Unless special directions are given—sometimes necessary in particular cases—the following rules govern the printing of bills:

Type.

1. Bills are always set in English type, full-slugged.

2. A new bill is always all roman, italic being used only for the enacting clause and the word “Provided.”

Side Folios.

3. The direction “Allow for two figures” means that TWO 1-EM quads (not one 2-em quad) are to be used in allowing for side folios at left of text. “Allow for three figures” means indent two 1-em quads and 1 en quad.

4. Always supply the word “That” immediately following the section number, and after the word “Provided” of a proviso.

5. Begin side folios with figure 1 at the first line of each section. Exceptions to this are sometimes made for convenience in handling, and side folios begun with figure 1 at the top of each page; but in such cases special instructions will be given.

Engrossed and Enrolled Bills.

6. A bill is said to be engrossed when it has passed one House of Congress; to be enrolled when final action has been taken in both Houses.

7. Follow literally in engrossed and enrolled bills. This applies to the title of the bill on the filing or indorsement as well as to the text, but not to the caption of engrossed amendments.

Heads and Indorsements.

8. The “indorsement” on a bill is the form printed on the back for convenience of reference when folded. “Document style” prevails on indorsements until the bill reaches the “engrossed” stage. Senate bills differ from House bills in the forms used in heads and indorsements. As a bill progresses new “actions” appear, which should be set in the same style as the “actions” that precede. The “style” of a head or indorsement is governed by the “style” for the branch of Congress in which the bill is pending. Examples of a new bill in each House are given on the following page:

HEADING OF HOUSE BILL.

Be it enacted, etc., That

HEADING OF SENATE BILLS.

Be it enacted, etc., That

INDORSEMENTS.

9. In indorsements on bills in the Senate use a 9-em dash under the bill number; on bills in the House a parallel dash.

10. The name of the introducer of a bill or resolution is carried under the title in the indorsement, in long primer caps and small caps, between parallel rules, in both Houses, through each printing until bill or resolution passes one House.

11. When the title of a bill on the indorsement makes more than two lines, indent the runovers 1½ ems; center the title when it makes but one or two lines. On the face of the bill where a title makes more than one line, set the first line to full measure, centering the runover if there be two lines in the title; if more than two lines, indent the runovers 2 ems.

12. Titles for House bills are taken from the INDORSEMENT of copy; for Senate bills from the FACE of copy.

13. Preambles are set full measure, the first line of each “whereas” being flush and the runovers indented 2 ems. Where an agreement or treaty is part of a preamble, follow literally, indenting the paragraphs 4 ems and runovers 2 ems, full measure.

14. Titles and preambles following the head of a bill are always half-slugged.

15. Set “Calendar No.—,” on both face and indorsement of bills which have reached the Senate Calendar, in each case at the upper right-hand corner.

16. Set “Report No.” on both face and indorsement of reported bills in both Houses, centering under the number of the bill.

[It is impracticable to give illustrations of the minutiÆ of headings and indorsements of bills in all their stages. Samples and information can always be had upon inquiry at the foreman’s desk. Compositors and others must familiarize themselves with the forms called for by the clerks’ notes on copy.]

Amendments.

17. “Line type” and italic are used only to show amendments. When it is proposed to strike out certain portions in a bill that is “reported with amendments,” such portions will be set in “line type.” Example:

in accordance with existing proposed plan, twenty twenty-five thousand dollars.

18. When new matter is inserted, it is set in italics.

19. When it is proposed to strike out and insert, always let the italics FOLLOW the line type.

20. Do not complicate amendments. When one amendment can be made to cover the sense, as in the complete changing of a sum of money, so set it, rather than divide into two or more short amendments.

21. Proposed Senate amendments are printed in bill form, all roman. The general style of the head may be either that of bills or of “miscellaneous documents.” These headings are generally in proper form as they come from the bill clerk.

22. When it is proposed in the Senate to make several short amendments, the caption should read as follows:

23. When a proposed amendment in the Senate is expressed by one or more full paragraphs, the caption should read:

Reported Bills.

24. Observe the difference in form of action taken on Senate and House bills reported with amendments:

House.—

Senate.—

[The wording varies with the necessities of the case, but the style remains the same.]

General Instructions.

25. Spell out everything, except “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” and classification of vessels, as “A 1.” On indorsements follow document style.

26. Make the contractions “&c.” and “etc.” read “and so forth,” and in the title and body of a bill make “viz” read “namely.”

27. When, in the use of figures, the comma is used in ordinary work to show notation, in bills thousands and hundreds are spelled; as, for 1,750, make it “one thousand seven hundred and fifty.”

28. In serial numbers, or where the comma is not used in general work, spell by hundreds all numbers less than 10000; as, for 2742, make it “twenty-seven hundred and forty-two;” but in serial numbers where even multiples of one thousand occur, use the word “thousand,” as “section two thousand and four,” “paragraph seven thousand and sixty-nine” (not “twenty hundred and four” or “seventy hundred and sixty-nine”).

29. Years and dates are expressed thus: June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-three.

30. When the expression usually indicated by “No.” occurs, use the word “numbered.” Observe, in this connection, the capitalization for kindred expressions: House Executive Document Numbered Eighteen.

31. References to the Revised Statutes, Statutes at Large, court reports, etc., are expressed thus: Revised Statutes, page two hundred and forty-two; Twelfth Statutes, page eleven hundred and sixteen; Tenth Court of Claims Reports, page ten.

32. Capitalize the word “act” wherever it occurs as a synonym for “bill” or “law.”

33. The indorsement on a printed bill must always fall on an even page. In House bills 4 lines of text may be worked in with the indorsement, and in Senate bills 7 lines.

Special Instructions for Enrolled Bills.

34. Set in quarto measure, paragraphs indented 2 ems.

35. Lead with 3-to-pica leads. When center heads occur use a full pica slug above and below.

36. Set entirely in roman type, except the enacting clause and “Provided,” which go in italic.

37. Avoid divisions of words and space evenly. Two-letter divisions must not be made.

38. In enrolled bills of the Senate place the bill number (using the form “S.146”) in pica antique, at the upper left-hand corner. In enrolled bills of the House the number goes at the upper right-hand corner, using the form “H. R. No. 4864.”

39. In enrolled bills of the Senate use a parallel dash above and below title; in those of the House use the parallel dash above only, with two full slugs below.