[House Practice: A Guide to the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of the House]
[Chapter 10. Chamber, Rooms, and Galleries]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
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CHAPTER 10 - CHAMBER, ROOMS, AND GALLERIES
HOUSE PRACTICE
Sec. 1. In General; Use of the Hall
Sec. 2. Admission to the Floor
Sec. 3. Electronic Devices; Signals, Bells, and Clocks
Sec. 4. Galleries and Corridors
Sec. 5. Photographs; Radio and Television Coverage
Research References
5 Hinds Sec. Sec. 7270-7311
8 Cannon Sec. Sec. 3632, 3636-3643
Deschler Ch 4; Deschler-Brown Ch 29 Sec. 85
Manual Sec. Sec. 677-681, 684
Sec. 1 . In General; Use of the Hall
The Hall of the House and unappropriated rooms in the House (rooms
not specifically assigned by action of the House) are under the
general control of the Speaker. Rule I clause 3; Manual Sec. 623.
Control of the appropriated rooms in the House wing is exercised by
the House itself. 5 Hinds Sec. Sec. 7273-7279. Resolutions assigning a
room to a committee have been considered as privileged. 5 Hinds
Sec. 7273.
Under rule IV clause 1, the Hall may be used only for (1) the
legislative business of the House; (2) caucus meetings of its Members,
including joint party caucuses; (3) ceremonies in which the House
votes to participate; and (4) classified briefings of Members, if
authorized by the Speaker, during recesses declared under rule I
clause 12. Manual Sec. Sec. 623, 677. In rare instances the House has
permitted the Hall to be used for ceremonial or special occasions. 8
Cannon Sec. 3632; Deschler Ch 4 Sec. Sec. 3.1, 3.4. However, a House
and Senate ceremony of religious reconciliation to be conducted in the
Hall of the House during a recess requires adoption by both Houses of
a concurrent resolution. See, e.g., 107-1, H. Con. Res. 184, Oct. 23,
2001, p ____ (never adopted by the Senate). Members may not entertain
guests in the Hall. Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 3.2.
Disorderly or disruptive acts in the Capitol are unlawful, and
unauthorized demonstrations are prohibited by law. 40 USC
Sec. 193f(b)(4). The unauthorized presence of persons on the floor of
either House or in the gallery
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of either House is prohibited. 40 USC Sec. 193f(b)(1), (2). Disorder
in the House, see Consideration and Debate.
Sec. 2 . Admission to the Floor
Generally
Rule IV clause 2 enumerates those persons entitled to be admitted
to the floor or rooms leading thereto. Manual Sec. Sec. 678-681. Among
those who may be admitted to the Hall are Members and Members-elect of
Congress, the President and Vice President, Judges of the Supreme
Court, governors of States, heads of departments, foreign ministers,
contestants in election cases during the pendency of their cases on
the floor, one attorney for a Member-respondent during consideration
of a disciplinary resolution reported from the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct, and other named officials. Manual Sec. 678. The
term ``heads of departments'' has been construed to mean members of
the President's Cabinet, and the term ``foreign ministers'' has been
construed to mean the representatives of foreign governments duly
accredited to the United States, and not necessarily those with the
title of ``minister'' in their own parliaments. 5 Hinds Sec. 7283. The
term ``contestants in election cases'' has been construed to include
challengers in an election contest, even though the challenger was not
a candidate in the election in which the sitting Member was reelected.
Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 4.5.
It is not in order to refer to persons temporarily on the floor of
the House as guests of the House, such as Members' children, other
children, or Senators exercising floor privileges. Manual Sec. 678.
Although Senators have floor privileges, they are not entitled to
address the House. Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 4.8.
The rule is strictly enforced during regular meetings. However,
the rule is less strictly enforced on ceremonial occasions (5 Hinds
Sec. 7290) or when the House is in recess during a joint meeting with
the Senate (Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 4). The Speaker sometimes announces
guidelines for enforcement during a recess. During a regular meeting,
a point of order will lie to object to the presence of any
unauthorized persons. 92-2, June 21, 1972, p 21704. Under rule IV
clause 1, motions or unanimous-consent requests to suspend the rule
may not be entertained by the Speaker or by the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole. 5 Hinds Sec. 7285.
The Speaker has the authority to exclude an individual who abuses
the privileges of the floor. 5 Hinds Sec. 7288. An alleged abuse of
the privilege of the floor may be made the subject of an inquiry by a
special committee. 5 Hinds Sec. 7287.
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Former Members
A former Member must observe the rules of proper decorum while on
the floor, and the Chair may direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to assist the
Chair in maintaining such decorum. Manual Sec. 622. The question of
banning a former Member engaged in indecorous behavior on the floor
gives rise to a question of privileges of the House. Manual Sec. 680.
A former Member may not manifest approval or disapproval of the
proceedings. 8 Cannon Sec. 3635. For more information on floor
privileges of former Members, see Manual Sec. 680.
Although former Members, officers, and certain former employees
have access to the floor under rule IV clause 2, such an individual is
not entitled to the privileges of the floor, or rooms leading thereto,
if he (1) has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in legislation
under consideration in the House or reported by any committee or (2)
represents any party or organization for the purpose of influencing
the disposition of legislation pending before the House or reported by
a committee or under consideration in a committee. Manual Sec. 680.
For regulations issued by the Speaker under this rule, see 95-1, Jan.
6, 1977, p 321; 95-2, June 7, 1978, p 16625; 103-2, June 9, 1994, p
12387; 104-1, May 24, 1995, p 14300; 104-2, Aug. 1, 1996, p 21031.
Staff; Committee Clerks
Rule IV clause 2(a)(7) permits on the floor staff of a committee
when business from their committee is under consideration and no more
than one person from the staff of a Member when that Member has an
amendment under consideration. This rule has been interpreted by the
Speaker to allow the presence on the floor of four professional staff
members and one clerk from a committee during consideration of that
committee's business and to require that such individuals remain
unobtrusively by the committee tables. Manual Sec. 678. Rule IV clause
2(a)(7) also permits on the floor staff of the respective party
leaderships when so assigned with the approval of the Speaker. The
privileges of the floor do not extend to departmental employees
assisting committees in the preparation of bills. 6 Cannon Sec. 579.
Where several committees are involved with a pending measure, the rule
permits authorized majority and minority staff (up to five persons)
from each committee. 97-1, June 26, 1981, p 14574. Floor clerks other
than those employed by a committee involved in the bill under
consideration are not entitled to the floor. Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 4. The
Speaker has announced his intention to strictly enforce the rule to
prevent a proliferation of staff on the floor and has required
committee staff to display staff badges when on the floor. Manual
Sec. 678. Under rule IV clause 5, and regulations promulgated by the
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Speaker thereunder, staff on the floor are not permitted to pass out
literature or otherwise attempt to influence Members in their votes or
to applaud during debate. Manual Sec. 681.
Secret Sessions
Before a secret session of the House commences, the Speaker may
direct that the Chamber be cleared of all persons except Members and
those officers and employees, specified by the Speaker, whose
attendance on the floor is essential to the functioning of the
session. Rule XVII clause 9; Manual Sec. 969; Deschler-Brown Ch 29
Sec. 85. A point of order will not lie against the presence in the
Chamber of those persons whose attendance on the floor is permitted by
the Speaker's directive. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 Sec. 85.15; see
Consideration and Debate. Secret classified briefings of Members may
be permitted during recesses of the House declared by the Speaker
under rule I clause 12. Under rule XXIII clause 13, a Member, officer,
or employee must execute an oath of secrecy before having access to
classified material. Manual Sec. 1095.
Sec. 3 . Electronic Devices; Signals, Bells, and Clocks
Various electronic devices and computer services are used by the
House to expedite quorum calls and votes and for other purposes.
Manual Sec. Sec. 1012-1016. For example, a legislative bell and light
system alerts Members to quorum calls, the taking of certain votes,
and other occurrences on the floor. Manual Sec. Sec. 1014, 1016.
Changes in the system are announced by the Speaker from time to time.
The failure of the signal bells to announce a vote does not warrant
repetition of the record vote, nor does such a failure permit a Member
to be recorded following the conclusion of the call. Manual Sec. 1016;
8 Cannon Sec. Sec. 3153, 3155, 3157; see also Voting.
The use of a wireless telephone or personal computer on the floor
of the House is prohibited under rule XVII clause 5, and the Chair has
admonished Members to disable wireless telephones on entering the
Chamber. The Chair has also announced that the use of wireless
telephones is not permitted in the gallery. Manual Sec. 962.
Microphones have been placed on the floor of the House for the use
of Members. A Member making an appropriate request should use one of
the floor microphones so that all Members may hear the request. 94-1,
Oct. 28, 1975, p 34027. A Member may speak at any microphone on the
floor. Manual Sec. 364. Rule I clause 2 directs the Speaker to
preserve order and decorum in the House, and he is authorized to order
the microphones turned off if they are being utilized by a Member who
has not been properly recognized and who is disorderly. Deschler-Brown
Ch 29 Sec. 11.19.
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Where there is a discrepancy in the time shown on the clocks in
the House Chamber, the Chair relies on the clock on the north wall in
deciding when time has expired. Deschler-Brown Ch 28 Sec. 74.2.
Sec. 4 . Galleries and Corridors
Under rule I clause 3, control over the corridors leading to the
House Chamber is vested in the Speaker. Manual Sec. Sec. 622, 623. The
Speaker may order the corridors cleared during quorum calls and the
taking of votes to ensure unimpeded access to the Chamber. Manual
Sec. 623. Under rule I clause 2, the Speaker preserves order and
decorum in the galleries, and in the event of a disturbance, he may
order the galleries cleared. Manual Sec. 622. The Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole may exercise similar power in preserving order
in the galleries. Manual Sec. 970.
Guests in the House gallery must maintain order and refrain from
manifestations of approval or disapproval of proceedings on the floor,
and admonitions may be expressed either by the Speaker or by the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 5.6. Under
rule XVII clause 7, it also is out of order to refer to visitors in
the galleries, even with permission to proceed out of order; and the
Speaker, on his own initiative, may declare such remarks to be out of
order. Deschler Ch 4 Sec. Sec. 5.3, 5.4.
Sec. 5 . Photographs; Radio and Television Coverage
Photographs
Under the practice of the House, permission must be obtained
before photographs may be taken inside the House Chamber. Rules
regarding the taking of such pictures may be enforced by the Speaker.
Deschler Ch 4 Sec. 3.5 (note). Official photographs of the House while
in session may be permitted by resolution. See, e.g., 107-2, June 5,
2002, p ____.
Media Coverage of Floor Proceedings
Prior to the 95th Congress, the rules and precedents of the House
did not permit public radio and television broadcasts of House
proceedings. In 1977, the House adopted a privileged resolution
reported from the Committee on Rules to provide a system of closed-
circuit viewing of House proceedings and for the orderly development
of a broadcasting system. Under rule V, the Speaker directs the audio
and visual broadcasting and recording of the proceedings of the House,
including periods of voting. Under this rule, broadcasts are made over
closed-circuit television in House offices and have been made
available to the news media and to cable television systems.
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Broadcasts made available under the rule may not be used for
political or commercial purposes. Manual Sec. 684.
In 1984, a question arose as to the authority of the Speaker to
require wide-angle television coverage of the House Chamber during
special-order speeches. In that instance, the Speaker's directive that
television cameras covering special-order speeches of the House at the
completion of legislative business include periodic wide-angle
coverage of the entire House Chamber was held to be consistent with
the authority conferred upon the Speaker under rule V. Manual
Sec. 684. Beginning in the 103d Congress, the Speaker has followed a
policy under which television cameras would not ``pan'' the Chamber
during morning hour or special-order speeches. However, the Speaker
directed that a caption run at the bottom of the screen to show that
legislative business has been completed for the day. Manual Sec. 684.
Although rule V clause 2 requires complete and unedited broadcast
coverage of the proceedings of the House, it does not require in-House
microphone amplification of disorderly conduct by a Member following
expiration of his recognition for debate. Deschler-Brown Ch 29
Sec. 11.19.