[106th Congress House Rules Manual -- House Document No. 106-320]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Database]
[DOCID:hrulest-44]

[Page 253-257]

                      sec. xl--bills, third reading

  To prevent <> bills from being passed by surprise, the House, by a
standing order, directs that they shall not be put on their passage
before a fixed hour, naming one at which the house is commonly full.
Hakew., 153.
  The usage of the Senate is not to put bills on their passage till
noon.
  A bill reported and passed to the third reading, cannot on that day be
read the third time

[[Page 254]]

and passed; because this would be to pass on two readings in the same
day.
  At the <> third reading the Clerk reads the bill and delivers it to the
Speaker, who states the title, that it is the third time of reading the
bill, and that the question will be whether it shall pass. Formerly the
Speaker, or those who prepared a bill, prepared also a breviate or
summary statement of its contents, which the Speaker read when he
declared the state of the bill, at the several readings. Sometimes,
however, he read the bill itself, especially on its passage. Hakew.,
136, 137, 153; Coke, 22, 115. Latterly, instead of this, he, at the
third reading, states the whole contents of the bill verbatim, only,
instead of reading the formal parts, ``Be it enacted,'' &c., he states
that ``preamble recites so and so--the 1st section enacts that, &c.; the
2d section enacts,'' &c.
  But in the Senate of the United States, both of these formalities are
dispensed with; the breviate presenting but an imperfect view of the
bill, and being capable of being made to present a false one; and the
full statement being a useless waste of time, immediately after a full
reading by the Clerk, and especially as every member has a printed copy
in his hand.

  None of the restrictions is of effect in the modern practice of the
House. Clause 8 of rule XVI permits a bill to be read a third time and
passed on the same day, and it is in order to proceed with a bill at any
time, unless the absence of a quorum be shown.
  In the House there is no practice justifying the presentation of an
abbreviated summary; and the procedure on third reading is definitely
prescribed by clause 8 of rule XVI.

[[Page 255]]

  A bill on <> the third reading is not to be committed for the matter or
body thereof, but to receive some particular clause or proviso, it hath
been sometimes suffered, but as a thing very unusual. Hakew., 156. Thus,
27 El., 1584, a bill was committed on the third reading, having been
formerly committed on the second, but is declared not usual. D'Ewes,
337, col. 2; 414, col. 2.

  In the House it is in order to commit a bill after the engrossment and
third reading where the previous question is not ordered (V, 5562); and
by clause 2 of rule XIX the House has preserved this opportunity to
commit even after the previous question has been ordered.

  When an <> essential provision has been omitted, rather than erase the
bill and render it suspicious, they add a clause on a separate paper,
engrossed and called a rider, which is read and put to the question
three times. Elsynge's Memo., 59; 6 Grey, 335; 1 Blackst., 183. For
examples of riders, see 3 Hats., 121, 122, 124, 156. Every one is at
liberty to bring in a rider without asking leave. 10 Grey, 52.

  This practice is never followed in the House.

  It is <> laid down, as a general rule, that amendments proposed at
the second reading shall be twice read, and those proposed at the third
reading thrice read; as also all amendments from the other House. Town.,
col. 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.

  In the practice of the House, amendments, whether offered in the House
or coming from the other House, do not come under the rule requiring
different readings.

[[Page 256]]

  It is <> with
great and almost invincible reluctance that amendments are admitted at
this reading, which occasion erasures or interlineations. Sometimes a
proviso has been cut off from a bill; sometimes erased. 9 Grey, 513.
  This is the proper stage for filling up blanks; for if filled up
before, and now altered by erasure, it would be peculiarly unsafe.

  In the House bills are amended after the second reading (IV, 3392),
and before the engrossment and third reading (V, 5781; VII, 1051, 1052)
but not afterwards. Under modern practice of the House, readings are
governed by clause 8 of rule XVI and clause 5 of rule XVIII.

  At this <> reading the bill is debated afresh, and for the most part is
more spoken to at this time than on any of the former readings. Hakew.,
153.
  The debate on the question whether it should be read a third time, has
discovered to its friends and opponents the arguments on which each side
relies, and which of these appear to have influence with the House; they
have had time to meet them with new arguments, and to put their old ones
into new shapes. The former vote has tried the strength of the first
opinion, and furnished grounds to estimate the issue; and the question
now offered for its passage is the last occasion which is ever to be
offered for carrying or rejecting it.

  In the House it is usual to debate a bill before and not after the
engrossment and third reading, probably because of the frequent use of
the previous question, which prevents all debate after it is ordered.
When the previous question is not ordered, debate may occur pending the
vote on passage.

[[Page 257]]

  When the <> debate is ended, the Speaker, holding the bill in his hand, puts
the question for its passage, by saying, ``Gentlemen, all you who are of
opinion that this bill shall pass, say aye;'' and after the answer of
the ayes, ``All those of the contrary opinion, say no.'' Hakew., 154.

  In the House the bill is usually in the hands of the Clerk. The
Speaker states that ``The question is on the passage of the bill,'' and
puts the question in the form prescribed by clause 6 of rule I.

<>   After the
bill is passed, there can be no further alteration of it in any
point. Hakew., 159.

  This principle controls the practice of the House. However, a bill may
be changed if the votes on passage, engrossment, and ordering the
previous question have been reconsidered. In addition, the Clerk may be
authorized to make changes in the engrossed copy by unanimous consent or
by special order of business.