Rule XXI of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate

Standing Rules of the United States Senate

The Standing Rules of the Senate are the rules of order adopted by the United States Senate that govern its procedure. The Senate's power to establish rules derives from Article One, Section 5 of the United States Constitution: "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings..."There are...

, established by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is responsible for the rules of the United States Senate, with administration of congressional buildings, and with credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, including responsibility for dealing with contested elections.The committee...

, governs closed sessions of the Senate

Closed sessions of the United States Senate

The United States Senate has the authority for meeting in closed session, as described in the Standing Rules of the Senate.The Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention met in secret. The Senate met in secret until 1794...

.

Motion to close doors

Paragraph 1 states that if a Senator

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 determines that discussion of business requires secrecy, that a motion be made to close the doors and that it be seconded. The Presiding Officer of the United States Senate

Presiding Officer of the United States Senate

The Presiding Officer is the person who presides over the United States Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents...

 shall direct the galleries to be cleared; and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain closed.

Meeting within closed doors

Paragraph 2 states that when the Senate meets in closed session, any applicable provisions of Rule XXIX and Rule XXXI, including the confidentiality of information shall apply to any information and to the conduct of any debate transacted.