[1] STANDING RULES FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS [Rules adopted Jan. 11, 1884, effective Jan. 21, 1884. Citations to amendments through April 30, 1977, are indicated by footnotes.] RULE I APPOINTMENT OF A SENATOR TO THE CHAIR [1] 1. In the absence of the Vice President, the Senate shall [1.1] choose a President pro tempore. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. On Mar. 12, 1890, the Senate agreed to the following: Resolved, That it is competent for the Senate to elect a President pro tempore, who shall hold the office during the pleasure of the Senate and until another is elected, and shall execute the duties thereof during all future absences of the Vice President until the Senate otherwise order. (S. Jour. 165, 51-1, Mar. 12, 1890.) 2. In the absence of the Vice President, and pending the [1.2] election of a President pro tempore, the Secretary of the Senate, or in his absence the Assistant Secretary,' shall perform the duties of the Chair. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. 3. The President pro tempore shall have the right to name [1.3] in open Senate, or, if absent, in writing, a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair; but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment, except by unanimous consent. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX. 4.2 In event of a vacancy in the office of the Vice Presi- [1.4] dent,3 or whenever the powers and duties of the President 1 Changed from Chief Clerk by Pub. Law 92-51, 85 Stat. 126, July 9, 1971. As amended, S. Jour. 331, 332, 57-1, Apr. 18, 1902. As amended, S. Jour. 254, 56-1, Apr. 6, 1900; S. Jour. 41, 58-3, Dec. 15, 1904. [2] STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE [2] shall devolve on the Vice President, the President p tempore shall have the right to name, in writing, a Senate to perform the duties of the Chair during his absence; an the Senator so named shall have the right to name in ope session, or in writing, if absent, a Senator to perform th duties of the Chair, but such substitution shall not exten beyond adjournment, except by unanimous consent. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. I On Jan 4, 1905, the Senate agreed to the following: Resolved, That whenever a Senator shall be designated by th President pro tempore to perform the duties of the Chair during hi temporary absence he shall be empowered to sign, as acting Presiden pro tempore, the enrolled bills and joint resolutions coming from th House of Representatives for presentation to the President of thUnited States. (S. Jour. 47, 58-3, Jan. 4, 1905.) RULE II OATHS, ETC. The oaths or affirmations required by the Constitution and prescribed by law shall be taken and subscribed by each Senator, in open Senate, before entering upon his duties. OATH REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND BY LAW TO BE TAKEN BY I, A B, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God. (5 U.S.C. 3331.) RULE III COMMENCEMENT OF DAILY SESSIONS 1. The Presiding Officer having taken the chair, and a quorum being present, the Journal of the preceding day shall 2 be read, and any mistake made in the entries corrected. The reading of the Journal shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent; and when any motion shall be made to amend or correct the same, it shall be deemed a privileged question, and proceeded with until disposed of. [Jefferson's Manual, Secs. VI, XLIX. 2. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators [3.2] duly chosen and sworn. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. VI. [3.3] On Feb. 6, 1939, the Senate agreed to the following: Resolved, That the Chaplain shall open each calendar day's session of the Senate with prayer. (S. Jour. 93, 76-1, Feb. 5, 1939.) On Feb. 29, 1960, the Senate agreed to the following: Resolved, That during the session of the Senate when that body is in continuous session, the Presiding Officer shall temporarily suspend the business of the Senate at noon each day for the purpose of having the customary daily prayer by the Chaplain of the Senate. (S. Jour. 135, 86-2, Feb. 29, 1960.) 1. The proceedings of the Senate shall be briefly and accu- [4.1] rately stated on the Journal. Messages of the President in full; titles of bills and joint resolutions, and such parts as shall be affected by proposed amendments; every vote, and a brief statement of the contents of each petition, memorial, or paper presented to the Senate, shall be entered. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. VIII. 2. The legislative, the executive, the confidential legisla- [4.2] tive proceedings, and the proceedings when sitting as a Court of Impeachment, shall each be recorded in a separate book. [Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLIX. |