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PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE,

COMPOSED ORIGINALLY

FOR THE USE OF

THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

BY THOMAS JEFFERSON.

WITH REFERENCES TO THE PRACTICE AND RULES OF THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE WHOLE BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRACTICE OF THE
PRESENT TIME; TO WHICH ARE ADDED

THE RULES AND ORDERS OF BOTH HOUSES
OF CONGRESS.

PHILADELPHIA:

HOGAN & THOMPSON.
1837.

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1834, by HOGAN AND THOMPSON, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

MR. JEFFERSON'S PREFACE.

THE Constitution of the United States, establishing a legislature for the Union under certain forms, authorizes each branch of it " to determine the rules of its own proceedings." The Senate have accordingly formed some rules for its own government: but those going only to few cases, they have referred to the decision of their President, without debate and without appeal, all questions of order arising either under their own rules, or, where they have provided none. This places under the discretion of the President a very extensive field of decision, and one which, irregularly exercised, would have a powerful effect on the proceedings and de

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