Senate Rule II - Presentation of credentials and questions of privilege

111th Congress
1. The presentation of the credentials of Senators elect or of Senators designate and other questions of privilege shall always be in order, except during the reading and correction of the Journal, while a question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is voting or ascertaining the presence of a quorum; and all questions and motions arising or made upon the presentation of such credentials shall be proceeded with until disposed of.

2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the certificates of election and certificates of appointment of Senators by entering in a wellbound book kept for that purpose the date of the election or appointment, the name of the person elected or appointed, the date of the certificate, the name of the governor and the secretary of state signing and countersigning the same, and the State from which such Senator is elected or appointed.

3. The Secretary of the Senate shall send copies of the following recommended forms to the governor and secretary of state of each State wherein an election is about to take place or an appointment is to be made so that they may use such forms if they see fit.

THE RECOMMENDED FORMS FOR CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION AND CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FOR SIXYEAR TERM To the President of the Senate of the United States:

This is to certify that on the __ day of __, 19_, A__ B__ was duly chosen by the qualified electors of the State of __ a Senator from said State to represent said State in the Senate of the United States for the term of six years, beginning on the 3d day of January, 19__.

Witness: His excellency our governor __, and our seal hereto affixed at ___ this __ day of __, in the year of our Lord 19__.

By the governor:

C__ D__, Governor.

E__ F__, Secretary of State.

CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FOR UNEXPIRED TERM To the President of the Senate of the United States:

This is to certify that on the __ day of __, 19__, A__ B__ was duly chosen by the qualified electors of the State of __ a Senator for the unexpired term ending at noon on the 3d day of January, 19__, to fill the vacancy in the representation from said State in the Senate of the United States caused by the __ of C__ D__.

Witness: His excellency our governor __, and our seal hereto affixed at ___ this __ day of __, in the year of our Lord 19__.

By the governor:

E__ F__, Governor.

G__ H__, Secretary of State.

CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT To the President of the Senate of the United States:

This is to certify that, pursuant to the power vested in me by the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of __, I, A__ B__, the governor of said State, do hereby appoint C__ D__ a Senator from said State to represent said State in the Senate of the United States until the vacancy therein caused by the __ of E__ F__, is filled by election as provided by law.

Witness: His excellency our governor __, and our seal hereto affixed at ___ this __ day of __, in the year of our Lord 19__.

By the governor: G__ H__, Governor.

I__ J__, Secretary of State.

109th Congress
1. The presentation of the credentials of Senators elect or of Senators designate and other questions of privilege shall always be in order, except during the reading and correction of the Journal, while a question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is voting or ascertaining the presence of a quorum; and all questions and motions arising or made upon the presentation of such credentials shall be proceeded with until disposed of.

2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the certificates of election and certificates of appointment of Senators by entering in a wellbound book kept for that purpose the date of the election or appointment, the name of the person elected or appointed, the date of the certificate, the name of the governor and the secretary of state signing and countersigning the same, and the State from which such Senator is elected or appointed.

3. The Secretary of the Senate shall send copies of the following recommended forms to the governor and secretary of state of each State wherein an election is about to take place or an appointment is to be made so that they may use such forms if they see fit.

Certificate of election for six-year term to the President of the Senate of the United States:
This is to certify that on the __ day of __, 19_, A__ B__ was duly chosen by the qualified electors of the State of __ a Senator from said State to represent said State in the Senate of the United States for the term of six years, beginning on the 3d day of January, 19__.

Witness: His excellency our governor __, and our seal hereto affixed at ___ this __ day of __, in the year of our Lord 19__.

By the governor:

C__ D__, Governor.

E__ F__, Secretary of State.

Certificate of election for unexpired term to the President of the Senate of the United States:
This is to certify that on the __ day of __, 19__, A__ B__ was duly chosen by the qualified electors of the State of __ a Senator for the unexpired term ending at noon on the 3d day of January, 19__, to fill the vacancy in the representation from said State in the Senate of the United States caused by the __ of C__ D__.

Witness: His excellency our governor __, and our seal hereto affixed at ___ this __ day of __, in the year of our Lord 19__.

By the governor:

E__ F__, Governor.

G__ H__, Secretary of State.

Certificate of appointment to the President of the Senate of the United States:
This is to certify that, pursuant to the power vested in me by the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of __, I, A__ B__, the governor of said State, do hereby appoint C__ D__ a Senator from said State to represent said State in the Senate of the United States until the vacancy therein caused by the __ of E__ F__, is filled by election as provided by law.

Witness: His excellency our governor __, and our seal hereto affixed at ___ this __ day of __, in the year of our Lord 19__.

By the governor: G__ H__, Governor.

I__ J__, Secretary of State.

Resources

 * Rules of the 109th U.S. Senate

Articles

 * "Rule II," U.S. Senate - Committee on Rules and Administration, 2005.