Rules adopted by both the House and Senate at the outset of a first regular session. The rules govern the procedures to be followed in all areas of joint legislative activity, including filing of bills, cloture dates, committee composition and actions, studies and confirmations. The rules appear in the pamphlet entitled “House and Senate Registers” that is distributed to all legislators early in the first session and are also distributed separately by the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate. In order to take any action contrary to the procedures set forth in the joint rules, each chamber must agree to a suspension of the rules. The joint rules may be amended by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.
