A Brief History of Sine Die

Sydney Robinson

Suncoast Delegation

For those of us that have been in the Williams House and Senate, we are probably all familiar with the legendary “Sine Die”, or in layman terms, the toss of the handkerchief when the sessions adjourn on the final days of State Assembly.

Whether or not you’re aware of it, Sine Die actually has a somewhat rich history here in the Florida Capitol. The word translates in Latin to “without day,” but when a chamber adjourns sine die, it means that no such future meeting day has been set, and when this unique motion is made, a chamber ends its legislative session.  

The tradition of the handkerchief toss that we associate with sine die came into practice when the “hankie drop” was adopted. In bicameral systems it is proper practice for two chambers in session to adjourn sine die at the exact same time. In order for this to take place, each chamber needs to know when the gavel comes down in the other chamber. Back when Florida’s House and Senate chambers were at right angles to one another, the Sergeants-at-Arms of the two houses would simultaneously walk to the point of intercection and perform the “dropping of the hankies” at the same time. When the handkerchiefs of each chamber touched the floor, the Speaker and the President would know to bring down their gavels, ending each session sine die at the same time, thus keeping tradition.  

Its true that the “hankie toss” is no longer necessary because the chambers are no longer at right angles to one another, but this tradition is still practiced today as a reminder of its historic relevance and as a celebration of its unique position in the Legislature.