New Senators Guide
Produced by the Secretary of the Senate
Introduction and Acknowledgement
This guide for new Senators is designed to
introduce them to the basics of Senate procedure.
It will also be helpful to those who will be
discharging the duties of the Chair during
sessions of the Senate.
This is a revision of the Presiding Officers Guide
prepared by Senator Thad Cochran of
Mississippi. Further revisions have been made by
Alan Frumin, Elizabeth MacDonough, Peter
Robinson, Leigh Hilderbrand, Bob Dove, and
Marty Gold.
For a more detailed discussion of the Rules,
customs and procedures of the Senate, see
Riddicks Senate Procedure (1992).
Prayer
Since 1939, each session of the Senate has begun
with a prayer. At the hour established for
convening, the Senator who will serve as the
Presiding Officer accompanies the Senate
Chaplain to the desk, calls the Senate to order,
and announces that the Chaplain will deliver a
prayer.
Pledge of Allegiance
Since 1999, following the opening prayer, the
President pro tempore or Senator who opens the
days proceedings leads the Senate in the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag. Such Senator may also
designate another Senator to do so.
Appointment of a Presiding Officer
The President pro tempore or a Senator
designated by him presides over the Senate in the
absence of the Vice President. If the Presiding
officer is so designated, the occupant of the Chair
asks the Clerk to read a communication to the
Senate appointing an Acting President pro
tempore.
Recognition of the Leaders
By Standing Order, the Senate grants each party
leader 10 minutes of time (Leader Time)
customarily used for opening remarks at the start
of the days session.
Morning Business
In practice, Morning Business is a period of tie
set aside by unanimous consent for speeches,
introduction of bills and resolutions and other
Senate housekeeping matters. Generally there
are tie grants set forth allowing Senators to speak
therein.
Turning to the Days Agenda
Upon conclusion of the Morning Business
period, the Senate will turn to its legislative
business for the day. This is normally done
pursuant to an order obtained the previous day.
Recognition of Senators
In circumstances where recognition is not
otherwise established by Unanimous Consent, the
following procedure applies:
The Presiding Officer must recognize the Senator
who is standing and first addresses him (Rule
XIX). However, when recognition is being
sought on an open floor, the Presiding Officer
will give priority in the following order to these
Senators: Majority Leader, Minority Leader,
Majority Bill Manager, Minority Bill Manager.
Quorum Calls
A quorum of the Senate is a majority of Senators
duly chosen and sworn, thus 51 if there are no
vacancies in the Senate. The presence of a
quorum is normally assumed, unless its absence
is suggested. Quorum calls are frequently used in
the Senate as time fillers. Except in a post-cloture
situation, once a Senator suggests the absence of
a quorum, the Presiding Officer is not empowered
to make a count. Instead, he asks the Clerk to call
the roll. During a quorum call, no business 0may
be transacted. Most quorum calls are rescinded by
unanimous consent prior to their completion, and
the Senate resumes its business.
Senate Rules
The Senate is a continuing body as contrasted
with the house, which adopts its Rules every two
years. The Rules adopted by the Senate remain in
force continuously until amended.
The practices and precedents of the Senate have
been changed more frequently than its adopted
rues, which largely date from 1884.
Considering a Bill
When a bill is called dup for consideration in the
Senate, committee amendments have priority but
they may be amended by floor amendments.
After committee amendments have been disposed
of, the Senate proceeds to the consideration of
other amendments offered from the floor by
individual Senators.
The sponsor of an amendment may modify or
withdraw it at any time before some action has
been taken, but unanimous consent is required to
modify an amendment on which the yeas and
nays have been ordered, on which an agreement
has been reached for a vote, when closure has
been invoked, or after it has been amended.
Amendments in the third degree are not in order.
When all amendments have been disposed of, or
when no further amendments are offered, the
Presiding Officers asks the Clerk to read the bill
for the third time. No further amendments are
then in order after third reading.
Routine Responses by the Presiding
Officer (Chair)
1. Amendments
a. A Senator: I send an
amendment to the desk and ask
for its immediate consideration.
Chair: The Clerk will report the
amendment.
b. Putting the question:
Chair: The question is on the
amendment offered by the
Senator from _____.
2. Bills and Resolutions, Consideration
a. The Clerk will report the bill
(joint resolution).
b. When a bill has been referred to
a committee and prior to being
reported Chair: without
objection, the bill (joint
resolution) will be discharged
and the Senate will proceed to its
immediate consideration.
c. In cases where a bill or joint
resolution has not been referred
to committee: Chair: without
objection, the Senate will
proceed to the immediate
 consideration of the bill (joint The Clerk will report without objection, the
resolution), which the Clerk will Senate will proceed to the consideration of the
report. conference report. Or The question is on the
d. At the end of the amending motion to proceed to the conference report.
process for bills and joint
A conference report is privileged, therefor the
resolutions: Are there further
motion to proceed is not debatable.
amendments? If there are no
further amendments, the Clerk
will read the bill (joint
resolution) for the third time. 5. Messages from the House, Laid before
e. Calendar Call (Wrap-Up) Senate
1. A Senator: I ask The Chair lays before the Senate a message from
unanimous consent that the House on S. __- (H.R. ____), which the Clerk
the Senate proceed to the will report.
consideration of
______. Chair: The 6. Morning Business
Clerk will report the title a. Opening: Under the previous order,
of the bill for the there will now be a period for the
information of the transaction of routine morning business
Senate. for not to extend beyond the hour of
____, with Senators permitted to speak
Clerk Reports: therein for not to exceed ____ minutes
_______________ each.
b. Closing: Is there further Morning
Chair: Is there Business? If not, Morning Business is
objection to proceeding closed.
to the measure at this 7. Nominations/Executive Session
time? Without objection, Under the previous order, the Senate will
the Senate will proceed proceed to Executive Session to consider the
to the consideration of following nomination, which the Clerk will
the measure. report. Without objection the nomination is
considered and confirmed.
2. Bills and joint
resolutions: without 8. Opening Daily Session of Senate
objection, the bill (joint a) The Senate will come to order. The
resolution) is passed. Chaplain will offer a prayer.
3. Simple and concurrent b) Please join me in the Pledge of
resolutions: without allegiance to the flag.
objection, the resolution c) The clerk will read a
is agreed to. communication to the senate.
9. Points of order and parliamentary
3. Bills and resolutions, Introduction inquiries
a) Without objection, the bill (resolution) A Senator must have the floor in his own right to
will be received and appropriately make almost all points of order or raise an
referred. inquiry: A Senator: Point of order
4. Conference reports, consideration (parliamentary inquiry)?
The Senator will state the point of order
(parliamentary inquiry)
10. Quorum calls
a) A Senator who has the floor says, I
suggest the absence of a quorum.
The chair responds: the Clerk will
call the roll
b) When a Senator attempts to conduct
business during a quorum call, the
chair says: the chair reminds the
Senator from _____ that a quorum
call is in progress. This prompts the
Senator to respond, I ask unanimous
consent that further proceedings
under the quorum call be dispensed
with.
c) When the absence of a quorum is
suggested immediately prior to a
vote, the Chair responds: The Clerk
will call the roll to ascertain the
presence of a quorum.
d) When a quorum call is completed
and a quorum is not present, the chair
says, A quorum is not present The
Clerk will call the names of the
absentees.
e) When the absence of a quorum has
been revealed, the only motions that
are in order are motions to create a
quorum (sometimes referred to as a
live quorum, or to recess or
adjourn.
1. Creating a quorum: motions
directing the sergeant-at-
arms to
A. Request the
attendance of absent
Senators, or to
B. Compel the
attendance of absent
Senators.
2. Motions to either recess
pursuant to a previous order,
or to adjourn.
11. Voting
a) The Chair first states the question:
The question is on the amendment
(motion, bill, joint, resolution,
resolution, etc.)
b) Voice vote:
1. Formally stated: The
question is on the ____. All
those in favor off say aye.
All those opposed say no.
In the opinion of the Chair,
the ayes (noes) appear to
have it. The Chair waits a
second then states: The
ayes (noes) have it. The
amendment (motion,
resolution, etc.) is [not]
agreed to. Or The bill
(joint resolution) is passed.
2. Informally stated: without
objection, the amendment
(motion, resolution, etc.) is
[not] agreed to. Or without
objection, the bill (joint
resolution) is passed.
c) Division vote: A Senator will say,
Mr. (Madam) President, I ask for a
division vote. The Chair responds:
All those in favor stand and be
counted. All those opposed stand and
be counted. In the opinion of the
chair the ayes (noes) appear to
have it. the amendment (motion,
resolution, etc.) is [not] agreed to.
d) Roll Call Vote: A Senator will say,
Mr. (Madam) President, I ask for
the yeas and nays. The Chair
responds: Is there a sufficient
second? The Chair then waits for
the Legislative Clerk to advice the
Chair if there is a sufficient second.
Based on this advice, the Chair will
then respond in one of the following
ways:
1. there is a sufficient second,
the yeas and nays are
ordered
 2. There appears to be Without objection, the
sufficient second, the yeas motion to table is agreed
and nays are order,: or to.
3. At the present time there is 2. Motion is entered; A
no a sufficient second. Senator will say, Mr.
e) Announcement of a Roll Call Vote: (Madame) President, I
1. The chair bangs the gavel to enter a motion to
obtain order in the senate reconsider the vote.
and then asks: Are there The Chair responds:
any Senators in the Chamber The motion is entered.
who wish to vote or change a 12. Yielding of Time Under a Unanimous
vote? Consent Agreement
2. The chair then announces the
When a Senator, other than one who has control
result of the vote: ON this
of time under an agreement, seeks the floor to
vote the yeas are ____, the
debate: Who yields time to the Senator from
nays are ____.
____?
A. The
amendment
(motion, resolution,
etc.) is [not] Presiding officers
passed, or
B. The bill (joint
resolution) is [not] The most significant power of the Presiding
passed. Officer (the Chair) is the power to recognize
C. The Senators addressing the Chair. A necessary
nomination is [not] corollary of the power of recognition is the
confirmed. Presiding Officers responsibility to acknowledge
f. Reconsideration: One such Senators who address the chair.
motion regarding a particular
result of a vote may be made or 1. Recognizing a Senator confers the floor
entered by any Senator not on that Senator.
recorded with the losing side on 2. Acknowledging a Senator does not
that vote. The motion may only necessarily confer the floor on that
be made or entered on the Senator.
following two days of session a. Acknowledging a Senator does
1. Motion is made: A confer the floor on that Senator if
Senator will say, Mr. the floor is available
(Madame) President, I b. Acknowledging a Senator allows
move to reconsider the that Senator to make an inquiry
vote. Another Senator of the chair, or ask a question of
will say, Mr. (Madame) the Senator who has the floor
President, I move to with that Senators consent
reconsider the vote. c. Acknowledging a Senator
Another Senator will permits that Senator to attempt to
say, I move to lay that seek unanimous consent to
motion on the table. change the established order of
The Chair responds:
 business at the sufferance of all
Senators,
3. If the minority leader addresses the
Chair, the Presiding Officer should,
through the long tradition of the Senate
acknowledge the Majority Leader, and if
the floor is available for recognition,
should recognize the Majority Leader.
4. In general, the Presiding Officer should
acknowledge any other Senator who
appropriately addresses the Chair. If that
Senator is not entitled to proceed at that
time and unanimous consent is not
obtained, the Presiding Officer should
proceed with the regular order of
business.
5. Once a Senator has been recognized, the
Chair may not recognize another Senator
unless the Senator who has the floor
relinquishes the flood See 4(b), 4(c)
below, in Situations on the Floor
Questions and Answers
1. As a general matter, is the Chair
active or reactive?
a. Generally speaking, he Chair is
reactive and seldom takes the
initiative on procedural questions
b. Of course, the Chair must take the
initiative in questions of
recognition: see Situations on the
Floor, 3, 4, and 5 below.
c. The Chair may Rule amendments
technically out of order if they are:
1. Improperly drafted.
2. Not in order at that particular
time because they
a. Are limited by unanimous
consent agreement,
b. Do not fit in the applicable
amendment tree see
charts 1-4, on pages 74,
75, 84, and 89 of Riddicks
Senate Procedure (1992
ed.)
3. Not timely filed in a post-
cloture situation.
d. Otherwise, the Chair awaits point
of order from the floor.
2. What rights are retained or lost
when a Senator presides over the
Senate?
a. The Presiding Officer in his or her
capacity as a Senator from his or
her state, retains the right to
1. Vote and
2. Object to unanimous consent
requests
b. The Presiding Officer may not
engage in debate or make editorial
comments
3. Does the Chair put the question to
vote?
a. Voice Vote:
1. All those in favor say aye.
All those opposed say no.
The ayes (noes) appear to
have it. The ayes (noes)
have it.
2. Without objection, the
amendment (or other matter)
is agreed to (or passed).
b. Roll call vote: The yeas and nays
have been ordered, the Clerk will
call the roll.
Situations on the Floor
1. Is the Senate in a quorum call No
debate or business is on order of
the Senate is in a quorum call
a. Always check the lights over
the doors in the front of the
changer if the two lights on
the left are on, the Senate is
in a quorum call
b. To terminate a quorum call,
a Senator should say, I ask
unanimous consent to
 dispense with further the Senator who has the
proceedings under the floor?
quorum call. If no objection b. Has the Senator who had the
is heard the quorum call will floor voluntarily
end and Senator may address relinquished the floor?
the Chair to debate or 1. By sending an
conduct business. amendment to the
2. Is debate in order at all? desk.
a. Is a question (bill, resolution, 2. By making a
conference report, motion, motion,
amendment, nomination, 3. By suggesting the
treaty) pending before the absence of a
Senate, or quorum, or
b. Are Senators authorized to 4. By requesting the
speak by unanimous consent yeas and nays.
(during Morning Business)? c. Has the Senator lost the floor
3. Is debate uncontrolled or involuntarily?
controlled? 1. By being called to
a. If time is uncontrolled, order for:
priority of recognition is as A. Yielding for
follows: Majority Leady, more than a
Minority leader, majority question
manager, minority manager, B. Violating
in the order listed, unless Rule XIX,
another Senator has clearly See 8(a),
sought recognition first. In 8(b) and
the absence of any of those 8(c) below
four Senators seeking or
recognition, all Senators 2. By running out of
have an equal opportunity to allotted time; or
claim the floor. The Chair 3. By the arrival of a
should recognize the Senator previous order.
whom the Chair hears first d. A Senator does not lose the
and who is also standing. floor when he or she makes a
b. If time is controlled, only unanimous consent request.
Senators who control time, 5. Who is eligible to seek recognition?
or have time yielded to them a. Leaders, managers, those
are eligible to be recognized controlling time under a
by the Chair, except by unanimous consent
unanimous consent. agreement have priority
4. Is the floor available for Senators b. Senator generally what is
to seek recognition? priority of recognition? See
a. Is the Senator seeking the 3(a) above,
floor in his or her own right, 6. How is recognition obtained?
or is the Senator seeking a. Subject to the right of the
acknowledgement through Majority and Minority
the Chair to ask a question of leaders, and the majority and
 minority manager of a
measure, the Senator who in
the opinion of the Chair first
audibly addresses the Chair
is entitled to be recognized.
See 5(a) above.
b. Senators should address the
Chair audibly, by saying
either Mr. President, or
madam President.
7. What may a Senator do who has
been recognized?
a. Engage in debate
b. Offer amendments
1. Are amendments in
order?
A. Are they timely? I.e. is
there a unanimous
consent agreement?
B. Is there room for them?
DO they fit on the
applicable amendment
tree? See 1 (c) (2) (B)
under Questions and
Answers above.
i. Are there any
committee
amendments
(other than a
complete
substitute) that
have not been
disposed of?
ii. Are they
perfecting or
substitute
amendments?
iii. Are they
properly drafted?
C. Are there restrictions on
content, imposed by
unanimous consent,
statute (Budget Act., etc.)
or cloture?
c. Make a motion
d. Pose an inquiry to the Chair
e. Make a point of Order
8. Are there restriction on the
content of debate?
a. Disorderly language: Rule
XIX, paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and
5 Senators shall not
directly or indirectly, by
any form of words impute to
another Senator or to other
Senators any conduct or
motive unworthy or
unbecoming a Senator, or
refer offensively to any
State of the Union.
b. Germaneness of debate
(Pastore Rule) Rule XI,
paragraph 1(b).
c. Germaneness of debate
(post-cloture) Rule XXII.
9. Points of Order
a. In general, the chair waits for
a point of order to be made
from the floor.
b. Generally, a Senator must
have the floor to make a
point of order
c. A Senator need not have the
floor to call a Senator to
order under Rule XIX,
which challengers the right
of the Senator who has been
recognized to obtain or keep
the floor.
10. Putting the question depends on
whether or not debate is controlled
or uncontrolled.
a. If debate is uncontrolled and
there is no unanimous
consent order controlling
when the vote will occur, the
question is always imminent.
If no Senator seeks
recognition to debate or to
take some other action (offer
an amendment, make a
motion or point of order, or
suggest the absence of a
 quorum, etc.), the Chair is
required to put the question.
b. If debate is controlled, all
time must be used or yielded
back before the Chair puts
the question.
c. Before the result of a voice
vote is announced, any
Senator has the right to
request the yeas and nays.
d. After virtually every vote, a
Senator (usually the majority
manager) moves to
reconsider the vote, and
another Senator usually the
minority manager moves to
table the motion to
reconsider; the Chair may
respond, Without
objection, the motion to
table is agreed to.