Thetermofinsisting，mayberepeatedasoftenastheychoose，tokeepthequestionopen。Butthefirstadherencebyeither，rendersitnecessaryfortheothertorecedeoradherealso；whenthematterisusuallysufferedtofall。10Grey148。Latterlyhowever，thereareinstancesoftheirhavinggonetoasecondadherence。Theremustbeanabsoluteconclusionofthesubjectsomewhere，orotherwisetransactionsbetweentheHouseswouldbecomeendless。3Hats。268，270。Thetermofinsisting，wearetoldbySirJohnTrevor，wasthen1679newlyintroducedintoParliamentaryusage，bytheLords。7Grey94。Itwascertainlyahappyinnovation，asitmultipliestheopportunitiesoftryingmodificationswhichmaybringtheHousestoaconcurrence。EitherHousehoweverisfreetopassoverthetermofinsisting，andtoadhereinthefirstinstance。
10Grey146。Butitisnotrespectfultotheother。IntheordinaryParliamentarycourse，therearetwofreeconferencesatleastbeforeanadherence。10Grey147。
EitherHousemayrecedefromitsamendmentandagreetothebill；orrecedefromtheirdisagreementtotheamendment，andagreetothesameabsolutely，orwithanamendment。Forherethedisagreementandrecedingdestroyoneanother，andthesubjectstandsasbeforethedisagreement。Elsynge23，27。9Grey476。
ButtheHousecannotrecedefrom，orinsistonitsownamendment，withanamendment:forthesamereasonthatitcannotsendtotheotherHouseanamendmenttoitsownactafterithaspassedtheact。TheymaymodifyanamendmentfromtheotherHousebyingraftinganamendmentonit，becausetheyhaveneverassentedtoit；buttheycannotamendtheirownamendment，becausetheyhave，onthequestion，passeditinthatform。9Grey353。10Grey240。InSenate，March29，1798。NorwhereoneHousehasadheredtotheiramendment，andtheotheragreeswithanamendment，canthefirstHousedepartfromtheformwhichtheyhavefixedbyanadherence。
Inthecaseofamoneybill，theLordsproposedamendments，becomebydelay，confessedlynecessary。TheCommonshowever，refusedthem，asinfringingontheirprivilegeastomoneybills；buttheyofferedthemselvestoaddtothebillaprovisotothesameeffect，whichhadnocoherencewiththeLords'amendments；andurgedthatitwasanexpedientwarrantedbyprecedent，andnotunparliamentary，inacasebecomeimpracticableandirremediableinanyotherway。3Hats。256，266，270，271。ButtheLordsrefused，andthebillwaslost。1Chand。288。Alikecase，1Chand。311。SotheCommonsresolvethatitisunparliamentarytostrikeoutataconferenceanythinginabillwhichhathbeenagreedandpassedbybothHouses。6Grey274。1Chand。312。
AmotiontoamendanamendmentfromtheotherHouse，takesprecedenceofamotiontoagreeordisagree。
AbilloriginatinginoneHouse，ispassedbytheotherwithanamendment。
TheoriginatingHouseagreestotheiramendmentwithanamendment。Theothermayagreetotheiramendmentwithanamendment；thatbeingonlyinthesecondandnotthethirddegree。ForastotheamendingHouse，thefirstamendmentwithwhichtheypassedthebill，isapartofitstext；
itistheonlytexttheyhaveagreedto。TheamendmenttothattextbytheoriginatingHouse，therefore，isonlyinthefirstdegree，andtheamendmenttothatagainbytheamendingHouseisonlyinthesecond，towit，anamendmenttoanamendment，andsoadmissible。Justsowhen，onabillfromtheoriginatingHouse，theother，atitssecondreading，makesanamendment；onthethirdreading，thisamendmentisbecomethetextofthebill，andifanamendmenttoitbemoved，anamendmenttothatamendmentmayalsobemoved，asbeingonlyintheseconddegree。SEC。XLVI。
CONFERENCESITisontheoccasionofamendmentsbyoneHousedisagreedtobytheother，thatconferencesareusuallyasked；
buttheymaybeasked4Hats。4，223，inallcasesofdifferenceofopinionbetweenthetwoHouses，onmattersdependingbetweenthem。4Hats。4，5，7。Therequestofaconference，however，mustalwaysbebytheHousewhichispossessedofthepapers。3Hats。31。1Grey425。4Hats。3，43。
Conferencesmaybeeithersimpleorfree。Ataconferencesimply，writtenreasonsarepreparedbytheHouseaskingit，andtheyarereadanddelivered，withoutdebate，tothemanagersoftheotherHouseattheconference；butarenotthentobeanswered。3Grey144。TheotherHousethen，ifsatisfied，votethereasonssatisfactory，orsaynothing；ifnotsatisfied，theyresolvethemnotsatisfactory，andaskaconferenceonthesubjectofthelastconference，wheretheyreadanddeliverinlikemannerwrittenanswerstothosereasons。3Grey183。Theyaremeant，chiefly，torecordthejustificationofeachHousetothenationatlarge，andtoposterity，andinproofthatthemiscarriageofanecessarymeasureisnotimputabletothem。3Grey255。Atfreeconferences，whichareaskedaftertwoconferences，4Hats。37，40。themanagersdiscussvivavoceandfreely，andinterchangepropositionsforsuchmodificationsasmaybemadeinaParliamentaryway，andmaybringthesenseofthetwoHousestogether。TheconfereesmayargueinsupportofwhatisdoneintheirHouse，butnotagainstit，norassenttoanynewthingtherepropounded，tilltheirHousebeinformedandagreetoit。4Hats。31，33。AndeachpartyreportsinwritingtotheirrespectiveHouses，thesubstanceofwhatissaidonbothsides，anditisenteredintheirjournals。9Grey220。3Hats。280。4Hats。48。Thisreportcannotbeamendedoraltered，asthatofacommitteemaybe。Journ。Sen。May24，1796。
AconferencemaybeaskedbeforetheHouseaskingithascometoaresolutionofdisagreement，insistingoradhering。3Hats。269，341。Inwhichcasethepapersarenotleftwiththeotherconferees，butarebroughtbacktobethefoundationofthevotetobegiven。Andthisisthemostreasonableandrespectfulproceeding。For，aswasurgedbytheLordsonaparticularoccasion，"itisheldvainandbelowthewisdomofParliamenttoreasonorargueagainstfixedresolutions，andupontermsofimpossibilitytopersuade。”3Hats。226。SotheCommonssay"anadherenceisneverdeliveredatafreeconference，whichimpliesdebate。”10Grey147。Andonanotheroccasion，theLordsmadeitanobjectionthattheCommonshadaskedafreeconferenceaftertheyhadmaderesolutionsofadhering。Itwasthenaffirmed，however，onthepartoftheCommns，thatnothingwasmoreParliamentarythantoproceedwithfreeconferencesafteradhering；
3Hats。269。andwedoinfactseeinstancesofconference，oroffreeconference，askedaftertheresolutionofdisagreeing，3Hats。
251，253，260，286，291，316，239；ofinsisting，ib。280，296，299，319，322，355；ofadhering，ib。269，270，283，300；andevenofasecondorfinaladherence，3Hats。270。Andinallcasesofconferenceaskedafteravoteofdisagreement，&；c。theconfereesoftheHouseaskingit，aretoleavethepaperswiththeconfereesoftheother:andinonecase，wheretheyrefusedtoreceivethem，theywereleftonthetableintheconferencechamber。Ib。271，317，323，354。10Grey146。
TheCommonsaffirmthatitisusualtohavetwofreeconferencesormore，beforeeitherHouseproceedstoadhere:because，beforethattime，theHouseshavenothadthefullopportunityofmakingrepliestooneanother'sarguments；andtoadheresosuddenlyandunexpectedly，excludesallpossibilityofofferingexpedients。4Hats。330。
Afterafreeconference，theusageistoproceedwithfreeconferences，andnottoreturnagaintoaconference。3Hats。270。9Grey229。
Afteraconferencedenied，afreeconferencemaybeasked。1Grey45。
Whenaconferenceisasked，thesubjectofitmustbeexpressed，ortheconferencenotagreedto。Ord。H。Commons89。1Grey425。7Grey31。4Hats。20，46。Theyaresometimesaskedtoenquireconcerninganoffence，ordefaultofamemberoftheotherHouse。
6Grey181。1Chandler304。OrthefailureoftheotherHousetopresenttothekingabillpassedbybothHouses。8Grey302。
Oroninformationreceived，andrelatingtothesafetyofthenation。10Grey171。Or，whenthemethodsofParliamentarethoughtbytheoneHousetohavebeendepartedfrombytheother，aconferenceisaskedtocometoarightunderstandingthereon。10Grey148。Sowhenanunparliamentarymessagehasbeensent，insteadofansweringit，theyaskaconference。3Grey155。Formerly，anaddress，orarticlesofimpeachment，orabillwithamendments，oravoteoftheHouse，orconcurrenceinavote，oramessagefromtheking，weresometimescommunicatedbywayofconference。6Grey128，300，387。7Grey80。8Grey210，255。1Torbuck'sDeb。278。10Grey293。1Chandler49，287。Butthisisnotthemodernpractice。8Grey255。
Aconferencehasbeenaskedafterthefirstreadingofabill。1Grey194。Thisisasingularinstance。
DuringthetimeofaconferencetheHousecandonobusiness。Assoonasthenamesofthemanagersarecalledover，andtheyaregonetotheconference，theSpeakerleavesthechair，withoutanyquestion，andresumesitonthereturnofthemanagers。ItisthesamewhilethemanagersofanimpeachmentareattheHouseofLords。4Hats。47，209，288。SEC。XLVII
MESSAGESMESSAGESbetweentheHousesaretobesentonlywhilebothHousesaresitting。3Hats。15。Theyarereceivedduringadebate，withoutadjourningthedebate。3Hats。
22。
InSenatethemessengersareintroducedinanystateofbusiness，except，1。Whileaquestionisputting。2。WhiletheTeasandNaysarecalling。3。Whiletheballotsarecalling。Thefirstcaseisshort:thesecondandthirdarecaseswhereanyinterruptionmightoccasionerrorsdifficulttobecorrected。SoarrangedJune15，1798。
IntheHouseofRepresentatives，asinParliament，iftheHousebeincommitteewhenamessengerattends，theSpeakertakesthechairtoreceivethemessage，andthenquitsittoreturnintocommittee，withoutanyquestionorinterruption。4Grey226。
Messengersarenotsalutedbythemembers，butbytheSpeakerfortheHouse。2Grey253，274。
Ifmessengerscommitanerrorindeliveringtheirmessage，theymaybeadmitted，orcalledin，tocorrecttheirmessage。4Grey41。
Accordingly，March13，1800，theSenatehavingmadetwoamendmentstoabillfromtheHouseofRepresentatives，theirsecretary，bymistake，deliveredoneonly；whichbeinginadmissiblebyitself，thatHousedisagreed，andnotifiedtheSenateoftheirdisagreement。Thisproducedadiscoveryofthemistake。ThesecretarywassenttotheotherHousetocorrecthismistake，thecorrectionwasreceived，andthetwoamendmentsactedondenovo。
AssoonasthemessengerwhohasbroughtbillsfromtheotherHouse，hasretired，theSpeakerholdsthebillinhishand，andacquaintstheHouse"thattheotherHousehave，bytheirmessenger，sentcertainbills，"
andthenreadstheirtitles，anddeliversthemtotheclerktobesafelykept，tilltheyshallbecalledfortoberead。Hak。178。
ItisnottheusageforoneHousetoinformtheotherbywhatnumbersabillhaspassed。10Grey150。Yettheyhavesometimesrecommendedabill，asofgreatimportancetotheconsiderationoftheHousetowhichitissent。3Hats。25。NorwhentheyhaverejectedabillfromtheotherHouse，dotheygivenoticeofit；butitpassessubsilentio，topreventunbecomingaltercations。1Blackst。183。
ButinCongress，therejectionisnotifiedbymessagetotheHouseinwhichthebilloriginated。
AquestionisneveraskedbytheoneHouseoftheotherbywayofmessage，butonlyataconference:forthisisaninterrogatory，notamessage。
3Grey151，181。
WhenabillissentbyoneHousetotheother，andisneglected，theymaysendamessagetoremindthemofit。3Hats。25。5Grey154。Butifitbemereinattention，itisbettertohaveitdoneinformally，bycommunicationsbetweentheSpeakers，ormembersofthetwoHouses。
WherethesubjectofamessageisofanaturethatitcanproperlybecommunicatedtobothHousesofParliament，itisexpectedthatthiscommunicationshouldbemadetobothonthesameday。Butwhereamessagewasaccompaniedwithanoriginaldeclaration，signedbythepartytowhichthemessagereferred，itsbeingsenttooneHousewasnotnoticedbytheother，becausethedeclaration，beingoriginal，couldnotpossiblybesenttobothHousesatthesametime。2Hats。260，261，262。
ThekinghavingsentoriginalletterstotheCommons，afterwardsdesirestheymaybereturned，thathemaycommunicatethemtotheLords。1Chandler303。SECXLVIII。
ASSENTTHEHousewhichhasreceivedabillandpassedit，maypresentitfortheking'sassent，andoughttodoit，thoughtheyhavenotbymessagenotifiedtotheother，theirpassageofit。YetthenotifyingbymessageisaformwhichoughttobeobservedbetweenthetwoHousesfrommotivesofrespect，andgoodunderstanding。
2Hats。242。Werethebilltobewithheldfrombeingpresentedtotheking，itwouldbeaninfringementoftherulesofParliament。Ib。
WhenabillhaspassedbothHousesofCongress，theHouselastactingonit，notifiesitspassagetotheother，anddeliversthebilltothejointcommitteeofenrollment，whoseethatitistrulyenrolledinparchment。
Whenthebillisenrolled，itisnottobewritteninparagraphs，butsolidlyandallofapiece，thattheblanksbetweentheparagraphsmaynotgiveroomforforgery。9Grey143。ItisthenputintothehandsoftheclerkoftheHouseofRepresentativestohaveitsignedbytheSpeaker。
TheclerkthenbringsitbywayofmessagetotheSenatetobesignedbytheirPresident。ThesecretaryoftheSenatereturnsittothecommitteeofenrollment，whopresentittothePresidentoftheUnitedStates。Ifheapproves，hesignsanddepositsitamongtherollsintheofficeofthesecretaryofstate，andnotifiesbymessagetheHouseinwhichitoriginated，thathehasapprovedandsignedit；ofwhichthatHouseinformstheotherbymessage。IfthePresidentdisapproves，heistoreturnit，withhisobjections，tothatHouseinwhichitshallhaveoriginated；whoaretoentertheobjectionsatlargeontheirjournal，andproceedtoreconsiderit。Ifaftersuchreconsideration，twothirdsofthatHouseshallagreetopassthebill，itshallbesent，togetherwiththePresident'sobjections，totheotherHouse，bywhichitshalllikewisebereconsidered；andifapprovedbytwothirdsofthatHouse，itshallbecomealaw。IfanybillshallnotbereturnedbythePresidentwithintendaysSundayexcepted
afteritshallhavebeenpresentedtohim，thesameshallbealaw，inlikemannerasifhehadsignedit，unlesstheCongress，bytheiradjournment，preventitsreturn；inwhichcaseitshallnotbealaw。ConstitutionUnitedStates，I。7。
Everyorder，resolution，orvote，towhichtheconcurrenceoftheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesmaybenecessary，exceptonaquestionofadjournment，shallbepresentedtothePresidentoftheUnitedStates，andbeforethesameshalltakeeffect，shallbeapprovedbyhim，orbeingdisapprovedbyhim，shallberepassedbytwothirdsoftheSenateandHouseofRepresentatives，accordingtotherulesandlimitationsprescribedinthecaseofabill。ConstitutionUnitedStates，I。7。SEC。XLIX。
JOURNALS。EACHHouseshallkeepajournalofitsproceedings，andfromtimetotimepublishthesame，exceptingsuchpartsasmay，intheirjudgment，requiresecrecy。ConstitutionI。5。
EveryvoteofSenateshallbeenteredonthejournals，andabriefstatementofthecontentsofeachpetition，memorialorpaper，presentedtotheSenate，bealsoinsertedonthejournals。Rule24。
TheproceedingsofSenate，whentheyshallactintheirExecutivecapacityshallbekeptinseparate&；distinctbooks。Rule25。
TheproceedingsoftheSenate，whennotactingasinacommitteeoftheHouse，shallbeenteredonthejournals，asconciselyaspossible，carebeingtakentodetailatrueaccountoftheproceedings。Rule26。
Thetitlesofbills，andsuchpartsthereofonlyasshallbeaffectedbyproposedamendments，shallbeinsertedonthejournals。Rule27。
Ifaquestionisinterruptedbyavotetoadjourn，ortoproceedtotheordersoftheday，theoriginalquestionisneverprintedinthejournal，itneverhavingbeenavote，norintroductorytoanyvote:butwhensuppressedbythepreviousquestion，thefirstquestionmustbestated，inordertointroduceandmakeintelligiblethesecond。2Hats。83。
Soalsowhenaquestionispostponed，adjourned，orlaidonthetable，theoriginalquestion，thoughnotyetavote，mustbeexpressedinthejournals；becauseitmakespartofthevoteofpostponement，adjourning，orlayingitonthetable。
Whereamendmentsaremadetoaquestion，thoseamendmentsarenotprintedinthejournalsseparatedfromthequestion；butonlythequestionasfinallyagreedtobytheHouse。TheruleofenteringinthejournalsonlywhattheHousehasagreedto，isfoundedingreatprudenceandgoodsense；astheremaybemanyquestionsproposedwhichitmaybeimpropertopublishtotheworld，intheforminwhichtheyaremade。2Hats。85。
InbothHousesofCongressallquestionswhereontheYeasandNaysaredesiredbyonefifthofthememberspresent，whetherdecidedaffirmativelyornegatively，mustbeenteredinthejournals。ConstitutionI。5。
ThefirstorderforprintingthevotesoftheHouseofCommons，wasOctober30，1685。1Chandler387。
Somejudgeshavebeenofopinion，thatthejournalsoftheHouseofCommonsarenorecords，butonlyremembrances。Butthisisnotlaw。Hob。110，111。Lex。Parl。114，115。Journ。H。C。Mar。17，1592。HaleParl。105。FortheLordsintheirHousehavepowerofjudicature，theCommonsintheirHousehavepowerofjudicature，andbothHousestogetherhavepowerofjudicature；andthebookoftheclerkoftheHouseofCommonsisarecord，asisaffirmedbyactofParliament；6H。8。c。16。4Inst。23，24。andeverymemberoftheHouseofCommonshathajudicialplace。4Inst。15。Asrecords，theyareopentoeveryperson，andaprintedvoteofeitherHouseissufficientgroundfortheothertonoticeit。Eithermayappointacommitteetoinspectthejournalsoftheother，andreportwhathasbeendonebytheotherinanyparticularcase。2Hats。261。3Hats。27，30。Everymemberhasarighttoseethejournals，andtotakeandpublishvotesfromthem。Beingarecord，everyonemayseeandpublishthem。6Grey118，119。
Oninformationofamisentryoromissionofanentryinthejournal，acommitteemaybeappointedtoexamineandrectifyit，andreportittotheHouse。2Hats。194，5。SEC。L。
ADJOURNMENT。THEtwoHousesofParliamenthavethesole，separate，andindependentpowerofadjourningeachtheirrespectiveHouses。Thekinghasnoauthoritytoadjournthem；hecanonlysignifyhisdesire，anditisinthewisdomandprudenceofeitherHousetocomplywithhisrequisition，ornot，astheyseefitting。2Hats。
232。1Blackstone186。5Grey122。
BytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，asmallernumberthanamajoritymayadjournfromdaytoday。I。5。But"neitherHouse，duringthesessionofCongress，shall，withouttheconsentoftheother，adjournformorethanthreedays，nortoanyotherplacethanthatinwhichthetwoHousesshallbesitting。”I。5。Andincaseofdisagreementbetweenthemwithrespecttothetimeofadjournment，thePresidentmayadjournthemtosuchtimeasheshallthinkproper。ConstitutionII。3。
Amotiontoadjournsimply，cannotbeamendedasbyadding"toaparticularday。”Butmustbeputsimply"thatthisHousedonowadjourn？"andifcarriedintheaffirmative，itisadjournedtothenextsittingday，unlessithascometoapreviousresolution"thatatitsrisingitwilladjourntoaparticularday，"andthentheHouseisadjournedtothatday。2Hats。
82。
WhereitisconvenientthatthebusinessoftheHousebesuspendedforashorttime，asforaconferencepresentlytobeheld，&；c。itadjournsduringpleasure。2Hats。305。Orforaquarterofanhour。5Grey331。
Ifaquestionbeputforadjournment，itisnoadjournmenttilltheSpeakerpronouncesit。5Grey137。Andfromcourtesyandrespect，nomemberleaveshisplacetilltheSpeakerhaspassedon。SEC。LI。
ASESSION。PARLIAMENThavethreemodesofseparation，towit，byadjournment，byprorogation，ordissolutionbytheking，orbytheeffluxofthetermforwhichtheywereelected。Prorogationordissolutionconstitutestherewhatiscalledasession，providedsomeacthaspassed。Inthiscase，allmattersdependingbeforethemarediscontinued，andattheirnextmeetingaretobetakenupdenovo，iftakenupatall。
1Blackst。186。Adjournment，whichisbythemselves，isnomorethanacontinuanceofthesessionfromonedaytoanother，orforafortnight，amonth，&；c。adlibitum。Allmattersdependingremaininstatuquo，andwhentheymeetagain，bethetermeversodistant，areresumedwithoutanyfreshcommencement，atthepointatwhichtheywereleft。1Lev。
165。Lex。Parl。c。2。1Ro。Rep。29。4Inst。7，27，28。Hutt。61。1Mod。252。Ruffh。Jac。L。Dict。Parliament。1Blackst。186。Theirwholesessionisconsideredinlawbutasoneday，andhasrelationtothefirstdaythereof。Bro。Abr。
Parliament86。
Committeesmaybeappointedtositduringarecessbyadjournment，butnotbyprorogation。5Grey374。9Grey350。1Chandler50。NeitherHousecancontinueanyportionofitselfinanyParliamentaryfunctionbeyondtheendofthesession，withouttheconsentoftheothertwobranches。Whendone，itisbyabillconstitutingthemcommissionersfortheparticularpurpose。
Congressseparateintwowaysonly，towit，byadjournment，ordissolutionbytheeffluxoftheirtime。Whatthenconstitutesasessionwiththem？
Adissolutioncertainlyclosesonesession，andthemeetingofthenewCongressbeginsanother。TheconstitutionauthorisesthePresident"onextraordinaryoccasions，toconvenebothHousesoreitherofthem。”I。
3。IfconvenedbythePresident'sproclamation，thismustbeginanewsession，andofcoursedeterminetheprecedingonetohavebeenasession。Soifitmeetsundertheclauseoftheconstitutionwhichsays，"theCongressshallassembleatleastonceineveryyear，andsuchmeetingshallbeonthefirstMondayinDecember，unlesstheyshallbylawappointadifferentday，"I。4。thismustbeginanewsession。Forevenifthelastadjournmentwastothisday，theactofadjournmentismergedinthehigherauthorityoftheconstitution，andthemeetingwillbeunderthat，andnotundertheiradjournment。Sofarwehavefixedlandmarksfordeterminingsessions。
Inothercases，itisdeclaredbythejointvoteauthorisingthePresidentoftheSenateandtheSpeakertoclosethesessiononafixedday，whichisusuallyinthefollowingform，"ResolvedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentatives，thatthePresidentoftheSenateandtheSpeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives，beauthorisedtoclosethepresentsession，byadjourningtheirrespectiveHousesonthe棗棗dayof棗棗。”
Whenitwassaidabove，thatallmattersdependingbeforeParliamentwerediscontinuedbythedeterminationofthesession，itwasnotmeantforjudiciarycases，dependingbeforetheHouseofLords，suchasimpeachments，appeals，andwritsoferror。Thesestandcontinuedofcourse，tothenextsession。Raym。120，381，Ruffh。Jac。L。D。Parliament。
ImpeachmentsstandinlikemannercontinuedbeforetheSenateoftheUnitedStates。SEC。LII。
TREATIES。THEPresidentoftheUnitedStateshaspower，byandwiththeadviceandconsentoftheSenate，tomaketreaties，providedtwothirdsoftheSenatorspresentconcur。ConstitutionUnitedStatesII。2。
Resolvedthatallconfidentialcommunications，madebythePresidentoftheUnitedStatestotheSenate，shallbe，bythemembersthereof，keptinviolablysecret；andthatalltreaties，whichmayhereafterbelaidbeforetheSenateshallalsobekeptsecretuntiltheSenateshall，bytheirresolution，takeofftheinjunctionofsecrecy。December22，1800。
Treatiesarelegislativeacts。Atreatyisalawoftheland。Itdiffersfromotherlawsonlyasitmusthavetheconsentofaforeignnation，beingbutacontractwithrespecttothatnation。Inallcountries，Ibelieve，exceptEngland，treatiesaremadebythelegislativepower；andtherealso，iftheytouchthelawsoftheland，theymustbeapprovedbyParliament。Warev。Hylton。3DallasRep。273。Itisacknowledged，forinstance，thatthekingofGreatBritaincannotbyatreatymakeacitizenofanalien。Vattel。B。1。c。19。sec。214。AnactofParliamentwasnecessarytovalidatetheAmericantreatyof1783。Andabundantexamplesofsuchactscanbecited。InthecaseofthetreatyofUtrechtin1712，thecommercialarticlesrequiredtheconcurrenceofParliament。Butabillbroughtinforthatpurposewasrejected。France，theothercontractingparty，sufferedthesearticles，inpractice，tobenotinsistedon，andadheredtotherestofthetreaty。4Russel'sHist。Mod。Europe457。2Smollet242，246。6
BytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，thisdepartmentoflegislationisconfidedtotwobranchesonlyoftheordinarylegislature；thePresidentoriginating，andtheSenatehavinganegative。Towhatsubjectsthispowerextends，hasnotbeendefinedindetailbytheconstitution；norareweentirelyagreedamongourselves。1。Itisadmittedthatitmustconcerntheforeignnationpartytothecontract，oritwouldbeamerenullity，resinteraliosacta。2。Bythegeneralpowertomaketreaties，theconstitutionmusthaveintendedtocomprehendonlythosesubjectswhichareusuallyregulatedbytreaty，andcannotbeotherwiseregulated。3。Itmusthavemeanttoexceptoutofthesetherightsreservedtothestates；forsurelythePresidentandSenatecannotdobytreatywhatthewholegovernmentisinterdictedfromdoinginanyway。4。AndalsotoexceptthosesubjectsoflegislationinwhichitgaveaparticipationtotheHouseofRepresentatives。
Thislastexceptionisdeniedbysome，onthegroundthatitwouldleaveverylittlematterforthetreatypowertoworkon。Thelessthebetter，sayothers。TheconstitutionthoughtitwisetorestraintheExecutiveandSenatefromentanglingandembroilingouraffairswiththoseofEurope。
Besides，asthenegotiationsarecarriedonbytheExecutivealone，thesubjectingtotheratificationoftheRepresentativessucharticlesasarewithintheirparticipationisnomoreinconvenientthantotheSenate。
Butthegroundofthisexceptionisdeniedasunfounded。Forexamine，e。g。
thetreatyofcommercewithFrance，anditwillbefoundthatoutofthirtyonearticles，therearenotmorethansmallportionsoftwoorthreeofthemwhichwouldnotstillremainassubjectsoftreaties，untouchedbytheseexceptions。
Treatiesbeingdeclared，equallywiththelawsoftheUnitedStates，tobethesupremelawoftheland，itisunderstoodthatanactofthelegislaturealonecandeclaretheminfringedandrescinded。ThiswasaccordinglytheprocessadoptedinthecaseofFrancein1798。
IthasbeentheusagefortheExecutive，whenitcommunicatesatreatytotheSenatefortheirratification，tocommunicatealsothecorrespondenceofthenegotiators。ThishavingbeenomittedinthecaseofthePrussiantreaty，wasaskedbyavoteoftheHouseofFebruary12，1800，andwasobtained。AndinDecember1800，theconventionofthatyearbetweentheUnitedStatesandFrance，withthereportofthenegotiationsbytheenvoys，butnottheirinstructions，beinglaidbeforetheSenate，theinstructionswereaskedforandcommunicatedbythePresident。
Themodeofvotingonquestionsofratificationsisbynominalcall。
Resolved，asastandingrule，thatwheneveratreatyshallbelaidbeforetheSenateforratification，itshallbereadafirsttimeforinformationonly；whennomotiontoreject，ratifyormodifythewholeoranypartshallbereceived。
Thatitssecondreadingshallbeforconsideration；andonasubsequentday，whenitshallbetakenupasinacommitteeofthewhole，andeveryoneshallbefreetomoveaquestiononanyparticulararticleinthisform，"WilltheSenateadviseandconsenttotheratificationofthisarticle？
"ortoproposeamendmentsthereto，eitherbyinsertingorbyleavingoutwords，inwhichlastcasethequestionshallbe，"Shallthewordsstandpartofthearticle？"Andineveryofthesaidcases，theconcurrenceoftwothirdsoftheSenatorspresentshallberequisitetodecideaffirmatively。
Andwhenthroughthewhole，theproceedingsshallbestatedtotheHouse，andquestionsbeagainseverallyputthereonforconfirmation，ornewonesproposed，requiringinlikemanneraconcurrenceoftwothirdsforwhateverisretainedorinserted。
Thatthevotessoconfirmedshall，bytheHouse，oracommitteethereof，bereducedintotheformofaratification，withorwithoutmodifications，asmayhavebeendecided，andshallbeproposedonasubsequentday，wheneveryoneshallagainbefreetomoveamendments，eitherbyinsertingorleavingoutwords；inwhichlastcasethequestionshallbe，"Shallthewordsstandpartoftheresolution？"Andinbothcasestheconcurrenceoftwothirdsshallberequisitetocarrytheaffirmative；aswellasonthefinalquestiontoadviseandconsenttotheratificationintheformagreedto。RuleofJanuary6，1801。