REPORT OF THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE, APPOINTED TO PREPARE JOINT STANDING RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TWO HOUSES. The select joint committee appointed to prepare joint standing rules for the government of the two Houses, respectfully report the following RULES: 1. Whenever the two branches of the General Assembly shall convene for any purpose required by the Constitution or Laws of the Sate, such convention shall be held in the hall of the House of Representatives, unless otherwise ordered by a joint resolution of the two branches. During all such conventions, each banch shall be held to be in session as a separate branch of the General Assembly' and be governed by its own rules; and excepting in voting at elections, where each member is entitled to a separate vote, shall act as such, and no question shall be considered as carried, otherwise than by the concurrent action of both branches: Provided, That either branch may, by a vote of a majority of all its members, dissolve such convention, by withdrawing therefrom. And such convention may, by the concurrent vote of the two branches, take a recess, or adjourn to a time certain; but such recess or adjournment of the convention shall not be held to be an adjournment or recess of either branch, nor to prevent either from proceeding with its usual business, during such recess or adjournment of the convention. 2. In all elections in joint session, a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice. 3. All messages shall be conveyed by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House from which they are sent, and in case of the absence or inability of the Sergeant-atArms, then by such person as the President or Speaker, (as the case may be,) may designate for that purpose. 4. When a message shall be sent by either House to the other, it shall be immediately announced at the bar of the House to which it is sent, by the Sergeantat-Arms and shall be, by the bearer, delivered to the Clerk of the other branch, at his desk, who shall read the same to the House to which it belongs. 5. After a bill or joint resolution has passed one House, and is amended and returned by the other House, it shall not be in order for either House to postpone such bill or joint resolution beyond the session, but all differences between the two Houses relative to amendments, may be submitted to committees of conference. 6. In all cases of difference between the two Houses, relative to amendments, the order shall be to insist, in the first instance, before adhering; and the first adherence by either House shall preclude a committee of conference. 7. Committees of conference shall be appointed whenever any disagreement of opinion shall exist between the two Houses; which committees shall report the result of their deliberations to their respective Houses. 8. Whenever the committees of conference of the two Houses shall disagree, other committees may be appointed; and if either of the two Houses shall disagree to any report of a committee of conference, such House shall forthwith notify the other of such disagreement, and request another committee of conference; and thereupon other committees shall be appointed. 9. When a bill or joint resolution shall have passed either House, notice thereof shall be forthwith given to the other House. 10. When a bill shall be reported to either House, advice thereof shall be given to the other House; but no notice of the presentation or reference of petitions, memorials or remonstrances, or of the appointment of committees, shall be given. 11. When a bill or joint resolution which shall have been passed in one House is rejected in the other, or postponed beyond the session thereof, notice shall be given to the other House. 12. After a bill shall have passed both Houses, it shall be enrolled by the Clerk of the House in which it originated. 13. When a bill or joint resolution is enrolled, it shall be examined by a joint committee of two members from each House, to be appointed a standing committee for that purpose, whose duty it shall be to compare the enrolled with the engrossed bill or joint resolution passed by the two Houses, and correct any clerical errors which may be discovered, and report forthwith to their respective Houses. 14. Each bill and joint resolution shall be first signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and then by the President of the Senate, who shall fix the date thereto, and be by the Clerk delivered to a member of the committee of enrollment on the part of the Senate, who shall deposit the same in the office of the Secretary of State, and take his receipt therefor, which receipt shall be filed with the papers of the Senate. 15. The usual number, to wit: two hundred and forty, and no more, copies of each message and report, except the reports of standing and select committees, shall be printed, unless a greater number shall be ordered by joint resolution of both Houses. 16. When a bill shall have passed in either House and be sent to the other for concurrence, the accompanying documents shall be transmitted with such bill. 17. All committees of conference shall consist of two on the part of the Senate, and three on the part of the House, unless otherwise specially ordered by both Houses. |