Speeches (300 words) may be made by Members before or after legislative business each day. (For printing purposes, if the speech given at the beginning of the day is longer than 300 words or includes extraneous materials, it will appear in the Extension of Remarks section of the Congressional Record). A Member may seek recognition to make a speech on a subject of his or her choice not exceeding one minute in duration. One-minute speeches are often coordinated through the Republican and Democratic Leadership to focus on particular topics, but the speeches are not limited to such topics.

The one-minute speech period is granted at the discretion of the Speaker, as are the number of such speeches. Some days one-minute speeches may be limited to ten or fifteen per side. On other days they may be unlimited. On occasion, this period is postponed until the end of the day if the business of the House is heavy and time is short. In this case, Members are permitted to address the House for one minute at the end of legislative business for the day, provided legislative business does not extend past midnight.

How to Make a One-Minute Speech

To give a one-minute speech, a Member should go to the front row of seats on the their party's side of the Floor and sit down. The Speaker will recognize Members in turn, alternating between the Majority and Minority sides. At the appropriate point, the Member must stand to seek recognition and address the Chair by saying, "Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks." The Speaker will respond by saying, "Without objection, so ordered." The Member may then proceed to the podium in the Well to give the speech. The Chair will tell the Member when the one minute has expired, at which time the Member may finish the sentence, but no more.

Members are strongly recommended to read all of Rule XVII ("Decorum and Debate"), especially clause 1 of that rule and section XVII of Jefferson's Manual ("Order and Debate") and the accompanying footnotes to both, to get an idea of what can and cannot be said or done on the House Floor.

How Not to Make a One-Minute Speech

Mr. X: "Mr. Speaker and those of you viewing these proceedings on television in your office or at home...."

POINT OF ORDER: It is not proper at any time for a Member to refer to the television audience, Rule XVII states that a Member must always address the Chair and only the Chair.

Mr. X: "...and those distinguished citizens of the San Dimas Rotary Club who are here visiting the Capitol today and are with us in the House Gallery..."

POINT OF ORDER: Clause 7 of Rule XVII states specifically that Members may not introduce or otherwise make reference to people in the Visitors or Press Gallery.

Mr. X: "I want to state my absolute disgust about the unbelievably stupid vote yesterday in the Senate of the United States."

POINT OF ORDER: It is acceptable to refer to actions taken by the Senate which are a matter of public record, but it is improper to characterize Senate action or inaction and to make reference to individual Members of the Senate.

Mr. X: "Mr. President, you should veto that bill."

POINT OF ORDER: It is inappropriate to address the President directly (Members must always address the Chair). It is also improper to refer to the President in a personally offensive manner.

A Member does not actually have to deliver a one-minute speech. He or she can simply ask unanimous consent that it be placed in the Congressional Record and yield back his or her time. The speech will be inserted at that point, but it will appear in different type to indicate that it was not delivered in person.

Key Parliamentary Term

Recognition - Permission by the presiding officer for a Member to speak or propose a procedural action. A Member seeking recognition must rise and address the chair, but may not do so while another Member holds the floor unless that Member has violated a rule. Generally, recognition in the House is within the chair's discretion. Under some circumstances, the chair's discretion is absolute; under others, the chair may be required to recognize a Member eventually but not necessarily the first time the Member seeks recognition. Under still other circumstances, the chair is required to recognize certain Members for specific purposes. However, the Speaker must recognize Members for privileged business and motions, but when several Members seek recognition on business of equal privilege, the Speaker has discretion in deciding whom to recognize first. By tradition and practice, both the Speaker and the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole follow certain priorities of recognition during debate. In both houses, the chair's recognition authority is not subject to appeal.