[United States Senate Manual, 116th Congress]
[S. Doc. 116-1]
[Non-statutory Standing Orders and Regulations Affecting the Business of the Senate]
[Pages 197-209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[[Page 197]]
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UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER AND GALLERIES REGULATIONS
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[Adopted by the Committee on Rules and Administration on
October 7, 2020, pursuant to rule XXXIII of the Standing
Rules of the Senate]
150.1 1.0 Scope--These regulations are applicable only to the
Senate Chamber and Galleries.
150.2 2.0 Definitions--For purposes of these regulations, the
following terms have the meaning specified.
2.1 Cloakroom means the two spaces, one
assigned to the majority party and one assigned to
the minority party, adjacent to the Senate Chamber.
2.2 Galleries means the ten seating galleries
located in the Senate Chamber.
2.3 Marble Room means the Senators meeting room
adjacent to the Senate Lobby.
2.4 Senate Chamber means the space that
encompasses the Senate Floor and Galleries.
2.5 Senate Floor means the floor of the Senate
Chamber.
2.6 Senate Lobby means the hallway space
adjoining the Senate Chamber to the Marble Room.
2.7 Sergeant at Arms means the Sergeant at Arms
of the Senate.
150.3 3.0 Sergeant At Arms Chamber And Galleries Duties--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
Chamber and Galleries.
3.1 The Senate Floor shall be at all times
under the Sergeant at Arms' immediate supervision,
and the Sergeant at Arms shall see that the various
subordinate officers of the Office of the Sergeant
at Arms perform the duties to which they are
especially assigned.
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3.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall see that the
messengers assigned to the doors upon the Senate
Floor are at their posts and that the Senate Floor,
Cloakrooms, and Senate Lobby are cleared at least
five minutes before the opening of daily sessions of
all persons not entitled to remain there.
3.3 In the absence of the Sergeant at Arms the
duties of the office, so far as they pertain to the
enforcement of the rules, shall devolve upon the
Deputy Sergeant at Arms.
150.4 4.0 Messengers Acting as Assistant Doorkeepers--The
messengers acting as Assistant Doorkeepers shall be assigned
to their duties by the Sergeant at Arms.
150.5 5.0 Assignment of 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.
150.6 6.0 Use of the Senate Chamber--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 other than the chair assigned,
no other persons shall seat anyone in a chair of a Senator;
and lectures, talks, or speeches shall not be given at such
times to groups on the Senate Floor by Senators or others
except for the purpose of explaining the Chamber.
150.7 7.0 Use of the Marble Room--No persons shall be
admitted to the Marble Room except Senators.
150.8 8.0 Use of the Cloakrooms--No persons shall be admitted
to the Cloakrooms except those entitled to the privileges of
the Senate Floor under the Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.
150.9 9.0 Use of the Senate Lobby--No persons shall be
admitted to the Senate Lobby except those entitled to the
privileges of the Senate Floor under the Rule XXIII of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
150.10 10.0 Use of Display Materials in the Senate Chamber--
Graphic displays in the Senate Chamber are limited to
charts, photographs, or renderings:
10.1 Size--No larger than 36 inches by 48
inches.
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10.2 Where--On an easel stand next to the
Senator's desk or at the rear of the Chamber.
10.3 When--Only at the time the Senator is
engaged in debate.
10.4 Number--No more than two may be displayed
at a time.
150.11 11.0 Solicitation and Commercial Activities
Prohibited--No persons shall carry out any of the following
activities in the Senate Chamber and Galleries: offer or
expose any article for sale; display a sign, placard, or
other form of advertisement; or solicit fares, alms,
subscriptions, or contributions.
150.12 12.0 Legislative Buzzers and Signal Lights--The system
of legislative buzzers and signal lights, which correspond
with rings if available, shall be as follows:
12.1 Pre-session signals:
12.1.1 One long ring at hour of convening.
12.1.2 One red light to remain lighted at all
times while Senate is in actual session.
12.2 Session signals:
12.2.1 One ring-Yeas and nays.
12.2.2 Two rings-quorum call.
12.2.3 Three rings-Call of absentees.
12.2.4 Four rings-Adjournment or recess. (End
of daily session.)
12.2.5 Five rings-Seven and a half minutes
remaining on yea and nay vote.
12.2.6 Morning business concluded-Six rings.
Lights cut off immediately.
12.2.7 Recess during daily session-Six rings.
Lights stay on during period of recess.
150.13 13.0 Taking of Pictures Prohibited; Use of Mechanical
Equipment in Chamber--
13.1 The taking of pictures of any kind is
prohibited in the Senate Chamber, the Marble Room,
the Senate Lobby, and the Senate Cloakrooms;
however,
13.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall be authorized
to admit into the spaces defined in 13.1 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.
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150.14 14.0 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. The Sergeant at Arms 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; the Sergeant at Arms 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 the
Sergeant at Arms shall not permit any person to read (except
the Senate seating diagram) or to write or take notes
(except credentialed employees of the Senate when taking
notes in the course of their employment); the Sergeant at
Arms shall not permit any person to take any picture or
photograph or to sketch or draw; the Sergeant at Arms 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 person to wear a hat,
except that where a person's religious beliefs require that
person wear a head-cover in such public places as the Senate
Gallery, then such head-cover shall be permitted; and the
Sergeant at Arms shall not allow any person to lean forward
over the railings or to place hands thereon.
14.1 The galleries of the Senate shall be set
apart and occupied as follows:
14.1.1 Gallery 1--the gallery above the
northeastern corner of the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as the Staff Gallery, is reserved for
the use of credentialed employees of the Senate.
14.1.2 Gallery 2--the gallery above the
eastern entrance to the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as the Family Gallery, is reserved for
the exclusive use of the families of Senators,
former Presidents of the United States, and
incumbent Secretary and Sergeant at Arms of the
Senate.
14.1.2.1 The first two rows of the gallery
are reserved for the spouses and other members of
the immediate families of Senators.
14.1.2.2 The remainder of the gallery is
reserved for 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
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former Presidents of the United States, as well as
families of incumbent Secretary and Sergeant at Arms
of the Senate.
14.1.3 Gallery 3--the gallery over the
southeastern corner of the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as a Public Gallery, is reserved for the
use of persons holding a card issued by a Senator.
14.1.3.1 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.
14.1.3.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall in the
Sergeant at Arms' discretion limit occupancy of the
public galleries to such periods as may be required
to accommodate with reasonable expediency all card
bearers who are seeking admission.
14.1.4 Gallery 4--the gallery between Gallery
3 and Gallery 5 on the south side of the Senate
Chamber, commonly referred to as the
Representatives' Gallery, is reserved for the use of
Members of Congress of the House of Representatives
and their guests.
14.1.5 Gallery 5--the gallery over the
southern main entrance to the Senate Chamber,
commonly referred to as the Presidential and
Diplomatic Gallery, is reserved 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 Senators.
14.1.5.1 The first row on the eastern side
of this gallery shall be set apart for the use of
the President of the United States.
14.1.5.2 The second row on the eastern side
of this gallery shall be set apart for the use of
the Vice President of the United States.
14.1.5.3 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.
14.1.6 Gallery 6--the gallery between Gallery
5 and Gallery 7 on the south side of the Senate
Chamber, commonly referred to as a Public Gallery,
is reserved for the use of large guided tours and
other special parties.
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14.1.7 Gallery 7--the gallery over the
southwest corner of the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as the Accessible Gallery, is reserved
for the use of any guest, especially those who wish
to avoid stairs, and those who would like to view
closed captioning television, or use an assisted
listening device.
14.1.8 Gallery 8--the gallery over the west
entrance to the Senate Chamber, commonly referred to
as a Public Gallery, is reserved for the use of
persons holding a card issued by a Senator.
14.1.8.1 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.
14.1.8.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall in the
Sergeant at Arms' discretion limit occupancy of the
public galleries to such periods as may be required
to accommodate with reasonable expediency all card
bearers who are seeking admission.
14.1.9 Gallery 9--the gallery over the
northwest corner of the Senate Chamber, commonly
referred to as a Public Gallery, is reserved for the
use of persons holding a card issued by a Senator.
14.1.9.1 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.
14.1.9.2 The Sergeant at Arms shall in the
Sergeant at Arms' discretion limit occupancy of the
public galleries to such periods as may be required
to accommodate with reasonable expediency all card
bearers who are seeking admission.
14.1.10 Gallery 10--the gallery above the
Senate Floor dais on the north side of the Senate
Chamber including the front row of Gallery 1 and the
front row of Gallery 9, commonly referred to as the
Media Gallery, is reserved for the exclusive use of
the Press Gallery, Radio and Television
Correspondents Gallery, Periodical Press Gallery,
and Press Photographers' Gallery.
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150.15 15.0 Use of the Media Gallery--Gallery 10, the Media
Gallery shall be further set apart and occupied as follows:
15.1 Press Gallery--The gallery in the rear of
the Vice President's chair shall be set apart for
reporters of daily newspapers.
15.1.1 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-numbered years and two in even-
numbered years. Elections shall be held in January.
The committee shall elect its own chair and
secretary. Vacancies on the committee shall be
filled by special election to be called by the
Standing Committee.
15.1.2 Persons desiring admission to
the Press Gallery in the Senate wing shall
make application in accordance with Rule
XXXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate,
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.
15.1.3 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:
15.1.3.1 That the person's principal income
is obtained from news correspondence intended for
publication in newspapers entitled to second-class
mailing privileges.
15.1.3.2 That the person is not engaged in
paid publicity or promotion work or in prosecuting
any claim before Congress or before any department
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of the Government, and will not become so engaged
while a member of the Press Gallery.
15.1.3.3 That the person is not engaged in
any lobbying activity and will not become so engaged
while a member of the Press Gallery.
15.1.4 Members of the families of
correspondents are not entitled to the privileges of
the Press Gallery.
15.1.5 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.
15.2 Radio and Television Correspondents
Gallery--The front row of Gallery 1 shall be set
apart for the use of the radio-television
correspondents.
15.2.1 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 Senate, as required
by Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate;
and shall also state, in writing, the names of all
radio stations, television stations, systems, or
newsgathering 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.
15.2.2 It shall be prerequisite to membership
that the radio station, television station, system,
or newsgathering agencies which the applicants
represent shall certify, in writing, to the Radio
and Tele
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vision Correspondents Gallery that the applicants
conform to the foregoing regulations.
15.2.3 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 newsgathering 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.
15.2.4 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 news for radio
stations, television stations, systems, or
newsgathering 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 newsgathering agencies
engaged in the daily service of news to such radio
stations, television stations, or systems.
15.2.5 Members of the families of
correspondents are not entitled to the privileges of
the gallery.
15.2.6 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.
15.3 Periodical Press Gallery - The front row
of Gallery 9 shall be set aside for the use of the
periodical press.
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15.3.1 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 buying 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.
15.3.2 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
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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.
15.3.3 Members of the families of
correspondents are not entitled to the privileges of
the gallery.
15.3.4 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.
15.3.5 Under the authority of Rule XXIII of
the Standing Rules 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 Congressional Directory
shall be a list only of members of the Periodical
Correspondents' Association.
15.4 Press Photographer's Gallery--
15.4.1 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, Reuters
News Pictures or AFP Photos, magazine media, local
newspapers, agency or freelance member, and one at-
large member. The at-large member may be, but need
not be, selected from a media otherwise represented
on the Committee, however no organization may have
more than one representative on the Committee.
15.4.2 The term of office of a member of the
Committee elected as the Associated Press Photos
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member, the local newspaper member, and the Reuters
News Pictures or AFP Photos member shall expire on
the day of the election held in the first odd-
numbered year following the year in which the person
was elected, and the term of office of a member of
the Committee elected as the magazine media member,
the agency or freelance member and the at-large
member shall expire on the day of the election held
in the first even-numbered year following the year
in which the person was elected. 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.
15.4.2.1 Election for the Reuters News
Picture or AFP photos seat was held in 1999.
15.4.2.2 Election for the agency or
freelance seat was held in 2000.
15.4.3 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.
15.4.4 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.
15.4.5 Persons desiring admission to the
Press Photographers' Gallery of the Senate shall
make application in accordance Rule XXIII of the
Standing Rules 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.
15.4.6 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
heads of Photographic Bureaus under such rules as
the Standing Committee of Press Photographers shall
prescribe.
15.4.7 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:
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15.4.7.1 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.
15.4.7.2 That the person is not engaged in
any lobbying activity and will not become so engaged
while a member of the gallery.