Standing Rules of the United States House of Representatives
Encyclopedia
The Rules of the House of Representatives or House Rules are the rules of order adopted by the United States House of Representatives
that govern its procedure. The House of Representatives's power to establish rules derives from Article One, Section 5 of the United States Constitution
: "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings..."
During debates, members of the house may only speak if called upon by the Speaker. In choosing whom to recognized, the speaker follows various standard practices. All speeches must be addressed to the speaker, not other members. Rather than referring to each other by name, representative generally refer to each other by state, for example, as "the gentleman from California", "the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas", or "my distinguished friend from Alabama". Unlike the Parliament of the United Kingdom
, members refer to each other as friends regardless of whether they are members of the same party.
There are very few restrictions on the content of speeches; there is no requirement that speeches be germane to the matter before the House.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
that govern its procedure. The House of Representatives's power to establish rules derives from Article One, Section 5 of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
: "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings..."
Current rules
There are currently 29 rules, with the latest version was adopted on January 5, 2009.During debates, members of the house may only speak if called upon by the Speaker. In choosing whom to recognized, the speaker follows various standard practices. All speeches must be addressed to the speaker, not other members. Rather than referring to each other by name, representative generally refer to each other by state, for example, as "the gentleman from California", "the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas", or "my distinguished friend from Alabama". Unlike the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, members refer to each other as friends regardless of whether they are members of the same party.
There are very few restrictions on the content of speeches; there is no requirement that speeches be germane to the matter before the House.