[106th Congress House Rules Manual -- House Document No. 106-320]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Database]
[DOCID:hrulest-15]

[Page 147]

[[Page 147]]

                             sec. x--address

* * * * *
  A <> joint address of
both Houses of Parliament is read by the Speaker of the House of Lords.
It may be attended by both Houses in a body, or by a Committee from each
House, or by the two Speakers only. An address of the House of Commons
only may be presented by the Whole House, or by the Speaker, 9 Grey,
473; 1 Chandler, 298, 301; or by such particular members as are of the
privy council. 2 Hats., 278.

  In the first years of Congress the President annually delivered an
address to the two Houses in joint session, and the House then prepared
an address, which the Speaker, attended by the House, carried to the
President. A joint rule of 1789 also provided for the presentation of
joint addresses of the two Houses to the President (V, 6630). In 1876
the joint rules of the House were abrogated, including the joint rule
providing for presentation of the joint addresses of the two Houses to
the President (V, 6782-6787). In 1801 President Jefferson transmitted a
message in writing and discontinued the practice of making addresses in
person. From 1801 to 1913 all messages were sent in writing (V, 6629),
but President Wilson resumed the custom of making addresses in person on
April 8, 1913, and, with the exception of President Hoover (VIII, 3333),
the custom has been followed generally by subsequent Presidents.