Page:Journal of William Maclay, United States senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791 (IA cu31924030423796).pdf/19



Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member—(Second clause, fifth section, first article on the Constitution of the United States), °

Rule 1. The President (of the Senate) should be in the chair within half an hour of the time to which the Senate stands adjourned; and the Senators shall immediately take their seats in a civenlar order; those from New Hampshire occupying the right of tha Chair and those from Georgia the left.

Rule 2 The minutes of the preceding day shall be read before any other business is entered upon ; inaccuracies or inelegancies may be cor- rected or amended; but no reconsideration as to matter of substance shal] take place on such reading.

Rule 3. Every Senator presenting a petition, memorial, or other writing, shall briefly state the import of the same; and every such paper after being read shall be deemed to lie on the table, unless the samme is dismissed npon special motion fer impropriety or want of decency.

Rule 4 Hvery motion made and s¢conded shall be repeated from the Chair and then be open to discussion. [he motion, if verbal, shall be put in writing at the request of the President (of the Senate} or any two Senators.

Rule 5, Adoption, rejection, amendment, commitment, or postponement, shall be considered as proper modes of treating business; and in all cases (treaties, returned bills, etc., and the expulsion of a member, excepted) a majority of votes shall govern.

Rule 6. Every Senator when speaking shall address himself to the Chait, No Senator shall be named in debate, but may be referred to by metitioning the State he represents or by alluding to his place ia the House.

Rule 7. En case of a debate becoming tedious, four Senators may call for the question; or the samme number may at any time move for the previ- ong question, viz,, “Shall the main question now be put?”