OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

WITH THE AMENDMENTS THERETO ;

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

JEFFERSON'S MANUAL OF PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE,

THE

STANDING RULES AND ORDERS FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES,

THE

JOINT RULES IN FORCE AT THE CLOSE OF THE 43d CONGRESS,

AND A

DIGEST

THEREOF,

AND OF SO MUCH OF JEFFERSON'S MANUAL AS UNDER THE RULES
GOVERNS THE HOUSE, OF PRECEDENTS OF ORDER AND USAGES

OF THE HOUSE, WITH REFERENCES TO SUCH PORTIONS

OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

AND LAWS OF CONGRESS AS RELATE TO

THE RIGHTS, DUTIES, AND PRIVI.
LEGES OF ITS MEMBERS.

Compiled

BY

HENRY H. SMITH,

JOURNAL CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U. S.,

Under the act of March 3, 1877.

FOURTH EDITION.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

2D SESS. 46TH CONG.

PREFACE.

The compiler of the Digest deems it proper to state that the publication of this volume has been delayed in the hope that the "supplementary report" of the Committee on Rules made on the 18th of March last, would be disposed of before the close of the present session.

As no action thereon now seems probable, this volume is put to press with the remark that it has been prepared under very great disadvantages, mainly during such time as could be spared from other work which could not be postponed or delayed.

The general plan of the last edition of the Digest has been followed in this volume, mainly for the reason that uniformity of arrangement of matter in a work of this character is deemed of the first importance, and, except for manifest reasons, should not be changed.

The Constitution of the United States, with the very copious foot-notes referring to the decisions of the Federal courts thereon, as printed in the second edition of the Revised Statutes, together with the analytical index thereto, are printed in this edition, occupying ninety pages-just double the number of pages the Constitution and index occupied in the last edition. Jefferson's Manual is reprinted without change, the table showing the commencement and termination of each session of Congress, with the name of Speaker and Clerk, has been brought down to date, and a table inserted showing the apportionment of Representatives in Congress from 1787, and the formation of States and Territories.

A list of the Members and Delegates of the House of Representatives at the present session is also given, thus making the Digest conform in that respect to the official manuals of the several State legislatures.

The joint rules of the two Houses in force at the close of the Forty-third Congress are also printed as in the last edition.

The compiler calls special attention to an innovation in the index to the Rules, Joint Rules and Digest thereon, which he believes will be found a vast improvement over former indexes. Heretofore the index did not separate or distinguish between a rule or ruling thereon, so that until the page was found and the subject examined it was impossible to determine its exact character. In this volume the two are carefully separated, and a glance suffices to show just where to look for the subject or matter sought. To those familiar with legislative proceedings and parliamentary discussions, the value of this will readily appear.

Under each sub-head is first given the proper reference to a particular rule or rules, by clauses, and then follows the references to the Digest which may be either to a journal, the Revised Statutes, or the Constitution.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 10, 1880.

HENRY H. SMITH.