[26] [26.1] [26.2] RULE XXVI REFERENCE TO COMMITTEES; MOTIONS TO DISCHARGE, AND 1. When motions are made for reference of a subject to a select committee, or to a standing committee, the question of reference to a standing committee shall be put first; and a motion simply to refer shall not be opened to amendment, except to add instructions. [Jefferson's Manual, Secs. XXVII, XXXIII. 2. All reports of committees and motions to discharge a committee from the consideration of a subject, and all subjects from which a committee shall be discharged, shall lie over one day for consideration, unless by unanimous consent the Senate shall otherwise direct. [27] [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXVII. RULE XXVII [27.1] [27.2] REPORTS OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES 1. The presentation of reports of committees of conference shall always be in order, except when the Journal is being read or a question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is dividing; and when received the question of proceeding to the consideration of the report, if raised, shall be immediately put, and shall be determined without debate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLVI. 2.1 Conferees shall not insert in their report matter not committed to them by either House, nor shall they strike from the bill matter agreed to by both Houses. If new matter is inserted in the report, or if matter which was agreed to by both Houses is stricken from the bill, a point 1 As amended, S. Jour. 103, 65-2, Mar. 8, 1918. of order may be made against the report, and if the point of order is sustained, the report shall be recommitted to the committee of conference. 3. (a) In any case in which a disagreement to an amend- [27.3] ment in the nature of a substitute has been referred to conferees, it shall be in order for the conferees to report a substitute on the same subject matter; but they may not include in the report matter not committed to them by either House. They may, however, include in their report in any such case matter which is a germane modification of subjects in disagreement. (b) In any case in which the conferees violate subsection (a), the conference report shall be subject to a point of order. RULE XXVIII MESSAGES [28] 1. Messages from the President of the United States or [28.1] from the House of Representatives may be received at any stage of proceedings, except while the Senate is dividing, or while the Journal is being read, or while a question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLVII. 2. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives [28.2] by the Secretary, who shall previously certify the determination of the Senate upon all bills, joint resolutions, and other resolutions which may be communicated to the House, or in which its concurrence may be requested; and the Secretary shall also certify and deliver to the President of the United States all resolutions and other communications which may be directed to him by the Senate. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLVII. 1 As amended, S. Jour. 555, 79-2, Aug. 2, 1946, effective Jan. 2, 1947. [29] [29.1] RULE XXIX PRINTING OF PAPERS, ETC. 1. Every motion to print documents, reports, and other matter transmitted by either of the executive departments, or to print memorials, petitions, accompanying documents, or any other paper, except bills of the Senate or House of Representatives, resolutions submitted by a Senator, communications from the legislatures or conventions, lawfully called, of the respective States, and motions to print by order of the standing or select committees of the Senate, shall, unless the Senate otherwise order, be referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. When a motion is made to commit with instructions, it shall be in order to add thereto a motion to print. [29.2] 2. Motions to print additional numbers shall also be referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration;1 and when the committee shall report favorably, the report shall be accompanied by an estimate of the probable cost thereof; and when the cost of printing such additional numbers shall exceed the sum of five 2 hundred dollars, the concurrence of the House of Representatives shall be necessary for an order to print the same. [29.3] 3. Every bill and joint resolution introduced on leave or reported from a committee, and all bills and joint resolutions received from the House of Representatives, and all reports of committees, shall be printed, unless, for the dispatch of the business of the Senate, such printing may be dispensed with. 1 As amended, S. Jour. 173, 80-1, Mar. 28, 1947. By Act of Apr. 19, 1949 (ch. 72, 63 Stat. 48), the limitation on printing extra copies was increased from $500 to $1,200. 4.1 Whenever a committee reports a bill or a joint resolution [29.4] repealing or amending any statute or part thereof it shall make a report thereon and shall include in such report or in an accompanying document (to be prepared by the staff of such committee) (a) the text of the statute or part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by the committee. This subsection shall not apply to any such report in which it is stated that, in the opinion of the committee, it is necessary to dispense with the requirements of this subsection to expedite the business of the Senate. RULE XXX WITHDRAWAL OF PAPERS [30] 1. No memorial or other paper presented to the Senate, [30.1] except original treaties finally acted upon, shall be withdrawn from its files except by order of the Senate. But when an act may pass for the settlement of any private claim, the Secretary is authorized to transmit to the officer charged with the settlement the papers on file relating to the claim. 2. No memorial or other paper upon which an adverse [30.2] report has been made shall be withdrawn from the files of the Senate unless copies thereof shall be left in the office of the Secretary. 1 S. Jour. 687, 81-1, Aug. 27, 1949. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVI. [31] [32] [32.1] [32.2] RULE XXXI REFERENCE OF CLAIMS ADVERSELY REPORTED Whenever a committee of the Senate, to whom any claim has been referred, reports adversely, and the report is agreed to, it shall not be in order to move to take the papers from the files for the purpose of referring them at a subsequent session, unless the claimant shall present a petition therefor, stating that new evidence has been discovered since the report, and setting forth the substance of such new evidence. But when there has been no adverse report it shall be the duty of the Secretary to transmit all such papers to the committee in which such claims are pending. RULE XXXII BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM SESSION TO SESSION 1.2 At the second or any subsequent session of a Congress, the legislative business of the Senate which remained undetermined at the close of the next preceding session of that Congress shall be resumed and proceeded with in the same manner as if no adjournment of the Senate had taken place; and all papers referred to committees and not reported upon at the close of a session of Congress shall be returned to the office of the Secretary of the Senate, and be retained by him until the next succeeding session of that Congress, when they shall be returned to the several committees to which they had previously been referred. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. LI. 2.2 The rules of the Senate shall continue from one Congress to the next Congress unless they are changed as provided in these rules. 1 As amended, S. Jour. 67, 50-1, Dec. 14, 1887. |