COMMITTEES.
(See Rules XV to XX.)
JOINT COMMITTEES.

A request for the appointment of a joint committee is em-
bodied in a message from one House to the other. It embraces
the subject and names the committee upon the part of the
House originating or concurring in the request. The commit-
tee is appointed by the presiding officer, and consists usually
of two members of the Senate and three of the House.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
(See Rule XVII.)

A conference committee usually consists of three members
of each House, and is usually asked where one House disagrees
to amendments of its bills made by the other; but may be
asked in cases of difference of opinion on all matters pending
between them. The request for a conference must always be
by the House which is possessed of the papers, and said papers
must always accompany the message requesting the appoint-
ment of a conference committee, and be retained by the con-
ferees of the other. The report of a committee of conference
must be made in writing and signed by the conferees. It is a
question of the highest privilege, and the report may be made
even during the pendency of a motion to adjourn. A confer-
ence committee may be instructed like any other committee, but
their report cannot be amended or altered, but it may be laid
on the table, and its effect will be to lay the bill also on the
table.

MESSAGES.

Messengers from the House, or from the Executive, are re-
ceived at any time, except when a question is being put or the
roll called.
SEATS.

The second-term Senators have the choice of seats.