A Manual of Parliamentary Practice SEC. XL: Bills, Third Reading
by Thomas Jefferson
To prevent bills from being passed
by surprise, the House, by a standing order, directs that they shall not be put
on their passage before a fixed hour, naming one at which the House is commonly
full. Hakew. 153.
The usage of the Senate is not to put bills on their passage till noon.
A bill reported and passed to the third reading cannot on that day be read
the third time and passed. Because this would be to pass on two readings in the
same day.
At the third reading, the clerk reads the bill and delivers it to the
Speaker, who states the title, that it is the third time of reading the bill,
and that the question will be whether it shall pass? Formerly, the Speaker, or
those who prepared a bill, prepared also a breviate or summary statement of its
contents, which the Speaker read when he declared the state of the bill, at the
several readings. Sometimes however, he read the bill itself, especially on its
passage. Hakew. 136, 137, 153. Coke 22, 115. Latterly, instead of this,
he, at the third reading, states the whole contents of the bill verbatim, only
instead of reading the formal parts, "Be it enacted, &c." he states that
"the preamble recites so and so.... the 1st section enacts that, &c. the 2d
section enacts, &c."
But in the Senate of the United States, both of these formalities are
dispensed with; the breviate presenting but an imperfect view of the bill, and
being capable of being made to present a false one: and the full statement being
an useless waste of time, immediately after a full reading by the clerk; and
especially as every member has a printed copy in his hand.
A bill on the third reading, is not to be committed for the matter or body
thereof; but to receive some particular clause or proviso, it hath been
sometimes suffered, but as a thing very unusual. Hakew. 156. thus 27
El. 1584. a bill was committed on the third reading, having been formerly
committed on the second, but is declared not usual. D'Ewes 337. col. 2,
414, col. 2.
When an essential provision has been omitted, rather than erase the bill,
and render it suspicious, they add a clause on a separate paper, engrossed and
called a ryder, which is read and put to the question three times.Elsynge'sMemorials 59. 6 Grey 335. 1 Blackst. 183.
For examples of ryders see 3 Hats. 121, 122, 124, 126. Every one is at
liberty to bring in a ryder without asking leave. 10 Grey 52.
It is laid down as a general rule, that amendments proposed at the second
reading shall be twice read, and those proposed at the third reading thrice
read; as also all amendments from the other House. Town. col. 19, 23, 24, 25,
26, 27, 28.
It is with great, and almost invincible reluctance, that amendments are
admitted at this reading, which occasion erasures or interlineations. Sometimes
a proviso has been cut off from a bill; sometimes erased. 9 Grey 513.
This is the proper stage for filling up blanks; for if filled up before, and
now altered by erasure, it would be peculiarly unsafe.
At his reading the bill is debated afresh, and for the most part is more
spoken to, at this time, than on any of the former readings. Hakew. 153.
The debate on the question whether it should be read a third time? has
discovered to its friends and opponents the arguments on which each side relies,
and which of these appear to have influence with the House; they have had time
to meet them with new arguments, and to put their old ones into new shapes. The
former vote has tried the strength of the first opinion and furnished grounds to
estimate the issue; and the question now offered for its passage, is the last
occasion which is ever to be offered for carrying or rejecting it.
When the debate is ended, the Speaker, holding the bill in his hand, puts the
question for its passage, by saying, "Gentlemen, all you who are of opinion that
this bill shall pass, say aye," and after the answer of the ayes, "All those of
the contrary opinion say no." Hakew. 154.
After the bill is passed, there can be no further alteration of it in any
point. Hakew. 159.
