House Rule IV - The hall of the House

Use and admittance
1. The Hall of the House shall be used only for the legislative business of the  House  and  for  caucus  and  conference  meetings  of  its  Members,  except  when  the  House  agrees  to  take  part  in  any  ceremonies to be observed therein. The Speaker  may  not  entertain  a  motion  for the suspension of this clause. 2.
 * (a) Only the following persons shall be admitted to the Hall of the House or  rooms leading thereto:
 * (1) Members of Congress, Members- elect,   and   contestants   in   election  cases  during  the  pendency  of  their  cases on the floor.
 * (2) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.
 * (3) The President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  and  their  private secretaries.
 * (4) Justices of the Supreme Court.
 * (5) Elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected officers of the House.
 * (6) The Parliamentarian.
 * (7) Staff of  committees  when  business  from  their  committee  is  under  consideration, and staff of the respective  party  leaderships  when  so  assigned   with   the   approval   of   the  Speaker.
 * (8) Not more  than  one  person  from  the  staff  of  a  Member,  Delegate,  or  Resident   Commissioner   when   that  Member,  Delegate,  or  Resident  Com-  missioner  has  an  amendment  under  consideration (subject to clause 5).
 * (9) The Architect of the Capitol.
 * (10) The Librarian of Congress and the assistant in charge of the Law Library.
 * (11) The Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate.
 * (12) Heads of departments.
 * (13) Foreign ministers.
 * (14) Governors of States.
 * (15) Former  Members,   Delegates,  and  Resident  Commissioners;  former  Parliamentarians  of  the  House;  and  former  elected  officers  and  minority  employees nominated as elected officers  of  the  House  (subject  to  clause  4).
 * (16) One attorney  to  accompany  a   Member,  Delegate,  or  Resident  Commissioner  who  is  the  respondent  in  an  investigation  undertaken  by  the  Committee  on  Standards  of  Official  Conduct  when  a  recommendation  of  that   committee   is   under   consideration in the House.
 * (17) Such persons as have, by name, received the thanks of Congress.
 * (b) The Speaker may not entertain a unanimous consent request or a motion to suspend this clause.

3.
 * (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all persons not entitled to the privilege of the floor during the session shall be excluded at all times from the Hall of the House and the cloakrooms.
 * (b)Until 15  minutes  of  the  hour  of  the  meeting  of  the  House,  persons  em-  ployed  in  its  service,  accredited  members  of  the  press  entitled  to  admission  to the press gallery, and other persons  on  request  of  a  Member,  Delegate,  or  Resident  Commissioner  by  card  or  in  writing, may be admitted to the Hall of  the House.

4.
 * (a)A former Member, Delegate, or Resident  Commissioner;  a  former  Parliamentarian of the House; or a former  elected  officer  of  the  House  or  former  minority   employee   nominated   as   an  elected officer of the House shall not be  entitled  to  the  privilege  of  admission  to  the  Hall  of  the  House  and  rooms  leading thereto if such individual--
 * (1) is a registered lobbyist or agent of  a  foreign  principal  as  those  terms  are defined in clause 5 of rule XXV;
 * (2) has any direct personal or pecuniary   interest    in    any    legislative  measure pending before the House or  reported by a committee; or
 * (3) is in the employ of or represents any   party   or   organization   for   the  purpose of influencing, directly or indirectly,    the    passage,    defeat,    or  amendment   of   any   legislative   proposal.
 * (b) The Speaker may promulgate regulations to  carry  out  this  rule  including  regulations  that  exempt  ceremonial  or  educational   functions  from  the  restrictions of this clause.

5. A person from the staff of a Member,   Delegate,   or   Resident   Commissioner  may  be  admitted  to  the  Hall  of  the   House   or   rooms   leading   thereto  under  clause  2  only  upon  prior  notice  to the Speaker. Such persons, and persons from  the  staff  of  committees  admitted under clause 2, may not engage  in  efforts  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  or  rooms   leading   thereto   to   influence  Members with regard to the legislation  being  amended. Such persons  shall  remain at the desk and are admitted only  to  advise  the  Member,  Delegate,  Resident  Commissioner,  or  committee  responsible for their admission. A person who  violates  this  clause  may  be  excluded during the session from the Hall  of the House and rooms leading thereto  by the Speaker.

Gallery
6. (a) The Speaker  shall  set  aside  a  portion  of  the  west  gallery  for  the  use  of  the  President,  the  members  of  the  Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court,  foreign  ministers  and  suites,  and  the  members  of  their  respective  families. The Speaker  shall  set  aside  another  portion of the same gallery for the accommodation of persons to be admitted  on the cards of Members, Delegates, or  the Resident Commissioner.
 * (b) The Speaker  shall  set  aside  the  southerly  half  of  the  east  gallery  for  the  use  of  the  families  of  Members  of  Congress.   The   Speaker   shall   control  one bench. On the request of a Member,  Delegate,   Resident   Commissioner,   or Senator, the Speaker shall issue a card  of admission to the family of such individual,  which  may  include  their  visitors. No other person shall be admitted  to this section.

Prohibition on campaign contributions
7. A   Member,   Delegate,   Resident   Commissioner,  officer,  or  employee  of  the House, or any other person entitled  to  admission  to  the  Hall  of  the  House  or  rooms  leading  thereto  by  this  rule,  may  not  knowingly  distribute  a  political campaign contribution in the Hall  of the House or rooms leading thereto.

Changes to rule in the 110th Congress
There were no changes to the rule in the 110th Congress.

Use and admittance
1. The Hall of the House shall be used only for the legislative business of the House and for caucus and conference meetings of its Members, except when the House agrees to take part in any ceremonies to be observed therein. The Speaker may not entertain a motion for the suspension of this clause. 2. (a) Only the following persons shall be admitted to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto:
 * (1) Members of Congress, Members-elect, and contestants in election cases during the pendency of their cases on the floor.
 * (2) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.
 * (3) The President and Vice President of the United States and their private secretaries.
 * (4) Justices of the Supreme Court.
 * (5) Elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected officers of the House.
 * (6) The Parliamentarian.
 * (7) Staff of committees when business from their committee is under consideration, and staff of the respective party leaderships when so assigned with the approval of the Speaker.
 * (8) Not more than one person from the staff of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner when that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has an amendment under consideration (subject to clause 5).
 * (9) The Architect of the Capitol.
 * (10) The Librarian of Congress and the assistant in charge of the Law Library.
 * (11) The Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate.
 * (12) Heads of departments.
 * (13) Foreign ministers.
 * (14) Governors of States.
 * (15) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; former Parliamentarians of the House; and former elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected officers of the House (subject to clause 4).
 * (16) One attorney to accompany a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who is the respondent in an investigation undertaken by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct when a recommendation of that committee is under consideration in the House.
 * (17) Such persons as have, by name, received the thanks of Congress.


 * (b) The Speaker may not entertain a unanimous consent request or a motion to suspend this clause.

3. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all persons not entitled to the privilege of the floor during the session shall be excluded at all times from the Hall of the House and the cloakrooms.
 * (b) Until 15 minutes of the hour of the meeting of the House, persons employed in its service, accredited members of the press entitled to admission to the press gallery, and other persons on request of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner by card or in writing, may be admitted to the Hall of the House.

4. (a) A former Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner; a former Parliamentarian of the House; or a former elected officer of the House or former minority employee nominated as an elected officer of the House shall not be entitled to the privilege of admission to the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto if he or she—
 * (1) is a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal as those terms are defined in clause 5 of rule XXV;
 * (2) has any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure pending before the House or reported by a committee; or
 * (3) is in the employ of or represents any party or organization for the purpose of influencing, directly or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative proposal.
 * (b) The Speaker may promulgate regulations that exempt ceremonial or educational functions from the restrictions of this clause.

5. A person from the staff of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may be admitted to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto under clause 2 only upon prior notice to the Speaker. Such persons, and persons from the staff of committees admitted under clause 2, may not engage in efforts in the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto to influence Members with regard to the legislation being amended. Such persons shall remain at the desk and are admitted only to advise the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or committee responsible for their admission. A person who violates this clause may be excluded during the session from the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto by the Speaker.

Gallery
6. (a) The Speaker shall set aside a portion of the west gallery for the use of the President, the members of the Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court, foreign ministers and suites, and the members of their respective families. The Speaker shall set aside another portion of the same gallery for the accommodation of persons to be admitted on the cards of Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner.
 * (b) The Speaker shall set aside the southerly half of the east gallery for the use of the families of Members of Congress. The Speaker shall control one bench. On the request of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator, the Speaker shall issue a card of admission to his family, which may include their visitors. No other person shall be admitted to this section.

Prohibition on campaign contributions
7. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, or any other person entitled to admission to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto by this rule, may not knowingly distribute a political campaign contribution in the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto.

Use and admittance
1. The Hall of the House shall be used only for the legislative business of the House and for caucus and conference meetings of its Members, except when the House agrees to take part in any ceremonies to be observed therein. The Speaker may not entertain a motion for the suspension of this clause.

2. (a) Only the following persons shall be admitted to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto:


 * (1) Members of Congress, Members-elect, and contestants in election cases during the pendency of their cases on the floor.


 * (2) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner.


 * (3) The President and Vice President of the United States and their private secretaries.


 * (4) Justices of the Supreme Court.


 * (5) Elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected officers of the House.


 * (6) The Parliamentarian.


 * (7) Staff of committees when business from their committee is under consideration, and staff of the respective party leaderships when so assigned with the approval of the Speaker.


 * (8) Not more than one person from the staff of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner when that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner has an amendment under consideration (subject to clause 5).


 * (9) The Architect of the Capitol.


 * (10) The Librarian of Congress and the assistant in charge of the Law Library.


 * (11) The Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate.


 * (12) Heads of departments.


 * (13) Foreign ministers.


 * (14) Governors of States.


 * (15) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; former Parliamentarians of the House; and former elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected officers of the House (subject to clause 4).


 * (16) One attorney to accompany a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner who is the respondent in an investigation undertaken by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct when a recommendation of that committee is under consideration in the House.


 * (17) Such persons as have, by name, received the thanks of Congress.


 * (b) The Speaker may not entertain a unanimous consent request or a motion to suspend this clause.

3. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all persons not entitled to the privilege of the floor during the session shall be excluded at all times from the Hall of the House and the cloakrooms.


 * (b) Until 15 minutes of the hour of the meeting of the House, persons employed in its service, accredited members of the press entitled to admission to the press gallery, and other persons on request of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner by card or in writing, may be admitted to the Hall of the House.

4. (a) Former Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners; former Parliamentarians of the House; and former elected officers and minority employees nominated as elected officers of the House shall be entitled to the privilege of admission to the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto only if:


 * (1) they do not have any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure pending before the House or reported by a committee; and


 * (2) they are not in the employ of, or do not represent, any party or organization for the purpose of influencing, directly or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative measure pending before the House, reported by a committee, or under consideration in any of its committees or subcommittees.


 * (b) The Speaker shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to implement this rule and to ensure its enforcement.

5. A person from the staff of a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may be admitted to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto under clause 2 only upon prior notice to the Speaker. Such persons, and persons from the staff of committees admitted under clause 2, may not engage in efforts in the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto to influence Members with regard to the legislation being amended. Such persons shall remain at the desk and are admitted only to advise the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or committee responsible for their admission. A person who violates this clause may be excluded during the session from the Hall of the House and rooms leading thereto by the Speaker.

Gallery
6. (a) The Speaker shall set aside a portion of the west gallery for the use of the President, the members of the Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court, foreign ministers and suites, and the members of their respective families. The Speaker shall set aside another portion of the same gallery for the accommodation of persons to be admitted on the cards of Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner.


 * (b) The Speaker shall set aside the southerly half of the east gallery for the use of the families of Members of Congress. The Speaker shall control one bench. On the request of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator, the Speaker shall issue a card of admission to his family, which may include their visitors. No other person shall be admitted to this section.

Prohibition on campaign contributions
7. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, or any other person entitled to admission to the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto by this rule, may not knowingly distribute a political campaign contribution in the Hall of the House or rooms leading thereto.

Resources

 * Rules of the 109th House of Representatives
 * "Rule IV," U.S. House of Representatives - Committee on Rules, 2005.