Why are lights and ringing bells used in parts of the Capitol building and US house and senate office building?

Answer 1

Due to the diverse nature of daily tasks that they have to perform, it is not practicable for Members to be present in the House or Senate Chamber at every minute that the body is in session. Furthermore, many of the routine matters do not require the personal attendance of all the Members. A system consisting of electric lights and bells or buzzers located in various parts of the Capitol Building and House and Senate Office Buildings alerts Members to certain occurrences in the House and Senate Chambers.

In the House, the Speaker has ordered that the bells and lights comprising the system be utilized as follows:

Light/Bell SignalInterpretation

1 long bell followed by a pause and then 3 bells and 3 lights on the left

Start or continuation of a notice or short quorum call in the Committee of the Whole that will be vacated if and when 100 Members appear on the floor. Bells are repeated every five minutes unless the call is vacated or the call is converted into a regular quorum call.

1 long bell and extinguishing of 3 lights on the left

Short or notice quorum call vacated.

2 bells and 2 lights on the left

15 minute recorded vote, yea-and-nay vote or automatic rollcall vote by electronic device. The bells are repeated five minutes after the first bell.

2 bells and 2 lights on the left followed by a pause and then 2 more bells

15 minute vote taken by a call of the roll. The bells are repeated when the Clerk reaches the R's in the first call of the roll.

2 bells followed by a pause and then 5 bells

First vote on clustered votes. Two bells are repeated five minutes after the first bell. The first vote will be not less than 15 minutes with successive votes being not less than five minutes. Each successive vote is signaled by five bells.

3 bells and 3 lights on the left

15 minute quorum call in either the House or in the Committee of the Whole by electronic device. The bells are repeated five minutes after the first bell.

3 bells followed by a pause and then 3 more bells

15 minute quorum call by a call of the roll. The bells are repeated when the Clerk reaches the R's in the first call of the roll.

3 bells followed by a pause and then 5 more bells

Quorum call in the Committee of the Whole that may be followed immediately by a five-minute recorded vote.

4 bells and 4 lights on the left

Adjournment of the House.

5 bells and 5 lights on the left

Any five-minute vote.

6 bells and 6 lights on the left

Recess of the House.

12 bells at 2-second intervals with 6 lights on the left

Civil Defense Warning.

7th light

The 7th light indicates that the House is in session.