termines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office. The 25th amendment to the Constitution was proposed by the Congress on July 6, 1965. It was declared, in a certificate of the Administrator of General Services, dated February 23, 1967, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 39 of the 50 States. The dates of ratification were: Nebraska, July 12, 1965; Wisconsin, July 13, 1965; Oklahoma, July 16, 1965; Massachusetts, August 9, 1965; Pennsylvania, August 18, 1965; Kentucky, September 15, 1965; Arizona, September 22, 1965; Michigan, October 5, 1965; Indiana, October 20, 1965; California, October 21, 1965; Arkansas, November 4, 1965; New Jersey, November 29, 1965; Delaware, December 7, 1965; Utah, January 17, 1966; West Virginia, January 20, 1966; Maine, January 24, 1966; Rhode Island, January 28, 1966; Colorado, February 3, 1966; New Mexico, February 3, 1966; Kansas, February 8, 1966; Vermont, February 10, 1966; Alaska, February 18, 1966; Idaho, March 2, 1966; Hawaii, March 3, 1966; Virginia, March 8, 1966; Mississippi, March 10, 1966; New York, March 14, 1966; Maryland, March 23, 1966; Missouri, March 30, 1966; New Hampshire, June 13, 1966; Louisiana, July 5, 1966; Tennessee, January 12, 1967; Wyoming, January 25, 1967; Washington, January 26, 1967; Iowa, January 26, 1967; Oregon, February 2, 1967; Minnesota, February 10, 1967; Nevada, February 10, 1967. Ratification was completed on February 10, 1967. The amendment was subsequently ratified by Connecticut, February 14, 1967; Montana, February 15, 1967; South Dakota, March 6, 1967; Ohio, March 7, 1967; Alabama, March 14, 1967; North Carolina, March 22, 1967; Illinois, March 22, 1967; Texas, April 25, 1967; Florida, May 25, 1967. ARTICLE [XXVI] SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. The 26th amendment to the Constitution was proposed by the Congress on March 23, 1971. It was declared, in a certificate of the Administrator of General Services, dated July 5, 1971, to have been ratified by the legislatures of 39 of the 50 States. The dates of ratification were: Connecticut, March 23, 1971; Delaware, March 23, 1971; Minnesota, March 23, 1971; Tennessee, March 23, 1971; Washington, March, 23 1971; Hawaii, March 24, 1971; Massachusetts, March 24, 1971; Montana, March 29, 1971; Arkansas, March 30, 1971; Idaho, March 30, 1971; Iowa, March 30, 1971; Nebraska, April 2, 1971; New Jersey, April 3, 1971; Kansas, April 7, 1971; Michigan, April 7, 1971; Alaska, April 8, 1971; Maryland, April 8, 1971; Indiana, April 8, 1971; Maine, April 9, 1971; Vermont, April 16, 1971; Louisiana, April 17, 1971; California, April 19, 1971; Colorado, April 27, 1971; Pennsylvania, April 27, 1971; Texas, April 27, 1971; South Carolina, April 28, 1971; West Virginia, April 28, 1971; New Hampshire, May 13, 1971; Arizona, May 14, 1971; Rhode Island, May 27, 1971; New York, June 2, 1971; Oregon, June 4, 1971; Missouri, June 14, 1971; Wisconsin, June 22, 1971; Illinios, June 29, 1971; Alabama, June 30, 1971; Ohio, June 30, 1971; North Carolina, July 1, 1971; Oklahoma, July 1, 1971. Ratification was completed on July 1, 1971. The amendment was subsequently ratified by Virginia, July 8, 1971; Wyoming, July 8, 1971; Georgia, October 4, 1971. [EDITORIAL NOTE: There is some conflict as to the exact dates of ratification of the amendments by the several States. In some cases, the resolutions of ratification were signed by the officers of the legislatures on dates subsequent to that on which the second house had acted. In other cases, the Governors of several of the States "approved" the resolutions (on a subsequent date), although action by the Governor is not contemplated by article V, which re Appendix No. 2 RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS RULE L PROCEDURE FOR RESPONSE TO SUBPENAS § 946. Response to Subpenas 1. When any Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives is properly served with a subpena or other judicial order directing appearance as a witness relating to the official functions of the House or for the production or disclosure of any documents relating to the official functions of the House, such Member, officer, or employee shall comply, consistently with the privileges and rights of the House, with said subpena or other judicial order as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise determined pursuant to the provisions of this rule. 2. Upon receipt of a properly served subpena or other judicial order directing appearance as a witness relating to the official functions of the House or for the production or disclosure of any documents relating to the official functions of the House, such Member, officer, or employee shall promptly notify, in writing, the Speaker of its receipt and such notification shall then be promptly laid before the House by the Speaker, except that during a period of recess or adjournment of longer than three days, no such notification to the House shall be required. However, upon the reconvening of the House, such notification shall then be promptly laid before the House by the Speaker. 3. Once notification has been laid before the House, the Member, officer, or employee shall determine whether the issuance of the subpena or other judicial order is a proper exercise of the court's jurisdiction, is material and relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House. The Member, officer, or employee shall notify the Speaker prior to seeking judicial determination of these matters. 4. Upon determination whether the subpena or other judicial order is a proper exercise of the court's jurisdiction, is material and relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House, the Member, officer, or employee shall immediately notify, in writing, the Speaker of such a determination. 5. The Speaker shall inform the House of the determination of whether the subpena or other judicial order is a proper exercise of the court's jurisdiction, is material and relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House, and shall generally describe the records or information sought, except that during any recess or adjournment of the House for longer than three days, no such notification is required. However, upon the reconvening of the House, such notification shall then be promptly laid before the House by the Speaker. 6. Upon such notification to the House that said subpena is a proper exercise of the court's jurisdiction, is material and relevant, and is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House, the Member, officer, or employee shall comply with such subpena or other judicial order by supplying certified copies, unless the House adopts a resolution to the contrary; except that under no circumstances shall any minutes or transcripts of executive sessions, or any evidence of witnesses in respect thereto, be disclosed or copied. Should the House be in recess or adjournment for longer than three days, the Speaker may authorize compliance or take such other action as he deems appropriate under the circumstances during the pendency of such recess or adjournment. And upon the reconvening of the House, all matters having transpired under this clause shall be laid promptly before the House by the Speaker. 7. A copy of this rule shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the House to any of said courts whenever any such subpena or other judicial order is issued and served on a Member, officer, or employee of the House. 8. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to deprive, condition or waiver the constitutional or legal rights applicable or available to any Member, officer, or employee of the House, or of the House itself, or the right of a Member or the House to assert such privilege or right before any court in the United States, or the right of the House thereafter to assert such privilege or immunity before any court in the United States. Rule L was added in the 97th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, p.) and provides general authority to the Members, officers, or employees to comply with subpenas served on them in relation to their official functions and establishes the procedure by which subpenas shall be complied with. Until the 95th Congress, whenever a Member, officer, or employee received a subpena, the House would decide by adopting a resolution granting authority to the person to respond. This case-by-case approach was changed in the 95th (H. Res. 10, January 4, 1977, p. -) and 96th Congresses (H. Res. 10, January 15, 1979, p. —) when general authority was granted to respond to subpenas and a procedure was established for automatic compliance without the necessity of a House vote. This standing authority was clarified and revised later in the 96th Congress by H. Res. 722 (September 17, 1980, p. -) and forms the basis for the present rule. |