House of Representatives Quotes

It is a breach of order in debate to notice what has been said on the same subject in the other House, or the particular votes or majorities on it there, because the opinion of each house should be left to its own independency, not to be influenced by the proceedings of the other; and the quoting them might beget reflections leading to a misunderstanding between the two Houses.

As all Members of Parliament know, the ease and flow of making a speech outside the House is not at all the same as that required in the Chamber.

Seldom does a member of either party have to be called down for inappropriate behavior on the House floor.

We demand that the House of Representatives shall again become a deliberative body, controlled by the majority of the people's Representatives and not be the Speaker ...

I've served under six Speakers of the House and each of them has had difficulty in administering the House.

The essence of debate in Parliament is spontaneous.

When a Speaker of the House can wield such power that he can "create" a new legislative day with the flick of his gavel ..., something is wrong.

No member ought to be compelled to go to another man, his equal and no more, a representative of a constituency no whit superior to his own, and ask for the poor privilege of calling his measure to the attention of the House.

Mr. Speaker, having received unanimous consent to extend my remarks in the RECORD, I would like to indicate that I am not really speaking these words. Try as I might, I could not get the floor to deliver my plea on behalf of the coal miners.... I do not want to kid anybody into thinking that I am now on my feet delivering a stirring oration. As a matter of fact, I am back in my office typing this out on my own hot little typewriter. Such is the pretense of the House that it would have been just as easy to quietly include these remarks in the RECORD, issue a brave press release, and convince thousands of cheering constituents that I was in there every step of the way, influencing the course of history in the heat of debate.

... a consolidation of unchecked and despotic power in the House of Representatives ...

Parliamentarian rules, the rules of the House, how you get bills referred, really the nuts and bolts that most members don't ever want to know because it's a lot of work. But that's what really makes you successful.

The House of Representatives eliminated the filibuster way back in the 19th century, and somehow it managed to survive.

It is important that the decorum and dignity of the House is upheld at all times. The image of Parliament in the public mind should be one where proceedings, debates and discussions take place with a view to resolve issues through a constructive and co-operative approach.

I have serious doubts about the value of debates in a presidential election. They tend to be a test of reaction time rather than a genuine exposition of the participants' philosophies and programs

This shuffling trick of misstating the question, and setting up a man of straw to make a pompous demonstration of knocking him down, is the measure of the capacity of [Congressman] Edward Black and of the majority of the House [of Representatives].

When the snake is already in the house, one need not discuss the matter for long.

Mr. Chairman, I desire to say to those present that their perfect attention will not embarrass me in the least.

A man may speak very well in the House of Commons, and fail completely in the House of Lords.

I would hope that ... this Senate does return to the decorum that calls for courtesy when one is speaking and others should be listening, the decorum of people in their seats rather than straggling in the aisles when debate is going on.

Our boys [the communists] not only attended all the union educational classes … but also took lessons in speaking from Party experts. We were also trained in the fine points of parliamentary trickery … We raised points of order, points of information, divisions of the house, objection to consideration of the question, amendments to amendments, and appeals from the decision of the chair in endless and swift succession.

I hadn't thought that gross stupidity was a violation of House rules.

It is much better when a member resumes his seat after he has made a speech for the House to have the feeling that they wish he had gone on longer instead of wondering why he did not stop sooner.

I observe that the House of Representatives are sensible of the ill effects of the long speeches in their house on their proceedings. But they have a worse effect in the disgust they excite among the people, and the disposition they are producing to transfer their confidence from the legislature to the executive branch, which would soon sap our Constitution. These speeches, therefore, are less and less read, and if continued, will cease to be read at all.

Each house may punish, by imprisonment during their session, any person not a member, who shall be guilty of disrespect to the house, by any disorderly or contemptuous behavior in their presence; provided that such imprisonment shall not; at one time, exceed twenty-four hours.

It does not good to shout anyone down….There will be no shouting.