RULES FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 1. THE President having taken the chair, and a quorum being present, the journal of the preceding day shall be read, to the end that ary mistake may be corrected that shall be made in the entries. 2. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any newspaper, while the journals or public papers are reading, or when any member is speaking in any debate. 3. Every member, when he speaks, shall address the chair, standing in his place, and, when he has finished, shall sit down. 4. No member shall speak more than twice, in any one debate, on the same day, without leave of the Senate. 5. When two members rise at the same time, the President shall name the person to speak; but in all cases the member who shall first rise and address the chair shall speak first. 6. When a member shall be called to order by the President, or a Senator, he shall sit down; and every question out of order shall be decided by the President, without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate; and the President may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of order. 7. If the member be called to order by a Senator for words spoken, the exceptionable words shall im mediately be taken down in writing, that the President may be better enabled to judge of the matter. 8. No member shall absent himself from the service of the Senate, without leave of the Senate first obtained. And, in case a less number than a quorum of the Senate shall convene, they are hereby authorized to send the sergeant-at-arms, or any other person or persons by them authorized, for any or all absent members, as the majority of such members present shall agree, at the expense of such absent members, respectively, unless such excuse for non-attendance shall be made as the Senate, when a quorum is convened, shall judge sufficient; and, in that case, the expense shall be paid out of the contingent fund. And this rule shall apply as well to the first convention of the Senate at the legal time of meeting, as to each day of the session, after the hour has arrived to which the Senate stood adjourned. 9. No motion shall be debated until the same shall be seconded. 10. When a motion shall be made and seconded, it shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the Presi dent, or any member, delivered in at the table, and read, before the same shall be debated. 11. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand arranged, and the motion for adjournment shall always be in order, and be decided without debate. 12 If the question in debate contain several points. |