Introduction
Learn the rules and understand the precedents and procedures of the House. The Congressman who knows how the House operates will soon be recognized for his parliamentary skills-and his prestige will rise among his colleagues, no matter what his party.
House Speaker John M. McCormack
(1962-1971) of Massachusetts,
giving advice to new House Members
At first glance, the rules and procedures of the U.S. House of Representatives can be boring. Why study them?
The late House Republican Leader, Represenative Bob Michel, captured the value of the rules in testimony before a task force on procedure in 1987. “Procedure hasn’t simply become more important than substance – it has, through a strange alchemy, become the substance of our deliberations. Who rules House procedures rules the House – and to a great degree, rule the kind and scope of political debate in this country.” On the other side of the aisle, the late Representative John Dingell, the former Dean of the House and one of the most powerful committee chairmen of the 20th and 21st centuries, is widely quoted as saying: “If I let you write the substance and you let me write the procedure, I’ll [beat] you every time.” (Except he’s usually quoted as using a more colorful word, in keeping with his memorable sharp, earthy wit.)
The rules and procedure, however boring one finds them, are how things get done in the House – and that’s fun.
Nonetheless, procedure confuses many Members and staff, to say nothing of the wider public who are even farther removed from the House’s proceedings. This House Floor Procedures Manual attempts to clarify what happens when the Members gather to legislate. It describes the annual calendar, how weekly the agenda is formed, the daily order of business, how legislation comes to the Floor, and decorum in the House. Throughout this Manual, Members can find scripts for the most common statements they must make to participate in the House’s proceedings.
Helping Members and staff participate more fully and effectively in the life of the Legislative Branch is essential to the Congressional Institute’s mission, so we have published this Manual with pride since 1997. The late Representative Robert E. Bauman of Maryland drafted the earliest version of this Manual, and former Representative Bob Walker of Pennsylvania revised it. The Congressional Institute has consulted with the Rules Committee majority under both parties in updating the Manual each Congress, making it an important bipartisan initiative.
This edition is the most significant revision in many years. In addition to updating practices that have evolved since earlier versions were published, it has been reorganized to further clarify the House’s daily order of business, highlight especially important aspects of procedure, and consolidate sections. Also, since time is one of the most precious resources Members and staff have, commentary on the calendar and how procedures affect scheduling has been added. We hope these changes increase the Manual’s value to Members and staff.