[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 112th Congress]
[House Document 111-157]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
* * * * *
In the House the Clerk is required to note all questions of order and
the decisions thereon and print the record thereof as an appendix to the
Journal (clause 2 of rule II). The Parliamentarian has the
responsibility for compiling and updating the precedents (2 U.S.C. 28).
The Committee Reform Amendments of 1974 gave the Speaker the
responsibility to prepare an updated compilation of such precedents
every two years (H. Res. 988, 93d Cong., Oct. 8, 1974, p. 34470). The
Speaker feels constrained in rulings to give precedent its proper
influence (II, 1317), because the advantage of such a course is
undeniable (IV, 4045). But decisions of the Speakers on questions of
order are not like judgments of courts that conclude the rights of
parties, but may be reexamined and reversed (IV, 4637), except on
discretionary matters of recognition (II, 1425). It is rare, however,
that such a reversal occurs.
Sec. 351. Precedent in Parliament and the
In Parliament, ``instances make order,'' per Speaker Onslow. 2
Hats., 141. But what is done only by one Parliament, cannot be called
custom of Parliament, by Prynne. 1 Grey, 52.