
    enrolled and presented for signature?
        Mr. Mansfield: The gentleman is correct.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The question is on the resolution.
        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
        The Speaker Pro Tempore: The Chair requests the gentleman from 
    Montana [Mr. Mansfield] to administer the oath of office to the 
    Chair.
        Mr. Mansfield administered the oath of office as Speaker pro 
    tempore to Mr. McCormack.