[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 104th Congress]
[104th Congress]
[House Document 103-342]
[Rules of the House of Representatives]
[Pages 313-335]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 313]]

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                  RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


                                  with


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[[Page 315]]


                          NOTES AND ANNOTATIONS


    RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WITH NOTES AND ANNOTATIONS




 
                               __________


                                 Rule I.


                         DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER.




Sec. 621. Journal; 
Speaker's approval.

  1. The Speaker shall take the Chair on every legislative day precisely 
at the hour to which the House shall have adjourned at the last sitting 
and immediately call the Members to order.  The Speaker, having examined the Journal of the 
proceedings of the last day's sitting and approved the same, shall 
announce to the House his approval of the Journal, and the Speaker's 
approval of the Journal shall be deemed to be agreed to subject to a 
vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval on the demand of any Member, 
which vote, if decided in the affirmative, shall not be subject to a 
motion to reconsider. It shall be in order to offer one motion that the 
Journal be read only if the Speaker's approval of the Journal is not 
agreed to, and such motion shall be determined without debate and shall 
not be subject to a motion to reconsider.



[[Page 316]]

  This clause was adopted in 1789, amended in 1811, 1824 (II, 1310), 
1971 (Jan. 22, 1971, pp. 14-15, 140-44, with the implementation of the 
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, 84 Stat. 1140) and 1979 (H. Res. 
5, 96th Cong., Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16). 

  The hour of meeting is fixed by standing order, and has traditionally 
been set at 12 m. (I, 104-109, 116, 117; IV, 4325); but beginning in the 
95th Congress, the House by standing order formalized the practice of 
varying its convening time to accommodate committee meetings on certain 
days of the week and to maximize time for floor action on other days. In 
the 100th through the 103d Congresses, the House adopted a resolution 
providing that it meet at noon on Mondays and Tuesdays, 2 p.m. on 
Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. on Thursdays and the balance of the week through 
May 14, after which the convening time for Wednesdays through Saturdays 
would advance to 10 a.m. for the remainder of the session (e.g., H. Res. 
7, 100th Cong., Jan. 6, 1987, p. 19). In the 104th Congress the House 
adopted a resolution providing that it meet at 2 p.m. on Mondays, 11 
a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. on Thursdays and the 
balance of the week through May 13, after which the convening time would 
advance to noon on Mondays and 10 a.m. for the balance of the week for 
the remainder of the session (H. Res. 8, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----). The 
House retains the right to vary from this schedule by use of the motion 
to adjourn to a day or time certain as provided in clause 4 of rule XVI. 
By special order, the House may provide for a session of the House on a 
Sunday, traditionally a ``dies non'' under the precedents of the House 
(Dec. 17, 1982, p. 31946; Dec. 18, 1987, p. 36352; Nov. 19, 1989, p. --
--; Aug. 20, 1994, p. ----). Beginning in the second session of the 103d 
Congress, the House has by unanimous consent agreed to convene at an 
earlier hour on Mondays and Tuesdays for morning-hour debate and then 
recess to the hour established for convening under this clause (Feb. 11, 
1994, p. ----; May 23, 1994, p. ----; June 8, 1994, p. ----; June 10, 
1994, p. ----; Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----; Feb. 16, 1995, p. ----; May 12, 
1995, p. ----; see Sec. 753b, infra).


[[Page 317]]
reading or amendment of the Journal, and there is an objection to the 
vote, a call of the House under clause 4 of rule XV is automatic (Feb. 
2, 1977, pp. 3342-43). Pursuant to clause 5(b)(1) of this rule as 
amended in the 98th Congress, the Speaker may postpone until a later 
time on the same legislative day a record vote on the Chair's approval 
of the Journal (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34). Where the House 
adjourns on consecutive days without having approved the Journal of the 
previous days' proceedings, the Speaker puts the question de novo in 
chronological order as the first order of business on the subsequent day 
(Nov. 3, 1987, p. 30592).
  Immediately after the Members are called to order prayer is offered by 
the Chaplain (IV, 3056), and the Speaker declines to entertain a point 
of no quorum before prayer is offered (VI, 663; clause 6(a)(1) of rule 
XV). Pursuant to clause 1 of rule I, as in effect in the 95th Congress, 
directing the Speaker to announce his approval of the Journal ``on the 
appearance of a quorum'' after having called the House to order, a point 
of order of no quorum could be made after the prayer and before the 
approval of the Journal when the House convened, notwithstanding the 
provisions of clause 6(e) of rule XV, allowing such points of order in 
the House only when the Speaker had put the pending motion or 
proposition to a vote (Oct. 3, 1977, p. 31987); prior practice had 
permitted a point of no quorum prior to the reading of the Journal (IV, 
2733; VI, 625) or during its reading (VI, 624). In the 96th Congress, 
the House eliminated the necessity for the appearance of a quorum before 
the Speaker's announcement of his approval of the Journal (H. Res. 5, 
Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16). The current rule specifies that it is not in 
order to make or entertain a point of order that a quorum is not present 
unless the Speaker has put the pending motion or proposition to a vote 
(clause 6(e) of rule XV, as added in the 95th Congress). If a quorum 
fails to respond on a motion incident to the approval, 

  Prior to the 92d Congress, the reading of the Journal was mandatory, 
could not be dispensed with except by unanimous consent (VI, 625; Sept. 
19, 1962, p. 19941), or by motion to suspend the rules (IV, 2747-2750). 
It had to be read in full when demanded by any Member (IV, 2739-2741; 
VI, 627, 628; Feb. 22, 1950, p. 2152), but the demand came too late 
after the Journal was approved (VI, 626). Under the rule as in effect 
before the 95th Congress, pending the Speaker's announcement of his 
approval of the Journal and prior to approval by the House, any Member 
could offer a privileged, non-debatable motion that the Journal be read 
(Apr. 23, 1975, p. 11482).

  The Journal of the last day of a session is not read on the first day 
of the next session (IV, 2742). No business is transacted before the 
reading (IV, 2751-2756; VI, 629, 630, 637); not even consideration of a 
conference report (VI, 630). However, the motion to adjourn (IV, 2757; 
Speaker Wright, Nov. 2, 1987, p. 30387) and the swearing in of a Member 
(I, 172) could take precedence, and a question of privilege relating to 
a breach of privilege (such as an assault) occurring during the reading 
or approval of the Journal may interrupt its reading or approval (II, 
1630).

  Once begun, the reading may not be interrupted, even by business so 
highly privileged as a conference report (V, 6443; rule XXVII); but a 
parliamentary inquiry (VI, 624), or an arraignment of impeachment may 
interrupt (VI, 469); and in cases of disorder the reading has been 
suspended (II, 1630; IV, 2759).


<>   2. He shall preserve order and decorum, and, in case of 
disturbance or disorderly conduct in the gal

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leries, or in the lobby, may cause the same to be cleared.

  Under the prior rule, the Speaker's examination and approval of the 
Journal was preliminary to the reading and did not preclude subsequent 
amendment by the House itself (IV, 2734-2738). If the Speaker's approval 
of the Journal is rejected, a motion to amend takes precedence of a 
motion to approve (IV, 2760; VI, 633), and a Member offering an 
amendment is recognized under the hour rule (Mar. 19, 1990, p. 4488); 
but the motion is not admissible after the previous question is demanded 
on the motion to approve (IV, 2770; VI, 633; VIII, 2684; Sept. 13, 1965, 
p. 23600).

  This clause was adopted in 1789 and amended in 1794 (II, 1343).

  The Speaker may name a Member who is disorderly, but may not, of his 
own authority, censure or punish him (II, 1344, 1345; VI, 237). In cases 
of extreme disorder in Committee of the Whole the Speaker has taken the 
chair and restored order without a formal rising of the committee (II, 
1348, 1648-1653, 1657); and the Speaker, as an exercise of his authority 
under this clause, has on his own initiative declared the House in 
recess in an emergency (83d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 2324). The authority to 
have the galleries cleared has been exercised but rarely (II, 1352; 
Speaker Albert, Jan. 18, 1972, p. 9). On one occasion, acting on the 
basis of police reports and other evidence, the Speaker ordered the 
galleries cleared before the House convened (May 10, 1972, p. 16576) and 
then informed the House of his decision. In an early instance the 
Speaker ordered the arrest of a person in the gallery; but this exercise 
of power was questioned (II, 1605). While Members are permitted to use 
exhibits such as charts during debate (subject to the permission of the 
House under rule XXX), the Speaker may direct the removal of a chart 
from the well of the House which is not being utilized during debate 
(Apr. 1, 1982, p. 6304; Apr. 19, 1990, p. 7402). The Speaker's 
responsibility to preserve decorum requires that he disallow the use of 
exhibits in debate which would be demeaning to the House or which would 
be disruptive of the decorum thereof (Sept. 13, 1989, p. 20362; Oct. 16, 
1990, p. ----; Oct. 1, 1991, p. ----); thus he may inquire as to a 
Member's intentions, as to the use of exhibits, before conferring 
recognition to address the House (Mar. 21, 1984, p. 6187). In the 101st 
Congress both the Speaker and the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole 
reinforced the Chair's authority to control the use of exhibits in 
debate, distinguishing between the constitutional authority of the House 
to make its own rules and first amendment rights of free speech, and the 
use of all exhibits was prohibited during the consideration of a bill in 
the Committee of the Whole (Oct. 11, 1990, p. ----).


[[Page 319]]

  Questions having been raised concerning proper attire for Members in 
the Chamber (thermostat controls having been raised to comply with a 
Presidential directive conserving energy in the summer months), the 
Speaker announced he considered traditional attire for Members 
appropriate, including coats and ties for male Members and appropriate 
attire for female Members, but that he would recognize for a question of 
privileges of the House to relax such standards. The Speaker also 
requested a Member in violation of those standards to remove himself 
from the Chamber and appear in appropriate attire, and refused to 
recognize such Member until he did so (Speaker O'Neill, July 17, 1979, 
p. 11461). The House later agreed to a resolution (presented as a 
question of the privileges of the House) requiring Members to wear 
proper attire as determined by the Speaker (July 17, 1979, pp. 186-87). 


  Recognition is within the discretion of the Chair, and in order to 
uphold order and decorum in the House as required under clause 2 of rule 
I, the Speaker may deny a Member recognition to address the House under 
the ``one-minute rule'' (Aug. 27, 1980, p. 23456), and may deny further 
recognition to a Member proceeding out of order beyond the one-minute 
for which recognized (Mar. 16, 1988, p. 4081). Even prior to adoption of 
the rules, the Speaker may maintain decorum by directing a Member who 
has not been recognized in debate beyond an allotted time to be removed 
from the well and by directing the Sergeant-at-Arms to present the mace 
as the traditional symbol of order (Jan. 3, 1991, p. ----). A Member's 
comportment may constitute a breach of decorum even though the content 
of that Member's speech is not, itself, unparliamentary (July 29, 1994, 
p. ----).




Sec. 623. Speaker's control of the Hall, corridors, and 
rooms.

  3.  He shall have general control, except as provided by rule or 
law, of the Hall of the House, and of the corridors and passages and the 
disposal of the unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol 
assigned to the use of the House, until further order.


  This clause was adopted in 1811 and amended in 1824, 1885 (II, 1354), 
and April 5, 1911 (VI, 261).


  Control of the appropriated rooms in the House portion of the Capitol 
is exercised by the House itself (V, 7273-7279), but repairs and 
alterations have been authorized by statute (V, 7280-7281; 59 Stat. 
472). On January 15, 1979, the Speaker announced his directive 
concerning free access by Members in the corridors approaching the 
chamber (p. 19). The Speaker has declined to recognize for a unanimous 
consent request to change the decor in the Chamber, stating that he 
would take the ``suggestion'' under advisement in exercising his 
authority under this clause (Mar. 2, 1989, p. 3220).


[[Page 320]]
to sign enrolled bills whether or not the House is in session.



Sec. 624. Speaker's signature to acts, warrants, subpoenas, 
etc.; and decision of questions of order subject to appeal.

  4.  He shall 
sign all acts, addresses, joint resolutions, writs, warrants, and 
subpoenas of, or issued by order of, the House, and decide all questions 
of order, subject to an appeal by any Member, on which appeal no Member 
shall speak more than once, unless by permission of the House. The 
Speaker is authorized 


  The portion of this rule relating to decisions on points of order was 
adopted in 1789 and amended in 1811; and the portion relating to the 
signing of acts, etc., was adopted in 1794 (II, 1313). The last sentence 
of this clause, granting the Speaker standing authority to sign enrolled 
bills, even if the House is not in session, was added in the 97th 
Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113).



Sec. 625. Signing of enrolled bills.

  Enrolled  bills are 
signed first by the Speaker (IV, 3429). He has declined to sign in the 
absence of a quorum (IV, 3458), or pending a motion to reconsider (V, 
5705); and the report of a committee as to the accuracy of the 
enrollment is first submitted, unless, as in rare instances only, the 
House by consent waives the requirement (IV, 3452). In cases of error 
the House has permitted the Speaker's signature to be vacated (IV, 3453, 
3455-3457; VII, 1077-1080). Under the modern practice, the Committee of 
the Whole may rise informally without motion to enable the Speaker to 
assume the Chair and to sign an enrolled bill and lay it before the 
House (Jan. 28, 1980, p. 888; Apr. 30, 1980, p. 9505).




Sec. 626. Signing of warrants, subpoenas, 
etc.

  Warrants,  subpoenas, etc., during recesses of Congress are signed only by 
authority specially given (III, 1753, 1763, 1806). The issuing of 
warrants must be specially authorized by the House (I, 287) or pursuant 
to a standing rule (clause 4 of rule XV; Sec. 774a, infra). Instance 
wherein the House authorized the Speaker to warrant for the arrest of 
absentees (VI, 638). The Speaker also signs the articles, replications, 
etc., in impeachments (III, 2370, 2455); and certifies cases of 
contumacious witnesses for action by the courts (III, 1691, 1769; VI, 
385; 2 U.S.C. 194). A subpoena validly issued by a committee authorized 
by the House under clause 2(m) of rule XI to issue subpoenas need only 
be signed by the chairman of that committee, whereas when the House 
issues an order or warrant, the Speaker must issue the summons under his 
hand and seal, and it must be attested by the Clerk (III, 1668; see H. 
Rept. 96-1078, p. 22).



[[Page 321]]
the question of order may be raised without waiting for the reading to 
be completed (V, 6886-7; VIII, 2912, 3378, 3437), though the Chair may 
decline to rule until the entire proposition has been read (Dec. 14, 
1973, pp. 41716-18). Debate being for his information is within his 
discretion (V, 6919, 6920; VIII, 3446-3448), and Members must address 
the Chair and cannot engage in ``colloquies'' on the point of order 
(Sept. 18, 1986, p. 24083). He is constrained to give precedent its 
proper influence (II, 1317; VI, 248). While the Chair will normally not 
disregard a decision of the Chair previously made on the same facts (IV, 
4045), such precedents may be examined and reversed where shown to be 
erroneous (IV, 4637; VI, 639; VII, 849; VIII, 2794, 3435; Sept. 12, 
1986, p. 23178). Preserving the authority and binding force of 
parliamentary law is as much the duty of each Member of the House as it 
is the duty of the Chair (VII, 1479). The Speaker's decisions are 
recorded in the Journal (IV, 2840, 2841), but responses to parliamentary 
inquiries are not so recorded (IV, 2842). Questions arising during a 
division are decided peremptorily (V, 5926), and when they arise out of 
any other question must be decided before that question (V, 6864). 
Recognition for parliamentary inquiry lies in the discretion of the 
Chair (VI, 541; Apr. 7, 1992, p. ----). The Speaker may recognize and 
respond to a parliamentary inquiry although the previous question may 
have been demanded (Speaker pro tempore Snell, Mar. 27, 1926, p. 6469). 
While the Chair may in his discretion recognize Members for 
parliamentary inquiries when no other Member is occupying the floor for 
debate, when another Member has the floor he must yield for a 
parliamentary inquiry (Oct. 1, 1986, p. 27465; July 13, 1989, p. 14633).


Sec. 627. Practice governing the Speaker in deciding 
points of order.

  The  Speaker may require that a question of order be 
presented in writing (V, 6865). He is not required to decide a question 
not directly presented by the proceedings (II, 1314), and it is not his 
duty to decide a hypothetical question (VI, 249, 253; Nov. 20, 1989, p. 
----), as the germaneness of an amendment not yet offered (Dec. 12, 
1985, p. 36167) or previously offered and entertained without a point of 
order (June 6, 1990, p. 13194), or concerning the propriety under 
applicable Budget Act allocations of an amendment not yet offered, 
particularly where the Chair's response may have depended upon the 
disposition of a prior amendment on which proceedings had been postponed 
(June 27, 1994, p. ----). When enough of a proposition has been read to 
show that it is out of order, 


  A proper parliamentary inquiry relates to an interpretation of a House 
rule, not of a statute; the Chair has declined to anticipate whether 
bill language would trigger certain executive actions (Sept. 20, 1989, 
p. 20969). In rare instances the Speaker has declined to rule until he 
has taken time for examination of the question (III, 2725; VI, 432; VII, 
2106; VIII, 2174, 2396, 3475). Prior to the 104th Congress, precedents 
and applicable guidelines allowed the Chair to refine a ruling on a 
point of order in the Record in order to clarify the ruling without 
changing its substance, including one sustained by the House on appeal 
(Feb. 19, 1992, p. ----; see H. Res. 230, 99th Cong., July 31, 1985, p. 
21783, and H. Rept. 99-228 (in accordance with existing accepted 
practices, Speaker may make such technical or parliamentary corrections 
or insertions in transcript as may be necessary to conform to rule, 
custom, or precedent); see also H. Res. 330, 101st Cong., Feb. 7, 1990, 
p. 1515, and report of House Administration Task Force on Record 
inserted by Speaker Foley, Oct. 27, 1990, p. ----). However, the Speaker 
ruled that the requirement of clause 9 of rule XIV, which was adopted in 
the 104th Congress, that the Record be a substantially verbatim account 
of remarks made during House proceedings, extended to statements and 
rulings of the Chair (Jan. 20, 1995, p. ----).


[[Page 322]]
1992, p. ----). The Chair responds to parliamentary inquiries relating 
in a practical sense to the pending proceedings but does not respond to 
requests to place them in historical context (June 25, 1992, p. ----). 
The Chair will not respond to a parliamentary inquiry involving the 
propriety of words spoken in debate pending a demand under clause 4 of 
rule XIV that those words be ``taken down'' as unparliamentary (June 8, 
1995, p. ----). In interpreting the language of a special order adopted 
by the House, the Chair will not look behind the language of the 
resolution itself where no ambiguity exists therein (June 18, 1986, p. 
14267). He rarely submits a question directly to the House for its 
decision (IV, 3173, 3282, 4930; V, 5014, 5323, 6701; VI, 49; Speaker 
Longworth, Apr. 8, 1926, p. 7148), and rarely raises and submits a 
question on his own initiative (II, 1277, 1315, 1316; VIII, 3405). Even 
as to questions of privilege he usually, in later practice, makes a 
preliminary decision instead of submitting the question directly to the 
House (III, 2648, 2649, 2650, 2654, 2678; Speaker Wright, Mar. 11, 1987, 
p. 5404). He does not decide on the legislative or legal effect of 
propositions (II, 1274, 1323, 1324; VI, 254; VII, 2112; VIII, 2280, 
2841; Mar. 16, 1983, p. 5669), on the consistency of proposed action 
with other acts of the House (II, 1327-1336; VII, 2112, 2136; VIII, 
3237, 3458), whether Members have abused leave to print (V, 6998-7000; 
VIII, 3475), on the constitutional powers of the House (II, 1255, 1318-
1320, 1490; IV, 3507; VI, 250, 251; VIII, 2225, 3031, 3071, 3427; July 
21, 1947, pp. 9522, 9551; May 13, 1948, p. 5817), on the propriety or 
expediency of a proposed course of action (II, 1275, 1325, 1326, 1337; 
IV, 3091-3093, 3127); and he does not consider contingencies which may 
arise in the future (VII, 1409), such as ruling on the germaneness of an 
amendment not yet offered (May 5, 1988, p. 9936; May 18, 1988, p. 
11404); or take cognizance of complaints relating to pairs (VIII, 3087). 
He passes on the validity of conference reports (V, 6409, 6410, 6414-
6416; VIII, 3256, 3264), but not on the sufficiency of the accompanying 
statements as distinguished from the form (V, 6511-6513), or on the 
question of whether a conference report violates instructions of the 
House (V, 6395; VIII, 3246). As to reports of committees, he does not 
decide as to their sufficiency (II, 1339, IV, 4653), or whether the 
committee has followed instructions (II, 1338; IV, 4404, 4689); or on 
matters arising in Committee of the Whole (V, 6927, 6928, 6932-6937; 
Dec. 12, 1985, p. 36173); but he has decided as to the validity of the 
authorization of a report (IV, 4592, 4593) and has indicated that a 
point of order could be raised at a proper time where the content of a 
filed report varies from that approved by the committee (May 16, 1989, 
p. 9356). Questions concerning informal guidelines of the Committee on 
Rules for advance submission of amendments for possible inclusion under 
a ``modified closed'' rule may not be raised under the guise of 
parliamentary inquiries, since the Chair would not be called upon to 
interpret any rule of the House (May 5, 1988, p. 9938).

[[Page 323]]

  The Chair may take a parliamentary inquiry under advisement, 
especially where not related to the pending proceedings (VIII, 2174; 
Apr. 7, 



Sec. 628. Practice, governing appeals.

  The  right of appeal 
insures the House against the arbitrary control of the Speaker and can 
not be taken away from the House (V, 6002); but appeals may not be 
entertained from responses to parliamentary inquiries (V, 6955; VIII, 
3457); when dilatory (V, 5715-5722; VIII, 2822); from decisions on 
recognition (II, 1425-1428; VI, 292; VIII, 2429, 2646, 2762; July 23, 
1993, p. ----; Apr. 4, 1995, p. ----); from decisions on dilatoriness of 
motions (V, 5731); while another is pending (V, 6939-6941); on a 
question on which an appeal has just been decided (IV, 3036; V, 6877); 
between the motion to adjourn and vote thereon (V, 5361); during a call 
of the yeas and nays (V, 6051); from the count by the Chair of the 
number rising to demand tellers (VIII, 3105) or a recorded vote (June 
24, 1976, p. 20390) or the yeas and nays (Sept. 12, 1978, p. 28950) or 
rising to object to a request under clause 2(i) of rule XI that a 
committee have permission to sit under the five-minute rule (Sept. 12, 
1978, p. 28984); from the Chair's count of a quorum (July 24, 1974, p. 
25012); from the Chair's call of a voice vote (July 13, 1994, p. ----; 
Aug. 10, 1994, p. ----); from decision refusing recapitulation of a vote 
(VIII, 3128); and from the Speaker's refusal under clause 6(e) of rule 
XV to entertain a point of order of no quorum when a pending question 
has not been put to a vote (Sept. 16, 1977, p. 29594). The Speaker may 
vote to sustain his own decision (IV, 4569; V, 5686, 6956, 6957).



  The appeal may be debated (VII, 1608; VIII, 2347, 2375, 3453-3455); 
unless the motion is made to lay on the table (V, 5301; Mar. 16, 1988, 
p. 4086), or the previous question is ordered (V, 5448, 5449). An appeal 
from a decision relating to the priority of business (V, 6952), or 
irrelevancy of debate (V, 5056-5063) is not debatable. In practice a 
Member favorable to the ruling usually moves to lay the appeal on the 
table, thus shutting off debate (e.g., Oct. 8, 1968, p. 30215; Apr. 6, 
1995, p. ----). A motion to postpone an appeal has been held in order 
(VIII, 2613). Debate in the House is under the hour rule (V, 4978), but 
may be closed at any time by the adoption of a motion for the previous 
question (V, 6947); or to lay on the table (VIII, 3453). Debate on an 
appeal in the Committee of the Whole is under the five-minute rule (VII, 
1608; VIII, 2347, 2556a, 3454, 3455), and may be closed by motion to 
close debate or to rise and report (V, 6947, 6950; VIII, 3453).


[[Page 324]]
tion shall first rise from their <> seats, and then those in the 
negative. If any Member requests a recorded vote and that request is 
supported by at least one-fifth of a quorum, such vote shall be taken by 
electronic device, unless the Speaker in his discretion orders clerks to 
tell the names of those voting on each side of the question, and such 
names shall be recorded by electronic device or by clerks, as the case 
may be, and shall be entered in the Journal, together with the names of 
those not voting. Members shall have not less than fifteen minutes to be 
counted from the ordering of the recorded vote or the ordering of clerks 
to tell the vote.



Sec. 629. Putting of the question by the Speaker.

  5.  (a) He 
shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting; and shall put 
questions in this form, to wit: ``As many as are in favor (as the 
question may be), say `Aye'.''; and after the affirmative voice is 
expressed, ``As many as are opposed, say `No'.''; if he doubts, or a 
division is called for, the House shall divide; those in the affirmative 
of the ques


  This paragraph was first adopted in 1789 and its present form reflects 
the revisions and amendments of 1860, 1880 (II, 1311), 1972 (H. Res. 
1123, Oct. 13, 1972, pp. 36005-08), and 1993 (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, 
p. ----). From January 22, 1971 (when H. Res. 5 of the 92d Congress was 
adopted incorporating provisions in the Legislative Reorganization Act 
of 1970, 84 Stat. 1140), until October 13, 1972, this rule provided a 
two-step procedure for ordering ``tellers with clerks'' prior to 
installation of the electronic voting system, and for the first time 
permitted Members to be recorded on votes in Committee of the Whole. The 
last two sentences of this paragraph permitting a single-step ``recorded 
vote'' and voting by means of electronic device installed in the Chamber 
in 1972, were contained in House Resolution on October 13, 1972, and 
were made effective by adoption of the rules of the 93d Congress (H. 
Res. 6, Jan. 3, 1973, pp. 26-27). The general provision for demanding a 
vote by tellers was repealed in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 
1993, p. ----).

  The motion as stated by the Chair in putting the question and not as 
stated by the Member in offering the motion, is the proposition voted on 
(VI, 247). Under this paragraph the Speaker must put the pending 
question to a voice vote prior to entertaining a demand for a recorded 
vote or the yeas and nays (Speaker Foley, Mar. 9, 1992, p. ----). It is 
not in order for a Member having the floor in debate to conduct a 
``straw vote'' or otherwise ask for a show of support for a proposition. 
See Procedure, ch. 30, sec. 3.1.


[[Page 325]]
(V, 6002) and the integrity of the Chair in counting a vote should not 
be questioned in the House (VIII, 3115; July 11, 1985, p. 18550), and 
the Chair's count of Members demanding a recorded vote is not appealable 
(June 24, 1976, pp. 20390-91). A vote by division takes no cognizance of 
Members present but not voting, and consequently the number of votes 
counted by division has no tendency to establish a lack of a quorum 
(June 29, 1988, p. 16504).
  One of the suppositions on which parliamentary law is founded is that 
the Speaker will not betray his duty to make an honest count on a 
division 

  In a full House (total membership of 435), a recorded vote is ordered 
by one-fifth of a quorum (44), but in Committee of the Whole a recorded 
vote is ordered by 25 (clause 2(b) of rule XXIII, as added in 96th Cong. 
by H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7, 16), rather than 20 in both cases as 
in prior practice (V, 5986; Dec. 20, 1974, p. 41793). The former right 
to demand tellers was not precluded by the fact that the yeas and nays 
had been refused (V. 5998; VIII, 3103), that a point of no quorum has 
been made against a division vote on the question on which tellers were 
requested (VIII, 3104, by a point of no quorum and a call of the House 
following a division vote on the question on which tellers were demanded 
(Sept. 25, 1969, pp. 27041-42), or by the intervention of a quorum call 
following the refusal of the Committee of the Whole to order a recorded 
vote (Feb. 27, 1974, p. 4447). But only one request for a recorded vote 
on a pending question is in order (Jan. 21, 1976, p. 508), and a demand 
for a recorded vote cannot interrupt a vote by division which is in 
progress (June 10, 1975, p. 18048). While a request for a recorded vote 
once denied may not be renewed, the request remains pending where the 
Chair interrupts the count of Members standing in favor of the request 
in order to count for a quorum pursuant to a point of order that a 
quorum is not present (Aug. 5, 1982, pp. 19658, 19659). Recognition by 
the Chair for a parliamentary inquiry immediately following the Chair's 
announcement of a voice vote on an amendment is not such intervening 
business as to prevent a demand for a recorded vote thereon where the 
Chair has not announced the final disposition of the amendment (May 23, 
1984, p. 13928; July 26, 1984, p. 21249). Where a division vote is 
demanded on a proposition in the House and the vote thereon is then 
postponed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this clause a division may again 
be demanded when the question is put de novo on the proposition as 
unfinished business (since a demand for a division may be made by any 
Member), whereas a demand for the yeas and nays if refused by the House 
may not be renewed (Mar. 18, 1980, pp. 5739-40). Ordinarily, however, 
only one demand for a vote by division on a pending question is in order 
(July 26, 1984, p. 21259; June 29, 1994, p. ----).


[[Page 326]]
pointed from the other side (V, 5988) or the position has been left 
vacant (V, 5989). A Delegate may be appointed teller (II, 1302). Where 
there is a doubt as to the count by tellers the Chair may order the vote 
taken again (V, 5991; July 19, 1946, p. 9466), but this must be done 
before he has announced the result (V, 5993-5995; VIII, 3098). The Chair 
may be counted without passing between the tellers (V, 5996, 5997; VIII, 
3100, 3101).



Sec. 630b. Ordering of tellers and taking of the 
vote.

  In  Committee of the Whole, a request for a recorded vote on an 
amendment once denied may not be renewed even where the absence of a 
quorum is disclosed immediately following the refusal to order a 
recorded vote (June 6, 1979, p. 13648; Oct. 25, 1983, p. 29227). It is 
the duty of the Member to serve as teller when appointed by the Chair 
(V, 5987); but when Members of one side have declined, the second teller 
has been ap




Sec. 631. Postponing rollcall votes on passage.

  (b)(1)  On 
any legislative day whenever a recorded vote is ordered or the yeas and 
nays are ordered, or a vote is objected to under clause 4 of rule XV on 
any of the following questions, the Speaker may, in his discretion, 
postpone further proceedings on each such question to a designated time 
or place in the legislative schedule on that legislative day in the case 
of the question of agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, or 
within two legislative days, in the case of the other questions listed 
herein:


      (A) the question of adopting a resolution;

      (B) the question of passing a bill;

      (C) the question of agreeing to a motion to instruct conferees as 
provided in clause 1(c) of rule XXVIII: Provided, however, That 
proceedings shall not resume on said question if the conferees have 
filed a report in the House;

      (D) the question of agreeing to a conference report;

      (E) the question of ordering the previous question on a question 
described in subdivision (A), (B), (C), or (D); and

      (F) the question of agreeing to a motion to suspend the rules.


[[Page 327]]
under subparagraph (1), the Speaker shall put each question on which 
further proceedings were postponed, in the order in which that question 
was considered.
  (2) At the time designated by the Speaker for further consideration of 
proceedings postponed 

  (3) At any time after the vote has been taken on the first question on 
which the Speaker has postponed further proceedings under this 
paragraph, the Speaker may, in his discretion, reduce to not less than 
five minutes the period of time within which a rollcall vote by 
electronic device on the question may be taken without any intervening 
business on any or all of the additional questions on which the Speaker 
has postponed further proceedings under this paragraph.


  (4) If the House adjourns before all of the questions on which further 
proceedings were postponed under this paragraph have been put and 
determined, then, on the next following legislative day the unfinished 
business shall be the disposition of all such questions, previously 
undisposed of, in the order in which the questions were considered.


[[Page 328]]
5, Jan. 3, 1989, p. 72), along with the provision that a question so 
postponed not be put if the conferees sooner file their report. In the 
104th Congress the list of questions susceptible of postponement was 
reordered and expanded to include a vote on ordering the previous 
question on another question that is, itself, susceptible of 
postponement (sec. 223(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----).
  Paragraph (b) was added in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 
1979, p. 7), and subparagraph (b)(1) was amended in the 97th Congress 
(H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113) to place all authority for the 
postponing of further proceedings on certain questions into rule I. This 
consolidation was accomplished with the addition of the authority to 
postpone further proceedings on reports from the Committee on Rules 
(formerly clause 4(e) of rule XI) and the authority to postpone further 
proceedings on motions to suspend the rules and pass bills or 
resolutions (formerly clause 3(b) of rule XXVII). The authority for the 
Speaker to postpone further proceedings on agreeing to his approval of 
the Journal until later that legislative day was added to subparagraph 
(b)(1) in the 98th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1983, p. 34). The 
authority for the Speaker to postpone further proceedings on motions to 
instruct conferees after 20 calendar days in conference was added to 
subparagraph (b)(1) in the 101st Congress (H. Res. 

  The Speaker first exercised his authority to postpone a rollcall vote 
on the approval of the Journal on November 10, 1983 (p. 32097). That 
authority includes the power to postpone a division vote on the approval 
of the Journal that is objected to under clause 4 of rule XV (Sept. 21, 
1993, p. ----). But on questions not enumerated in this paragraph, such 
as the initial motion to instruct conferees, unanimous consent is 
required to permit the Speaker to postpone such record votes (Oct. 6, 
1986, p. 28704).

  Pursuant to clause 6(e) of rule XV, prohibiting a point of order of no 
quorum unless the Speaker has put the pending proposition to a vote, the 
Speaker announces, after postponing a vote on a motion to suspend the 
rules where objection has been made to the vote on the grounds that 
quorum is not present, that the point of order is considered as 
withdrawn, since the Chair is no longer putting the question (May 16, 
1977, p. 14785). At the conclusion of debate on all motions to suspend 
the rules on a legislative day, the Speaker announces that he will put 
the question on each motion on which further proceedings have been 
postponed--either de novo if objection to the vote has been made under 
clause 4 of rule XV or for a ``yea and nay'' or recorded vote if 
previously ordered by the House in the order in which the motions had 
been entered (June 4, 1974, pp. 17521-47).

  Under the authority to postpone further proceedings on a specified 
question to a designated time within two legislative days, the Speaker 
may simultaneously designate separate times for the resumption of 
proceedings on separate postponed questions (Mar. 3, 1992, p. ----). 
Once the Speaker has postponed rollcall votes to a designated place in 
the legislative schedule, he may subsequently redesignate the time when 
the votes will be taken within the appropriate period (June 6, 1984, p. 
15080; Oct. 3, 1988, pp. 27782, 27878).


[[Page 329]]
would not give adequate notice of the initial five-minute vote (Oct. 8, 
1985, p. 26666). But where a series of votes has been postponed to a 
subsequent day pursuant to this clause, to occur following a fifteen-
minute vote on another measure not a part of that series, the vote on 
the first postponed measure may be reduced to five minutes only by 
unanimous consent (May 24, 1983, p. 13595). By unanimous consent waiving 
the five-minute minimum set by paragraph (b)(3) of this clause, the 
House has authorized the Speaker to put remaining postponed questions to 
two-minute electronic votes (Oct. 4, 1988, pp. 28126, 28148). The 
Speaker may ``cluster'' postponed votes on a motion to suspend the rules 
and on adoption of a resolution in the order in which those questions 
were considered on the preceding day (July 19, 1983, p. 19774). The 
requirement that the Speaker put each question on motions to suspend the 
rules in the order in which postponed, does not prevent the Speaker from 
entertaining a unanimous consent request for the consideration of a 
similar Senate measure following passage of a House bill and prior to 
the next postponed vote (Feb. 15, 1983, p. 2175). Since a resolution 
raising a question of the privileges of the House takes precedence over 
a motion to suspend the rules, it may be offered and voted on between 
motions to suspend the rules on which the Speaker has postponed record 
votes until after debate on all suspensions (May 17, 1983, p. 12486). 
Under this clause the Speaker is not required to announce his intention 
to postpone at the beginning of consideration of a motion to suspend the 
rules (although that is customarily the courtesy) but may postpone 
further proceedings after a record vote is ordered or an objection is 
raised under clause 4 of rule XV (Feb. 23, 1993, p. ----).

  Following the first postponed vote on motions to suspend the rules, 
the Speaker may in his discretion reduce to not less than 5 minutes the 
time for taking votes on any or all of the subsequent motions on which 
votes have been postponed (June 4, 1974, p. 17547). Having clustered 
record votes on motions to suspend the rules and then having clustered 
record votes on passage of other measures considered immediately after 
debate on the suspension motions, the Speaker may, pursuant to this 
clause, conduct all the postponed votes in one sequence and reduce to 
five minutes the time for all electronic votes after the first 
suspension vote (May 17, 1983, p. 12508; Oct. 2, 1989, p. 22724). But 
the Chair may decline, in his discretion, to recognize for a unanimous 
consent request to reduce to five minutes the first vote in the series, 
since the bell and light system 




Sec. 632. The Speaker's vote. Tie vote.

  6.  He shall not be 
required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings, except where his 
vote would be decisive, or where the House is engaged in voting by 
ballot; and in cases of a tie vote the question shall be lost.


  This clause was adopted in 1789, with amendment in 1850 (V, 5964), and 
1911.


[[Page 330]]
of the roll shows a condition wherein his vote would be decisive (V, 
5969, 6061-6063; VIII, 3075); and he also exercises the right to 
withdraw his vote in case a correction shows it to have been unnecessary 
(V, 5971). The Speakers have the same right as other Members to vote (V, 
5966, 5967) but rarely exercise it (V, 5964, footnote), and the Chair 
may not vote twice (V, 5964). The Chair may be counted on a vote by 
tellers (V, 5996, 5997; VIII, 3100, 3101).

  The Speaker's name is not on the roll from which the yeas and nays are 
called (V, 5970) and is not called unless on his request (V, 5965). It 
is then called at the end of the roll (V, 5965; VIII, 3075), the Clerk 
calling him by name. On an electronic vote, the Chair directs the Clerk 
to record him and verifies that instruction by submitting a vote card 
(Oct. 17, 1990, p. ----). The Chair may vote to make a tie and so decide 
a question in the negative, as he may vote to break a tie and so decide 
a question in the affirmative (VIII, 3100; Aug. 14, 1957, p. 14783). The 
duty of giving a decisive vote may be exercised after the intervention 
of other business, or after the announcement of the result or on another 
day, if a correction 



Sec. 633. Speaker pro tempore.

  7.  (a) He 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, except that 
with the permission of the House he may name a Member to act as Speaker 
pro tempore only to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions for a 
period of time specified in the designation, notwithstanding any other 
provision of this clause: 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; and 
in his absence and omission to make such appointment, the House shall 
proceed to elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during his absence.-





Sec. 633a. Fourterm limit.

  (b)  No person may serve as 
Speaker for more than four consecutive Congresses, beginning with the 
One Hundred Fourth Congress (disregarding for this purpose any service 
for less than a full session in any Congress).



[[Page 331]]

  This clause was adopted in 1811, and amended in 1876 (II, 1377) and in 
1920 (VI, 263). Paragraph (b) was added in the 104th Congress (sec. 
103(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----).



Sec. 634a. Election, oath, and designation of Speaker pro 
tempore.

  The  right of the House to elect a Speaker pro tempore in the 
absence of the Speaker was exercised before the rule was adopted (II, 
1405), although the House sometimes preferred to adjourn (I, 179). An 
elected Speaker pro tempore in the earlier practice was not sworn (I, 
229; II, 1386); but the Senate and sometimes the President were notified 
of his election (II, 1386-1389, 1405-1412; VI, 275). On August 31, 1961, 
p. 17765, the House adopted House Resolution 445, electing Hon. John W. 
McCormack as Speaker pro tempore in the absence and terminal illness of 
Speaker Rayburn. The resolution provided that the Clerk notify the 
President and the Senate. The Chairman of the Democratic Caucus then 
administered the oath. Elected Speakers pro tempore have signed enrolled 
bills, appointed committees, etc., functions not exercised by a Speaker 
pro tempore by designation (II, 1399, 1400, 1404; VI, 274, 277, Sept. 
21, 1961, p. 20572; June 21, 1984, p. 17708), but the clause was amended 
in the 99th Congress (H. Res. 7, Jan. 3, 1985, p. 393) to authorize the 
Speaker, with House approval, to designate a Speaker pro tempore to sign 
enrolled bills.



  A call of the House may take place with a Speaker pro tempore in the 
chair (IV, 2989), and the Speaker pro tempore may issue his warrant for 
the arrest of absent members under a call of the House (VI, 688). When 
the Speaker is not present at the opening of a session, including 
morning-hour debates, he designates a Speaker pro tempore in writing 
(II, 1378, 1401); but he does not always name in open House the Member 
whom he calls to the chair temporarily during the day's sitting (II, 
1379, 1400). The presence of the Speaker either at the opening of 
morning-hour debates or at the opening of the regular session on a day 
satisfies the requirement that the Speaker be present to convene the 
House at least every fourth day. A Speaker pro tempore sometimes 
designates another Speaker pro tempore (II, 1384; VI, 275). Members of 
the minority have been called to the chair on occasions of ceremony (II, 
1383; VI, 270; Jan. 31, 1951, p. 779), but in rare instances on other 
occasions (II, 1382, 1390; III, 2596; VI, 264).


[[Page 332]]
However, expenses may not be paid from the contingent fund for travel 
of a Member after the date of the general election of Members in which 
the Member has not been elected to the succeeding Congress, or in the 
case of a Member who is not a candidate in such general election, the 
earlier of the date of such general election or the adjournment sine die 
of the last regular session of the Congress.



Sec. 634b. Travel authority.

  8.  He shall have the authority 
to designate any Member, officer or employee of the House of 
Representatives to travel on the business of the House of 
Representatives, as determined by him, within or without the United 
States, whether the House is meeting, has recessed or has adjourned, and 
all expenses for such travel may be paid for from the contingent fund of 
the House on vouchers solely approved and signed by the Speaker. 



  This clause was adopted in the 94th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 14, 
1975, p. 20), and the last sentence was added in the 95th Congress (H. 
Res. 287, Mar. 2, 1977, p. 5941). See also Sec. 719b, infra, for 
discussion of the Speaker's authority under section 502(b) of the Mutual 
Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754) to authorize use of counterpart 
funds for Members and employees for foreign travel, except where 
authorized by the chairman of the committee for members and employees 
thereof.



Sec. 634c. Broadcasting of House proceedings.

  9.  (a) He 
shall devise and implement a system subject to his direction and control 
for closed circuit viewing of floor proceedings of the House of 
Representatives in the offices of all Members and committees and in such 
other places in the Capitol and the House Office Buildings as he deems 
appropriate. Such system may include other telecommunications functions 
as he deems appropriate. Any such telecommunications function shall be 
subject to rules and regulations issued by the Speaker.



[[Page 333]]
news media, the storage of audio and video recordings of the 
proceedings, and the closed captioning of the proceedings for hearing-
impaired individuals.
  (b)(1) He shall devise and implement a system subject to his direction 
and control for complete and unedited audio and visual broadcasting and 
recording of the proceedings of the House of Representatives. He shall 
provide for the distribution of such broadcasts and recordings thereof 
to 

  (2) All television and radio broadcasting stations, networks, 
services, and systems (including cable systems) which are accredited to 
the House Radio and Television Correspondents' Galleries, and all radio 
and television correspondents who are accredited to the Radio and 
Television Correspondents' Galleries shall be provided access to the 
live coverage of the House of Representatives.

  (3) No coverage made available under this clause nor any recording 
thereof shall be used for any political purpose.

  (4) Coverage made available under this clause shall not be broadcast 
with commercial sponsorship except as part of bona fide news programs 
and public affairs documentary programs. No part of such coverage or any 
recording thereof shall be used in any commercial advertisment.


  (c) He may delegate any of his responsibilities under this clause to 
such legislative entity as he deems appropriate.

  This clause was adopted in the 96th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 
1979, p. 7). The requirement that the televised broadcasts of the 
proceedings of the House be closed captioned for hearing-impaired 
individuals was added to the second sentence of paragraph (b)(1) in the 
101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989, p. 72). The authority of the 
Speaker to make rules governing telecommunications functions within the 
House was added to paragraph (a) in the 102d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 
3, 1991, p. ----).


[[Page 334]]
over the Hall of the House for the audiovisual broadcast of House 
proceedings within the Capitol and House Office Buildings (H. Res. 404, 
Mar. 15, 1977, p. 7608). The resolution directed the Committee on Rules 
to report to the House at the earliest practicable date its findings and 
recommendations, including whether such coverage should be made 
available to the public. The Committee reported and the House adopted 
another resolution which: (1) authorized the Speaker to establish a 
closed-circuit system for in-House broadcasting of House proceedings; 
(2) directed the Committee on Rules to study methods for providing 
complete audio and visual broadcasting of House proceedings and to 
report to the House thereon; and (3) directed the Speaker after receipt 
of the committee's report to establish a system subject to his direction 
and control for audio and visual broadcast and recording of House 
proceedings and to provide for distribution and access to the news media 
(H. Res. 866, Oct. 27, 1977, pp. 35425-37). The Speaker, after receipt 
of that report (H. Rept. 95-881, Feb. 15, 1978), directed implementation 
of full audio coverage, with distribution to the media, on June 8, 1978 
(p. 16746). Public Law 95-391 (the Legislative Branch Appropriation Bill 
for fiscal year 1979) contained the following proviso in section 306 
relating to the broadcasting of House proceedings: ``No funds in this 
bill may be used to implement a system for televising and broadcasting 
the proceedings of the House pursuant to House Resolution 866, Ninety-
Fifth Congress, under which the TV cameras in the Chamber purchased by 
the House are controlled and operated by persons not in the employ of 
the House.''
  In the 95th Congress the House considered as a question of the 
privileges of the House and adopted a resolution directing the Committee 
on Rules to investigate the impact on the safety, dignity, and integrity 
of House proceedings, of a test authorized by the Speaker under his 
general control 



[[Page 335]]

  Pursuant to his authority under this clause, the Speaker directed the 
Clerk in the 98th Congress to immediately implement periodic wide-angle 
television coverage of all ``special-order'' speeches at the end of 
legislative business (with captions at the bottom of the screen 
indicating that legislative business has been completed) (May 10, 1984, 
p. 11894) but not during ``interim'' special orders (Dec. 19, 1985, p. 
38106). However, in the 103d and 104th Congresses, the Speaker 
prohibited wide-angle coverage but continued the caption at the bottom 
of the screen not only during special order speeches but also during 
morning-hour debates (Speaker Foley, Feb. 11, 1994, p. ----; Speaker 
Gingrich, Jan. 4, 1995, p. ----). In the 99th Congress, the House 
adopted a resolution, raised as a question of the privileges of the 
House, authorizing and directing the Speaker to provide for the audio 
and visual broadcast coverage of the chamber while Members are voting 
(H. Res. 150, Apr. 30, 1985, p. 9821). Although paragraph (b)(1) of this 
clause requires complete and unedited broadcast coverage of the 
proceedings of the House has held (by tabling an appeal of a ruling of 
the Chair) that it does not require in-House microphone amplification of 
disorderly conduct by a Member following expiration of his recognition 
for debate (Mar. 16, 1988, p. 4081).




Sec. 634d. Office of the Historian.

  10.  There is 
established in the House of Representatives an office to be known as the 
Office of the Historian of the House of Representatives.



  This clause was added in the 101st Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989, 
p. 72). See Sec. 996a, infra.




Sec. 634e. Office of General Counsel.

  11.  There is 
established in the House of Representatives an office to be known as the 
Office of General Counsel for the purpose of providing legal assistance 
and representation to the House. Legal assistance and representation 
shall be provided without regard to political affiliation. The Office of 
General Counsel shall function pursuant to the direction of the Speaker, 
who shall consult with a Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which shall 
include the majority and minority leaderships. The Speaker shall appoint 
and set the annual rate of pay for employees of the Office of General 
Counsel.



  This clause was added in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, 
p. ----). The previous year, in section 12 of the House Administrative 
Reform Resolution of 1992 (H. Res. 423, Apr. 9, 1992, p. ----), the 
House had directed the Committee on House Administration to provide for 
an Office of General Counsel in a manner ensuring appropriate 
coordination with and participation by both the majority and minority 
leaderships in matters of representation and litigation.




Sec. 634f. Authority to declare recesses.

  12.  To suspend the 
business of the House for a short time when no question is pending 
before the House, the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call 
of the Chair.








  This clause was added in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, 
p. ----).