PART I: THE HOUSE CALENDAR AND THE DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. The Annual Calendar and Weekly Schedule 2.1 The House Is Called to Order by the Speaker 2.2. Morning-Hour Debate 2.3. Prayer Is Offered By The Chaplain 2.4. Approval Of The Journal 2.5. Pledge Of Allegiance To The Flag 2.6. One-Minute Speeches 2.7. Debate and Votes on Legislation 2.8. End Of Legislative Business For The Day 2.9. Adjournment PART II: DEBATING LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR 3. How Legislation Comes to the Floor 4. Suspension Of The Rules 5.1. Special Rules For Major Bills 5.2. Resolving into the Committee of the Whole 5.3. General Debate in the Committee of the Whole 5.4. Amendments Under the Five-Minute Rule 5.5. Conclusion of a Bill’s Consideration 5.6. Final Passage of a Bill 6. Discharge Petitions 7. Consensus Calendar PART III: GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PRACTICES 8. Voting By Electronic Device 9. Unanimous Consent Requests 10. Decorum in the House Chamber 11. Decorum Continued: Engaging in Personalities, Unparliamentary Language, and Words Taken Down 12. Best Practices for Preparing Amendments 13. Privileged Business 14. Conference Reports 15. Earmark Rules 16. Cut-As-You-Go (CUTGO) 17. Spending Reduction Amendments In Appropriations Bills Appendix I: Congressional Glossary Appendix II: Additional Resources

House Offices

  • Office of the House Parliamentarian+–

    | 202-227-7373 |

    The Parliamentarian is the House’s non-partisan official advisor on procedure. Members and staff may ask the Parliamentarian’s office for guidance on House practice, including reviewing amendments for conformity to House rules.

  • Office of the House Legislative Counsel +–

    | 202-225-6060 | https://legcounsel.house.gov/

    The non-partisan Office of the House Legislative Counsel assists Members and staff in crafting legislative language for bills, amendments and other legislation.

  • Speaker’s Office+–

    | 202-225-5400 | https://www.speaker.gov/

    As the House’s presiding officer, the Speaker has general oversight over the Hall of the House and its operations. As party leader, the Speaker is essential in determining what comes to the Floor.

  • Majority Leader’s Office +–

    | 202-225-0197 |

    https://www.majorityleader.gov/

    The Majority Leader’s office sets the House calendar and plans the House’s weekly Floor schedule. Updates on the House’s schedule are posted on the Majority Leader’s website and distributed via email.

  • Majority Whip’s Office +–

    | 202-225-2210 | https://www.majoritywhip.gov/

    The Majority Whip is responsible for building support for the Majority’s agenda and ensuring that it has the votes for passage. The Whip’s office sends email notifications to Members and staff about when the House will consider and vote on legislation.

  • Democratic Leader’s Office+–

    | 202-225-4700 | https://democraticleader.house.gov/

  • Democratic Whip’s Office+–

    | 202-225-2020 | https://democraticwhip.house.gov/

    The Democratic Whip is responsible for promoting party unity on votes critical to her party’s agenda. The Whip’s office sends email notifications to Members and staff about when the House will consider and vote on legislation.

  • The Cloakrooms+–

    Each party maintains a Cloakroom adjacent to the House Chamber. In addition to serving as a space for Members to gather near the House Floor, the Cloakrooms (and their websites) serve as an information hub about the Floor schedule.

    Republican Cloakroom: 202-225-7350 | https://repcloakroom.house.gov/

    Democratic Cloakroom: 202-225-7330 | https://democraticcloakroom.house.gov/

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119th Congress Floor Procedures Manual

Table of Contents

PART I: THE HOUSE CALENDAR AND THE DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. The Annual Calendar and Weekly Schedule

2.1 The House Is Called to Order by the Speaker

2.2. Morning-Hour Debate

2.3. Prayer Is Offered By The Chaplain

2.4. Approval Of The Journal

2.5. Pledge Of Allegiance To The Flag

2.6. One-Minute Speeches

2.7. Debate and Votes on Legislation

2.8. End Of Legislative Business For The Day

2.9. Adjournment

PART II: DEBATING LEGISLATION ON THE FLOOR

3. How Legislation Comes to the Floor

4. Suspension Of The Rules

5.1. Special Rules For Major Bills

5.2. Resolving into the Committee of the Whole

5.3. General Debate in the Committee of the Whole

5.4. Amendments Under the Five-Minute Rule

5.5. Conclusion of a Bill’s Consideration

5.6. Final Passage of a Bill

6. Discharge Petitions

7. Consensus Calendar

PART III: GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PRACTICES

8. Voting By Electronic Device

9. Unanimous Consent Requests

10. Decorum in the House Chamber

11. Decorum Continued: Engaging in Personalities, Unparliamentary Language, and Words Taken Down

12. Best Practices for Preparing Amendments

13. Privileged Business

14. Conference Reports

15. Earmark Rules

16. Cut-As-You-Go (CUTGO)

17. Spending Reduction Amendments In Appropriations Bills

Appendix I: Congressional Glossary

Appendix II: Additional Resources

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