Order Code RL30725
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
The First Day of a New Congress:
A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor
November 1, 2000
Mildred Amer
Specialist in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

---

The First Day of a New Congress:
A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor
Summary
This report focuses on the floor activities of the House during its first formal
session in a new Congress, and serves as a guide for participating in or watching those
proceedings.
The House is not a continuing body. It ends at the conclusion of each two-year
Congress and must reconstitute itself at the beginning of the next Congress. Article
1, Section 2 of the Constitution sets terms for Members of the House at two years.
The House must choose its Speaker and officers and determine the chamber’s internal
rules every two years.
The Constitution mandates that the Congress convene at noon on January 3,
unless it has earlier passed a law designating a different day. Although no officers
have been elected when the House first convenes, some officers from the previous
Congress perform certain functions.
The House follows a well-established first day routine of electing and swearing
in the Speaker, administering the oath of office to its Members, as well as electing and
swearing in its administrative officers, and adopting its rules of procedure. It also
establishes its daily hour of meeting.
On opening day, the House usually adopts resolutions assigning its Members to
serve on committees. This process usually extends throughout January and often for
several more weeks. The committee assignment process occurs primarily within the
party groups—the Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus. Assignments
cannot be considered on the House floor until both of these groups have adopted rules
governing committee assignments.
Other routine organizational business may also be taken up on the House floor
on the first day. The Speaker usually announces his policies on certain floor practices,
a resolution is adopted providing for a joint session of Congress to receive the
President's State of the Union Message, and often, a resolution is adopted to allow
a judge or a Member of Congress to administer the oath of office to Members-elect
who are absent due to illness or other reasons.
Some resolutions on opening day are dependent on specific circumstances and
do not occur at the beginning of each new Congress. In inaugural years, the House
must adopt a resolution to authorize the use of the Capitol for the inauguration
activities. At the outset of a new Congress following a presidential election, the
House must also adopt a resolution providing for the counting of electoral votes for
the President and Vice President of the United States by the new Congress.

---

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
The House Convenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Election of the Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Swearing In of the Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Oath of Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Announcement of Party Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Election of Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Notification to Other Body and to President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Adoption of House Rules of Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Daily Meeting Time for the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Committee Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Other First-Day Floor Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

---

The First Day of a New Congress:
A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor
Introduction
The House of Representatives follows a well established routine on the opening
day of a new Congress. The proceedings include election of the Speaker, swearing in
its members, election of administrative officers, and adoption of rules of procedure.
Also, resolutions assigning its members to committees may be adopted.
The House must take these actions at the beginning of each new Congress
because it is not a continuing body. Article 1, Section 2 of Constitution sets terms for
Members of the House at two years. Thus, the House ends at the conclusion of each
two-year Congress and must reconstitute itself at the beginning of a new Congress.1
The House Convenes
The Constitution mandates that a new Congress convene at noon on January 3
each odd numbered year unless it has earlier passed a law designating a different day.
For example, the 104th Congress convened on January 4, 1995, the 105th Congress
convened on January 7, 1997, and the 106th convened on January 6, 1999. The 107th
Congress, however, is scheduled to convene on January 3, 2001. Although no
officers have been elected when the House first convenes, some officers from the
previous Congress perform certain functions. The previous clerk of the House calls
the House to order and presides over the chamber until the Speaker is sworn in. In
the absence of the clerk, the sergeant-at-arms performs this duty.2
The chaplain offers a prayer and the Members-elect and their guests recite the
Pledge of Allegiance. The clerk then directs a reading clerk to call the roll of all
Members-elect to establish that a quorum is present. In current practice, the roll is
not actually called by a clerk, the Members-elect record their presence by inserting
their official voting cards (obtained prior to opening day) in the chamber’s electronic
voting machines. Once the call of the roll is completed, a majority having answered
1 For information on convening of the House, see William Holmes Brown, “Assembly of
Congress,” in House Practice, A Guide to the Rules, Precedents, and Procedures of the
House of Representatives (Washington: GPO, 1996), pp. 153-159. For information on
organizational meetings held prior to the formal start of a new Congress, see: U.S. Library of
Congress, Congressional Research Service, Congress’ Early Organizational Meetings, by
Judy Schneider, CRS Report 96-657 GOV (Washington: July 30, 1996).
2 See House Rule II, clause 2, Sec. 641 in Charles W. Johnson, Constitution, Jefferson’s
Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives. H. Doc. 105-358, 105th Cong., 2nd sess.
(Washington: GPO, 1999).

---

CRS-2
to their names, a quorum (218) is proved present. This action fulfills the requirements
of Article I of the Constitution that no business be conducted by the House without
a quorum being present. The clerk then announces the election of the Resident
Commissioner from Puerto Rico (when applicable), the Delegates (one each) from the
District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa,3 and
reports any deaths or resignations since the election.4
A quorum being present, the first order of official business is the election of the
presiding officer, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.5
Election of the Speaker
The candidates for Speaker are nominated from the floor by the chairs of their
party groups.6 Traditionally, there is one candidate from the majority party and one
from the minority party, selected by the Republican Conference and the Democratic
Caucus, respectively, at their early organizational meetings. Debate on the
nomination of candidates for Speaker is allowed but not customary.7 Instead, the
nominations are followed immediately by a viva voce roll call vote—that is, a vote in
which the Members-elect respond orally to the calling of their names. In this vote,
the Members-elect call out the last name of their choice for Speaker when their name
is called by the clerk. The clerk appoints Members-elect to serve as majority and
minority tellers, usually two each, to ascertain the vote.8 The majority party is able
to assure the election of its candidate because the vote is usually along straight party
lines.9 The candidates, however, customarily vote “present.”10
3 The Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico serves a four-year term.
4 The clerk [Jeffrey J. Trandahl], “Resignation As Member of the House of Representatives,”
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, p. H2.
5 For more information on the Speaker, see: U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional
Research Service, The Speaker of the House: House Officer, Party Leader, and
Representative, by James V. Saturno, CRS Report 97-780 (Washington: Dec. 22, 1999).
See also House Rule I.
6 Although the Speaker has always been a Member of the House, this is not a requirement.
At the commencement of the 105th Congress, in addition to the two party nominees, two
former Members as well as another Member received votes for Speaker.
7 At the commencement of the 105th Congress, the chair of the Democratic Caucus rose to “a
question of the highest constitutional privilege” to offer a resolution calling for the
postponement of the election of the Speaker until the completion of a pending investigation.
His resolution proposed the election of an interim Speaker, but the motion was tabled. See
Rep. Vic Fazio, remarks in the House, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 143, Jan. 7,
1997, pp. H2-H3.
8 Tellers are Members or clerks who count votes cast on the House floor. Vote totals are
announced but not the vote of individual Members.
9 Note that the Independent Members usually vote for one of the party candidates for Speaker.
10 In the 105th Congress, one Member who received a vote for Speaker cast his vote for a
former Member of the House.

---

CRS-3
ELECTION OF SPEAKER11
The following excerpts are the proceedings for the election of the Speaker in the
106th Congress.
The CLERK. Pursuant to law and to precedent, the next order of business is the
election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 106th Congress.
Nominations are now in order.
The Clerk recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. WATTS).
Mr. WATTS. Mr. Clerk, ... As Chairman of the Republican Conference, I am
directed by the unanimous vote of that conference to present for election to the
Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 106th Congress, the
name of the Honorable J. DENNIS HASTERT, a Representative-elect from the
State of Illinois.
The CLERK. The Clerk now recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. FROST).
Mr. FROST. Mr. Clerk, as Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed
by the unanimous vote of that caucus to present for election to the office of the
Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 106th Congress ... the Honorable
RICHARD A. GEPHARDT, a Representative-elect from the State of Missouri.
The CLERK. The Honorable J. DENNIS HASTERT, a Representative-elect from
the State of Illinois, and the Honorable RICHARD A. GEPHARDT, a
Representative-elect from the State of Missouri, have been placed in nomination.
Are there any further nominations?
There being no further nominations, the Clerk will appoint tellers.
The Clerk appoints the gentleman from California (Mr. THOMAS), the gentleman
from Connecticut (Mr. GEJDENSON), the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs.
ROUKEMA), and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. KAPTUR).
The tellers will come forward and take their seats at the desk in front of the
Speaker's rostrum.
The roll will now be called, and those responding to their names will indicate by
surname the nominee of their choice.
The reading clerk will now call the roll.
The tellers having taken their places, the House proceeded to vote for the
Speaker.12
11 All excerpts are taken from the Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999,
pp. H2-H4.
12 Prior to the voting for Speaker in the 106th Congress, a parliamentary inquiry was made by
(continued...)

---

CRS-4
The CLERK. The tellers agree in their tallies that the total number of votes cast
is 427, of which the Honorable J. DENNIS HASTERT of the State of Illinois has
received 222, and the Honorable RICHARD A. GEPHARDT of the State of
Missouri has received 205, with two voting present.
Therefore, the Honorable J. DENNIS HASTERT of the State of Illinois is duly
elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 106th Congress, having
received a majority of all votes cast.
Swearing In of the Speaker
Next, the newly elected Speaker, escorted by leaders of both parties and often
Representatives-elect from his home state, is introduced to the chamber by the
minority leader, who first delivers a short statement from the chair. The Speaker
responds with a statement of his own and then takes the oath of office.13 By
precedent, the “dean” of the House, the most senior (longest-serving) Member
(regardless of party), administers the oath to the Speaker on the dais. His oath is
identical to that of the other Members.14
Oath of Office
After taking the oath, the Speaker administers the following oath of office to all
Members of the House, en masse, including the non-voting Delegates and Resident
Commissioner:
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the
duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
This oath is mandated by Article VI of the Constitution and its text is set by statute
(5 U.S.C., §3331).
Occasionally, the swearing in of a Member-elect is delayed. When this happens,
the Member-elect is sworn in at a later date in the House chamber or elsewhere by
someone designated by the Speaker. When the oath is not administered in the House
chamber, it is usually given by other Members or judges to Representatives-elect not
able to appear in person in the House. The locations have often been at other sites
12 (...continued)
the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and another Member-elect about the Delegates
in the House being allowed to cast ballots for Speaker. The clerk announced, however, that
“Representatives-elect are the only individuals qualified to vote in the election of the
Speaker.”
13 In the 106th Congress, the Speaker broke with tradition and delivered his remarks from the
floor of the House rather than the dais. See Rep. Dennis Hastert, remarks in the House,
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, pp. H4-H5.
14 Representative John Dingell (D-MI) was the dean of the House in the 106th Congress.

---

CRS-5
in Washington or other parts of the country. This has happened several times in
recent years.15
Sometimes, the swearing in of a Member-elect is challenged. When this happens,
the Speaker, pursuant to House precedents, will ask this Member-elect to remain
seated while the others are sworn in. The House then determines the disposition of
the challenge.16
Announcement of Party Leaders17
After the Speaker administers the oath of office, he receives reports from the
chairmen of the two party organizations, the Republican Conference and the
Democratic Caucus, who announce their parties’ choices for majority and minority
Leaders.
MAJORITY LEADER
Mr. WATTS. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Republican Conference, I am
directed by that conference to notify the House officially that the Republican
Members have selected as their majority leader the gentleman from Texas, the
Honorable RICHARD K. ARMEY.
15 In the 104th Congress, Representative J.C. Watts of Oklahoma took his oath of office on
January 9, 1995, in the House chamber. See The Speaker [Rep. Newt Gingrich], “Swearing
In of the Honorable J.C. Watts,” Congressional Record, vol. 141, Jan. 9, 1995, p. 842. In
the 105th Congress, the swearing in of Representatives-elect Frank Tejeda of Texas and Julia
Carson of Indiana were delayed because of illness. Representative Tejeda was sworn in
January 8, 1997, and Representative Carson on January 9, 1997. Both were sworn in by
Federal judges outside Washington. See Rep. Richard Gephardt, “Authorizing the Speaker
or His Deputy to Administer the Oath to the Honorable Frank Tejeda and the Honorable Julia
Carson,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 143, Jan. 7, 1997, p. H29. In the 106th
Congress, two ill Representatives, George Miller, and Sam Farr, were sworn in at their
California homes by judges on January 7, 1999, and January 8, 1999, respectively.
Representatives Elton Gallegly and Fortney Stark of California and Alan Mollohan of West
Virginia took the oath of office on January 19, 1999, in the House Chamber. See Rep. Robert
Menendez, “Authorizing the Speaker or His Deputy to Administer the Oath of Office to the
Honorable George Miller and the Honorable Sam Farr of California,” Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, pp. H217-H218, and The Speaker [J. Dennis Hastert],
“Swearing in of Members-Elect,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 19,
1999, p. H247
16 This last occurred on January 3, 1985, when the seating of Member-elect Richard McIntyre
of the Eighth Congressional District of Indiana was challenged. In that incident, the House
adopted a resolution referring the challenge to the House Administration Committee for
further examination. The Member-elect’s opponent, Frank McCloskey, was ultimately seated.
See: William Holmes Brown, “Assembly of Congress,” pp. 459-463, and Rep. James Wright,
“Referring Election of a Member from the Eighth Congressional District Of Indiana to the
Committee on House Administration,” Congressional Record, vol. 131, Jan. 3, 1985, pp.
381-388.
17 The excerpts are taken from the Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6,
1999, p. H6.

---

CRS-6
MINORITY LEADER
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I have been
directed to report to the House that the Democratic Members have selected as
minority leader the gentleman from Missouri, the Honorable RICHARD A.
GEPHARDT.
The chairmen then announce the names of those elected to serve as majority and
minority whip. The whips are the assistant floor leaders.
Election of Officers
Next, the House turns to the election of its administrative officers: chief
administrative officer, chaplain, clerk, and sergeant at arms.18 The resolution
nominating the slate of candidates is offered by the chairman of the conference of the
majority party. The minority party proposes its own roster of candidates as an
amendment to the majority party’s resolution. By tradition, neither the resolution nor
the amendment are debated, although the slate can be divided with a separate vote on
any or all officers.19 Again, however, because of their numerical advantage, the
majority is able to defeat the minority substitute, and to adopt the resolution naming
its chosen candidates. Then the Speaker administers the oath to the newly elected
officers.
Notification to Other Body and to President
The House then considers resolutions which formally notify the Senate and the
President that it has elected its leaders, is assembled, and is ready to receive messages
from them. Subsequently, the majority and minority leaders and clerk of the House,
as well as two Senators (usually the majority and minority leaders), appointed by the
Vice President, telephone the President with the news that the Congress is ready to
begin its work.
Adoption of House Rules of Procedure
The next order of business is the adoption of the rules of the House. Although
the rules of one Congress are not binding on the next, the House usually approves its
rules by adopting en bloc the rules of the previous Congress with amendments.
Normally, prior to the first day of a new Congress, task forces of both the majority
and the minority party have worked on any changes they wish to implement in the
House’s standing rules. The majority party’s rules package has always prevailed.
18 In the 102nd Congress, the office of postmaster was abolished and that of doorkeeper was
abolished in the 104th Congress. Their duties have been assumed by other officers.
19 Rep. John Boehner, “Election of Clerk of the House, Sergeant Arms, and Chaplain,”
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 143, Jan. 7, 1997, p. H7, and Rep. J.C. Watts,
“Election of Clerk of the House, Sergeant Arms, and Chaplain,” Congressional Record, daily
edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, p. H6.

---

CRS-7
In the 104th Congress, with a change in party control for the first time in some
40 years, there were major changes in the House rules.20 These included term limits
for the Speaker (no more than four consecutive Congresses) as well as for committee
and subcommittee chairs (no more than three consecutive Congresses). A ban on
proxy voting in committees and subcommittees was also adopted. In addition, the
House modified its sunshine rules to provide for more open committee sessions; voted
to require a three-fifths majority vote for all tax increases; mandated a comprehensive
House audit and other administrative reforms; and abolished some committees,
renamed others, and consolidated jurisdictions.21
In the 105th Congress, the House approved a more modest rules package.22
Included was a provision allowing the incumbent members of the House Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct to finish a pending investigation by serving on a
temporary Select Committee on Ethics through January 21, 1997. The new rules also
prohibited the distribution of campaign contributions on the House floor, provided for
the development of a system of drug testing for Members, officers, and employees,
clarified voting on increases in income tax rates, and required non-governmental
agencies testifying before House Committees to provide a list of federal grants and
contracts received in the past three years. In addition, the name of the Committee on
Economic and Educational Opportunities was changed to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce.23
At the commencement of the 106th Congress, the House adopted its rules in a
recodified, substantially revised format.24 This was the first comprehensive revision
of its rules since 1880, and the number of rules was cut nearly in half. Included in the
rules changes were provisions to encourage committees to plan oversight activities
before the convening of a new Congress, establishment of a limit of six subcommittees
for committees that maintain an oversight committee, and two ethics-related changes.
One requires committee consultants to abide by the Code of Official Conduct and the
other conforms House rules to the Supreme Court decision relating to honoraria.
In addition, the names of three committees were changed. The House Oversight
Committee was renamed the Committee on House Administration, the Committee on
Government Reform and Oversight was renamed the Committee on Government
20 Rep. Richard Armey, “Rules of the House.” Congressional Record, vol. 141, Jan. 4,
1995, pp. 462-530.
21 For more information see, U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service,
Committee System: Rules Changes in the House, 104th Congress, by Judy Schneider, CRS
Report 95-187 GOV (Washington: Jan. 24, 1995).
22 Rep. Richard Armey, “Rules of the House,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 143,
Jan. 7, 1997, pp. H8-H27.
23 For more information see, U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service,
Committee System: Rules Changes in the House, 105th Congress, by Judy Schneider, CRS
Report 97-138 GOV (Washington: Jan. 23, 1997).
24 Rep. Richard Armey, “Rules of the House,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145,
Jan. 6, 1999, pp. H6-H207.

---

CRS-8
Reform, and the Committee on National Security was renamed the Committee on
Armed Services.25
Before the adoption of its rules, the House operates under general parliamentary
law as modified by certain traditional House rules and practices.26 This has been
interpreted to mean the rules of the House applicable in the previous Congress.
Pursuant to this principle, the one-hour rule of debate is utilized. In the one hour of
debate controlled by the majority party to discuss its rules package, the minority uses
its share of the time to discuss its own alternative proposal. However, the minority
substitute is never formally offered.
The majority party offers a motion for the previous question at the end of the one
hour of debate on their own package. Their numerical advantage assures the adoption
of that motion. Its effect is to force an immediate vote on the question of final
passage of their own pending rules package. Therefore, any opportunity on the part
of the minority to offer an amendment is precluded.
Again, in accordance with the principle that the rules of the House in the last
Congress apply generally, the minority party is given the right to offer a motion to
commit the rules package to committee for further examination. While that motion
traditionally loses, it does give the minority party the opportunity to include
“instructions” to the committee for changes in the text of the proposed rules. These
instructions are, in essence, an amendment, which typically contains selected portions
of the minority’s rules package. The outcome, however, remains certain: the majority
party rules prevail.
Daily Meeting Time for the House
The House establishes its daily hour of meeting by a resolution which must be
renewed each session of Congress. The resolution is normally offered by the
chairman of the House Rules Committee.
25 For more information see, U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service,
Committee System: Rules Changes in the House, 106th Congress, by Judy Schneider, CRS
Report RS20017 (Washington: Jan. 22, 1999).
26 For a summary of the procedures the House follows in the brief period of time it is in
session to the formal adoption of its own rules, see William Holmes Brown, “Assembly of
Congress,” pp. 157-158.

---

CRS-9
Committee Organization
The committee assignment process occurs largely within the party groups—the
Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus. The only action visible on the
chamber floor is the adoption of resolutions which implement the committee
nominations agreed upon by the conference and the caucus. The adoption of both
resolutions is routine and occurs without amendment, because of the tacit
understanding that each party has a right to establish its own internal distribution of
work without amendment from the other.
Committee assignments cannot be considered on the House floor until both the
Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus have adopted their own rules
governing committee assignments. The House takes up some of the assignment
resolutions on opening day, but their consideration extends throughout January and
often for several additional weeks.
For the 106th Congress, the majority party’s resolution (H.Res. 6) and the
minority party’s resolution (H.Res. 7) designating committee chairmen and committee
assignments were adopted on the first day, January 6, 1999.27 In addition, on the
opening day of the 106th Congress, the House approved H.Res. 8, committee
assignments for the one Independent Member of the House as requested by the
chairman of the Democratic Caucus.28 Remaining committee assignment resolutions
were acted on through March.
Other First-Day Floor Actions
Other routine organizational business may be taken up on the House floor on the
first day. For example, the Speaker customarily announces his policies with respect
to certain floor practices for the duration of the Congress. Resolutions are often
adopted designating certain minority party employees to special pay status, providing
for a joint session of Congress to receive the President’s State of the Union message,
and providing for conditional adjournments of the House. Resolutions of condolence
on the death of any Member subsequent to the last Congress may also be considered.
Some resolutions are dependent on specific circumstances and do not occur on
the first day of every new Congress. For example, following a presidential election,
the House must adopt a resolution providing for the counting of electoral votes for
the President and Vice President by the new Congress, continue the Joint
27 Rep. J.C. Watts, “Election of Majority Members to Certain Standing Committees of the
House,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 9, 1999, p. H207, and Rep.
Martin Frost, “Election of Minority Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioner to
Certain Standing Committees of the House,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145,
Jan. 6, 1999, pp. H207-H208. Note also that the Speaker subsequently announced the
majority members of the Select Committee on Intelligence. See Rep. J. Dennis Hastert,
“Appointment of Members of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,”
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, p. H221.
28 Rep. Martin Frost, “Election of Minority Member to Certain Standing Committees of the
House,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, p. H208.

---

CRS-10
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and authorize the use of the
Capitol for inaugural activities.29
On the first day of the 106th Congress, the House adopted a resolution (H.Res.
10) appointing the authorizing managers and implementing the necessary procedures
for the impeachment trial of the President.30
After the House has completed its initial organizational proceedings, it may then
turn to the routine business which normally completes its legislative day. These
include the introduction of bills and resolutions, the receipt of messages from the
President, and one-minute and special order speeches.
29 Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 143, Jan. 7, 1997, pp. H28-H29.
30 Rep Henry Hyde, “Providing for Certain Appointments and Procedures Relating to the
Impeachment Proceedings,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 145, Jan. 6, 1999, pp.
H211-H217.

---