JOINT RULES
FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN
THE TWO HOUSES OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AS IN FORCE
AT THE LAST
SESSION.
1. While Bills and Joint Resolutions are on their passage between the two Houses, they shall be on paper, under the signature of their Clerks respectively.
2. After a Bill or Joint Resolution shall have passed both Houses, it shall be duly enrolled on paper, and the Clerk of the House where it originated shall indorse upon the back thereof the House in which it originated, under which he shall place his signature.
3. Every Bill or Joint Resolution, after being enrolled, shall be examined by the Joint Committee of Enrolled Bills, consisting of three from the Senate and six from the House, appointed as a standing committee for that purpose - one of whom on the Part of the Senate and two from the House shall be sufficient to act, who shall compare the same with the engrossed bill, and correct any errors they may discover, so as to make it agree therewith, and make their report forthwith to their respective Houses.
4. Every Bill or Joint Resolution reported to have been duly enrolled shall be signed first by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall send the same to the Senate; then by the President of the Senate; after which it shall be presented by the Joint Committee of Enrolled Bill to the Governor for his approbation and signature; and the said Committee shall report to their respective Houses the day of their presentation, which report shall be entered on the Journals of each House.
5. All Bill and Joint Resolutions shall be signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, in their Houses respectively when in session, which shall be carefully noted on the Journals of each House.
6. When any paper or papers, proper to be acted upon by both Houses, shall come before either, the House before which such paper or papers are laid, shall, after acting thereupon, lay it or them before the other House.
7. In every case of an amendment of a Bill agreed to in one House, and dissented to in the other, if either house shall request a conference, and appoint a committee for that purpose, and the other House shall also appoint a committee to confer, such committee shall, at a convenient hour, to be agreed upon by their chairman, meet in the conference chamber, and state to each other, verbally, or in writing, as either shall choose, the reason of their respective Houses for and against the amendment, and confer freely thereon, and report to each House their proceedings thereon. A committee of conference shall consist of two members from each House. After each House shall have adhered to their disagreement a Bill or Resolution shall be lost.
8. In all cases where the Sergeant-at- page: 8[View Page 8] Arms of one House shall, by reason of official engagements, or other cause, be unable to execute the commands or process of the House of which he is an officer, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the other House to execute such commands, together with such process as may be directed to him by the presiding officer thereof.
9. The following Standing Committees, on the part of each House, shall be appointed to act as joint committees:
A Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills, to consist of six on the part of the House, and three on the part of the Senate.
A Committee on Public Buildings, to consist of three members from each House.
A Committee on State Library, to consist of three members from each House.
A Committee on Canal Fund, to consist of three members from each House.
10. In all elections which require a distinct and separate vote of each House, the voting shall be simultaneous in both Houses. No person shall be deemed to be elected in the proper House, making such separate choice, unless he receives a majority of all the votes given in such House. Each House shall, as soon as a choice shall be made on such separate voting, forthwith communicate the same to the other House, and if it shall appear that the House have concurred in their choice of any or either of the persons so voted for, such person or persons shall be deemed and declared duly elected. But if the Houses do not concur in their choice of each and all the officers so to be elected, then, in such case, the two Houses shall, in like manner, forthwith proceed to a second separate choice of the remaining officers so attempted to be elected. But if no concurrence then be had, the two Houses shall, in like manner, proceed to a third separate choice. If the two Houses shall not have concurred in their third separate choice, the two Houses shall proceed to a joint vote instanter, for the election of such officer or officers as the two Houses may have failed, for want of concurrence as aforesaid, to elect.
11. In all Joint Conventions and meetings of the two Houses, it shall be incompetent for either House, or the members thereof, or the Joint Convention, to engage in the transaction of any business other than that for which they were so specifically assembled.
12. When a message is sent to the Senate, or to the House of Representatives, it shall be announced at the door by the Sergeant-at-Arms, or by the Doorkeeper, and it shall be respectfully communicated to the Chair, by the person by whom sent.
13. Messages shall be sent by such persons as the President of the Senate, or Speaker of the House, may designate for that purpose.
14. No Bill that shall have passed one House, shall be sent for concurrence to the other, on the last two days of the session.
15. When Bills which shall have passed one House, are ordered to be printed in the other, a greater number of copies shall not be printed than may be necessary for the use of the House making the order.
16. No spirituous liquors shall be offered for sale, or exhibited, within the Capitol, or on the public grounds adjacent thereto.
