BILL, 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 on 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 first section
enacts, that, &c.; the second section enacts," &c.
$But in the Senate of the United States, both of these formalities are
dispensed with; the breviate presenting but an imperfect view of the
bill, and being capable of being made to present a false one; and the
full statement being a useless waste of time, immediately after a full
reading by the clerk; and especially as every member has a printed copy
in his hand.$
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
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 it is declared not
usual.--_D'Ewes_, 137, _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 the 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 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 ay;" and after the answer
of ayes, "All those of the contrary opinion, say no."--_Hakew._ 154.
After the bill has passed, there can be no further alteration of it in
any point.--_Hakew._ 159.