PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1867. STANDING RULES FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. COMMENCEMENT OF DAILY SESSIONS. The President having taken the chair, and a quorum being present, the journal of the preceding day shall be read, to the end that any mistake may be corrected that shall be made in the entries. [16 April, 1789. NOTE.A quorum consists of a majority of the senators duly chosen. [4 May, 1864. BUSINESS NOT TO BE INTERRUPTED. 2. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any newspaper, while the journals or public papers are reading, or when any member is speaking in any debate. 3. [16 April, 1789-14 Feb. 1828. RULES IN SPEAKING OR DEBATE. Every member, when he speaks, shall address the Chair, standing in his place, and when he has finished. shall sit down. [16 April, 1789. 4. No member shall speak more than twice, in any one debate, on the same day, without leave of the Senate. [16 April, 1789. 5. -When two members rise at the same time, the President shall name the person to speak; but in all cases the member who shall first rise and address the Chair shall speak first. [16 April, 1789-14 Feb., 1828. CALLS TO ORDER AND APPEALS. 6. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules of the Senate, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call to order, and when a member shall be called to order by the President, or a senator, he shall sit down, and shall not proceed without leave of the Senate. And every question of order shall be decided by the President, without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate; and the President may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of order. [16 April, 1789-14 Feb., 1828-26 June, 1856. EXCEPTIONABLE WORDS. 7.—If the member be called to order by a senator for words spoken, the exceptionable words shall immediately be taken down in writing, that the President may be better able to judge of the matter. ABSENT MEMBERS MAY BE SENT FOR. [16 April, 1789. 8.- -No member shall absent himself from the service of the Senate, without leave of the Senate first obtained. And in case a less number than a quorum of the Senate shall convene, they are hereby authorized to send the Sergeantat-arms, or any other person or persons by them authorized, for any or all absent members, as the majority of such members present shall agree, at the expense of such absent members, respectively, unless such excuse for non-attendance shall be made as the Senate, when a quorum is con. vened, shall judge sufficient, and in that case the expense shall be paid out of the contingent fund. And this rule |