A. INTRODUCTORY; INITIATING CONSIDERATION AND DEBATE

§ 1. In General; In the House

§ 2. Order of Consideration

§ 3. Use of Special Orders of Business

§ 4. Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules

§ 5. Role of Calendars

§ 6. Consideration by Unanimous Consent

§ 7. In the Committee of the Whole

§ 8. In the House as in the Committee of the Whole

§ 9. Limitations on Debate; Nondebatable Matters



B. CONTROL AND DISTRIBUTION OF TIME FOR DEBATE

§ 10. In General; Role of Manager

§ 11. Distribution and Alternation; Closing General Debate

§ 12. Management by Committee; Closing Controlled Debate on an Amendment

§ 13. Designation of Member Who May Call Up a Measure

§ 14. Effect of Special Rules

§ 15. Yielding Time— For Debate

§ 16. — Yielding for Amendment

§ 17. Interruptions; Losing or Surrendering Control



C. RELEVANCY IN DEBATE

§ 18. In General; In the House

§ 19. In the Committee of the Whole— General Debate

§ 20. — Under the Five-Minute Rule



D. DISORDER IN DEBATE

§ 21. In General

§ 22. Disorderly Language

§ 23. — References to Senate

§ 24. — References to the Press, Media, or Gallery

§ 25. — References to Executive Officials

§ 26. Procedure; Calls to Order

§ 27. — Procedure in the Committee of the Whole

§ 28. — Taking Down Words

§ 29. — Withdrawal or Modification of Words

§ 30. — Permission to Explain

§ 31. — Speaker’s Ruling

§ 32. — Discipline; Post-Ruling Motions



E. CRITICAL REFERENCES TO THE HOUSE, COMMITTEES, OR MEMBERS

§ 33. In General; Criticism of the House

§ 34. Criticism of Committees

§ 35. Criticism of Speaker

§ 36. Criticism of Legislative Actions or Proposals

§ 37. Critical References to Members

§ 38. — Use of Colloquialisms; Sarcasm

§ 39. — Impugning Motives

§ 40. — Charging Falsehood or Deception

§ 41. — Lack of Intelligence or Knowledge

§ 42. — References to Race, Creed, or Racial Prejudice

§ 43. — Charges Relating to Loyalty or Patriotism



F. DURATION OF DEBATE IN HOUSE

§ 44. In General

§ 45. The Hour Rule

§ 46. Ten-minute, 20-minute, and 40-minute Debate

§ 47. Debate in the House as in the Committee of the Whole

§ 48. Limiting or Extending Time for Debate

§ 49. Terminating Debate

§ 50. One-minute and Special-order Speeches; Morning-hour Debates



G. DURATION OF DEBATE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

§ 51. In General; Effect of Special Rules

§ 52. General Debate

§ 53. Limiting General Debate

§ 54. Five-minute Debate

§ 55. — Limiting or Extending Five-minute Debate— By House Action

§ 56. — By Motion in the Committee of the Whole

§ 57. — By Unanimous Consent in the Committee of the Whole

§ 58. Motions Allocating or Reserving Time

§ 59. Timekeeping; Charging Time

H. READING PAPERS; DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS § 60. Reading Papers

§ 61. Use of Exhibits § 62. — Decorum Requirements

I. SECRET SESSIONS § 63. In General

§ 64. Motions; Debate § 65. Secrecy Restrictions and Guidelines

A motion that the Speaker be authorized to declare a recess or that when the House adjourns it stand adjourned to a day and time certain. Rule XVI; Manual § 913.

The relevant standing rule and the precedents must be consulted in order to determine whether debate on a motion or question is precluded. Following are examples of questions that are not subject to debate:

Unless otherwise provided by House rule or by a special rule from the Committee on Rules, a proposition considered in the House is debated under the hour rule. §§ 44, 45, infra. However, the various motions that may apply to a proposition often carry their own time limitations for debate and, in some instances, preclude debate entirely.

This practice enables the House, by majority vote, to specify time for, and control of, debate depending on the complexity of the proposed measure.

Most of these are rules of general applicability. In addition, the House may adopt a special rule from the Committee on Rules that places a different limit on the duration of debate on a particular legislative proposal.

Debate is subject to many limitations under the rules and precedents of the House. Most of the limitations imposed by House rule concern the duration of time allowed for the debate of a particular proposition. These include, for example, the hour rule (Manual § 957), the 40-minute rule (Manual §§ 891, 995), the 20-minute rule (Manual § 892), the ten-minute rule (Manual § 987), the five-minute rule (Manual § 978), and the time limits that are imposed on the one-minute speeches or special-order speeches that are often permitted when no legislative business is pending (Manual § 950). For a more detailed discussion of these time limitations, see §§ 44–50, infra.

Bills and other measures sometimes are taken up by the House when it sits ‘‘as in’’ the Committee of the Whole. Manual § 427. This practice permits consideration of a measure under the five-minute rule rather than the hour rule, but without general debate. 4 Hinds § 4924; Manual § 424. For a discussion of consideration of measures in the House as in the Committee of the Whole, see COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE.

For comprehensive discussion of consideration of measures in Committee of the Whole, see COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE.

Certain legislative measures are referred to the Union Calendar by the Speaker for subsequent consideration in the Committee of the Whole. Their consideration therein is governed by special rules, orders of the House, or the standing rules applicable to the Committee. See rule XVIII; 4 Hinds §§ 3214, 4705, 4822; Deschler Ch 19 §§ 1, 4.

The House, pursuant to a unanimous-consent agreement, sometimes permits the consideration of a measure that is not otherwise in order under the rules, for example, one not yet introduced. Manual §§ 381, 872, 956; 4 Hinds § 3058. For a discussion of consideration by unanimous consent (including the Speaker’s guidelines requiring approval by floor and committee leaderships before recognition), see UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENTS.

(2) the House Calendar, for matters to be considered in the House, (3) the Private Calendar, to which all reported private bills are referred, and (4) the Corrections Calendar. Most legislative business reported from committee is referred to one of these calendars. Manual §§ 828, 829, 898. In addition, the House maintains a Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees. Manual §§ 830, 892. For a discussion of the various calendars and consideration of measures under the Corrections Calendar, see CALENDARS.

The House maintains various calendars to facilitate the consideration of different classes of legislative business. The primary calendars are (1) the Union Calendar, for business to be taken up in the Committee of the Whole,

A privileged motion to suspend the rules may be used to bring a matter before the House under rule XV clause 1. Manual §§ 885, 887; 5 Hinds §§ 6846, 6847. Additionally, the motion to suspend may provide for a series of procedural steps, including the reconsideration of a bill already passed, agreement to an amendment, and repassage as amended. 5 Hinds § 6849. For examples of proposals for which the motion may be used, see SUSPENSION OF RULES. However, the motion is in order only on Mondays and Tuesdays of each week and on the last six days of a session or when the House by unanimous consent or rule gives the Speaker authority to recognize for such motions on other days of the week. In any case, recognition for the motion is within the discretion of the Speaker. The motion is debatable for 40 minutes, is not amendable, and requires a two-thirds vote for adoption. See SUSPENSION OF RULES.

The resolution may waive one or more House rules that impede the consideration of the bill or amendment thereto. Points of order do not lie against the consideration of such a resolution, as it is for the House to determine, by a majority vote on the adoption of the resolution, whether certain rules should be waived. Deschler Ch 21 §§ 16.9–16.14. Generally, see SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS. However, section 426 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 permits a point of order against consideration of a rule that waives points of order against a measure for violating that Act (subject to a separate vote on the question of consideration). Manual § 1127.

The measure whose consideration is made in order by a special rule may consist of a House or Senate bill or resolution or a conference report. Deschler Ch 21 §§ 20.5–20.15. A special rule may be limited in scope, as where it provides only for initial consideration of a measure, provides for general debate, and precludes further consideration absent a second special rule. See, e.g., 105–2, H. Res. 435, May 19, 1998, p ll.

Special rules may provide for the consideration of a bill or resolution in the Committee of the Whole, in the House, or in the House as in the Committee of the Whole. Deschler Ch 21 §§ 20.16, 20.17.

A major portion of the legislation taken up in the House is considered pursuant to resolutions, also called ‘‘special rules’’ or ‘‘special orders,’’ reported by the Committee on Rules and adopted by the House. Although the general effect of the adoption of a resolution making in order the consideration of a bill is to give the bill a privileged status, the adoption of the resolution does not make the consideration mandatory unless so stated in the resolution. Deschler Ch 21 § 16. For example, the resolution may: (1) provide that ‘‘the House shall immediately consider’’ the bill; (2) permit the Speaker to declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the bill (see rule XVIII clause 2); or (3) provide for consideration at some specified time in the order of business. If the special rule authorizes a specified Member to call up a bill (either directly or indirectly, such as ‘‘it shall be in order to consider’’), the consideration of the bill must await the initiative of that Member. See Deschler Ch 21 § 20.17.

Some propositions are privileged for consideration on certain days of the week or month. On any Monday or Tuesday, for example, the Speaker may recognize Members to move to suspend the rules. Manual § 885; see also §§ 4, 5, infra.

Among the privileged matters that may affect the order of consideration are: (1) general appropriation bills under rule XIII clause 5; (2) conference reports under rule XXII clause 7(a); (3) special orders reported by the Committee on Rules under rule XIII clause 5; and (4) questions of privilege under rule IX. Manual §§ 698, 871; see also QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE.

The ‘‘daily order of business’’ is set forth in rule XIV, which specifies the sequence in which certain matters are to be taken up. Manual § 869. The order of consideration may be varied by unanimous-consent agreements or by special orders reported from the Committee on Rules and adopted by the House. See §§ 3, 6, infra; generally, see also ORDER OF BUSINESS; PRIVILEGED BUSINESS; and SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS. Indeed, the preface to rule XIV clause 1 establishes a daily order of business ‘‘unless varied by the application of other rules and except for the disposition of matters of higher precedence.’’

When the Committee of the Whole reports its recommendation to the House, unless the previous question is ordered. 4 Hinds § 4896.

As a general rule, debate is not in order until a debatable motion has been offered and stated by the Chair or read by the Clerk. 5 Hinds §§ 4982– 4985, 5304. However, debate may be initiated without motion:

Other factors bearing on consideration include whether the proposal has been referred to the House or Union Calendar or whether the proposal is called up from a particular special calendar, such as the Corrections Calendar. See § 5, infra.

Generally, questions are not considered on the floor unless reported or discharged from House committees, although rule IX and practices of the House permit the immediate consideration of introduced bills under certain circumstances. §§ 3, 4, 6 infra. Certain time periods or ‘‘layover’’ requirements may be a condition precedent to consideration in the House after a committee has reported. See COMMITTEES. For recognition by the Chair to call up measures under the various procedures, see RECOGNITION.

There are four common procedures under which measures may be called up for consideration: (1) special rules reported from the Committee on Rules; (2) motions to suspend the rules; (3) unanimous-consent agreements; and (4) standing rules for certain measures reported as privileged under rule XIII clause 5. Manual §§ 853–868. However, nonprivileged matter contained in a measure reported under rule XIII clause 5 destroys the privilege of the measure; and consideration must depend on one of the three remaining procedures. Manual §§ 854, 855.

Whether and how a matter is to be considered depends on many factors—the way it is brought to the floor, the nature and precedence of the proposal, and agreements reached by the leadership and membership on the method of consideration. The House may reject a proposal to consider a matter by voting solely on the question of consideration. See QUESTION OF CONSIDERATION.

B. Control and Distribution of Time for Debate

§ 10. In General; Role of Manager

Under long-standing practice, and as usually provided by special rules, one or more designated Members manage a bill during its consideration. Such managers are normally the chairman and ranking minority member of a committee reporting the measure. § 14, infra.

The majority manager of a measure has procedural advantages enabling him to expedite its consideration and passage. He is entitled to the prior right to recognition unless he surrenders or loses control or unless a preferential motion to recommit is offered by an opponent of the bill. See RECOGNITION. If the bill is to be taken up in the House under the standing rules, the manager calling it up is entitled to one hour of debate, which he may in his discretion yield to other Members. See § 15, infra. He may at any time during his hour move the previous question, thereby bringing the matter to a vote and terminating further debate, unless he has yielded control of time to another. See § 45, infra; see also PREVIOUS QUESTION.

The manager of a bill enjoys a similar advantage in the Committee of the Whole where the bill is being considered under a special rule or unanimous-consent agreement. General debate therein typically is controlled and divided by the majority and minority managers. The majority manager has the right to close general debate. Manual § 959. When the bill is read for amendment in the Committee, the managers have the prior right to recognition, whether to offer an amendment or oppose an amendment or to move to close or to limit debate or to move that the Committee rise. Similarly, if the bill is taken up in the House as in the Committee of the Whole, priority in recognition is extended during debate to members in charge of the bill from the reporting committee. See RECOGNITION.

Once a measure has been approved by a standing committee of the House, its chairman has a duty under the rules to report it promptly and to take steps to have the matter considered and voted upon. Rule XIII clause 2(b). When the measure is called up, the reporting committee manages the bill during the various stages of its consideration. The designated managers from the committee, and then other members of the committee in order of seniority, have priority in recognition at all stages of consideration. See RECOGNITION. When a chairman is opposed to a bill (although rare), the responsibility for managing the bill may be delegated to the ranking majority member of the committee. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 26.7. Such delegation of control is ineffective where challenged unless communicated to the Chair. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 26.30. The chairman also may relinquish control where the Committee of the Whole has adopted amendments to the bill to which he is opposed. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 26.8.

Where the measure falls within the jurisdiction of two standing committees, the chairman of one of them may yield to the chairman of the other to control part of the available time and to move the previous question. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 26.10.

For further discussion on control of debate by managers, see also § 12, infra.

§ 11. Distribution and Alternation; Closing General Debate

The distribution of available time for debate, and the alternation of time between majority and minority members, is governed by principles of comity and by House tradition, as well as by standing rules of the House and by special rules. Manual § 955. A division of time for debate on certain motions may be required, and a Member opposed may claim a priority to control a portion of the time. For example, rule XV clause 1(c) requires a division of time for debate on a motion to suspend the rules between those in favor and those opposed. Manual § 891. Under rule XXII, one-third of the time may be claimed by a Member opposed to conference reports, motions to instruct conferees, and amendments reported from conference in disagreement, where both the majority and minority managers support the proposition.

The Chair alternates recognition between those favoring and those opposing the pending proposition where a rule or precedent gives some control to an opponent or, traditionally, between the parties where time is limited. Special rules commonly divide control of time for general debate equally between the chairman and ranking minority member of the committees reporting the measure. When a special rule itself is being considered, the majority floor manager customarily yields half of the time to the minority. Alternation generally, see RECOGNITION.

A majority manager of the bill who represents the primary committee of jurisdiction is entitled to close general debate, as against another manager representing an additional committee of jurisdiction. Where an order of the House divides debate on an unreported measure among four Members, the Chair will recognize for closing speeches in the reverse order of the original allocation. Similarly, where general debate on an adversely reported measure is controlled by two Members allocated time under a previous order of the House and by two other Members deriving subdivisions of that time under a later order by unanimous consent, the Chair may recognize for closing speeches in the reverse order of the original allocation, concluding with the Member who opened the debate. Where a Member derives time for debate from the manager of a measure by unanimous consent, that Member also derives the right to close debate thereon. Where a member of the minority is recognized under a special order to call up a Senate concurrent resolution from the Speaker’s desk, he is recognized to open and close debate thereon. Manual § 959.

§ 12. Management by Committee; Closing Controlled Debate on an Amendment

Special orders providing ‘‘modified rules’’ governing the amendment process commonly limit and divide control of debate between a proponent and an opponent of the amendment. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 28. Similarly, the Committee of the Whole may by unanimous consent also limit and divide control of debate between a proponent and a Member in opposition. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 27.3. Under rule XVII clause 3(c), the manager of a bill or other representative of the committee position—and not the proponent of an amendment—has the right to close debate on an amendment where debate has been so limited and allocated without regard to the party affiliation of the proponent. Manual § 959. Clause 3(c) is an exception to the rule set forth in rule XVII clause 3(a), which otherwise provides that the mover, proposer, or introducer of the pending matter has the right to open and close debate. The exceptional treatment of the right to close debate on an amendment elevates the manager’s prerogative over the proponent’s burden of persuasion. This is so even when the majority manager offers an amendment that has not been recommended by the committee. In that case, a member of the committee in opposition to such amendment has the right to close. 107–2, July 25, 2002, p ll.

Clause (3)(c) applies to the manager of an unreported measure, even where the rule providing for the consideration of the unreported measure designates managers who do not serve on a committee of jurisdiction. It also applies to a measure reported by the committee without recommendation. The minority manager may claim the right to close debate under clause 3(c), as may a member of a committee of sequential referral to close debate against an amendment to a provision recommended by that committee. Manual § 959. However, the proponent of an amendment has the right to close where a manager does not oppose the amendment but claims the time in opposition by unanimous consent. Manual § 959.

For further discussion on control of debate by managers, see § 10, supra.

§ 13. Designation of Member Who May Call Up a Measure

The committee reporting a measure occasionally designates the Member who may call up a measure for consideration, in which case the Chair may recognize only that Member. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 §§ 27.1, 27.2. A special rule also may designate the Member. § 14, infra. If a Member has not been specifically designated, the Chair may in his discretion recognize a committee member to call up a measure. 91–1, Dec. 23, 1969, p 40982.

§ 14. Effect of Special Rules

Generally The designation of certain Members to control debate on a measure is frequently provided by special rule from the Committee on Rules. Typically the Committee on Rules will draft a special rule providing that debate be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the reporting committee or committees. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 28. That control can be delegated to a designee. Dividing Debate Between Multiple Committees A special rule from the Committee on Rules may specify that debate be divided between and controlled by two or more standing committees. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 28.13. The special rule may provide that debate be controlled by the chairmen and ranking minority members of the several committees reporting a bill, sometimes with the secondary committees controlling a lesser amount of time. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 28.16. Debate also may be divided between the standing committee reporting a bill and a permanent select committee. 95–1, Sept. 9, 1977, p 28367. Where a special rule divides the control of general debate on a bill among the chairmen and ranking members of two standing committees, but does not specify the order of recognition, the Chair may exercise his discretion. He may allow one committee to use its time before recognizing the other, or may rotate among the four managers. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 28.18. If the rule divides control of debate among a primary reporting committee and several sequentially reporting committees in a designated order, the Chair may allocate time between the chairman and ranking minority member of each committee in the order listed, if and when present on the floor, and permit only the primary committee to reserve a portion of its time to close general debate. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 28.16. When the Chair has announced his intention to permit the primary committee to so reserve a portion of its time, the sequential committees are required to use all of their time before the closing debate by the primary committee. 99–1, Dec. 5, 1985, pp 34638, 34644. A majority manager of the bill who represents the primary committee of jurisdiction is entitled to close general debate (as against another manager representing an additional committee of jurisdiction). Manual § 959.

Division of Time Between a Member in Favor and a Member Opposed In the event that a specified amount of time for debate is equally divided and controlled between the proponent of the amendment and a Member opposed thereto, only one Member may be recognized to control the time in favor of the amendment and only one Member may be recognized to control the time in opposition, though each may in turn yield blocks of time to other Members. 99–2, Aug. 11, 1986, pp 20678, 20679. Pro forma amendments are not permitted where second degree amendments are prohibited unless so specified. 99–2, Aug. 14, 1986, p 21655. Time for debate on the amendment having been divided between the proponent and an opponent, the Chair may in his discretion recognize the manager of the bill in opposition, there being no requirement for recognition of the minority party. Indeed, the Chair ordinarily recognizes the chairman of the committee managing the bill if he qualifies as opposed to the amendment. Manual § 959; § 10, supra. A special rule may provide that, after general debate divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the reporting committee, a certain amount of time for general debate be divided and controlled by a Member in favor of and a Member opposed to a certain section of the bill. 96–1, Sept. 13, 1979, pp 24168, 24192. In one instance, the House adopted a special rule providing for one hour of general debate to be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the reporting committee, and two hours to be divided and controlled by Members to be designated by the chairman. 95–2, July 31, 1978, p 23451. § 15. Yielding Time— For Debate In General; Who May Yield In an earlier era, a Member could not yield time for debate without losing his right to reoccupy the floor. A Member could not yield the floor unless he yielded it unconditionally. 5 Hinds §§ 5023, 5026. That practice began to change with the adoption of the hour rule for debate in 1841. 5 Hinds § 5021. Under current practice, a Member controlling the time during debate may yield blocks of time for debate to others, take his seat, and still retain the right to resume debate or move the previous question. 8 Cannon § 3383. The yielding of time for debate is discretionary with the Members who have control thereof. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 §§ 31.1, 31.2. A Member may not yield for purposes of debate where he has risen merely to make or reserve a point of order. Deschler-Brown Ch 31 § 7.5. A Member who seeks yielded time should address the Chair and request the permission of the Member speaking. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 42. Where a Member interrupts another Member during debate without being yielded to, the time consumed by his remarks are not charged against the time for debate of the Member controlling the floor and the remarks are not carried in the Congressional Record. Manual § 946. A Member may yield to another for a parliamentary inquiry, but the time consumed by the inquiry and the response of the Chair comes out of the time of the Member yielding. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 29.5. The time used by yielding is ordinarily charged against the yielding Member. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 29.5. Unused time reverts to the yielding Member. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 31.36. Rule XVIII clause 3(b), which prohibits a Member who is not a manager from speaking more than once on a question, often is superseded in modern practice by special orders of business that vest control of debate in designated Members and permit them to yield more than once to other Members. Manual § 959.

In the House The Member in control of debate in the House under the hour rule may in his discretion yield for debate. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 29. Indeed, although not required to do so by standing rule, majority members in control under the hour rule frequently yield one-half the time to the minority in order that full debate may be had. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 29.15. Of course, the yielding of time must be consistent with any division of time that is required by House rule or a special rule from the Committee on Rules.

In the Committee of the Whole In the Committee of the Whole, a Member in control of time for general debate may yield a block of time (up to one hour) to another Member. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 31.24. During five-minute debate Members may yield, as for a question or comment, but may not yield blocks of time. 5 Hinds §§ 5035–5037. A Member yielding to a colleague during debate under the five-minute rule should remain standing to protect his right to the floor. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 29.8. If a Member uses only part of his time, his five-minute period is treated as exhausted, as it cannot be reserved, and another Member cannot claim recognition for the unused time. 8 Cannon § 2571. However, where debate on an amendment is limited or allocated by a unanimous-consent agreement or motion, or by a special rule, to a proponent and an opponent, the five-minute rule is abrogated and the Members controlling the debate may yield and reserve time. Manual § 980. Yielding During Debate on Special Rules The traditional practice with regard to resolutions from the Committee on Rules providing special rules for the consideration of measures is for the Member in charge of the resolution to yield one-half of the time to the minority, who then may yield specified portions thereof. Although the minority member of the Committee on Rules to whom one-half of the time for debate is yielded customarily yields portions of that time to other Members, another Member to whom a portion of time is yielded may in turn yield blocks of that time only by unanimous consent. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 31.23. However, where a Member has been recognized under the hour rule following refusal of the previous question on such a resolution, he has control of the time and is under no obligation to yield half of that time as is the customary practice of the Committee on Rules. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 15.20. Yielding Time During Yielded Time A Member to whom time has been yielded during debate under the hour rule in the House may, while remaining on his feet, yield to a third Member for comments or questions but may not in turn yield blocks of time, except by unanimous consent. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 31.21. A similar rule is followed in the Committee of the Whole. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 31.24. Where a Member is yielded time in the House for debate only, he may not yield to a third Member for purposes other than debate. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 31.19. § 16. — Yielding for Amendment In General A measure being considered in the House is not subject to amendment by a Member not in control of the time unless the Member in control yields for that purpose. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 §§ 30.1, 30.4. A Member may not offer an amendment in time secured for debate only or request unanimous consent to offer an amendment unless yielded to for that purpose by the Member controlling the floor. Manual § 946; 8 Cannon § 2474; Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 30.6. A Member to whom time is yielded for the purpose of offering an amendment in the House is recognized in his own right to discuss the amendment for one hour and may himself yield time. 8 Cannon §§ 2471, 2478; Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 30.11. Loss of Control by Yielding Member A Member may not yield to another Member to offer an amendment without losing the floor. 5 Hinds §§ 5021, 5030, 5031; 8 Cannon § 2476; Manual § 946. Where a Member controlling the time on a measure in the House yields for the purpose of amendment, another Member may move the previous question on the measure before the Member yielded to is recognized to debate his amendment. Manual § 997. The previous question takes precedence over an amendment. Rule XVI clause 4; Manual § 911. If the Member calling up a measure offers an amendment and then yields to another Member to offer an amendment to his amendment, the first Member loses the floor and the Member yielded to is recognized for one hour and may move the previous question on the amendments and on the measure itself. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 33.9.

Under the Five-Minute Rule A Member recognized under the five-minute rule may not yield to another Member to offer an amendment. It is the prerogative of the Chair to recognize Members offering amendments under the five-minute rule. Manual § 946. However, a Member recognized under the five-minute rule may by unanimous consent yield the balance of his time to another Member, who may thereafter offer an amendment when separately recognized by the Chair for that purpose. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 19.25. A Member offering a pro forma amendment under the five-minute rule may not yield to another Member during that time to offer an amendment. Manual § 981. § 17. Interruptions; Losing or Surrendering Control

In General With few exceptions, a Member may interrupt another Member in debate only if yielded to. A Member desiring to interrupt another in debate should address the Chair to obtain the permission of the Member speaking. The Member speaking may then exercise his own discretion about whether or not to yield. The Chair will take the initiative in preserving order when a Member declining to yield in debate continues to be interrupted by another Member. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 42.14; Manual § 946. A Member in control of time for debate in the House may voluntarily surrender the floor by simply so stating or by withdrawing the measure he is managing. A Member recognized under the hour rule may yield the floor upon expiration of his hour without moving the previous question, thereby permitting another Member to be recognized for a successive hour. Manual § 957. A Member also may lose the floor if he is ruled out of order for disorderly language. Deschler-Brown Ch 29 § 33. Finally, a Member loses the floor if he yields for other legislative business (8 Cannon § 2468) or for an amendment (§ 16, supra). A Member may be interrupted by a point of order or by the presentation of certain privileged matter, such as a conference report. 5 Hinds § 6451; 8 Cannon § 3294. In addition, it is customary for the Speaker to request a Member to yield for the reception of a message. Manual § 946. Although a motion proposed by the Member in charge may be displaced by a preferential motion, a Member may not by offering such motion deprive the Member in charge of the floor. 8 Cannon § 3259. A Member having the floor may not be deprived of the floor and taken off his feet: 0 By a motion to adjourn. 5 Hinds §§ 5369, 5370; 8 Cannon § 2646. 0 By a demand for the previous question. 8 Cannon § 2609. 0 By a question of personal privilege. 5 Hinds § 5002; 8 Cannon § 2459; 98– 1, Sept. 29, 1983, pp 26508, 26509.