RULES

OF THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[This schedule of Rules was adopted Jan. 27, 1874. Subsequent amendments are noted under each Rule which has been amended.]

SPEAKER.

1. The Speaker shall take the chair at the hour to which the House stands adjourned, call the members to order, and, on the appearance of a quorum, proceed to business. (Senate Rule 1.)

2. He shall preserve decorum and order; may speak to points of order in preference to other members; and shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the House. (2.)

[With regard to appeals, see Rules 83 and 94.]

3. He shall declare all votes, subject to verification as hereinafter provided. (53.)

[See Rules 65 to 69.]

4. In all cases he may vote. (3.)

5. He shall rise to put a question, or to address the House, but may read sitting.

(2.)

6. He shall each day examine the Journal of the House.

7. He may appoint a member to perform the duties of the chair for a period not exceeding three days at one time. (4.)

[Amended Jan. 14, 1892.]

8. In case of a vacancy in the office of Speaker, or in case the Speaker or the member named by him in accordance with the preceding rule is absent at the hour to which the House stands adjourned, the senior member present shall call the House to order, and shall preside until a Speaker pro tempore or a Speaker is elected by ballot, which shall be the first business in order. (5.)

MONITORS.

9. Two monitors shall be appointed by the Speaker for each division of the House, whose duty it shall be to see to the due observance of the rules and, on request of the Speaker, to return the number of votes and members in their respective divisions.

10. If a member transgress any of the rules after being notified thereof by a monitor, it shall be the duty of such monitor to report the case to the House.

[See Rule 19.]

CLERK.

11. The Clerk shall keep the journal of the House. He shall enter therein a record of each day's proceedings, and submit it to the Speaker before the hour fixed for the next sitting, and shall cause the same to be printed daily. (6.)

[Amended Jan. 16, 1888.]

12. Every question of order with the decision thereon shall be entered at large in the journal, and shall be noted in an appendix, which shall also contain the rules of the House, and of the two branches. (6.)

[Amended Feb. 2, 1891.]

13. The Clerk shall prepare and cause to be printed each day a calendar of matters in order for consideration; a list of matters lying on the table; and such other memoranda as the House or the Speaker may direct.

[Amended Jan. 16, 1888.]

(7.)

14. Any objection to the calendar shall be made and disposed of before the House votes to proceed to the consideration of the Orders of the Day.

15. The Clerk shall retain bills and other papers, in reference to which any member has a right to move a reconsideration (except petitions, enacted bills, orders of inquiry and orders of notice), until the right of reconsideration has expired: provided, that the operation of this rule shall be suspended during the last week of the session. (8.)

MEMBERS.

16. No member shall stand up, to the inconvenience of others, while a member is speaking; or pass unnecessarily between the Speaker of the House and the member speaking; or stand in the passages, or in the area in front of the chair; or stand at the Clerk's desk while a roll-call is in progress.

[Amended Feb. 2, 1891.]

17. No member shall be absent more than two days, without leave of the House. No member shall absent himself from the House without leave, unless there be a quorum without his presence. When it appears to the presiding officer that the presence of a quorum is endangered he shall order the doors to be closed until the House takes action thereon. (11.)

[Amended Feb. 2, 1891.]

18. Papers in possession of a member obtaining leave of absence, or at the end of the session, shall be left by him with the Clerk.

19. If a member is guilty of a breach of any of the rules, he may be required by the House, on motion, to make satisfaction therefor; and, until he has done so, he shall not be allowed to vote or speak, except by way of

excuse.

[See Rule 10.]

COMMITTEES.

20. At the beginning of the political year, standing committees shall be appointed as follows:

A committee on Rules;

(12.)

(to consist of the Speaker, who shall be chairman of the committee, and eight other members).

A committee on Ways and Means;

A committee on the Judiciary; (to consist of eleven members each). A committee on Elections;

(to consist of seven members).

A committee on Bills in the Third Reading;

A committee on Engrossed Bills;

A committee on Pay-Roll;

(to consist of three members each).

[Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Jan. 2, 1896; Jan. 11, 1897; Jan. 10, 1898.]

21. Unless other provision is made in any case all committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, and the member first named shall be chairman.

(13.)

22. In case of the election of a committee by ballot, the member having the highest number of votes shall be chairman. (13.)

23. No member shall be required to be on more than two committees at the same time, or chairman of more than one.

24. No member shall serve on any committee in any question where his private right is immediately concerned, distinct from the public interest. (10.)

25. The committee on Ways and Means shall report, in appropriation bills, only such items of expenditure as are authorized by law, or such as the committee has been directed by the House to insert, and shall state in its report the total amount of appropriations in the accompanying bill; and also at the end of each item in said bill the amount, if any, appropriated the previous year for the same purpose.

[Amended Feb. 2, 1891; Jan. 2, 1896.]

26. The committee on Bills in the Third Reading shall examine and correct the bills which are referred to it, for the purpose of avoiding repetitions and unconstitutional provisions, insuring accuracy in the text and references, and consistency with the language of existing statutes: provided, that any change in the sense or legal effect, or any material change in construction, shall be reported to the House as an amendment. (33.)

[Amended Jan. 15, 1880.]

27. The committee on Engrossed Bills shall carefully examine and compare engrossed bills, and report them rightly and truly engrossed, when found to be so, without delay. (34.)

28. All resolutions, bills and resolves for introduction on leave, intended for presentation by any member of the House, and all reports of State officers, shall first be deposited with the Clerk, and prior to their presentation shall be submitted by him to the Speaker for his examination; and not later than the fourth legislative day succeeding the day of their deposit with the Clerk, the Speaker shall, before the orders of the day are considered, present the same to the House, when they, in the case of resolutions, bills and resolves, shall be read, and shall by the Speaker