IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 5
Adopting rules for the One Hundred Sixth Congress in recodified form.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. ARMEY submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to
RESOLUTION
Adopting rules for the One Hundred Sixth Congress in
recodified form.
Resolved, That the Rules of the House of Representa-
tives of the One Hundred Fifth Congress, including appli-
cable provisions of law or concurrent resolution that con-
stituted rules of the House at the end of the One Hundred
Fifth Congress, are adopted as the Rules of the House
of Representatives of the One Hundred Sixth Congress,
with amendments to the standing rules, and with other
orders, as follows:
SECTION 1. CHANGES IN STANDING RULES.
Amend the standing rules to read as follows:
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RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RULE I.
THE SPEAKER.
Approval of the Journal
1. The Speaker shall take the Chair on every legisla-
tive day precisely at the hour to which the House last ad-
journed and immediately call the House to order. Having
examined and approved the Journal of the last day’s pro-
ceedings, the Speaker shall announce to the House his ap-
proval thereof. The Speaker’s approval of the Journal
shall be deemed agreed to unless a Member, Delegate, or
Resident Commissioner demands a vote thereon. If such
a vote is decided in the affirmative, it shall not be subject
to a motion to reconsider. If such a vote is decided in the
negative, then one motion that the Journal be read shall
be privileged, shall be decided without debate, and shall
not be subject to a motion to reconsider.
Preservation of order
2. The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum
and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the
galleries or in the lobby, may cause the same to be cleared.
Control of Capitol facilities
3. Except as otherwise provided by rule or law, the
Speaker shall have general control of the Hall of the
House, the corridors and passages in the part of the Cap-
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itol assigned to the use of the House, and the disposal
of unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol.
Signature of documents
4. The Speaker shall sign all acts and joint resolu-
tions passed by the two Houses and all writs, warrants,
and subpoenas of, or issued by order of, the House. The
Speaker may sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions
whether or not the House is in session.
Questions of order
5. The Speaker shall decide all questions of order,
subject to appeal by a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner. On such an appeal a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner may not speak more than once
without permission of the House.
Form of a question
6. The Speaker shall rise to put a question but may
state it sitting. The Speaker shall put a question in this
form: ‘‘Those in favor (of the question), say ‘Aye.’ ’’; and
after the affirmative voice is expressed, ‘‘Those opposed,
say ‘No.’ ’’. After a vote by voice under this clause, the
Speaker may use such voting procedures as may be in-
voked under rule XX.
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Discretion to vote
7. The Speaker is not required to vote in ordinary
legislative proceedings, except when his vote would be deci-
sive or when the House is engaged in voting by ballot.
Speaker pro tempore
8. (a) The Speaker may appoint a Member to perform
the duties of the Chair. Except as specified in paragraph
(b), such an appointment may not extend beyond three
legislative days.
(b)(1) In the case of his illness, the Speaker may ap-
point a Member to perform the duties of the Chair for
a period not exceeding 10 days, subject to the approval
of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has omitted
to make such an appointment, then the House shall elect
a Speaker pro tempore to act during the absence of the
Speaker.
(2) With the approval of the House, the Speaker may
appoint a Member to act as Speaker pro tempore only to
sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions for a specified pe-
riod of time.
Term limit
9. A person may not serve as Speaker for more than
four consecutive Congresses (disregarding for this purpose
any service for less than a full session in any Congress).
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Designation of travel
10. The Speaker may designate a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House
to travel on the business of the House within or without
the United States, whether the House is meeting, has re-
cessed, or has adjourned. Expenses for such travel may
be paid from applicable accounts of the House described
in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X on vouchers approved and
signed solely by the Speaker.
Committee appointment
11. The Speaker shall appoint all select, joint, and
conference committees ordered by the House. At any time
after an original appointment, the Speaker may remove
Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from,
or appoint additional Members, Delegates, or the Resident
Commissioner to, a select or conference committee. In ap-
pointing Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commis-
sioner to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint
no less than a majority who generally supported the House
position as determined by the Speaker, shall name those
who are primarily responsible for the legislation, and shall,
to the fullest extent feasible, include the principal pro-
ponents of the major provisions of the bill or resolution
passed or adopted by the House.
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Declaration of recess
12. To suspend the business of the House for a short
time when no question is pending before the House, the
Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call of the
Chair.
Other responsibilities
13. The Speaker, in consultation with the Minority
Leader, shall develop through an appropriate entity of the
House a system for drug testing in the House. The system
may provide for the testing of a Member, Delegate, Resi-
dent Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, and
otherwise shall be comparable in scope to the system for
drug testing in the executive branch pursuant to Executive
Order 12564 (Sept. 15, 1986). The expenses of the system
may be paid from applicable accounts of the House for
official expenses.
RULE II.
OTHER OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS.
Elections
1. There shall be elected at the commencement of
each Congress, to continue in office until their successors
are chosen and qualified, a Clerk, a Sergeant-at-Arms, a
Chief Administrative Officer, and a Chaplain. Each of
these officers shall take an oath to support the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and for the true and faithful
exercise of the duties of his office to the best of his knowl-
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edge and ability, and to keep the secrets of the House.
Each of these officers shall appoint all of the employees
of his department provided for by law. The Clerk, Ser-
geant-at-Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer may be
removed by the House or by the Speaker.
Clerk
2. (a) At the commencement of the first session of
each Congress, the Clerk shall call the Members, Dele-
gates, and Resident Commissioner to order and proceed
to record their presence by States in alphabetical order,
either by call of the roll or by use of the electronic voting
system. Pending the election of a Speaker or Speaker pro
tempore, the Clerk shall preserve order and decorum and
decide all questions of order, subject to appeal by a Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.
(b) At the commencement of every regular session of
Congress, the Clerk shall make and cause to be printed
and delivered to each Member, Delegate, and the Resident
Commissioner a list of the reports that any officer or De-
partment is required to make to Congress, citing the law
or resolution in which the requirement may be contained
and placing under the name of each officer the list of re-
ports he is required to make.
(c) The Clerk shall—
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cessor is elected. The Clerk shall perform similar duties
in the event that a vacancy is declared by the House in
any congressional district because of the incapacity of the
person representing such district or other reason. When-
ever the Clerk is acting as a supervisory authority over
such staff, he shall have authority to terminate employees
and, with the approval of the Committee on House Admin-
istration, may appoint such staff as is required to operate
the office until a successor is elected.
(2) For 60 days following the death of a former
Speaker, the Clerk shall maintain on the House payroll,
and shall supervise in the same manner, staff appointed
under House Resolution 1238, Ninety-first Congress (as
enacted into permanent law by chapter VIII of the Supple-
mental Appropriations Act, 1971) (2 U.S.C. 31b–5).
(j) In addition to any other reports required by the
Speaker or the Committee on House Administration, the
Clerk shall report to the Committee on House Administra-
tion not later than 45 days following the close of each
semiannual period ending on June 30 or on December 31
on the financial and operational status of each function
under the jurisdiction of the Clerk. Each report shall in-
clude financial statements and a description or expla-
nation of current operations, the implementation of new
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policies and procedures, and future plans for each func-
tion.
(k) The Clerk shall fully cooperate with the appro-
priate offices and persons in the performance of reviews
and audits of financial records and administrative oper-
ations.
Sergeant-at-Arms
3. (a) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall attend the House
during its sittings and maintain order under the direction
of the Speaker or other presiding officer. The Sergeant-
at-Arms shall execute the commands of the House, and
all processes issued by authority thereof, directed to him
by the Speaker.
(b) The symbol of the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms
shall be the mace, which shall be borne by him while en-
forcing order on the floor.
(c) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall enforce strictly the
rules relating to the privileges of the Hall of the House
and be responsible to the House for the official conduct
of his employees.
(d) The Sergeant-at-Arms may not allow a person to
enter the room over the Hall of the House during its
sittings; and from 15 minutes before the hour of the meet-
ing of the House each day until 10 minutes after adjourn-
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ment, he shall see that the floor is cleared of all persons
except those privileged to remain.
(e) In addition to any other reports required by the
Speaker or the Committee on House Administration, the
Sergeant-at-Arms shall report to the Committee on House
Administration not later than 45 days following the close
of each semiannual period ending on June 30 or on De-
cember 31 on the financial and operational status of each
function under the jurisdiction of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Each report shall include financial statements and a de-
scription or explanation of current operations, the imple-
mentation of new policies and procedures, and future
plans for each function.
(f) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall fully cooperate with
the appropriate offices and persons in the performance of
reviews and audits of financial records and administrative
operations.
Chief Administrative Officer
4. (a) The Chief Administrative Officer shall have
operational and financial responsibility for functions as as-
signed by the Committee on House Administration and
shall be subject to the policy direction and oversight of
the Committee on House Administration.
(b) In addition to any other reports required by the
Committee on House Administration, the Chief Adminis-
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trative Officer shall report to the Committee on House Ad-
ministration not later than 45 days following the close of
each semiannual period ending on June 30 or December
31 on the financial and operational status of each function
under the jurisdiction of the Chief Administrative Officer.
Each report shall include financial statements and a de-
scription or explanation of current operations, the imple-
mentation of new policies and procedures, and future
plans for each function.
(c) The Chief Administrative Officer shall fully co-
operate with the appropriate offices and persons in the
performance of reviews and audits of financial records and
administrative operations.
Chaplain
5. The Chaplain shall offer a prayer at the com-
mencement of each day’s sitting of the House.
Office of Inspector General
6. (a) There is established an Office of Inspector
General.
(b) The Inspector General shall be appointed for a
Congress by the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the
Minority Leader, acting jointly.
(c) Subject to the policy direction and oversight of
the Committee on House Administration, the Inspector
General shall only—
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(1) conduct periodic audits of the financial and
administrative functions of the House and of joint
entities;
(2) inform the officers or other officials who are
the subject of an audit of the results of that audit
and suggesting appropriate curative actions;
(3) simultaneously notify the Speaker, the Ma-
jority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the chair-
man and ranking minority member of the Committee
on House Administration in the case of any financial
irregularity discovered in the course of carrying out
responsibilities under this clause;
(4) simultaneously submit to the Speaker, the
Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Com-
mittee on House Administration a report of each
audit conducted under this clause; and
(5) report to the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct information involving possible viola-
tions by a Member, Delegate, Resident Commis-
sioner, officer, or employee of the House of any rule
of the House or of any law applicable to the per-
formance of official duties or the discharge of official
responsibilities that may require referral to the ap-
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propriate Federal or State authorities under clause
3(a)(3) of rule XI.
Office of the Historian
7. There is established an Office of the Historian of
the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall appoint
and set the annual rate of pay for employees of the Office
of the Historian.
Office of General Counsel
8. There is established an Office of General Counsel
for the purpose of providing legal assistance and represen-
tation to the House. Legal assistance and representation
shall be provided without regard to political affiliation.
The Office of General Counsel shall function pursuant to
the direction of the Speaker, who shall consult with a Bi-
partisan Legal Advisory Group, which shall include the
majority and minority leaderships. The Speaker shall ap-
point and set the annual rate of pay for employees of the
Office of General Counsel.
RULE III.
THE MEMBERS, DELEGATES, AND RESIDENT
COMMISSIONER OF PUERTO RICO.
Voting
1. Every Member shall be present within the Hall of
the House during its sittings, unless excused or necessarily
prevented, and shall vote on each question put, unless he
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has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the event
of such question.
2. (a) A Member may not authorize any other person
to cast his vote or record his presence in the House or
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union.
(b) No other person may cast a Member’s vote or
record a Member’s presence in the House or the Commit-
tee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Delegates and the Resident Commissioner
3. (a) Each Delegate and the Resident Commissioner
shall be elected to serve on standing committees in the
same manner as Members of the House and shall possess
in such committees the same powers and privileges as the
other members of the committee.
(b) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner
may be appointed to any select committee and to any con-
ference committee.
RULE IV.
THE HALL OF THE HOUSE.
Use and admittance
1. The Hall of the House shall be used only for the
legislative business of the House and for caucus and con-
ference meetings of its Members, except when the House
agrees to take part in any ceremonies to be observed there-
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in. The Speaker may not entertain a motion for the sus-
pension of this clause.
2. (a) Only the following persons shall be admitted
to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto:
(1) Members of Congress, Members-elect, and
contestants in election cases during the pendency of
their cases on the floor.
(2) The Delegates and the Resident Commis-
sioner.
(3) The President and Vice President of the
United States and their private secretaries.
(4) Justices of the Supreme Court.
(5) Elected officers and minority employees
nominated as elected officers of the House.
(6) The Parliamentarian.
(7) Staff of committees when business from
their committee is under consideration.
(8) Not more than one person from the staff of
a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
when that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner has an amendment under consideration (sub-
ject to clause 5).
(9) The Architect of the Capitol.
(10) The Librarian of Congress and the assist-
ant in charge of the Law Library.
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(11) The Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms of
the Senate.
(12) Heads of departments.
(13) Foreign ministers.
(14) Governors of States.
(15) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident
Commissioners; former Parliamentarians of the
House; and former elected officers and minority em-
ployees nominated as elected officers of the House
(subject to clause 4).
(16) One attorney to accompany a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who is the re-
spondent in an investigation undertaken by the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct when a
recommendation of that committee is under consid-
eration in the House.
(17) Such persons as have, by name, received
the thanks of Congress.
(b) The Speaker may not entertain a unanimous con-
sent request or a motion to suspend this clause.
3. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all per-
sons not entitled to the privilege of the floor during the
session shall be excluded at all times from the Hall of the
House and the cloakrooms.
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(b) Until 15 minutes of the hour of the meeting of
the House, persons employed in its service, accredited
members of the press entitled to admission to the press
gallery, and other persons on request of a Member, Dele-
gate, or Resident Commissioner by card or in writing, may
be admitted to the Hall of the House.
4. (a) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident
Commissioners; former Parliamentarians of the House;
and former elected officers and minority employees nomi-
nated as elected officers of the House shall be entitled to
the privilege of admission to the Hall of the House and
rooms leading thereto only if—
(1) they do not have any direct personal or pe-
cuniary interest in any legislative measure pending
before the House or reported by a committee; and
(2) they are not in the employ of, or do not rep-
resent, any party or organization for the purpose of
influencing, directly or indirectly, the passage, de-
feat, or amendment of any legislative measure pend-
ing before the House, reported by a committee, or
under consideration in any of its committees or sub-
committees.
(b) The Speaker shall promulgate such regulations as
may be necessary to implement this rule and to ensure
its enforcement.
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5. A person from the staff of a Member, Delegate,
or Resident Commissioner may be admitted to the Hall
of the House or rooms leading thereto under clause 2 only
upon prior notice to the Speaker. Such persons, and per-
sons from the staff of committees admitted under clause
2, may not engage in efforts in the Hall of the House
or rooms leading thereto to influence Members with regard
to the legislation being amended. Such persons shall re-
main at the desk and are admitted only to advise the
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or committee
responsible for their admission. A person who violates this
clause may be excluded during the session from the Hall
of the House and rooms leading thereto by the Speaker.
Gallery
6. (a) The Speaker shall set aside a portion of the
west gallery for the use of the President, the members of
the Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court, foreign min-
isters and suites, and the members of their respective fam-
ilies. The Speaker shall set aside another portion of the
same gallery for the accommodation of persons to be ad-
mitted on the cards of Members, Delegates, or the Resi-
dent Commissioner.
(b) The Speaker shall set aside the southerly half of
the east gallery for the use of the families of Members
of Congress. The Speaker shall control one bench. On the
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request of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
or Senator, the Speaker shall issue a card of admission
to his family, which may include their visitors. No other
person shall be admitted to this section.
Prohibition on campaign contributions
7. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, offi-
cer, or employee of the House, or any other person entitled
to admission to the Hall of the House or rooms leading
thereto by this rule, may not knowingly distribute a politi-
cal campaign contribution in the Hall of the House or
rooms leading thereto.
RULE V.
BROADCASTING THE HOUSE.
1. The Speaker shall administer a system subject to
his direction and control for closed-circuit viewing of floor
proceedings of the House in the offices of all Members,
Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and committees
and in such other places in the Capitol and the House
Office Buildings as he considers appropriate. Such system
may include other telecommunications functions as the
Speaker considers appropriate. Any such telecommuni-
cations shall be subject to rules and regulations issued by
the Speaker.
2. (a) The Speaker shall administer a system subject
to his direction and control for complete and unedited
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audio and visual broadcasting and recording of the pro-
ceedings of the House. The Speaker shall provide for the
distribution of such broadcasts and recordings to news
media, for the storage of audio and video recordings of
the proceedings, and for the closed-captioning of the pro-
ceedings for hearing-impaired persons.
(b) All television and radio broadcasting stations, net-
works, services, and systems (including cable systems)
that are accredited to the House Radio and Television
Correspondents’ Galleries, and all radio and television cor-
respondents who are so accredited, shall be provided ac-
cess to the live coverage of the House.
(c) Coverage made available under this clause, includ-
ing any recording thereof—
(1) may not be used for any political purpose;
(2) may not be used in any commercial adver-
tisement; and
(3) may not be broadcast with commercial
sponsorship except as part of a bona fide news pro-
gram or public affairs documentary program.
3. The Speaker may delegate any of his responsibil-
ities under this rule to such legislative entity as he consid-
ers appropriate.
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RULE VI.
OFFICIAL REPORTERS AND NEWS MEDIA GALLERIES.
Official reporters
1. Subject to the direction and control of the Speaker,
the Clerk shall appoint, and may remove for cause, the
official reporters of the House, including stenographers of
committees, and shall supervise the execution of their du-
ties.
News media galleries
2. A portion of the gallery over the Speaker’s chair
as may be necessary to accommodate representatives of
the press wishing to report debates and proceedings shall
be set aside for their use. Reputable reporters and cor-
respondents shall be admitted thereto under such regula-
tions as the Speaker may prescribe from time to time. The
Standing Committee of Correspondents for the Press Gal-
lery, and the Executive Committee of Correspondents for
the Periodical Press Gallery, shall supervise such galleries,
including the designation of its employees, subject to the
direction and control of the Speaker. The Speaker may
assign one seat on the floor to Associated Press reporters
and one to United Press International reporters, and may
regulate their occupation. The Speaker may admit to the
floor, under such regulations as he may prescribe, one ad-
ditional representative of each press association.
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any noncurrent records made or acquired in the course
of the duties of such officer.
2. The Clerk shall deliver the records transferred
under clause 1, together with any other noncurrent
records of the House, to the Archivist of the United States
for preservation at the National Archives and Records Ad-
ministration. Records so delivered are the permanent
property of the House and remain subject to this rule and
any order of the House.
Public availability
3. (a) The Clerk shall authorize the Archivist to make
records delivered under clause 2 available for public use,
subject to paragraph (b), clause 4, and any order of the
House.
(b)(1) A record shall immediately be made available
if it was previously made available for public use by the
House or a committee or a subcommittee.
(2) An investigative record that contains personal
data relating to a specific living person (the disclosure of
which would be an unwarranted invasion of personal pri-
vacy), an administrative record relating to personnel, or
a record relating to a hearing that was closed under clause
2(g)(2) of rule XI shall be made available if it has been
in existence for 50 years.
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(3) A record for which a time, schedule, or condition
for availability is specified by order of the House shall be
made available in accordance with that order. Except as
otherwise provided by order of the House, a record of a
committee for which a time, schedule, or condition for
availability is specified by order of the committee (entered
during the Congress in which the record is made or ac-
quired by the committee) shall be made available in ac-
cordance with the order of the committee.
(4) A record (other than a record referred to in sub-
paragraph (1), (2), or (3)) shall be made available if it
has been in existence for 30 years.
4. (a) A record may not be made available for public
use under clause 3 if the Clerk determines that such avail-
ability would be detrimental to the public interest or incon-
sistent with the rights and privileges of the House. The
Clerk shall notify in writing the chairman and ranking mi-
nority member of the Committee on House Administration
of any such determination.
(b) A determination of the Clerk under paragraph (a)
is subject to later orders of the House and, in the case
of a record of a committee, later orders of the committee.
5. (a) This rule does not supersede rule VIII or clause
9 of rule X and does not authorize the public disclosure
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of any record if such disclosure is prohibited by law or
executive order of the President.
(b) The Committee on House Administration may
prescribe guidelines and regulations governing the applica-
bility and implementation of this rule.
(c) A committee may withdraw from the National Ar-
chives and Records Administration any record of the com-
mittee delivered to the Archivist under this rule. Such a
withdrawal shall be on a temporary basis and for official
use of the committee.
Definition of record
6. In this rule the term ‘‘record’’ means any official,
permanent record of the House (other than a record of
an individual Member, Delegate, or Resident Commis-
sioner), including—
(a) with respect to a committee, an official, per-
manent record of the committee (including any
record of a legislative, oversight, or other activity of
such committee or a subcommittee thereof); and
(b) with respect to an officer of the House
elected under rule II, an official, permanent record
made or acquired in the course of the duties of such
officer.
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Withdrawal of papers
7. A memorial or other paper presented to the House
may not be withdrawn from its files without its leave. If
withdrawn certified copies thereof shall be left in the office
of the Clerk. When an act passes for the settlement of
a claim, the Clerk may transmit to the officer charged
with the settlement thereof the papers on file in his office
relating to such claim. The Clerk may lend temporarily
to an officer or bureau of the executive departments any
papers on file in his office relating to any matter pending
before such officer or bureau, taking proper receipt there-
for.
RULE VIII.
RESPONSE TO SUBPOENAS.
1. When a Member, Delegate, Resident Commis-
sioner, officer, or employee of the House is properly served
with a subpoena or other judicial order directing appear-
ance as a witness relating to the official functions of the
House or for the production or disclosure of any document
relating to the official functions of the House, such Mem-
ber, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or em-
ployee shall comply, consistently with the privileges and
rights of the House, with the subpoena or other judicial
order as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise determined
under this rule.
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2. Upon receipt of a properly served subpoena or
other judicial order described in clause 1, a Member, Dele-
gate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House shall promptly notify the Speaker of its receipt in
writing. Such notification shall promptly be laid before the
House by the Speaker. During a period of recess or ad-
journment of longer than three days, notification to the
House is not required until the reconvening of the House,
when the notification shall promptly be laid before the
House by the Speaker.
3. Once notification has been laid before the House,
the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House shall determine whether the
issuance of the subpoena or other judicial order described
in clause 1 is a proper exercise of jurisdiction by the court,
is material and relevant, and is consistent with the privi-
leges and rights of the House. Such Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee shall notify
the Speaker before seeking judicial determination of these
matters.
4. Upon determination whether a subpoena or other
judicial order described in clause 1 is a proper exercise
of jurisdiction by the court, is material and relevant, and
is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House,
the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
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employee of the House shall immediately notify the Speak-
er of the determination in writing.
5. The Speaker shall inform the House of a deter-
mination whether a subpoena or other judicial order de-
scribed in clause 1 is a proper exercise of jurisdiction by
the court, is material and relevant, and is consistent with
the privileges and rights of the House. In so informing
the House, the Speaker shall generally describe the
records or information sought. During a period of recess
or adjournment of longer than three days, such notifica-
tion is not required until the reconvening of the House,
when the notification shall promptly be laid before the
House by the Speaker.
6. (a) Except as specified in paragraph (b) or other-
wise ordered by the House, upon notification to the House
that a subpoena or other judicial order described in clause
1 is a proper exercise of jurisdiction by the court, is mate-
rial and relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and
rights of the House, the Member, Delegate, Resident Com-
missioner, officer, or employee of the House shall comply
with the subpoena or other judicial order by supplying cer-
tified copies.
(b) Under no circumstances may minutes or tran-
scripts of executive sessions, or evidence of witnesses in
respect thereto, be disclosed or copied. During a period
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of recess or adjournment of longer than three days, the
Speaker may authorize compliance or take such other ac-
tion as he considers appropriate under the circumstances.
Upon the reconvening of the House, all matters that tran-
spired under this clause shall promptly be laid before the
House by the Speaker.
7. A copy of this rule shall be transmitted by the
Clerk to the court when a subpoena or other judicial order
described in clause 1 is issued and served on a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House.
8. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to deprive,
condition, or waive the constitutional or legal privileges or
rights applicable or available at any time to a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of
the House, or of the House itself, or the right of such
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or em-
ployee, or of the House itself, to assert such privileges or
rights before a court in the United States.
RULE IX.
QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE.
1. Questions of privilege shall be, first, those affecting
the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and
the integrity of its proceedings; and second, those affecting
the rights, reputation, and conduct of Members, Dele-
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gates, or the Resident Commissioner, individually, in their
representative capacity only.
2. (a)(1) A resolution reported as a question of the
privileges of the House, or offered from the floor by the
Majority Leader or the Minority Leader as a question of
the privileges of the House, or offered as privileged under
clause 1, section 7, article I of the Constitution, shall have
precedence of all other questions except motions to ad-
journ. A resolution offered from the floor by a Member,
Delegate, or Resident Commissioner other than the Major-
ity Leader or the Minority Leader as a question of the
privileges of the House shall have precedence of all other
questions except motions to adjourn only at a time or
place, designated by the Speaker, in the legislative sched-
ule within two legislative days after the day on which the
proponent announces to the House his intention to offer
the resolution and the form of the resolution. Oral an-
nouncement of the form of the resolution may be dis-
pensed with by unanimous consent.
(2) The time allotted for debate on a resolution of-
fered from the floor as a question of the privileges of the
House shall be equally divided between (A) the proponent
of the resolution, and (B) the Majority Leader, the Minor-
ity Leader, or a designee, as determined by the Speaker.
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(b) A question of personal privilege shall have prece-
dence of all other questions except motions to adjourn.
RULE X.
ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES.
Committees and their legislative jurisdictions
1. There shall be in the House the following standing
committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and
related functions assigned by this clause and clauses 2,
3, and 4. All bills, resolutions, and other matters relating
to subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing commit-
tees listed in this clause shall be referred to those commit-
tees, in accordance with clause 2 of rule XII, as follows:
(a) Committee on Agriculture.
(1) Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and
protection of birds and animals in forest re-
serves.
(2) Agriculture generally.
(3) Agricultural and industrial chemistry.
(4) Agricultural colleges and experiment
stations.
(5) Agricultural economics and research.
(6) Agricultural education extension serv-
ices.
(7) Agricultural production and marketing
and stabilization of prices of agricultural prod-
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ucts, and commodities (not including distribu-
tion outside of the United States).
(8) Animal industry and diseases of ani-
mals.
(9) Commodity exchanges.
(10) Crop insurance and soil conservation.
(11) Dairy industry.
(12) Entomology and plant quarantine.
(13) Extension of farm credit and farm se-
curity.
(14) Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat
products, and seafood and seafood products.
(15) Forestry in general and forest re-
serves other than those created from the public
domain.
(16) Human nutrition and home econom-
ics.
(17) Plant industry, soils, and agricultural
engineering.
(18) Rural electrification.
(19) Rural development.
(20) Water conservation related to activi-
ties of the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Committee on Appropriations.
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(1) Appropriation of the revenue for the
support of the Government.
(2) Rescissions of appropriations contained
in appropriation Acts.
(3) Transfers of unexpended balances.
(4) Bills and joint resolutions reported by
other committees that provide new entitlement
authority as defined in section 3(9) of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974 and referred to
the committee under clause 4(a)(2).
(c) Committee on Armed Services.
(1) Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals;
and Army, Navy, and Air Force reservations
and establishments.
(2) Common defense generally.
(3) Conservation, development, and use of
naval petroleum and oil shale reserves.
(4) The Department of Defense generally,
including the Departments of the Army, Navy,
and Air Force, generally.
(5) Interoceanic canals generally, including
measures relating to the maintenance, oper-
ation, and administration of interoceanic canals.
(6) Merchant Marine Academy and State
Maritime Academies.
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(7) Military applications of nuclear energy.
(8) Tactical intelligence and intelligence-re-
lated activities of the Department of Defense.
(9) National security aspects of merchant
marine, including financial assistance for the
construction and operation of vessels, mainte-
nance of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair
industrial base, cabotage, cargo preference, and
merchant marine officers and seamen as these
matters relate to the national security.
(10) Pay, promotion, retirement, and other
benefits and privileges of members of the armed
forces.
(11) Scientific research and development in
support of the armed services.
(12) Selective service.
(13) Size and composition of the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
(14) Soldiers’ and sailors’ homes.
(15) Strategic and critical materials nec-
essary for the common defense.
(d) Committee on Banking and Finan-
cial Services.
(1) Banks and banking, including deposit
insurance and Federal monetary policy.
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(2) Bank capital markets activities gen-
erally.
(3) Depository institutions securities activi-
ties generally, including activities of any affili-
ates (except for functional regulation under ap-
plicable securities laws not involving safety and
soundness).
(4) Economic stabilization, defense produc-
tion, renegotiation, and control of the price of
commodities, rents, and services.
(5) Financial aid to commerce and indus-
try (other than transportation).
(6) International finance.
(7) International financial and monetary
organizations.
(8) Money and credit, including currency
and this issuance of notes and redemption
thereof; gold and silver, including the coinage
thereof; valuation and revaluation of the dollar.
(9) Public and private housing.
(10) Urban development.
(e) Committee on the Budget.
(1) Concurrent resolutions on the budget
(as defined in section 3(4) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974), other matters required to
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be referred to the committee under titles III
and IV of that Act, and other measures setting
forth appropriate levels of budget totals for the
United States Government.
(2) Budget process generally.
(3) Establishment, extension, and enforce-
ment of special controls over the Federal budg-
et, including the budgetary treatment of off-
budget Federal agencies and measures provid-
ing exemption from reduction under any order
issued under part C of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(f) Committee on Commerce.
(1) Biomedical research and development.
(2) Consumer affairs and consumer protec-
tion.
(3) Health and health facilities (except
health care supported by payroll deductions).
(4) Interstate energy compacts.
(5) Interstate and foreign commerce gen-
erally.
(6) Exploration, production, storage, sup-
ply, marketing, pricing, and regulation of en-
ergy resources, including all fossil fuels, solar
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energy, and other unconventional or renewable
energy resources.
(7) Conservation of energy resources.
(8) Energy information generally.
(9) The generation and marketing of
power (except by federally chartered or Federal
regional power marketing authorities); reliabil-
ity and interstate transmission of, and rate-
making for, all power; and siting of generation
facilities (except the installation of interconnec-
tions 
between 
Government 
waterpower
projects).
(10) General management of the Depart-
ment of Energy and management and all func-
tions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission.
(11) National energy policy generally.
(12) Public health and quarantine.
(13) Regulation of the domestic nuclear
energy industry, including regulation of re-
search and development reactors and nuclear
regulatory research.
(14) Regulation of interstate and foreign
communications.
(15) Securities and exchanges.
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(16) Travel and tourism.
The committee shall have the same jurisdiction with
respect to regulation of nuclear facilities and of use
of nuclear energy as it has with respect to regulation
of nonnuclear facilities and of use of nonnuclear en-
ergy.
(g) Committee on Education and the
Workforce.
(1) Child labor.
(2) Gallaudet University and Howard Uni-
versity and Hospital.
(3) Convict labor and the entry of goods
made by convicts into interstate commerce.
(4) Food programs for children in schools.
(5) Labor standards and statistics.
(6) Education or labor generally.
(7) Mediation and arbitration of labor dis-
putes.
(8) Regulation or prevention of importa-
tion of foreign laborers under contract.
(9) Workers’ compensation.
(10) Vocational rehabilitation.
(11) Wages and hours of labor.
(12) Welfare of miners.
(13) Work incentive programs.
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(h) Committee on Government Re-
form.
(1) Federal civil service, including inter-
governmental personnel; and the status of offi-
cers and employees of the United States, in-
cluding their compensation, classification, and
retirement.
(2) Municipal affairs of the District of Co-
lumbia in general (other than appropriations).
(3) Federal paperwork reduction.
(4) Government management and account-
ing measures generally.
(5) Holidays and celebrations.
(6) Overall economy, efficiency, and man-
agement of government operations and activi-
ties, including Federal procurement.
(7) National archives.
(8) Population and demography generally,
including the Census.
(9) Postal service generally, including
transportation of the mails.
(10) Public information and records.
(11) Relationship of the Federal Govern-
ment to the States and municipalities generally.
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(12) Reorganizations in the executive
branch of the Government.
(i) Committee on House Administra-
tion.
(1) Appropriations from accounts for com-
mittee salaries and expenses (except for the
Committee on Appropriations); House Informa-
tion Resources; and allowance and expenses of
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commis-
sioner, officers, and administrative offices of the
House.
(2) Auditing and settling of all accounts
described in subparagraph (1).
(3) Employment of persons by the House,
including staff for Members, Delegates, the
Resident Commissioner, and committees; and
reporters of debates, subject to rule VI.
(4) Except as provided in paragraph
(q)(11), the Library of Congress, including
management thereof; the House Library; statu-
ary and pictures; acceptance or purchase of
works of art for the Capitol; the Botanic Gar-
den; and purchase of books and manuscripts.
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(5) The Smithsonian Institution and the
incorporation of similar institutions (except as
provided in paragraph (q)(11)).
(6) Expenditure of accounts described in
subparagraph (1).
(7) Franking Commission.
(8) Printing and correction of the Congres-
sional Record.
(9) Accounts of the House generally.
(10) Assignment of office space for Mem-
bers, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner,
and committees.
(11) Disposition of useless executive pa-
pers.
(12) Election of the President, Vice Presi-
dent, Members, Senators, Delegates, or the
Resident Commissioner; corrupt practices; con-
tested elections; credentials and qualifications;
and Federal elections generally.
(13) Services to the House, including the
House Restaurant, parking facilities, and ad-
ministration of the House Office Buildings and
of the House wing of the Capitol.
(14) Travel of Members, Delegates, and
the Resident Commissioner.
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(15) Raising, reporting, and use of cam-
paign contributions for candidates for office of
Representative, of Delegate, and of Resident
Commissioner.
(16) Compensation, retirement, and other
benefits of the Members, Delegates, the Resi-
dent Commissioner, officers, and employees of
Congress.
(j) Committee on International Rela-
tions.
(1) Relations of the United States with
foreign nations generally.
(2) Acquisition of land and buildings for
embassies and legations in foreign countries.
(3) Establishment of boundary lines be-
tween the United States and foreign nations.
(4) Export controls, including nonprolifera-
tion of nuclear technology and nuclear hard-
ware.
(5) Foreign loans.
(6) International commodity agreements
(other than those involving sugar), including all
agreements for cooperation in the export of nu-
clear technology and nuclear hardware.
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(7) International conferences and con-
gresses.
(8) International education.
(9) Intervention abroad and declarations of
war.
(10) Diplomatic service.
(11) Measures to foster commercial inter-
course with foreign nations and to safeguard
American business interests abroad.
(12) International economic policy.
(13) Neutrality.
(14) 
Protection 
of 
American 
citizens
abroad and expatriation.
(15) The American National Red Cross.
(16) Trading with the enemy.
(17) United Nations organizations.
(k) Committee on the Judiciary.
(1) The judiciary and judicial proceedings,
civil and criminal.
(2) Administrative practice and procedure.
(3) Apportionment of Representatives.
(4) Bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and
counterfeiting.
(5) Civil liberties.
(6) Constitutional amendments.
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(g) The Committee on Armed Services shall review
and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Gov-
ernment activities relating to international arms control
and disarmament and the education of military depend-
ents in schools.
(h) The Committee on Resources shall review and
study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Govern-
ment activities relating to Native Americans.
(i) The Committee on Rules shall review and study
on a continuing basis the congressional budget process,
and the committee shall report its findings and rec-
ommendations to the House from time to time.
(j) The Committee on Science shall review and study
on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government ac-
tivities relating to nonmilitary research and development.
(k) The Committee on Small Business shall study
and investigate on a continuing basis the problems of all
types of small business.
Additional functions of committees
4. (a)(1)(A) The Committee on Appropriations shall,
within 30 days after the transmittal of the Budget to Con-
gress each year, hold hearings on the Budget as a whole
with particular reference to—
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(1)(D)(i)) containing any matter otherwise within the ju-
risdiction of a standing committee shall be referred by the
Speaker to that standing committee. Proposed legislation
initially reported by another committee that contains mat-
ter within the jurisdiction of the select committee shall be
referred by the Speaker to the select committee if re-
quested by the chairman of the select committee.
(3) Nothing in this clause shall be construed as pro-
hibiting or otherwise restricting the authority of any other
committee to study and review an intelligence or intel-
ligence-related activity to the extent that such activity di-
rectly affects a matter otherwise within the jurisdiction of
that committee.
(4) Nothing in this clause shall be construed as
amending, limiting, or otherwise changing the authority
of a standing committee to obtain full and prompt access
to the product of the intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of a department or agency of the Government
relevant to a matter otherwise within the jurisdiction of
that committee.
(c)(1) For purposes of accountability to the House,
the select committee shall make regular and periodic re-
ports to the House on the nature and extent of the intel-
ligence and intelligence-related activities of the various de-
partments and agencies of the United States. The select