>>The Rules: No one speaks in the Senate who isn’t a Senator, or the roll call clerk, who only speaks through a microphone during a roll call vote, or on rare occasions the vice president. Former Senators are allowed on the floor as a courtesy, but may not speak. Occasionally someone they want to honor is allowed on the floor, but may not speak. If you doubt me, please identify for me the last person who wasn’t a senator who spoke on the floor. When the President or a dignitary is invited to address Congress, such as a foreign head of state, he or she speaks to a joint session in the House chamber.<<
If Mr. Smith goes to Washington is accurate, a new Senator cannot even speak until he is presented as a senator and his credentials are recognized. He cannot eve personally defend his credentials on the floor.
That is right. Their credentials have to be accepted and they have to be sworn in before they can speak.