[Deschler's Precedents] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access] [DOCID:52093c24_txt-11] [Page 4883-4885] CHAPTER 24 Bills, Resolutions, Petitions, and Memorials A. INTRODUCTORY; VARIOUS TYPES OF BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER MECHANISMS FOR ACTION Sec. 10. Petitions and Memorials A petition is a plea to the Congress to take some action, or refrain from action, on a subject of legislative concern. The term ``me [[Page 4884]] morial'' is ordinarily used to describe a petition from a state legislature.(6) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. See House Rules and Manual Sec. Sec. 389, 849 (1981). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Petitions and memorials, when brought to the attention of the House by a Member or the Speaker, are referred to the committees having appropriate jurisdiction. They are not legislative measures, but may provide the initiative for legislative action. Thus, they are not reported from committee and voted on in the House in the manner of bills and resolutions.(7) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. The introduction and reference of petitions and memorials is governed by Rule XXII clauses 1, 3, 4, House Rules and Manual Sec. Sec. 849, 853, 854 (1981). ------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction by Request Sec. 10.1 When a citizens' petition is introduced ``by request'' under Rule XXII, these words are entered on the Journal and printed in the Record following the name of the Member who introduces the petition. On Apr. 13, 1961,(8) the following was recorded in the Record: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. 107 Cong. Rec. 5900, 87th Cong. 1st Sess. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Under clause 1 of rule XXII, petitions and papers were laid on the Clerks' desk and referred as follows: 118. By Mr. [Perkins] Bass of New Hampshire (by request): Petition of 67 faculty members of Dartmouth College seeking the elimination of the House Committee on Un-American Activities as a standing committee; to the Committee on Rules. Presentation by Petitioners Sec. 10.2 The Speaker declined to entertain a unanimous-consent request that certain petitioners be permitted to present a petition on the floor of the House. On May 24, 1972,(9) the following proceedings took place: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. 118 Cong. Rec. 18679-81, 92d Cong. 2d Sess. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. [Bella] Abzug [of New York]: Mr. Speaker, we have petitioning us today outstanding citizens of this country, social leaders, leaders of the arts, sciences, and professions. They have come here to petition us to act immediately to cut off funds for the war and end our military activity in Indochina. . . . Mr. Speaker, I renew my request in the form of asking unanimous consent that a representative of those citizens come in and have the opportunity to present a petition and that we hear what those people, who are the conscience of this country and who represent a majority of the American people, have to say. . . . The Speaker: (10) The time of the gentlewoman from New York has expired. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Carl Albert (Okla.). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 4885]] The gentlewoman's request is not in order. Parliamentarian's Note: Under Rule XXXII clause 1, the Speaker does not have the authority to entertain a request to waive the rule pertaining to the privilege of admission to the floor.