[United States Senate Manual, 104th Congress]
[S. Doc. 104-1]
[Rules for Regulation of the Senate Wing of the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings]
[Page 163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[[Page 163]]
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RULES FOR REGULATION OF THE SENATE WING OF THE UNITED STATES
CAPITOL
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[Adopted by the Committee on Rules and Administration
pursuant to rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate]
80 RULE I
SERGEANT AT ARMS
The Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, under the direction
of the Presiding Officer, shall be the Executive Officer of
the body for the enforcement of all rules made by the
Committee on Rules and Administration for the regulation of
the Senate wing of the Capitol and the Senate Office
Buildings. The Senate floor shall be at all times under his
immediate supervision, and he shall see that the various
subordinate officers of his department perform the duties to
which they are especially assigned.
The Sergeant at Arms shall see that the messengers
assigned to the doors upon the Senate floor are at their
posts and that the floor, cloakrooms, and lobby are cleared
at least five minutes before the opening of daily sessions
of all persons not entitled to remain there. In the absence
of the Sergeant at Arms the duties of his office, so far as
they pertain to the enforcement of the rules, shall devolve
upon the Deputy Sergeant at Arms.
81 RULE II
MAJORITY AND MINORITY SECRETARIES
The secretary for the majority and the secretary for the
minority shall be assigned, during the daily sessions of the
Senate, to duty upon the Senate floor.
[[Page 164]]
82 RULE III
USE OF THE SENATE CHAMBER
In order to secure and protect the Senate Chamber and
its furniture and furnishings, the language contained in
paragraph numbered one of rule XXXIII of the Standing Rules
of the Senate, which reads ``The Senate Chamber shall not be
granted for any other purpose than for the use of the
Senate,'' shall be interpreted to mean that when the Senate
is not sitting in session or otherwise using the Chamber for
some function of the Senate, no Senator shall seat any
person or persons in chairs of Senators others than the
chair assigned to him (other persons shall not seat anyone
in a chair of a Senator); and lectures, talks, or speeches
shall not be given at such times to groups on the floor by
Senators or others except for the purpose of explaining the
Chamber.
83 RULE IV
TAKING OF PICTURES PROHIBITED;\1\ USE OF MECHANICAL
EQUIPMENT IN CHAMBER
83.1 1. The taking of pictures of any kind is prohibited in
the Senate Chamber, the Senate Reading Rooms (Marble Room
and Lobby), the Senate Cloakrooms, and the Private Dining
Room of the Senate.
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\1\Paragraph 1 of rule IV has been temporarily suspended
on numerous occasions for the taking of official photographs
of the Senate in session, and on Dec. 19, 1974, for
telecasting the inauguration of Vice President Nelson A.
Rockefeller. Senate authorization for the telecasting of the
New Hampshire contested senatorial election debate was not
utilized.
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83.2 2. The Sergeant at Arms shall be authorized to admit
into the Senate Chamber such mechanical equipment and/or
devices which, in the judgment of the Sergeant at Arms, are
necessary and proper in the conduct of official Senate
business and which by their presence shall not in any way
distract, interrupt, or inconvenience the business or
Members of the Senate.
84 RULE V
MESSENGERS ACTING AS ASSISTANT DOORKEEPERS
The messengers acting as Assistant Doorkeepers shall be
assigned to their duties by the Sergeant at Arms.
[[Page 165]]
85 RULE VI
GALLERIES
The Sergeant at Arms shall keep the aisles of the
galleries clear, and shall not allow admittance into the
galleries of more than their seating capacity, nor shall he
allow admittance of children under the age of six into the
galleries. He shall not permit any person to enter a gallery
with or carrying any firearms or dangerous weapons except
for law enforcement and other personnel performing duties
under the direction of the Senate, or any package, bundle,
suitcase, briefcase, or camera; he shall not permit any
person in any gallery to smoke, applaud, or commit any other
type of demonstration either by sound or sign; except in the
press, radio, television, and correspondents' galleries he
shall not permit any person to read (except the Senate
seating diagram) or to write or take notes (except bona fide
employees of the Senate when sitting in the Staff Gallery
and making notes in the course of their employment); he
shall not permit any person to take any picture or
photograph or to sketch or draw; he shall not permit any
person to place any object whatsoever--including hats,
coats, or other personal apparel--or portion of a person on
any railing, or any male to wear a hat, except that where a
man's religious beliefs require that he wear a head-cover in
such public places as the Senate Gallery, then such head-
cover shall be permitted;\1\ and he shall not allow any
person to lean forward over the railings or to place his or
her hands thereon.
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\1\Adopted Apr. 1, 1987.
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The galleries of the Senate shall be set apart and
occupied as follows:
85.1 press gallery
The gallery in the rear of the Vice President's chair
shall be set apart for reporters of daily newspapers.
The administration of the Press Gallery shall be vested
in a Standing Committee of Correspondents elected by
accredited members of the gallery. The committee shall
consist of five persons elected to serve for terms of two
years: Provided, however, That at the election in January
1951, the three candidates receiving the highest number of
votes shall serve for two years and the remaining two for
one year. Thereafter, three members shall be elected in odd-
[[Page 166]]
numbered years and two in even-numbered years. Elections
shall be held in January. The committee shall elect its own
chairman and secretary. Vacancies on the committee shall be
filled by special election to be called by the Standing
Committee.
Persons desiring admission to the Press Gallery in the
Senate wing shall make application in accordance with rule
XXXIII for the regulation of the Senate wing of the Capitol,
which rule shall be interpreted and administered by the
Standing Committee of Correspondents, subject to the review
and approval by the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.
The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall limit
membership in the Press Gallery to bona fide correspondents
of repute in their profession, under such rules as the
Standing Committee of Correspondents shall prescribe:
Provided, however, That the Standing Committee of
Correspondents shall admit to the Press Gallery no person
who does not establish to the satisfaction of the Standing
Committee all of the following:
a. That his or her principal income is obtained from
news correspondence intended for publication in newspapers
entitled to second-class mailing privileges.
b. That he or she is not engaged in paid publicity or
promotion work or in prosecuting any claim before Congress
or before any department of the Government, and will not
become so engaged while a member of the Press Gallery.
c. That he or she is not engaged in any lobbying
activity and will not become so engaged while a member of
the Press Gallery.
Members of the families of correspondents are not
entitled to the privileges of the Press Gallery.
The Standing Committee of Correspondents shall propose
no change or changes in these rules except upon petition in
writing signed by not less than 100 accredited members of
the Press Gallery.
85.2 radio and television correspondents gallery
The front row in the northeast public gallery shall be
set apart for the use of the radio-television
correspondents.
Persons desiring admission to the Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery of the Senate shall make application
to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the
[[Page 167]]
Senate, as required by rule XXXIII for the regulation of the
Senate wing of the Capitol; and shall also state, in
writing, the names of all radio stations, television
stations, systems, or news-gathering organizations by which
they are employed; and what other occupation or employment
they may have, if any; and shall further declare that they
are not engaged in the prosecution of claims or promotion of
legislation pending before Congress, the departments, or the
independent agencies, and that they will not become so
employed without resigning from the gallery. They shall
further declare that they are not employed in any
legislative or executive department or independent agency of
the Government, or by any foreign government or
representative thereof; that they are not engaged in any
lobbying activities; that they do not and will not, directly
or indirectly, furnish special information to any
organization, individual, or group of individuals, for the
influencing of prices on any commodity or stock exchange;
that they will not do so during the time they retain
membership in the gallery. Holders of visitors' cards who
may be allowed temporary admission to the gallery must
conform to all the restrictions of this paragraph.
It shall be prerequisite to membership that the radio
station, television station, system, or news-gathering
agencies which the applicants represent shall certify, in
writing, to the Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery
that the applicants conform to the foregoing regulations.
The applications required by the above rule shall be
authenticated in a manner that shall be satisfactory to the
Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery, which shall see that the occupation
of the gallery is confined to bona fide news gatherers and/
or reporters of reputable standing in their business who
represent radio stations, television stations, systems, or
news-gathering agencies engaged primarily in serving radio
stations, television stations, or systems. It shall be the
duty of the Executive Committee of the Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery to report, at its discretion,
violation of privileges of the gallery to the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, and, pending action
thereon, the offending individual may be suspended.
Persons engaged in other occupations, whose chief
attention is not given to--or more than one-half of their
earned income is not derived from--the gathering or
reporting of
[[Page 168]]
news for radio stations, television stations, systems, or
news-gathering agencies primarily serving radio stations,
television stations, or systems, shall not be entitled to
admission to the Radio and Television Correspondents
Gallery. The Radio and Television Correspondents list in the
Congressional Directory shall be a list only of persons
whose chief attention is given to the gathering and
reporting of news for radio stations, television stations,
and systems engaged in the daily dissemination of news, and
of representatives of news-gathering agencies engaged in the
daily service of news to such radio stations, television
stations, or systems.
Members of the families of correspondents are not
entitled to the privileges of the gallery.
The Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery shall be
under the control of the Executive Committee of the Radio
and Television Correspondents Gallery, subject to the
approval and supervision of the Senate Committee on Rules
and Administration.
85.3 periodical press gallery
The front row in the northwest public gallery shall be
set aside for the use of the periodical press.
1. Persons eligible for admission to the Periodical
Press Gallery of the Senate must be bona fide resident
correspondents of reputable standing, giving their chief
attention to the gathering and reporting of news. They shall
state in writing the names of their employers and their
additional sources of earned income; and they shall declare
that, while a member of the Gallery, they will not act as an
agent in the prosecution of claims, and will not become
engaged or assist, directly or indirectly, in any lobbying,
promotion, advertising, or publicity activity intended to
influence legislation or any other action of the Congress,
nor any matter before any independent agency, or any
department or other instrumentality of the Executive Branch;
and that they will not act as an agent for, or be employed
by the federal, or any state, local or foreign government or
representatives thereof; and that they will not, directly or
indirectly, furnish special or ``insider'' information
intended to influence prices or for the purpose of trading
on any commodity or stock exchange; and that they will not
become employed, directly or indirectly, by any stock
exchange, board of trade or other organization or member
thereof, or brokerage house or broker engaged in the buy-
[[Page 169]]
ing and selling of any security or commodity. Applications
shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of the
Periodical Correspondents' Association and shall be
authenticated in a manner satisfactory to the Executive
Committee.
2. Applicants must be employed by periodicals that
regularly publish a substantial volume of news material of
either general, economic, industrial, technical, cultural or
trade character. The periodical must require such Washington
coverage on a continuing basis and must be owned and
operated independently of any government, industry,
institution, association, or lobbying organization.
Applicants must also be employed by a periodical that is
published for profit and is supported chiefly by advertising
or by subscription, or by a periodical meeting the
conditions in this paragraph but published by a non-profit
organization that, first, operates independently of any
government, industry, or institution and, second, does not
engage, directly or indirectly, in any lobbying or other
activity intended to influence any matter before Congress or
before any independent agency or any department or other
instrumentality of the Executive Branch. House organs are
not eligible.
3. Members of the families of correspondents are not
entitled to the privileges of the gallery.
4. The Executive Committee may issue temporary
credentials permitting the privileges of the Gallery to
individuals who meet the rules of eligibility but who may be
on short term assignment or temporarily resident in
Washington.
5. Under the authority of Rule XXXIII of the Senate, the
Periodical Press Gallery of the Senate shall be under the
control of the Executive Committee, subject to the approval
and supervision of the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration. It shall be the duty of the Executive
Committee, at its discretion, to report violations of the
privileges of the Gallery to the Senate Committee on Rules
and Administration, and pending action thereon, the
offending correspondent may be suspended. The Committee
shall be elected at the start of each Congress by members of
the Periodical Correspondents' Association, and shall
consist of seven members with no more than one member from
any one publishing organization. The Committee shall elect
its own officers, and a majority of the Committee may fill
vacancies on the Committee. The list in the Congres-
[[Page 170]]
sional Directory shall be a list only of members of the
Periodical Correspondents' Association.
85.4 press photographers' gallery
1. (a) Administration of the Press Photographers'
Gallery is vested in a Standing Committee of Press
Photographers consisting of six persons elected by
accredited members of the gallery. The Committee shall be
composed of one member each from Associated Press Photos,
United Press International Newspictures, magazine media, and
local newspapers and two ``at large'' members. ``At large''
members may be, but need not be, selected from a media
otherwise represented on the Committee.
(b) The term of office of a member of the Committee
elected as the Associated Press Photos member, the local
newspapers member, or one of the ``at large'' members shall
expire on the day of the election held in the first odd-
numbered year following the year in which he was elected,
and the term of office of a member of the Committee elected
as the United Press International Newspictures member, the
magazine media member, or the remaining ``at large'' member
shall expire on the day of the election held in the first
even-numbered year following the year in which he was
elected, except that a member elected to fill a vacancy
occurring prior to the expiration of a term shall serve only
for the unexpired portion of such term.
(c) Elections shall be held as early as practicable in
each year, and in no case later than March 31. A vacancy in
the membership of the Committee occurring prior to the
expiration of a term shall be filled by special election
called for that purpose by the Committee.
(d) The Standing Committee of the Press Photographers'
Gallery shall propose no change or changes in these rules
except upon petition in writing signed by not less than 25
accredited members of the gallery.
2. Persons desiring admission to the Press
Photographers' Gallery of the Senate shall make application
in accordance with Rule XXXIII of the Senate, which rule
shall be interpreted and administered by the Standing
Committee of Press Photographers subject to the review and
approval of the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.
3. The Standing Committee of Press Photographers shall
limit membership in the photographers' gallery to bona fide
news photographers of repute in their profession and to
[[Page 171]]
heads of Photographic Bureaus under such rules as the
Standing Committee of Press Photographers shall prescribe.
4. Provided, however, That the Standing Committee of
Press Photographers shall admit to the gallery no person who
does not establish to the satisfaction of the Committee all
of the following:
(a) That any member is not engaged in paid
publicity or promotion work or in prosecuting any
claim before Congress or before any department of
the Government, and will not become so engaged while
a member of the gallery.
(b) That he or she is not engaged in any
lobbying activity and will not become so engaged
while a member of the gallery.
85.5 presidential and diplomatic gallery
The southern gallery over the main entrance to the
Senate Chamber, except the first three rows on the eastern
side of the aisle, shall be set apart for the use of the
Diplomatic Corps, and no person shall be admitted to it
excepting the Secretary of State, foreign ministers, their
families and suites, and Senators.
The cards of admission to said gallery shall be issued
by the Secretary of State, or the chairman of the Committee
on Rules and Administration, to such persons as are entitled
to its privileges.
The first row on the eastern side of this gallery shall
be set apart for the use of the President; the second row on
the eastern side of this gallery shall be set apart for the
use of the Vice President; and the third row on the eastern
side of this gallery shall be set apart for the use of the
President pro tempore of the Senate.
85.6 senate gallery
The first two rows of the gallery over the east entrance
to the Senate shall be set apart for the exclusive use of
the wives and other members of the immediate families of
Senators.
The remainder of the gallery shall be set apart for the
exclusive use of the families of Senators and guests
visiting their families who shall be designated by some
member of the Senator's family, and for the families of ex-
Presidents of the United States, as well as families of
incumbent Secretary and Sergeant at Arms of the Senate.
[[Page 172]]
Employees of the Senate, except those on duty at the
gallery door, shall be excluded.
85.7 visitors' galleries
The visitors' galleries shall be governed by the
following rule:
The galleries over the western entrance to the Senate
Chamber and over the southeastern, northwestern, and
northeastern corners of said Chamber shall be set apart for
the use of persons holding a card issued by a Senator. The
period to which such card of admission shall be limited
rests entirely in the discretion of the Senator issuing it,
except that such cards shall expire at the end of each
session and cards of a different color shall be furnished by
the Sergeant at Arms for the following session. The Sergeant
at Arms shall in his discretion limit occupancy of the
visitors' galleries to such periods as may be required to
accommodate with reasonable expediency all card bearers who
are seeking admission.
85.8 special gallery
The gallery adjoining and west of the Diplomatic Gallery
shall be reserved for guided tours and other special
parties.
86 RULE VII
MARBLE ROOM
The anteroom known as the Marble Room is a part of the
floor of the Senate.
87 RULE VIII
CLOAKROOMS
No persons shall be admitted to the cloakrooms adjoining
the Senate Chamber excepting those entitled to the
privileges of the Senate floor under Standing Rule XXIII.
88 RULE IX
HEATING AND VENTILATING DEPARTMENT
No person shall be admitted to the heating and
ventilating department of the Senate wing of the Capitol,
except upon a pass from the Sergeant at Arms, or unless
accompanied by an officer of the Senate.
[[Page 173]]
89 RULE X
BARBER SHOP AND BATHROOMS
The barber shop, and bathrooms connected therewith,
shall be reserved exclusively for the use of Senators. The
bathroom in the heating and ventilating department of the
Senate wing shall be for the use of employees of the Senate;
and no other persons shall be entitled to its privileges.
90 RULE XI
SENATE RESTAURANTS
The management of the Senate Restaurants and all matters
connected therewith are under the jurisdiction, control, and
direction of the Committee on Rules and Administration.\1\
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\1\Rule XXV (n)(1) 12 of the Standing Rules of the
Senate.
Note.--Pursuant to Public Law 87-82 (75 Stat. 199, July
6, 1961) the management of the Senate Restaurants was
transferred to the Architect of the Capitol, subject to
approval by the Committee on Rules and Administration as to
matters of general policy. See Senate Manual Section 518.
91 RULE XII
CORRIDORS, ETC.
The corridors and passageways of the Senate wing of the
Capitol shall be kept open and free from obstructions and
free from any person or persons loitering or loafing in or
around such places without any visible or lawful business
and not giving a good account of themselves; and no stands,
booths, or counters for the exhibition or sale of any
article shall be placed therein.
92 RULE XIII
PEDDLING, BEGGING, ETC.
Peddling, begging, and the solicitation of book or other
subscriptions are strictly forbidden in the Senate wing of
the Capitol, and no portion of said wing shall be occupied
by signs or other devices for advertising any article
whatsoever excepting timetables in the Post Office and such
signs as may be necessary to designate the entrances to the
Senate Restaurant.
[[Page 174]]
95 RULE XIV
SWEEPING, CLEANING
All sweeping, cleaning, and dusting of the Senate wing
of the Capitol shall be done, as far as practicable,
immediately after the adjournment of each day's session of
the Senate, and must, in any event, be completed before 8
o'clock a.m.
96 RULE XV
LEGISLATIVE BUZZERS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS
Effective May 15, 1981, the system of legislative
buzzers and signal lights shall be as follows:
Pre-session signals: One long ring at hour of convening.
One red light to remain lighted at
all times while Senate is in
actual session.
Session signals: One ring--Yeas and nays.
Two rings--quorum call.
Three rings--Call of absentees.
Four rings--Adjournment or recess.
(End of daily session.)
Five rings--Seven and a half minutes
remaining on yea and nay vote.
Six rings--Morning business
concluded. (Six rings with
corresponding lights. Lights cut
off immediately.)
Recess during daily session. (Six
rings with corresponding lights.
Lights stay on during period of
recess.)
Effective July 13, 1967, the legislative call system
shall be used for alerting Members of Congress,
Congressional employees, and visitors of enemy attack or
other major disaster conditions. There will be two signals:
1. Attack warning.--Notification to all
occupants that the United States is under attack and
that there is real danger of loss of life. This
warning would be given by a sequence of two-second
sounds of the legislative bells separated by two-
second silent intervals. This signal would be
repeated for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Attention signal.--Notification of peacetime
disasters, such as accidental presence of
radioactive materials or severe weather or natural
disaster conditions.
[[Page 175]]
This signal would be given by a series of 16-second
bell sounds separately by 16-second silent
intervals, repeated for 3 to 5 minutes.
(Where lights exist they will correspond
with rings.)
97 RULE XVI
SENATE OFFICE BUILDING\1\ AND OTHER SENATE BUILDINGS
All provisions of the foregoing rules so far as
practicable are made applicable to the Senate Office
Buildings,\1\ the buildings used for the storage of Senate
documents, and the Senate garage.
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\1\See Senate Manual sections 79.8, 79.9.
98 RULE XVII
USE OF DISPLAY MATERIALS IN THE SENATE CHAMBER\2\
Graphic displays in the Senate Chamber are limited to
the following:
\2\Effective July 25, 1986; amended Nov. 4, 1993.
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Charts, photographs, or renderings:
Size--No larger than 36 inches by 48 inches.
Where--On an easel stand next to the Senator's desk or
at the rear of the Chamber.
When--Only at the time the Senator is engaged in debate.
Number--No more than two may be displayed at a time.