PART II.

PHRASEOLOGY.

COMMENCEMENT OF A SESSION OF CONGRESS.

1. OPENING OF THE SENATE.

On the first Monday of December annually the Senators and Senators-elect, if any there be, assemble in the Senate Chamber. The Presiding Officer enters the Chamber, accompanied by the Chaplain, punctually at 12 o'clock meridian, and with the gavel raps once.

The Chaplain offers prayer.

THE PRESIDING Officer. This being the day designated by the Constitution of the United States for the annual meeting of Congress, the Senate, pursuant thereto, is now in session, and will come to order.

2. SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE.

[When a session of the Senate is specially called-]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Secretary will read the President's proclamation convening the Senate in special session.

By the President of the United States of America:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas public interests require that the Senate should be convened at twelve o'clock on the fourth day of March next, to receive such communications as may be made by the Executive:

Now, therefore, I,

President of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare that an extraordinary occasion requires the Senate of the United States to convene at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, on the fourth day of March next, at twelve o'clock noon, of which all persons who shall at that time be entitled to act as Members of that body are hereby required to take notice.

Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Washington, the in the year of our Lord and of the Independence of the United

day of

States the

[SEAL.]

By the President:

Secretary of State.

3. EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.

When an extra session of Congress is called, the form of the Journal entry, after the date line, is: The first session of the Congress commenced this day at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, in parsuance of the proclamation of the President of the United States of the — day of——————, 19—–— [After prayer by the Chaplain—]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Secretary will read the proclamation of the President of the United States convening Congress in extraordinary session.

By the President of the United States of America:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas public interests require that the Congress of the United States should be convened in extra session at 12 o'clock noon on the receive such communication as may be made by the Executive:

day of

to

Now, therefore, I, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim and declare that an extraordinary occasion requires the Congress of the United States to convene in extra session at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, on the at 12 o'clock noon, of which all persons who shall

day of

at that time be entitled to act as Members thereof are hereby required to take notice. Given under my hand and the seal of the United States of America the in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and

of

Independence of the United States the one hundred and [SEAL.]

By the President:

day

and of the

Secretary of State.

4. CREDENTIALS CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION OF SENATORS.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair lays before the Senate the certificates of election, certificates of appointment, and other papers relative to the election of Senators, received since the adjournment of the Senate.

(Form of certificate of election of Senator.)

day of

STATE OF

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

STATES:

nineteen hundred

A B

a Senator from said State to

To the PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED This is to certify that on the was duly chosen by the legislature of the State of represent said State in the Senate of the United States for the term of six years, beginning on the fourth day of March, nineteen hundred Witness: His excellency our governor,

[Form of certificate for the appointment by the governor in case of death or resignation.]

STATE OF

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,

19-.

in the

Whereas a vacancy has occurred in the representation of the State of Senate of the United States, caused by the of Senator; and Whereas the legislature of said State is not in session, but in recess: Therefore, be it known that, pursuant to the power vested in me by the Constitution of the United States, I, —, the governor of the said State, do hereby appoint ———, a citizen of said State, to be a United States Senator, to fill the vacancy so caused and existing as aforesaid, to have and to hold the said office until the next meeting of the legislature of this State.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the great seal of the State at the day and year above written.

[SEAL.]

By the governor:

Secretary of State.

NOTE. These are laid before the Senate by the Presiding Officer in the order of their reception, by mail or messenger, and he directs the Secretary to read them.

The Presiding Officer directs that they be placed on the files of the Senate, unless the Senate otherwise determine.

[The Senators are then sworn, as elsewhere described, and take their seats.]

5. PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS OF SENATORS.

Rule VI of the standing rules of the Senate provides:

1. The presentation of the credentials of Senators-elect and other questions of privilege shall always be in order, except during the reading and correction of the Journal, while a question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is dividing; and all questions and motions arising or made upon the presentation of such credentials shall be proceeded with until disposed of.

2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the certificates of election of Senators by entering in a wellbound book kept for that purpose the date of the election, the name of the person elected and the vote given at the election, the date of the certificate, the name of the governor and the secretary of state signing and countersigning the same, and the State from which such Senator is elected.

[In more recent practice the credentials of a Senator are presented by his colleague, if he be present and desires to so do.]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair has received and lays before the Senate the credentials of duly certified by the governor of the State of

which will be read.

[The Secretary reads the credentials ]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The credentials will be recorded and placed on the files of the Senate if there be no objection. The Chair hears none. It is so ordered. The Senator will please come forward and be sworn.

[The Senator-elect is usually escorted to the desk by his colleague. The Senator-elect always raises his right hand while the oath or affirmation is being administered to him, and it is customary, also, for the Presiding Officer to raise his right hand when administering the oath or affirmation.]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter: So help you God. [The Senator-elect then subscribes to the oath that is kept in a bound volume at the Secretary's desk in the Senate Chamber. He then takes his seat in the Chamber.]

6. THE OATH ADMINISTERED TO SENATORS OF THE NEW CLASS.

The Presiding OFFICER. As the Secretary calls the roll (alphabetically) of newlychosen Senators they will advance to the Chair to receive the official oath required by the Constitution and as prescribed by law.

[The names of four of the newly-chosen Senators, in alphabetical order, are first called and these approach the desk upon the arms of their respective colleagues and are together sworn. Each then subscribes to the oath, when the names of four others are called, and in this manner all the newly-chosen Senators are inducted into office.]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You do each and all of you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation frecly, and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter: So help you God.

7. IN CASE OBJECTION IS MADE TO THE CREDENTIALS OF A

SENATOR-ELECT.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection being made to the credentials of

and

the oath of office will now be administered to those Senators whose names have been called on whose credentials there is no question.

[NOTE. CHOOSING OF SEATS IN THE SENATE.-Seats are chosen in the Senate on the personal application of the Senators, or by some authorized person, who requests that a seat, designating it, may be reserved when vacant. These requests are recorded in a book and kept by the Assistant Doorkeeper of the Senate, to whom application is made. It includes all protests relating to contests for seats.]