[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 178 (Monday, October 19, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6059-S6062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.S. SENATE CHAMBER AND GALLERIES REGULATIONS
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, in accordance with rule 23 of the Rules of
Procedure of the Committee on Rules and Administration and pursuant to
Senate Rule XXXIII, on October 7, 2020, the Committee on Rules and
Administration adopted the ``United States Senate Chamber and Galleries
Regulations,'' which supersede and replace the current ``Rules for
Regulation of the Senate Wing of the United States Capitol and Senate
Office Buildings.''
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
United States Senate Chamber and Galleries Regulations
Adopted by the Committee on Rules and Administration on October 7,
2020, pursuant to Rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate
1.0 Scope--These regulations are applicable only to the
Senate Chamber and Galleries.
2.0 Definitions--For purposes of these regulations, the
following terms have the meaning specified.
2.1 Cloakroom means the two spaces, one assigned to the
majority party and one assigned to the minority party,
adjacent to the Senate Chamber.
2.2 Galleries means the ten seating galleries located in
the Senate Chamber.
2.3 Marble Room means the Senators meeting room adjacent
to the Senate Lobby.
2.4 Senate Chamber means the space that encompasses the
Senate Floor and Galleries.
2.5 Senate Floor means the floor of the Senate Chamber.
2.6 Senate Lobby means the hallway space adjoining the
Senate Chamber to the Marble Room.
2.7 Sergeant at Arms means the Sergeant at Arms of the
Senate.
3.0 Sergeant at Arms Chamber and Galleries Duties--The
Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, under the direction of the
Presiding Officer, shall be the Executive Officer of the body
for the enforcement of all rules made by the Committee on
Rules and Administration for the regulation of the Senate
Chamber and Galleries.
3.1 The Senate Floor shall be at all times under the
Sergeant at Arms' immediate supervision, and the Sergeant at
Arms shall see that the various subordinate officers of the
Office of the Sergeant at Arms perform the duties to which
they are especially assigned.
3.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall see that the messengers
assigned to the doors upon the Senate Floor are at their
posts and that the Senate Floor, Cloakrooms, and Senate Lobby
are cleared at least five minutes before the opening of daily
sessions of all persons not entitled to remain there.
3.3 In the absence of the Sergeant at Arms the duties of
the office, so far as they pertain to the enforcement of the
rules, shall devolve upon the Deputy Sergeant at Arms.
4.0 Messengers Acting as Assistant Doorkeepers--The
messengers acting as Assistant Doorkeepers shall be assigned
to their duties by the Sergeant at Arms.
5.0 Assignment of Majority and Minority Secretaries--The
secretary for the majority and the secretary for the minority
shall be assigned, during the daily sessions of the Senate,
to duty upon the Senate Floor.
6.0 Use of the Senate Chamber--When the Senate is not
sitting in session or otherwise using the Chamber for some
function of the Senate, no Senator shall seat any person or
persons in chairs of Senators other than the chair assigned,
no other persons shall seat anyone in a chair of a Senator;
and lectures, talks, or speeches shall not be given at such
times to groups on the Senate Floor by Senators or others
except for the purpose of explaining the Chamber.
7.0 Use of the Marble Room--No persons shall be admitted
to the Marble Room except Senators.
8.0 Use of the Cloakrooms--No persons shall be admitted to
the Cloakrooms except those entitled to the privileges of the
Senate Floor under the Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules of
the Senate.
9.0 Use of the Senate Lobby--No persons shall be admitted
to the Senate Lobby except those entitled to the privileges
of the Senate Floor under the Rule XXIII of the Standing
Rules of the Senate.
[[Page S6060]]
10.0 Use of Display Materials in the Senate Chamber--
Graphic displays in the Senate Chamber are limited to charts,
photographs, or renderings:
l0.1 Size--No larger than 36 inches by 48 inches.
10.2 Where--On an easel stand next to the Senator's desk
or at the rear of the Chamber.
10.3 When--Only at the time the Senator is engaged in
debate.
10.4 Number--No more than two may be displayed at a time.
11.0 Solicitation and Commercial Activities Prohibited--No
persons shall carry out any of the following activities in
the Senate Chamber and Galleries: offer or expose any article
for sale; display a sign, placard, or other form of
advertisement; or solicit fares, alms, subscriptions, or
contributions.
12.0 Legislative Buzzers and Signal Lights--The system of
legislative buzzers and signal lights, which correspond with
rings if available, shall be as follows:
12.1 Pre-session signals:
12.1.1 One long ring at hour of convening.
12.1.2 One red light to remain lighted at all times while
Senate is in actual session.
12.2 Session signals:
12.2.1 One ring--Yeas and nays.
12.2.2 Two rings--quorum call.
12.2.3 Three rings--Call of absentees.
12.2.4 Four rings--Adjournment or recess. (End of daily
session.)
12.2.5 Five rings--Seven and a half minutes remaining on
yea and nay vote.
12.2.6 Morning business concluded--Six rings. Lights cut
off immediately.
12.2.7 Recess during daily session--Six rings. Lights stay
on during period of recess.
13.0 Taking of Pictures Prohibited; Use of Mechanical
Equipment in Chamber--
13.1 The taking of pictures of any kind is prohibited in
the Senate Chamber, the Marble Room, the Senate Lobby, and
the Senate Cloakrooms; however,
13.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall be authorized to admit
into the spaces defined in 13.1 such mechanical equipment
and/or devices which, in the judgment of the Sergeant at
Arms, are necessary and proper in the conduct of official
Senate business and which by their presence shall not in any
way distract, interrupt, or inconvenience the business or
Members of the Senate.
14.0 Galleries--The Sergeant at Arms shall keep the aisles
of the galleries clear, and shall not allow admittance into
the galleries of more than their seating capacity. The
Sergeant at Arms shall not permit any person to enter a
gallery with or carrying any firearms or dangerous weapons
except for law enforcement and other personnel performing
duties under the direction of the Senate, or any package,
bundle, suitcase, briefcase, or camera; the Sergeant at Arms
shall not permit any person in any gallery to smoke, applaud,
or commit any other type of demonstration either by sound or
sign; except in the press, radio, television, and
correspondents' galleries the Sergeant at Arms shall not
permit any person to read (except the Senate seating diagram)
or to write or take notes (except credentialed employees of
the Senate when taking notes in the course of their
employment); the Sergeant at Arms shall not permit any person
to take any picture or photograph or to sketch or draw; the
Sergeant at Arms shall not permit any person to place any
object whatsoever--including hats, coats, or other personal
apparel--or portion of a person on any railing, or any person
to wear a hat, except that where a person's religious beliefs
require that person wear a head-cover in such public places
as the Senate Gallery, then such head-cover shall be
permitted; and the Sergeant at Arms shall not allow any
person to lean forward over the railings or to place hands
thereon.
14.1 The galleries of the Senate shall be set apart and
occupied as follows:
14.1.1 Gallery 1--the gallery above the northeastern
corner of the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as the
Staff Gallery, is reserved for the use of credentialed
employees of the Senate.
14.1.2 Gallery 2--the gallery above the eastern entrance
to the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as the Family
Gallery, is reserved for the exclusive use of the families of
Senators, former Presidents of the United States, and
incumbent Secretary and Sergeant at Arms of the Senate.
14.1.2.1 The first two rows of the gallery are reserved
for the spouses and other members of the immediate families
of Senators.
14.1.2.2 The remainder of the gallery is reserved for the
families of Senators and guests visiting their families who
shall be designated by some member of the Senator's family,
and for the families of former Presidents of the United
States, as well as families of incumbent Secretary and
Sergeant at Arms of the Senate.
14.1.3 Gallery 3--the gallery over the southeastern corner
of the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as a Public
Gallery, is reserved for the use of persons holding a card
issued by a Senator.
14.1.3.1 The period to which such card of admission shall
be limited rests entirely in the discretion of the Senator
issuing it, except that such cards shall expire at the end of
each session and cards of a different color shall be
furnished by the Sergeant at Arms for the following session.
14.1.3.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall in the Sergeant at
Arms' discretion limit occupancy of the public galleries to
such periods as may be required to accommodate with
reasonable expediency all card bearers who are seeking
admission.
14.1.4 Gallery 4--the gallery between Gallery 3 and
Gallery 5 on the south side of the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as the Representatives' Gallery, is reserved for
the use of Members of Congress of the House of
Representatives and their guests.
14.1.5 Gallery 5--the gallery over the southern main
entrance to the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as the
Presidential and Diplomatic Gallery, is reserved for the use
of the Diplomatic Corps, and no person shall be admitted to
it excepting the Secretary of State, foreign ministers, their
families and Senators.
14.1.5.1 The first row on the eastern side of this gallery
shall be set apart for the use of the President of the United
States.
14.1.5.2 The second row on the eastern side of this
gallery shall be set apart for the use of the Vice President
of the United States.
14.1.5.3 The third row on the eastern side of this gallery
shall be set apart for the use of the President pro tempore
of the Senate.
14.1.6 Gallery 6--the gallery between Gallery 5 and
Gallery 7 on the south side of the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as a Public Gallery, is reserved for the use of
large guided tours and other special parties.
14.l.7 Gallery 7--the gallery over the southwest corner
of the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as the Accessible
Gallery, is reserved for the use of any guest, especially
those who wish to avoid stairs, and those who would like to
view closed captioning television, or use an assisted
listening device.
14.1.8 Gallery 8--the gallery over the west entrance to
the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as a Public Gallery,
is reserved for the use of persons holding a card issued by a
Senator.
14.1.8.1 The period to which such card of admission shall
be limited rests entirely in the discretion of the Senator
issuing it, except that such cards shall expire at the end of
each session and cards of a different color shall be
furnished by the Sergeant at Arms for the following session.
14.1.8.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall in the Sergeant at
Arms' discretion limit occupancy of the public galleries to
such periods as may be required to accommodate with
reasonable expediency all card bearers who are seeking
admission.
14.1.9 Gallery 9--the gallery over the northwest corner of
the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to as a Public Gallery,
is reserved for the use of persons holding a card issued by a
Senator.
14.1.9.1 The period to which such card of admission shall
be limited rests entirely in the discretion of the Senator
issuing it, except that such cards shall expire at the end of
each session and cards of a different color shall be
furnished by the Sergeant at Arms for the following session.
14.l.9.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall in the Sergeant at
Arms' discretion limit occupancy of the public galleries to
such periods as may be required to accommodate with
reasonable expediency all card bearers who are seeking
admission.
14.1.10 Gallery 10--the gallery above the Senate Floor
dais on the north side of the Senate Chamber including the
front row of Gallery 1 and the front row of Gallery 9,
commonly referred to as the Media Gallery, is reserved for
the exclusive use of the Press Gallery, Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery, Periodical Press Gallery, and Press
Photographers' Gallery.
15.0 Use of the Media Gallery--Gallery 10, the Media
Gallery shall be further set apart and occupied as follows:
15.1 Press Gallery--The gallery in the rear of the Vice
President's chair shall be set apart for reporters of daily
newspapers.
15.1.l The administration of the Press Gallery shall be
vested in a Standing Committee of Correspondents elected by
accredited members of the gallery. The committee shall
consist of five persons elected to serve for terms of two
years: Provided, however, that at the election in January
1951, the three candidates receiving the highest number of
votes shall serve for two years and the remaining two for one
year. Thereafter, three members shall be elected in odd-
numbered years and two in even-numbered years. Elections
shall be held in January. The committee shall elect its own
chair and secretary. Vacancies on the committee shall be
filled by special election to be called by the Standing
Committee.
15.1.2 Persons desiring admission to the Press Gallery in
the Senate wing shall make application in accordance with
Rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, which rule
shall be interpreted and administered by the Standing
Committee of Correspondents, subject to the review and
approval by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
15.1.3 The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall
limit membership in the Press Gallery to bona fide
correspondents of repute in their profession, under such
rules as the Standing Committee of Correspondents shall
prescribe: Provided, however, that the Standing Committee of
Correspondents shall admit to the Press Gallery no person who
does not establish to the satisfaction of the Standing
Committee all of the following:
15.1.3.1 That the person's principal income is obtained
from news correspondence intended for publication in
newspapers entitled to second-class mailing privileges.
15.1.3.2 That the person is not engaged in paid publicity
or promotion work or in prosecuting any claim before Congress
or before any department of the Government, and will not
become so engaged while a member of the Press Gallery.
[[Page S6061]]
15.1.3.3 That the person is not engaged in any lobbying
activity and will not become so engaged while a member of the
Press Gallery.
15.1.4 Members of the families of correspondents are not
entitled to the privileges of the Press Gallery.
15.1.5 The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall
propose no change or changes in these rules except upon
petition in writing signed by not less than 100 accredited
members of the Press Gallery.
15.2 Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery--The
front row of Gallery 1 shall be set apart for the use of the
radio-television correspondents.
15.2.1 Persons desiring admission to the Radio and
Television Correspondents Gallery of the Senate shall make
application to the Committee on Rules and Administration of
the Senate, as required by Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules
of the Senate; and shall also state, in writing, the names of
all radio stations, television stations, systems, or
newsgathering organizations by which they are employed; and
what other occupation or employment they may have, if any;
and shall further declare that they are not engaged in the
prosecution of claims or promotion of legislation pending
before Congress, the departments, or the independent
agencies, and that they will not become so employed without
resigning from the gallery. They shall further declare that
they are not employed in any legislative or executive
department or independent agency of the Government, or by any
foreign government or representative thereof; that they are
not engaged in any lobbying activities; that they do not and
will not, directly or indirectly, furnish special information
to any organization, individual, or group of individuals, for
the influencing of prices on any commodity or stock exchange;
that they will not do so during the time they retain
membership in the gallery. Holders of visitors' cards who may
be allowed temporary admission to the gallery must conform to
all the restrictions of this paragraph.
15.2.2 It shall be prerequisite to membership that the
radio station, television station, system, or newsgathering
agencies which the applicants represent shall certify, in
writing, to the Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery
that the applicants conform to the foregoing regulations.
15.2.3 The applications required by the above rule shall
be authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfactory to
the Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery, which shall see that the occupation
of the gallery is confined to bona fide news gatherers and/
or reporters of reputable standing in their business who
represent radio stations, television stations, systems, or
newsgathering agencies engaged primarily in serving radio
stations, television stations, or systems. It shall be the
duty of the Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery to report, at its discretion,
violation of privileges of the gallery to the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, and, pending action
thereon, the offending individual may be suspended.
15.2.4 Persons engaged in other occupations, whose chief
attention is not given to--or more than one-half of their
earned income is not derived from--the gathering or reporting
of news for radio stations, television stations, systems, or
newsgathering agencies primarily serving radio stations,
television stations, or systems, shall not be entitled to
admission to the Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery.
The Radio and Television Correspondents list in the
Congressional Directory shall be a list only of persons whose
chief attention is given to the gathering and reporting of
news for radio stations, television stations, and systems
engaged in the daily dissemination of news, and of
representatives of newsgathering agencies engaged in the
daily service of news to such radio stations, television
stations, or systems.
15.2.5 Members of the families of correspondents are not
entitled to the privileges of the gallery.
15.2.6 The Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery
shall be under the control of the Executive Committee of the
Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery, subject to the
approval and supervision of the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.
15.3 Periodical Press Gallery--The front row of Gallery 9
shall be set aside for the use of the periodical press.
15.3.1 Persons eligible for admission to the Periodical
Press Gallery of the Senate must be bona fide resident
correspondents of reputable standing, giving their chief
attention to the gathering and reporting of news. They shall
state in writing the names of their employers and their
additional sources of earned income; and they shall declare
that, while a member of the Gallery, they will not act as an
agent in the prosecution of claims, and will not become
engaged or assist, directly or indirectly, in any lobbying,
promotion, advertising, or publicity activity intended to
influence legislation or any other action of the Congress,
nor any matter before any independent agency, or any
department or other instrumentality of the Executive Branch;
and that they will not act as an agent for, or be employed by
the federal, or any state, local or foreign government or
representatives thereof; and that they will not, directly or
indirectly, furnish special or ``insider'' information
intended to influence prices or for the purpose of trading on
any commodity or stock exchange; and that they will not
become employed, directly or indirectly, by any stock
exchange, board of trade or other organization or member
thereof, or brokerage house or broker engaged in the buying
and selling of any security or commodity. Applications shall
be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Periodical
Correspondents' Association and shall be authenticated in a
manner satisfactory to the Executive Committee.
15.3.2 Applicants must be employed by periodicals that
regularly publish a substantial volume of news material of
either general, economic, industrial, technical, cultural or
trade character. The periodical must require such Washington
coverage on a continuing basis and must be owned and operated
independently of any government, industry, institution,
association, or lobbying organization. Applicants must also
be employed by a periodical that is published for profit and
is supported chiefly by advertising or by subscription, or by
a periodical meeting the conditions in this paragraph but
published by a non-profit organization that, first, operates
independently of any government, industry, or institution
and, second, does not engage, directly or indirectly, in any
lobbying or other activity intended to influence any matter
before Congress or before any independent agency or any
department or other instrumentality of the Executive Branch.
House organs are not eligible.
15.3.3 Members of the families of correspondents are not
entitled to the privileges of the gallery.
15.3.4 The Executive Committee may issue temporary
credentials permitting the privileges of the Gallery to
individuals who meet the rules of eligibility but who may be
on short-term assignment or temporarily resident in
Washington.
15.3.5 Under the authority of Rule XXIII of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the Periodical Press Gallery of the
Senate shall be under the control of the Executive Committee,
subject to the approval and supervision of the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration. It shall be the duty
of the Executive Committee, at its discretion, to report
violations of the privileges of the Gallery to the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, and pending action
thereon, the offending correspondent may be suspended. The
Committee shall be elected at the start of each Congress by
members of the Periodical Correspondents' Association, and
shall consist of seven members with no more than one member
from any one publishing organization. The Committee shall
elect its own officers, and a majority of the Committee may
fill vacancies on the Committee. The list in the
Congressional Directory shall be a list only of members of
the Periodical Correspondents' Association.
15.4 Press Photographer's Gallery--
15.4.l Administration of the Press Photographers' Gallery
is vested in a Standing Committee of Press Photographers
consisting of six persons elected by accredited members of
the gallery. The Committee shall be composed of one member
each from Associated Press Photos, Reuters News Pictures or
AFP Photos, magazine media, local newspapers, agency or
freelance member, and one at-large member. The at-large
member may be, but need not be, selected from a media
otherwise represented on the Committee, however no
organization may have more than one representative on the
Committee.
15.4.2 The term of office of a member of the Committee
elected as the Associated Press Photos member, the local
newspaper member, and the Reuters News Pictures or AFP Photos
member shall expire on the day of the election held in the
first odd-numbered year following the year in which the
person was elected, and the term of office of a member of the
Committee elected as the magazine media member, the agency or
freelance member and the at-large member shall expire on the
day of the election held in the first even-numbered year
following the year in which the person was elected. A member
elected to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration
of a term shall serve only for the unexpired portion of such
term.
15.4.2.1 Election for the Reuters News Picture or AFP
photos seat was held in 1999.
15.4.2.2 Election for the agency or freelance seat was
held in 2000.
15.4.3 Elections shall be held as early as practicable in
each year and in no case later than March 31. A vacancy in
the membership of the Committee occurring prior to the
expiration of a term shall be filled by special election
called for that purpose by the Committee.
15.4.4 The Standing Committee of the Press Photographers'
Gallery shall propose no change or changes in these rules
except upon petition in writing signed by not less than 25
accredited members of the gallery.
15.4.5 Persons desiring admission to the Press
Photographers' Gallery of the Senate shall make application
in accordance Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate,
which rule shall be interpreted and administered by the
Standing Committee of Press Photographers subject to the
review and approval of the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.
15.4.6 The Standing Committee of Press Photographers shall
limit membership in the photographers' gallery to bona fide
news photographers of repute in their profession and to heads
of Photographic Bureaus under such rules as the Standing
Committee of Press Photographers shall prescribe.
15.4.7 Provided, however, That the Standing Committee of
Press Photographers shall
[[Page S6062]]
admit to the gallery no person who does not establish to the
satisfaction of the Committee all of the following:
15.4.7.l That any member is not engaged in paid publicity
or promotion work or in prosecuting any claim before Congress
or before any department of the Government, and will not
become so engaged while a member of the gallery.
15.4.7.2 That the person is not engaged in any lobbying
activity and will not become so engaged while a member of the
gallery.
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