Floyd M. Riddick
Encyclopedia
Floyd M. Riddick was a Parliamentarian of the United States Senate
from 1964 to 1974, and is most famous for developing Riddick's Senate procedure
. He sat immediately below the presiding officer in the Senate chamber, providing information on precedent
s and advising other senators on parliamentary procedure. He is famous for discussions of the censures of Joseph McCarthy
and Thomas Dodd, the contested election between John A. Durkin
and Louis Wyman, and the preparations for a planned impeachment
trial of Richard Nixon
. He is also famous for advocating the change in the rules of cloture
.
passed by the House of Burgesses
of Virginia
. Riddick's family lived on a village, Gatesville, North Carolina
. After his father became ill, in 1928, Riddick moved to Suffolk, Virginia
. After finishing high school, Floyd M. Riddick attended Duke University
and received the Bachelor of Arts
degree. He was originally majoring in pre-law but then switched his major to political science
after a talk with an influential professor, Robert Rankin. He then received a Masters Degree at Vanderbilt University
in 1932, and returned to Duke to receive his Ph.D.
in political science in 1935. While researching his doctoral dissertation, he spent a year observing the workings of the United States House of Representatives
, a study which he eventually expanded and published as Congressional Procedure in 1941.
, he first worked as a statistical analyst for the FERA
, and then for the Resettlement Administration
. He then continued his congressional research interests, as an instructor of political science at American University
from 1936 to 1939. He then received a position as an editor of the Congressional Daily for Congressional Intelligence, Inc., from 1939 to 1943. From 1943 to 1947, he edited the Legislative Daily for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was then invited to establish a "Daily Digest," in the Congressional Record
. From 1947 to 1951, he was Senate
editor of "Daily Digest", a synopsis of Congressional events which continues as a handy guide to the daily Record. He then joined the office of the parliamentarian
, where he worked for 24 years. His work has appeared in the American Political Science Review
and Western Political Quarterly. From 1951 to 1964, Riddick served as the Assistant Senate Parliamentarian. Floyd M. Riddick succeeded Charles Watkins as the Senate Parliamentarian in 1964, and held that position until 1974. As parliamentarian emeritus
, he remained as a consultant to the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
. Floyd M. Riddick died in Santa Fe, New Mexico
at age 91, on January 25, 2000.
Parliamentarian of the United States Senate
The Parliamentarian of the United States Senate is the official advisor to the United States Senate on the interpretation of Standing Rules of the United States Senate and parliamentary procedure....
from 1964 to 1974, and is most famous for developing Riddick's Senate procedure
Riddick's Senate procedure
In the United States Congress, Riddick's Senate Procedure is a Senate document containing the contemporary precedents and practices of the Senate. It was named after Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus Floyd Riddick, and is updated periodically by the Senate Parliamentarian.-References:*...
. He sat immediately below the presiding officer in the Senate chamber, providing information on precedent
Precedent
In common law legal systems, a precedent or authority is a principle or rule established in a legal case that a court or other judicial body may apply when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts...
s and advising other senators on parliamentary procedure. He is famous for discussions of the censures of Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
and Thomas Dodd, the contested election between John A. Durkin
John A. Durkin
John Anthony Durkin was a Democratic U.S. Senator from New Hampshire from 1975 until 1980.Durkin graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1959 and Georgetown University Law Center in 1965...
and Louis Wyman, and the preparations for a planned impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
trial of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. He is also famous for advocating the change in the rules of cloture
Cloture
In parliamentary procedure, cloture is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end. It is also called closure or, informally, a guillotine. The cloture procedure originated in the French National Assembly, from which the name is taken. Clôture is French for "ending" or "conclusion"...
.
Early life
Floyd M. Riddick was born in Trotville, North Carolina in an agrarian area. His father was a farmer and merchant who did not finish primary school. Floyd Riddick's ancestor, Lemmuel Riddick, was one of the signers of the Stamp ActStamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
passed by the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Riddick's family lived on a village, Gatesville, North Carolina
Gatesville, North Carolina
Gatesville is a town in Gates County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 312 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Gates County.-Geography:Gatesville is located at ....
. After his father became ill, in 1928, Riddick moved to Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
. After finishing high school, Floyd M. Riddick attended Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and received the Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He was originally majoring in pre-law but then switched his major to political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
after a talk with an influential professor, Robert Rankin. He then received a Masters Degree at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1932, and returned to Duke to receive his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in political science in 1935. While researching his doctoral dissertation, he spent a year observing the workings of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, a study which he eventually expanded and published as Congressional Procedure in 1941.
Career and death
After moving to Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, he first worked as a statistical analyst for the FERA
Federal Emergency Relief Administration
Federal Emergency Relief Administration was the new name given by the Roosevelt Administration to the Emergency Relief Administration which President Herbert Hoover had created in 1932...
, and then for the Resettlement Administration
Resettlement Administration
The Resettlement Administration was a U.S. federal agency that, between April 1935 and December 1936, relocated struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government....
. He then continued his congressional research interests, as an instructor of political science at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
from 1936 to 1939. He then received a position as an editor of the Congressional Daily for Congressional Intelligence, Inc., from 1939 to 1943. From 1943 to 1947, he edited the Legislative Daily for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was then invited to establish a "Daily Digest," in the Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
. From 1947 to 1951, he was Senate
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...
editor of "Daily Digest", a synopsis of Congressional events which continues as a handy guide to the daily Record. He then joined the office of the parliamentarian
Parliamentarian (consultant)
A parliamentarian is an expert on parliamentary procedure who advises organizations and deliberative assemblies. This sense of the term "parliamentarian" is distinct from the usage of the same term to mean a member of Parliament....
, where he worked for 24 years. His work has appeared in the American Political Science Review
American Political Science Review
The American Political Science Review is the flagship publication of the American Political Science Association and is the most prestigious journal in political science according to the ISI 2004 Journal Citation Report...
and Western Political Quarterly. From 1951 to 1964, Riddick served as the Assistant Senate Parliamentarian. Floyd M. Riddick succeeded Charles Watkins as the Senate Parliamentarian in 1964, and held that position until 1974. As parliamentarian emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
, he remained as a consultant to the United States 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...
. Floyd M. Riddick died in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
at age 91, on January 25, 2000.