Chapter LXXVI: Section XL: Bills--Third Reading

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,” etc., he states that “preamble recites so and so--the first section enacts that, etc.; the second section enacts,” etc.

[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 a 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 has been sometimes suffered, but as a thing very unusual. _Hakew._, 126. Thus, _27 El._, 1584, a bill was committed on the third reading, having been formally committed on the second, but it 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 rider, which is read and put to the question three times. _Elsynge’s Memorials_, 59; 6 _Grey_, 335; 1 _Blackst._, 183. For examples of riders, see 3 _Hats._, 121, 122, 124, 126. Every one is at liberty to bring in a rider 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 this 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 former 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 of 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.