60. No member shall occupy more than one hour in debate on any question in the House, or in committee; but a member reporting the measure under consideration from a committee may open and close the debate: Provided, That where debate is closed by order of the House, any member shall be allowed, in committee, five minutes to explain any amendment he may offer-December 18, 1847-after which any member who shall first obtain the floor shall be allowed to speak five minutes in opposition to it, and there shall be no further debate on the amendment; but the same privilege of debate shall be allowed in favor of and against any amendment that may be offered to the amendment; and neither the amendment nor an amendment to the amendment shall be withdrawn by the mover thereof, unless by the unanimous consent of the committee-August 14, 1850: Provided, further, That the House may, by the vote of a majority of the members present, at any time after the five minutes' debate has taken place upon proposed amendments to any section or paragraph of a bill, close all debate upon such section or paragraph, or at their election upon the pending amendments only.-March 19, 1860. 61. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules of the House, the Speaker shall, or any member may, call to order; in which case, the member so called to order shall immediately sit down, unless permitted to explain; and the House shall, if appealed to, decide on the case, but without debate; if there be no appeal, the decision of the Chair shall be submitted to. If the decision be in favor of the member called to order, he shall be at liberty to proceed; if otherwise, he shall not be permitted to proceed, in case any member object, without leave of the House; and if the case require it, he shall be liable to the censure of the House.-April 7, 1789, and March 13, 1822. 62. If a member be called to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling him to order shall repeat the words excepted to, and they shall be taken down in writing at the Clerk's table; and no member shall be held to answer, or be subject to the censure of the House, for words spoken in debate, if any other member has spoken, or other business has intervened, after the words spoken, and before exception to them shall have been taken.-September 14, 1837. 63. No member shall speak more than once to the same question without leave of the House-April 7, 1789-unless he be the mover, proposer, or introducer of the matter pending; in which case he shall be permitted to speak in reply, but not until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.-January 14, 1840. 64. If a question depending be lost by adjournment of the House, and revived on the succeeding day, no member who shall have spoken on the preceding day shall be permitted again to speak without leave.-April 7, 1789. 65. While the Speaker is putting any question, or addressing the House, none shall walk out of or across the House; nor in such case, or when a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourses; nor while a member is speaking, shall pass between him and the Chair.-April 7, 1789. Every member shall remain uncovered during the session of the House.-September 14, 1837. No member or other person shall visit or remain by the Clerk's table while the ayes and noes are calling or ballots are counting-September 14, 1837. 66. All questions relating to the priority of business to be acted on shall be decided without debate.-February 21, 1803. 66 OF COMMITTEES. 67. All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless otherwise specially directed by the House, in which case they shall be appointed by ballot; and if upon such ballot the number required shall not be elected by a majority of the votes given, the House shall proceed to a second ballot, in which a plurality of votes shall prevail; and in case a greater number than is required to compose or complete a committee shall have an equal number of votes, the House shall proceed to a further ballot or ballots.―January 13, 1790. 68. The first named member of any committee shall be the chairman; and in his absence, or being excused by the House, the next named member, and so on, as often as the case shall happen, unless the committee, by a majority of their number, elect a chairman.-December 28, 1805. 69. Any member may excuse himself from serving on any committee at the time of his appointment, if he is then a member of two other committees-April 13, 1789. 70. It shall be the duty of a committee to meet on the call of any two of its members, if the chairman be absent, or decline to appoint such meeting.December 20, 1805. 71. The several standing committees of the House shall have leave to report by bill or otherwise.-March 13, 1822. 72. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the House without special leave.-November 13, 1794. 73. No committee shall be permitted to employ a clerk at the public expense without first obtaining leave of the House for that purpose.December 14, 1838. 74. Twenty-seven standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each Congress, viz: A Committee of Elections.-November 13, 1789. A Committee of Ways and Means.-January 7, 1802. A Committee of Claims.-November 13, 1794. A Committee on Commerce.-December 14, 1795. A Committee on Public Lands.-December 17, 1805. A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.-November 9, 1808. A Committee for the District of Columbia.-January 27, 1808. A Committee on the Judiciary.-June 3, 1813. A Committee on Revolutionary Claims.-December 22, 1813. A Committee on Public Expenditures.-February 26, 1814. A Committee on Private Land Claims.-April 29, 1816. A Committee on Manufactures.- December 8, 1819. A Committee on Agriculture.-May 3, 1820. A Committee on the Territories.- December 13, 1825. A Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.-December 9, 1825. A Committee on Roads and Canals.-December 15, 1831. A Committee on Patents.-September 15, 1837. A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.-September 15, 1837. To consist of nine members each. To consist of five members each. 75. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections to examine and report upon the certificates of election, or other credentials, of the members returned to serve in this house; and to take into their consideration all such petitions and other matters touching elections and return as shall or may be presented or come into question, and be referred to them by the House.November 13, 1789; November 13, 1794. 76. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means to take into consideration all such reports of the Treasury Department, and all such propositions relative to the revenue as may be referred to them by the House; to inquire into the state of the public debt or the revenue, and of the expenditure; and to report from time to time their opinion thereon.-January 7, 1802. In preparing bills of appropriations for other objects, the Committee of Ways and Means shall not include appropriations for carrying into effect treaties made by the United States; and where an appropriation bill shall be referred to them for their consideration, which contains appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect and for other objects, they shall propose such amendments as shall prevent appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect being included in the same bill with appropriations for other objects.January 30, 1819. 77. It shall also be the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means, within thirty days after their appointment, at every session of Congress commencing on the first Monday of December, to report the general appropriation bills— September 14, 1837-for legislative, executive, and judicial expenses; for sundry civil expenses; for consular and diplomatic expenses; for the army; for the navy; for the expenses of the Indian department; for the payment of invalid and other pensions; for the support of the Military Academy; for fortifications; for the service of the Post Office Department, and for mail transportation by ocean steamers; or, in failure thereof, the reasons of such failure. And said committee shall have leave to report said bills (for refer ence only) at any time.-March 19, 1860. 78. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching claims and demands on the United States as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient.-November 13, 1794. 79. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Commerce to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the commerce of the United States as shall be presented, or shall or may come into question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report, from time to time, their opinion thereon.-December 14, 1795. 80. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public Lands to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things respecting the lands of the United States as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient.-December 17, 1805. 81. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the post office and post roads as shall be presented, or shall come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient.-November 9, 1808. 82. It shall be the duty of the Committee for the District of Columbia to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching the said District as shall be presented, or shall come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient.-January 27, 1808. 83. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judiciary to take into consideration such petitions and matters or things touching judicial proceedings as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient.-June 3, 1813. 84. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things touching claims and demands originating in the revolutionary war, or arising therefrom, as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient.-December 22, 1813. 85. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Expenditures to examine into the state of the several public departments, and particularly into laws making appropriations of money, and to report whether the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such laws; and also to report, from time to time, such provisions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy of the departments, and the accountability of their officers.— February 26, 1814. 86. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private Land Claims to take into consideration all claims to land which may be referred to them, or shall or may come in question; and to report their opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall seem expedient.— April 29, 1816. 87. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Affairs to take into consideration all subjects relating to the military establishment and public defence which may be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in the said establishment.— March 13, 1822. 88. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Militia to take into consideration and report on all subjects connected with the organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia of the United States.—December 10, 1835. 89. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern the naval establishment, and which shall be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion there upon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may contrib ute to economy and accountability in the said establishment.-March 13, 1812. 90. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern the relations of the United States with foreign nations, and which shall be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion on the same.-March 13, 1822. 91. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Territories to examine into the legislative,, civil, and criminal proceedings of the Territories, and to devise and report to the House such means as, in their opinion, may be necessary to secure the rights and privileges of residents and non-residents.December 13, 1825. 92. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respecting pensions for services in the revolutionary war, other than invalid pensions, as shall be referred to them by the House.-January 10, 1831. 93. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid Pensious to take into consideration all such matters respecting invalid pensions as shall be referred to them by the House.-January 10, 1831. 94. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Roads and Canals to take into consideration all such petitions and matters or things relating to roads and canals, and the improvement of the navigation of rivers, as shall be presented, or may come in question, and be referred to them by the House; and to report thereupon, together with such propositions relative thereto as to them shall seem expedient.-December 15, 1831. 95. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to consider all subjects relating to patents which may be referred to them; and report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto as may seem to them expedient.-September 15, 1837. 96. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds to consider all subjects relating to the public edifices and grounds within the city of Washington which may be referred to them; and report their opinion thereon, together with such propositions relating thereto as inay seem to them expedient.-September 15, 1837. 97. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business to examine and report what laws have expired, or are near expiring, and require to be revived or further continued; also to examine and report, from the Journal of last session, all such matters as were then depending and undetermined.-December 14, 1795. 98. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts to superintend and control the expenditures of the contingent fund of the House of Representatives-December 17, 1805; also to audit and settle all accounts which may be charged thereon.-December 23, 1811. 99. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to ascertain and report the distance to the Sergeant-at-arms, for which each member shall receive pay.-September 15, 1837. 100. There shall be referred by the Clerk to the members of the Committee on Printing on the part of the House all drawings, maps, charts, or other papers, which may at any time come before the House for engraving, lithographing, or publishing in any way; which committee shall report to the House whether the same ought, in their opinion, to be published; and if the House order the publication of the same, that said committee shall direct the size and manner of execution of all such maps, charts, diawings, or other papers, and contract by agreement, in writing, for all such engraving, lithographing, printing, drawing, and coloring, as may be ordered by the House; which agreement, in writing, shall be furnished by said committee to the Committee of Accounts, to govern said committee in all allowances for such works; and it shall be in order for said committee to report at all times.-March 16, 1844. 101. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled Bills-March 13, 1822-and the Committee on Printing to report at any time.-March 16, 1860. 102. Seven additional standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of the first session in each Congress, whose duties shall continue until the first session of the ensuing Congress.-March 30, 1816. To consist of five members each. 1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relates to the Department of State; 2. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relates to the Treasury Department; 3. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relates to the Department of War; 4. A committee on so much of the public accounts and expenditures as relates to the Department of the Navy; |