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PiRLUMENTlRY PROCEDURE 
 
 A COMPENDIUM OF ITS RULES 
 
 COMPILED FROM THE LATEST AND HIGHEST 
 
 AUTHORITIES, FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS 
 
 AND FOR THE GUIDANCE OF OFFICERS 
 
 AND MEMBERS OF CLUBS, SOCIETIES, 
 
 BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND ALL 
 
 DELIBERATIVE BODIES ''• 
 
 BY 
 
 ADELE M. FIELDE 
 
 n 
 
 SECRETARY OP THE LEAGUE FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION 
 
 Published by the Author 
 1899 
 
Copyright, 1899 
 BY Adelb M. Fihlde 
 
 TWO COPIES RSC1!IVE0. 
 
 
 
 Press of the 
 Edear Printing and Stationery- 
 New York 
 
This Book Is Inscribed 
 To Those Who Study It. 
 
PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Parliamentary Law sets forth the proper 
 mode of Procedure in deliberative bodies. 
 Its object is to expedite business, obviate 
 friction, secure justice, maintain equality, 
 and preserve dignity. 
 
 Its rules have been made at no one time, 
 nor by any one nation, but have been 
 gradually formulated, and are still in pro- 
 cess of evolution. Some of them are prob- 
 ably centuries old, while others are barely 
 established by concensus of recent opinion. 
 The British Parliament had so much to do 
 in their making, that its name adheres to 
 them in all countries where English is 
 spoken ; but in America these rules have 
 been adapted to another form of govern- 
 ment, and are not identical with those fol- 
 lowed in England. Even within the United 
 States the rules vary, not only in the dif- 
 ferent States but often in legislative bodies 
 of the same State. Yet their fundamental 
 
O PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION. 
 
 principles are always the same, and they are 
 applicable in all situations. 
 
 Each organization has an indisputable 
 right to create rules governing its own 
 proceedings, but unless it does so by ma- 
 jority vote, it exists under the laws gener- 
 ally accepted as Parliamentary. These laws 
 are finally determined by common sense, 
 instructed by large and long experience. 
 
 It is said that the difference between a 
 wise man and a fool, is merely that the one 
 learns by experience while the other does 
 not. To follow Parliamentary Usages is to 
 profit by the experiences of others, thus 
 avoiding the trouble inherent in personal 
 experiences. 
 
 Among a people so addicted as are 
 Americans to traveling in every part of 
 their commonwealth, and so apt to form 
 inter-State associations, the rules learned for 
 guidance in the transaction of business 
 should be those having national, and not 
 merely local, acceptance. Fortunately, we 
 have a manual prepared by Thomas B. Reed 
 
PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION. J 
 
 whose long occupation of the Chair 
 of the Speaker in the House of Repre- 
 sentatives makes him a high authority in 
 Parliamentary Law. His profound knowl- 
 edge of its principles is everywhere ad- 
 mitted, and his new rulings, after discussion 
 throughout the country, have been gener- 
 ally upheld. 
 
 In the preparation of these lessons Reed's 
 Rules have, in most points, been accepted 
 as ultimate authority; but Gushing, Rob- 
 erts and others have been carefully com- 
 pared and often drawn upon. To know all 
 these authors is a liberal education to the 
 Parliamentarian. To the present writer it 
 has nevertheless seemed necessary to make 
 a new text-book, because she has found 
 none sufficiently elementary, and at the 
 same time sufficiently comprehensive, to 
 meet the requirements of students. To 
 Learning there should be a royal road, and 
 any one who can, may well lay further 
 paving stones. A. M. F. 
 
 New York, March, 1899. * 
 
8 
 
 Explanation of Signs used in 
 the Tables. 
 
 I, means that the question may Interrupt a 
 speaker to whom the floor has been given by 
 the presiding officer. 
 
 F, that the introducer of the question must get 
 the Floor. 
 
 S, that a Seconder is required. 
 
 D, that the question is Debatable. 
 
 A, that the question is Amendable. 
 
 I , that a two-thirds vote is required. 
 
 R, that the vote upon it can be Reconsidered. 
 
 An interrogation point following a letter indi- 
 cates that the case depends on certain condi- 
 tions, which can be learned in the text. 
 
 The absence of any letter denotes that what it stands 
 for is inapplicable to the preceding question. 
 
 The figure on the left denotes the rank of the ques- 
 tion, among its kind. A question can precede 
 one of lower rank than itself; but is out of order 
 if one of the same rank or of higher rank than 
 itself is pending. 
 
 A question is pending from the time it is stated by 
 the Chair until it is voted upon. 
 
Classification of Motions, 
 
 The Main Question, i^ 6". D. A. R, 
 
 SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 
 
 I — Question of consideration, I. f . R. 
 2— To lay on the table, F. S. R-?. 
 
 , The Previous Question, F. S. f . R. 
 
 3 To postpone to a certain day, F. S. D. A. R. 
 ^ 1 To commit, recommit or refer, F. S.D. A. R. 
 
 ^ To postpone indefinitely, F. S. D. R. 
 4— To amend, F. S. D. A. R 
 
 PRIVILEGED QUESTIONS. 
 Privileged Motions : 
 
 1 — To fix a time to which to adjourn, S. A. R. 
 
 2 — To adjourn, S. 
 
 3— To take the recess, S. 
 
 Questions of Privilege : 
 
 4 — Concerning the assembly, I. — (F. S. D. A. R.' 
 5 — Concerning a member, I. — (F. S. D. A. R.) 
 
 INCIDENTAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 1 — Questions of order, I. R. 
 Reading of papers. F. S. R. 
 Withdrawal of motion, F. S. R. 
 Suspension of rules, F. S. |. 
 Division of question, F. S. A. R. 
 Method of consideration, F. S. A. R. 
 
 Appeal from the Ruling of Chair, S. D- ? R , 
 
 TO reconsider, i, s. d-?, to rescind, f . s . d . a , r , 
 
lO 
 
 Reference Table for Application of 
 Subsidiary Motions. 
 
 All Subsidiary Motions apply to the Main Ques- 
 tion , and all except the Question of Consideration, 
 apply to Questions of Privilege after they have been 
 admitted as Privileged . 
 
 1 — Question of consideration ; applies to main ques- 
 tion only. 
 
 2 — Lay on the table ; applies to the main question, 
 to questions of privilege, to an appeal, to an 
 amendment of the minutes, and to the motion 
 to reconsider. 
 
 3 — The Previous Question ; applies to all debatable 
 motions. When specifically applied to other 
 Subsidiary motions, to an appeal, or to a motion 
 to reconsider, it does not close debate on the 
 main question. 
 
 4 — Postpone to a certain time ; applies to the main 
 question and to questions of privilege. 
 
 5— Commit; applies to the main question and to 
 questions of privilege. 
 
 6 — Postpone indefinitely ; applies to the main ques- 
 tion and to questions of privilege. 
 
 7 — Amend ; applies to the main question, to questions 
 of privilege, to motions to postpone to a certain 
 time, to commit, to amend, to fix the time to 
 which to adjourn, to motion for the division of 
 a question, and to motions as to method of con- 
 sideration. 
 
 RECONSIDERATION. 
 The motion to Reconsider applies to the vote on all 
 questions, except to adjourn, to take the recess, to 
 suspend the rules, to reconsider, to an afiirmative 
 vote to lay on or take from the table, and to votes 
 taken by ballot, or for elections. But no vote can be 
 reconsidered later than the day on which it was ta- 
 ken, nor can it be reconsidered if it has been follow- 
 ed by any action consequent upon the vote. 
 
II 
 Reference Table for Eank of Motions. 
 
 1 — To fix tlie time to which to adjourn, the time 
 for the next meeting not having been fixed, and 
 if no motion for recess is pending : may be made 
 even after the vote has been taken on the mo- 
 tion to adjourn and before it is announced by 
 the Chair. 
 
 2 — To Adjourn, if the motion be unqualified ; but 
 it is not in order when a motion to close de- 
 bate, or to take a recess is pending, nor when 
 the question of consideration is pending. 
 
 3 — To Reconsider, made for record ; may be made 
 even after the vote on the motion to adjourn has 
 been taken and before the vote thereupon is 
 announced. 
 
 4— To take a recess, the time for which has been fixed. 
 
 5 — Questions of Privilege concerning the assembly. 
 
 6 — Questions of Privilege concerning a member. 
 
 7 — Questions of order, including orders of the day. 
 
 8 — Other incidental questions. 
 
 9 — Question of Consideration ; if this question be 
 seasonably raised, it cannot be superseded by 
 any other, except a point of order. It does not 
 yield to orders of the day. 
 
 10 — To lay on the table. 
 
 {The Previous Question. 
 To postpone to a certain time. 
 To commit, recommit or refer. 
 To postpone indefinitely. 
 
 12 — To amend. 
 
 Lastly, the main question. 
 
Parliamentary Procedure. 
 
 The Principal Motion or 
 Main Question. 
 
 Any proposition brought before an as- 
 sembly for its consideration is called a 
 motion or a question. Any question intro- 
 duced when no other is before the assembly 
 is the principal motion or main question. 
 It may be a bill, a petition, a resolution, 
 the report of a committee, or a paper sent 
 from another convocation or branch of the 
 government. 
 
 There can be but one main question at 
 a time, and it must remain before the 
 assembly until it is disposed of by a vote. 
 
 HoTT it is Introduced. 
 
 It may be introduced by any member, 
 and, if lengthy or important, should be 
 written. The reasons for writing it are 
 three. The introducer will probably make 
 it more concise when writing it, the Chair 
 
14 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 will be able to state it precisely as the in- 
 troducer dictated, and the Recording Sec- 
 retary can enter it correctly in the minutes. 
 The Chair may refuse to state a main 
 question that is not in writing. 
 
 With the written motion in his hand 
 the mover rises in his place in the assembly ^ 
 and addresses the Chair. The presiding 
 officer is always referred to as " the Chair," 
 and never by a personal name. In reli- 
 gious conventions the Chair is generally 
 addressed as Mr. Moderator, in many 
 secular societies as Mr. President, in the 
 House of Representatives as Mr. Speaker, 
 in women's associations as Madam Chair- 
 man or Madam President. 
 
 The term Madam should be used in- 
 stead of Mrs. or Miss, and is applicable to 
 any lady. The term Chairman is applied 
 to the office held, and is suitably applied 
 to persons of either sex. A Chairman 
 usually presides over a temporary organi- 
 zation or a committee, while a President is 
 elected to a permanent office. 
 
 Having risen in his place and addressed 
 the Chair the mover awaits recognition by 
 the Chair. He obtains the floor by having 
 his name pronounced by the Chair. If 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 5 
 
 the Chair does not know the name of the 
 speaker the latter should announce it, so 
 that it may be repeated by the Chair. The 
 speaker must not proceed until he has 
 been given the floor. There may be many 
 claiming the floor simultaneously, and it is 
 for the Chair alone to decide who shall 
 occupy the time of the assembly, and to 
 select appropriate speakers. The name of 
 the one to whom the floor is given should 
 be pronounced distinctly and loudly in 
 order to gratify the legitimate curiosity of 
 the hearers in regard to the personality of 
 one to whom they listen, and also because 
 questions have greater or less weight with 
 the assembly in accordance with the 
 amount of knowledge of the subject 
 thought to be possessed by the introducer 
 of the measure. 
 
 When he has been given the floor the mover 
 reads the motion and then sits down. A copy 
 of the motion may have been previously 
 laid upon the clerk's desk, or the mover may 
 pass his written motion up to the Chair. 
 
 If the mover be a careful person he has 
 engaged a seconder before reading his 
 motion. Unless there be at least two 
 members who are in favor of the motion it 
 
1 6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 is not worth while for the assembly to 
 consider it, and the Chair should not state 
 it. 
 
 It is best for every assembly not legis- 
 lative to adhere strictly to the rule that all 
 principal motions shall be seconded. One 
 reason for this rule is that a rider of hobbies 
 is thereby prevented from inopportunely 
 introducing motions; and another reason 
 is that it preserves a sensible member 
 who chances to make an absurd mo- 
 tion from having his motion put before 
 the assembly by the Chair. " Even a god 
 sometimes misunderstands," but two gods 
 do not often misunderstand at the same 
 moment. The rule that motions shall be 
 seconded before being stated by the Chair 
 is a protection to the assembly and to its 
 individual members. 
 
 By special rule in the House of Repre- 
 sentatives motions are not there seconded. 
 
 If the Chair considers the motion one 
 that ought to come before the assembly, 
 and that failure to second it is through an 
 oversight, he may say, " Is the motion 
 seconded ? " If no seconder appears other 
 business is at once taken up. If the motion 
 is seconded the seconder must rise in his 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1/ 
 
 place, SO that the eye may assist the ear of 
 the Chair and of the members in ascertain- 
 ing that the motion is seconded. It is dis- 
 respectful to an assembly and to its pre- 
 siding officer to make any remark without 
 rising. The seconder need not get the 
 floor, but should address the Chair, saying, 
 " / second the " motion, resolution, amend- 
 ment, nomination or request, as the case 
 may be. 
 
 After the motion is seconded the Chair 
 states it — that is, he rises and reads it from 
 the paper that has been handed to him. 
 The Chair is obliged to state every motion 
 properly introduced. 
 
 The Chair may sit, except when address- 
 ing the assembly as a whole ; and he ad- 
 dresses the assembly as a whole whenever 
 he states a question, whenever he puts a 
 question to vote, and when he gives notices 
 or makes announcements. 
 
 Up to the time of statement by the Chair 
 the motion belongs to its introducer, and 
 he has the right to alter it of his own will 
 alone, or upon the suggestion of the pre- 
 siding office or of another member. He 
 may alter it without reference to his sec- 
 onder ; but after alteration it must be again 
 
1 8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 seconded. After the Chair states it, it be- 
 comes the property of the assembly and 
 the introducer has no more power than 
 has any other member to amend, to change 
 or to dispose of it. It becomes subject to 
 the vote of the assembly. But before 
 being voted upon it is to be discussed, and 
 the Chair says, " Are there any remarks f " 
 or, " The question is open to debate," or, 
 ** What is the pleasure of the assembly 
 concerning this measure? " His purpose 
 is to have arguments for and against the 
 measure so presented as to make the vote 
 upon it an intelligent one. 
 
 Debate. 
 
 In debate the introducer of the question 
 is, if he desires to speak, usually first given 
 the floor, because he is supposed to be 
 best able to explain the motion and to set 
 forth supporting reasons ; but he cannot 
 claim the floor as a right. If the Chair has 
 a clue to the position of the debaters he 
 should give the floor alternately to advo- 
 cates and to objectors, so that light may 
 be thrown on all sides of the subject. 
 
 Each debater must address the Chair, get 
 the floor, speak to the point, keep within the 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 9 
 
 time limit, and refrain from personalities. 
 No member may speak more than once on 
 any question if there be others who desire to 
 speak, with the exception that the mover 
 has always the right to speak last in the 
 debate. A question may, however, be ad- 
 dressed through the Chair and necessary 
 information be obtained from another mem- 
 ber without it being regarded as a speech 
 made in debate. 
 
 Though a member can speak but once 
 on a question at the same stage, a member 
 who has spoken on a main question has 
 the right to speak again on each amend- 
 ment, and again on every amendment to an 
 amendment. If debate is allowable, the 
 thing next to be voted upon is the only 
 debatable topic, and the statement of 
 any undebatable motion shuts off all 
 debate until that motion has been voted 
 upon. 
 
 If members are alluded to it must not be 
 by name, but by some descriptive device, 
 as " the last speaker," '' the member from 
 Arizona," " my honorable colleague," etc. 
 
 The debate should not be a dispute, but 
 an appeal to reason. No harsh expres- 
 sions may be used about other members, 
 
20 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 whether absent or present, nor may motives 
 be imputed. 
 
 Those not having the floor must be 
 silent, and must refrain from everything that 
 indicates disrespect or distracts attention. 
 
 The Disposition of the Mo- 
 tion or Resolution can be 
 Decided in no other Way 
 than by a Vote. 
 
 A majority vote is more than one -half 
 the number of votes cast. 
 
 A plurality vote is the highest number 
 cast, that number being less than half the 
 total. 
 
 A tie vote is an equal number on each 
 side. 
 
 A two-thirds vote is not less than two- 
 thirds, and a three-fourths vote is not less 
 than three-fourths of the total number of 
 votes cast. 
 
 In a unanimous vote, all vote alike. By 
 a unanimous vote an assembly can do any- 
 thing that it is competent to do, even in 
 contravention of its own rules or the rules 
 of Parliamentary Procedure. To assert 
 otherwise is to deny to the assembly the 
 power of self-government. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 21 
 
 There are Six Established 
 Methods of Voting. 
 
 1. By General Consent. The Chair may, 
 on routine questions, expedite business by 
 assuming the consent of the assembly, 
 providing no one objects. For instance, 
 he may say, " If there be no objection, the 
 minutes as corrected stand approved " ; or, 
 " If there be no objection, the motion is 
 referred to the Standing Committee on Re- 
 Hef"; or, '*If there be no objection, the 
 motion is adopted and will be so recorded 
 by the clerk," The Chairman should take 
 the vote by general consent only in cases 
 where there is no probability of difference 
 of opinion. If any objection is raised, a 
 more formal vote must be at once taken. 
 Any member who objects, rises, addresses 
 the Chair, and says, ''I object." 
 
 2. By Acclamation, The question is put 
 to the assembly, and then the Chair says, 
 ''Those in favor of this motion will say 
 aye. Those opposed will say no.'' Vote 
 is by voice, and the Chair judges by the 
 volume of sound reaching his ear whether 
 the vote is affirmative or negative. He 
 then says, " The ayes have it, and the mo- 
 
22 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 tion is carried " ; or, '' The noes have it, and 
 the motion is lost." 
 
 3. The Standing Vote. If the Chair is 
 in doubt he may say so and ask for a 
 standing vote, saying, *' Those in favor of 
 this motion will rise and stand to be 
 counted," and when the count has been 
 made by the Chair, by the Secretary, or by 
 tellers, one of whom counts the affirma- 
 tive and the other the negative votes, the 
 Chair asks the members to be seated, and 
 then calls for the opposing vote to be given 
 in the same manner. Any member may 
 ask for a standing vote. 
 
 The St mding Vote is also termed a di- 
 vision of the house. If many persons are 
 already standing for lack of seats, the divi- 
 sion may be made by going to different 
 sides of the room, or into different lobbies. 
 When there is a division of the house, the 
 Chair in any case of uncertainty decides 
 who has a right to vote and who shall be 
 excused from voting. After division is 
 over, the assembly may correct any error 
 made by the Chair. 
 
 Besides being used for verification, the 
 Standing Vote is called for when it is de- 
 sired to show respect to persons of dis- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 23 
 
 tinctioji, or to the memory of a deceased 
 member, and whenever great determination 
 is to be expressed. 
 
 4. By Raising of Hmtds. This method 
 of voting is useful where noise is to be 
 avoided and where the assembly is small. 
 The Chair puts the question in the follow- 
 ing form : *' As many as are in favor of this 
 motion will raise the right hand. — The 
 count is made. — As many as are opposed 
 will manifest it in the same manner." 
 
 5 . By Yeas and Nays. The vote is taken 
 by yeas and nays whenever so required by 
 the number of members designated by a 
 rule of the assembly. In the U. S. Con- 
 gress, one-fifth of a quorum can order the 
 vote to be taken by yeas and nays. Unless 
 a special rule governs the assembly, the 
 yeas and nays should be taken only when 
 called for by a majority vote, as it is a slow 
 process of voting, and is sometimes called 
 for in order to consume time and delay 
 business. 
 
 The object of taking a vote in this way 
 is to enable the clerk to keep a record of 
 the vote of each member. The Chair puts 
 the question in the following form : ''Those 
 in favor of the adoption of the resolution 
 
24 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 will, when their names are called, answer 
 yes ; those opposed will answer no^ The 
 Secretary or Clerk, having a list of the 
 names of members in alphabetic order, 
 proceeds to call the roll. Each member 
 rises when his name is called and answers 
 either yes or no, and the clerk records the 
 answer given, the yeas in one column and 
 the nays in another. The column for yeas 
 usually stands before the names, the col- 
 umn for nays after them, on the right. 
 The clerk puts down the number of each 
 in consecutive order, adding as he goes. 
 After the list has been gone through the 
 Clerk reads the names of those who voted 
 in the affirmative, and afterward the names 
 of those who voted in the negative, permit- 
 ting errors to be corrected. The Clerk then 
 hands the Hst to the Chair, who announces 
 the result of the vote. The list of votes as 
 taken must be recorded in the minutes. 
 
 In taking the vote by yeas and nays the 
 call cannot be interrupted after the first 
 name has been called, but must be con- 
 tinued to the end, even though the hour 
 for adjournment be past. 
 
 The vote on the question of demanding 
 the yeas and nays is taken by rising. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^$ 
 
 As each member responds to his name, 
 yes or no, his vote is counted aloud by the 
 Clerk. 
 
 A member who calls for the yeas and 
 nays is himself required to vote. 
 
 6. Bj/ Ballot. This form of voting is 
 intended to be absolutely secret, and is 
 used only when required by the rules, or 
 in election of officers, or when a motion is 
 carried for special cases to be decided by 
 ballot. The Chair appoints two or more 
 tellers who distribute blank ballots upon 
 which the members write their votes. No 
 more than the requisite number of ballots 
 should be given to any member, and when 
 written the ballot should be folded and 
 held in such a manner that the tellers can 
 see that no more than the legitimate num- 
 ber of votes is deposited by one member. 
 Each member should cast his ballot with 
 his own hand. When the ballot is de- 
 clared by the Chair to be closed, the tellers 
 collect all the ballots, without personally 
 touching them, and in the presence of the 
 assembly, or of its appointed inspectors, 
 count each ballot separately, making a list 
 of the ballots cast and of each person or 
 object receiving a vote. Blank ballots are 
 
26 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 not counted, and doubtful ones are cast 
 out. The misspelling of a name does not 
 invalidate a ballot. 
 
 Having completed the count, the tellers 
 make a statement to the Chair, who, if the 
 ballot be for election, announces the result 
 as follows : " The total number of votes 
 
 cast is . The number necessary to a 
 
 choice is . Mr. A. having received 
 
 votes is therefore declared elected." In 
 case no candidate receives the number of 
 votes required, a new ballot must be taken, 
 and still another and another till there is 
 an election. 
 
 Black and white balls are often used in 
 balloting, the black being used for nega- 
 tive, the white for affirmative votes. In 
 this case the members go to the ballot box 
 to deposit their votes, their names being 
 checked off as they vote. 
 
 If there be but one candidate, or if the 
 assembly be unanimously in favor of one 
 candidate, and the Constitution requires 
 the election to be by ballot, much time 
 may be saved by authorizing the Secretary 
 or a Teller to cast the ballot for the candi- 
 date. In such case it is customary for 
 some member to move, for instance, *' that 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 2J 
 
 the Secretary be instructed to cast the bal- 
 lot for Mr. A. as Treasurer." This is sec- 
 onded, and the Chair puts the motion to 
 vote by acclamation. If carried, the Sec- 
 retary lays upon the table a slip of paper 
 bearing the name of Mr. A., and says, " I 
 cast the ballot for Mr. A. as Treasurer." 
 The Chair then says, '' Mr. A. is declared 
 elected." 
 
 But if the vote to have the ballot cast by 
 the person named be not unanimous, then 
 the balloting must be carried through in 
 the usual way. 
 
 A vote by ballot cannot be reconsidered, 
 but it can be thrown out if found to be ir- 
 regular. 
 
 Vote and Voting*. 
 
 A motion to make a vote unanimous fails 
 if any objection is raised. A vote can be 
 made unanimous only by a unanimous 
 vote. The motion may be made only by 
 one of the minority. 
 
 No member should vote upon a question 
 in which he is solely or chiefly concerned. 
 
 The negative as well as the affirmative 
 vote should always be taken, except when 
 the vote is known to be unanimous, and 
 
28 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 excepting also the vote upon a resolution 
 of thanks, a message of condolence, or 
 any motion upon which a negative vote 
 would violate good taste. 
 
 // is the duty of all members to vote, but it 
 is not necessary that all should vote in or- 
 der to reach a valid decision. If a com- 
 petent number be present, business may be 
 transacted whether few or many choose to 
 vote. Those persistently silent cannot, 
 therefore obstruct business if others are 
 prepared to proceed to a decision. 
 
 A member may change his vote, when 
 not taken by ballot, before the result has 
 been announced by the Chair, but not af- 
 terward. 
 
 Any member not present when the ques- 
 tion was stated, has no right to vote there- 
 upon. 
 
 The mover may in the progress of 
 debate be converted to an opposing view 
 of his own motion, and he may vote 
 against it, though he may not speak 
 against it. 
 
 It must be remembered that no debate 
 is permissible before the statement of a 
 motion by the Chair, and that after voting 
 there can be no further debate. Ample 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 29 
 
 opportunity for discussion should be given 
 after the motion is stated and before it is 
 put to vote. Every member has the right 
 to know precisely what he is to vote upon, 
 and the Chair should distinctly state the 
 question before debate, and should clearly 
 put the question before calling for the 
 vote. 
 
 The rejection of a proposition is an ad- 
 vancement of business as surely as is its 
 acceptance. 
 
 No motion is in order that conflicts with 
 the Constitution or By-laws of a society, 
 nor with its Special Rules, nor with any 
 proposition already agreed to ; and if 
 any such motion be carried it is of no 
 effect. 
 
 After a motion is stated it must stand as 
 stated, unless amended by vote. Debate 
 may influence the vote upon a motion, but 
 cannot change the motion itself The ob- 
 ject of debate is to win votes. 
 
 When the Chair sees that no one wishes 
 to discuss the question longer, he may rise 
 and say, ''Are you ready for the question ?" 
 or, " If there is no further debate the vote 
 will now be taken." He then may put the 
 question to vote. 
 
3P PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 When the Chair Votes. 
 
 1. The Chair Votes when the Vote is by 
 Ballot. In this case he votes when others 
 vote, and in precisely the same way. His 
 vote counts for no more and no less than 
 that of any other member. 
 
 2. The Chair Votes when the Yeas and 
 Nays are called. In this case he votes, 
 not in the alphabetic order of his name, but 
 last of all, the other officers voting just be- 
 fore him. This arrangement prevents the 
 votes of the members of the assembly from 
 being unduly influenced by the vote of the 
 officers. 
 
 3. The Chair may Vote whenever his 
 Vote changes the Result. He has the cast- 
 ing vote, and may vote 
 
 (a) When there is a tie. If there be a tie 
 the motion is lost because there is no ma- 
 jority. If the Chair does not wish to save 
 the measure he says, "• There is a tie and 
 the motion is lost." But if the Chair 
 wishes to save the measure he says, '^There 
 is a tie ; the Chair votes with the ayes and 
 the motion is carried." 
 
 It is evident that the vote which changes 
 the result has no greater power when the 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 3 I 
 
 Chair casts it than it would have if cast by 
 any other member. The Chair does not, 
 through being in the chair, lose his right 
 to vote at any time when other members 
 may vote, but he refrains from voting be- 
 cause his single vote has no power except 
 as a casting vote, and then he votes or re- 
 frains from voting in accordance with his 
 view of the question at issue. He is not 
 obliged to vote. If he votes when there is 
 a tie, he always votes in the affirmative. 
 
 {b) The Chair may vote when his vote 
 makes a tie. If there be a majority of but 
 one, the Chair may change the result by 
 voting with the noes, thus destroying the 
 majority. In this case, instead of saying 
 " The ayes have it and the motion is car- 
 ried," he says, for instance, "■ There are 
 nine ayes and eight noes. The Chair votes 
 with the noes, making a tie, and the motion 
 is lost." When the vote of the Chair 
 makes a tie he always votes in the nega- 
 tive. Of course, the exact number of votes 
 on each side must have been previously 
 ascertained by a standing vote or by a show 
 of hands. 
 
 When the vote is by ballot, the Chair, if 
 he vote at all, must vote at the same time 
 
32 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 and in the same way as do other members, 
 and he cannot again vote if the result prove 
 to be a tie or a majority of one. 
 
 (c) In the same way the Chair may make 
 up or destroy a two-thirds or a three-fourths 
 or any required vote, provided the result 
 be such that it can be changed by a single 
 vote. For instance, he may say after the 
 count has been made on a motion requir- 
 ing a two-thirds vote, " There are nine 
 ayes and five noes. The Chair votes with 
 the ayes, making the required two-thirds, 
 and the motion is carried." Or there may 
 be before the assembly an amendment to 
 the Constitution requiring a three-fourths 
 vote, and the count may have shown fifteen 
 ayes and five noes. If the Chair wishes to 
 prevent the amendment he may say, ''There 
 are fifteen ayes and five noes. The Chair 
 votes with the noes, destroying a three- 
 fourths vote, and the amendment is lost." 
 
 When the Chair thus votes, his declara- 
 tion of the result makes it plain that his 
 vote has been cast with the purpose of 
 changing that result. 
 
 A motion once lost cannot be introduced 
 again during the session unless the vote be 
 reconsidered. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 33 
 
 Meeting. Session. 
 
 A meeting is a single assemblage, cover- 
 ing only the time from convening to ad- 
 journment. A session may continue a day, 
 a month, or a year, and may consist of one 
 or of a series of meetings. The sessions of 
 clubs are properly divided by their annual 
 meetings, and a lost motion, in such an 
 organization, should not therefore be again 
 introduced, if introduced at all, until after 
 the next annual meeting. 
 
 Subsidiary Motions. 
 
 1 — Question of consideration, I. f. R. 
 
 2— To lay on the table, F. S. R.- ? 
 
 , The previous question, F. S. f . R. 
 - 3 ^<^ postpone to a certain day, F. S. D. A. R. 
 1 To commit, recommit or refer, F.S.D.A.R. 
 ' To postpone indefinitely, F. S. D. R 
 
 4— To amend, F. S. D. A. R. 
 
 The seven subsidiary motions may be 
 applied singly to the principal motion for 
 the purpose of disposing of it temporarily 
 or finally, or of modifying it in such man- 
 ner as to make it express the will of the 
 assembly more perfectly. 
 
34 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 As a rule, the subsidiary motions are' 
 not applicable to each other ; but there are 
 exceptions in the Previous Question, which t 
 may be applied to any debatable motion, 
 and in the motion to amend which may be 
 appHed to itself, and to the motions to 
 commit and to postpone to a certain time. ; 
 
 Subsidiary motions must always be de- 
 cided before the principal motion. None 
 of them need be in writing, except an 
 amendment, which should be written if 
 lengthy. The introducer of subsidiary,, 
 or any other motions, should always rise! 
 and address the Chair, and every seconder 
 should do likewise. All the subsidiary 
 motions, except the question of considera- 
 tion, must be seconded. The high rank 
 of the question of consideration, and the 
 fact that it can be introduced only before 
 debate has begun, gives it power to inter- 
 rupt the first speaker in debate, and to be 
 raised without getting the floor. For all 
 subsidiary questions of lower rank the floor 
 must be obtained. Were the rule other- 
 wise, the Chair in times of excitement and 
 the making of many different motions sim- 
 ultaneously, would be unable to preserve 
 order in the rank of motions. Since each 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 35 
 
 subsidiary motion has a unique effect upon 
 the main question, the fate of the main 
 question often depends upon strict adher- 
 ence to the rule that the subsidiary motions 
 applied to it shall be each stated in the 
 order demanded by its established rank. 
 
 The relative rank of the seven subsidiary 
 motions is indicated by the figures at the 
 extreme left in the foregoing table. 
 
 Four of these questions are more or less 
 debatable, and three of them may be 
 amended. All except two are carried by 
 a majority vote. The only vote upon any 
 of them which cannot be reconsidered is 
 an affirmative vote on the motion to lay on 
 the table. 
 
 The Question of Considera- 
 tion. 
 
 I. i R. 
 
 The assembly, on hearing a propo- 
 sition, may decide to consider it, or 
 may refuse to consider it. The question 
 proposed may tend to contention, or may 
 be libelous, irrelevant, or unprofitable. In 
 order to determine whether the assembly 
 will consider it, any member may raise the 
 question of consideration, rising in his 
 
36 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 place, addressing the Chair, and saying, "I 
 raise the question of consideration." This 
 requires no seconder. The Chair may 
 raise the question solely on his own re- 
 sponsibility. 
 
 This question was formerly put to every 
 principal motion as soon as the Chair had 
 stated it ; but now every question properly 
 introduced is considered, unless a vote 
 against consideration is given. The ques- 
 tion of consideration can be raised only be- 
 fore the main question has been considered. 
 A speaker to whom the floor has already 
 been given may be interrupted by it. But 
 after the first speaker has more than begun 
 his speech, or after any subsidiary or inci- 
 dental motion applying to the main ques- 
 tion has been stated by the Chair, it is 
 too late to raise the question of considera- 
 tion. It has then already been considered, 
 and therefore the question of consideration 
 is no longer relevant. 
 
 This question is applicable to nothing 
 but the main question. It is not debata- 
 ble nor amendable. No subsidiary motion 
 can be applied to it. 
 
 Though this question has no standing 
 unless seasonably raised, if seasonably 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 3/ 
 
 raised it is not taken off the floor by any- 
 thing except a point of order, and does not 
 yield place even to an order of the day. 
 
 A two thirds negative vote is required 
 to prevent consideration. A motion might 
 be able to secure the respect of the assem- 
 bly, although a bare majority thought its 
 consideration inexpedient, and an elucida- 
 tion of the subject during debate might 
 even show it to be of great importance. A 
 question ought not therefore to be sup- 
 pressed, and debate prevented, on less than 
 a two-thirds vote against it. 
 
 When, after the statement of the main 
 question and before debate has begun, 
 many subsidiary questions are simultane- 
 ously raised, this question takes precedence 
 of all others, and is stated first by the Chair. 
 When the Chair hears a member say, '' I 
 raise the question of consideration," the 
 Chair at once puts it to vote, allowing no 
 debate, and saying, " The question of con- 
 sideration is raised. Those in favor of 
 considering the question will rise and stand 
 to be counted. — Be seated. — Those op- 
 posed will rise." Thereafter the Chair an- 
 nounces the result of the vote, saying, 
 either, " The ayes have it, and the question 
 
38 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 will be considered " ; or, *' The noes have 
 it, and the assembly refuses to consider the 
 question." If the ayes have it, a two-thirds 
 negative vote not having been given, the 
 assembly proceeds to consider the question 
 just as though the question of considera- 
 tion had not been raised. But if the noes 
 have it, the principal motion is dropped 
 out of the proceedings, and, like a lost mo- 
 tion, cannot again be introduced during 
 the session. The principal motion and also 
 the disposal of it are, however, recorded 
 in the minutes. 
 
 An affirmative vote on the question of 
 consideration can be reconsidered, but not 
 after consideration has begun. A negative 
 vote can be reconsidered at any time dur- 
 ing the day on which the question was 
 raised. 
 
 To Lay on the Table. 
 
 F. S. R- ? 
 
 If a motion to lay on the table is carried, 
 it removes the principal question temporarily 
 from the assembly, the time for which it is 
 laid away being undetermined. It may be 
 r^ade by the friends or by the enemies of 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 39 
 
 the proposition. If there is no probability 
 of obtaining a majority vote for the main 
 question and its friends hope it will have a 
 better chance at a later time, they may 
 move to lay it on the table in order to pre- 
 vent its defeat. On the other hand, the 
 enemies of the measure may think its 
 friends so powerful that there is danger 
 of its being carried, and may hope that 
 by temporarily laying it aside ^ they can 
 strengthen their own force against it. Or 
 time may be lacking for present discussion 
 of it, or another question may require to be 
 first'decided, or advantage may in some 
 way be gained by delay. 
 
 By laying the question on the table, it 
 remains within the power of the assembly 
 to resume its consideration at any time 
 when no other question is before the as- 
 sembly. It may be taken up at any time 
 after other business shall have been transact- 
 ed, and before the end of the session. 
 
 This motion is often made with the intention 
 of defeating a measure. If a question is laid 
 upon the table and is not taken up before 
 the end of the session, it has to be intro- 
 duced as a new question, if introduced at 
 all, at the next session. 
 
40 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, 
 
 The fundamental principles of Parlia- 
 mentary Law require that every motion that 
 suppresses a question that the assembly has 
 decided to consider, should itself be open to 
 full debate. Laying a question on the table 
 leaves it so that the assembly can at any 
 time consider it further, and this motion is 
 therefore not debatable. 
 
 This question is of high rank, and if 
 many subsidiary motions are simultaneous- 
 ly made after debate has begun, this is first 
 stated. It can be made when any other 
 subsidiary motion, except the question of 
 consideration, is pending. This high rank, 
 giving power to supersede other subsidiary 
 motions, is incompatible with the right of oc- 
 cupying time in debate. If questions of high 
 rank were debatable, they could be used to 
 prevent the assembly from coming to a vote 
 on the main question and could thus great- 
 ly hinder business. 
 
 This motion applies to the main question 
 and to what adheres to the main question. It 
 may also be applied to a question of privi- 
 lege, to an appeal from a decision of the 
 Chair, to a motion for reconsideration, and 
 to an amendment to the minutes, these 
 questions having the status of main ques- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 4 1 
 
 tions while before the house. If it is de- 
 cided in the affirmative, the motion to 
 which it is appHed, together with all other 
 motions at the time connected with it, is 
 removed from before the assembly until it 
 is by a majority vote again taken up. 
 
 An amendment to the minutes, however, 
 being laid on the table, does not carry the 
 minutes with it ; a motion to reconsider, 
 when laid on the table, leaves the original 
 question unaffected ; and an appeal, laid on 
 the table, does not influence the main ques- 
 tion. 
 
 The motion to lay on the table can be 
 neither quaHfied nor amended. It may be 
 made before debate begins, at any time 
 during debate, and even after debate is 
 closed. It may be made when amend- 
 ments are pending, and if then carried, 
 it carries to the table all pending amend- 
 ments ; and these are also t?ken from 
 the table whenever the main question is 
 taken up. In the same way, if agreed to, it 
 carries to the table the motion to postpone, 
 to commit, to close debate, or any other 
 adherent motion. The mover says : ''I 
 move to lay this question on the table." 
 The Chair says : '* It is moved to lay this 
 
42 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 question on the table. Those in favor of so 
 doing will say aye. Those opposed will say 
 noy Then the Chair announces the result 
 of the vote, saying ; "The ayes have it, and 
 the question is laid on the table;" or, *'The 
 noes have it, and the question is still before 
 the assembly." 
 
 If the motion is lost, it may be re- 
 newed after an amendment has been made. 
 
 An affirmative vote on this motion cannot 
 be reconsidered, because a speedier way of 
 reaching the same result would be by a 
 motion to take from the table. A negative 
 vote can be reconsidered, but not after the 
 business has proceeded farther, because the 
 motion can then be renewed. 
 
 To Take From the Table. 
 
 F. S. R- ? 
 
 A question that has been laid on the table 
 may be taken from the table at any time 
 after other business has been transacted, 
 when no other business is before the as- 
 sembly. 
 
 The motion to take it from the table 
 must be made by some one who voted to 
 lay it on the table. The justice of this 
 rule is apparent if we suppose the question 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 43 
 
 to have been laid on the table by its friends, 
 and that in their absence the enemies of the 
 measure ought not to be able to take it up 
 and adversely dispose of it. Whatever fac- 
 tion laid the question on the table has a 
 right to hold it there during their pleasure, 
 they being necessarily a majority. It is 
 therefore expedient to vote with the ma- 
 jority, if the question is inevitably to be laid 
 on the table. 
 
 No subsidiary motion can be applied 
 to the motion to take from the table. The 
 mover says : '* I move to take from the table 
 
 the question concerning ." If carried, 
 
 the Secretary reads from the minutes the 
 question to be taken up, making plain the 
 adherent motions. 
 
 When taken from the table the question 
 stands just as it did when laid on the table. 
 
 If a motion to take from the table is lost 
 it can be renewed at any time after other 
 business has been transacted, when no busi- 
 ness is before the house, and therefore an 
 affirmative vote on this motion cannot be 
 reconsidered. A negative vote upon it 
 may be reconsidered. 
 
 A question may be laid upon the table and 
 taken therefrom any number of times. 
 
44 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The Previous Question. 
 
 F. S. f . R. 
 
 This is a term inherited from England, 
 where it was formerly used in avoidance of a 
 direct vote on matters affecting high person- 
 ages. In America it means the closing of de- 
 bate. Were there no way of shutting off 
 debate, the minority might by persistent dis- 
 cussion prevent a decision upon the business 
 before the assembly. If the motion for the 
 Previous Question is carried, it cuts off debate 
 and brings the assembly to vote on the 
 pending question. If determined in the 
 negative the debate goes on. 
 
 The Previous Question may be moved to 
 all debatable motions and is limited to that 
 to which it is applied by the mover. It 
 can be moved solely on an amendment, on 
 an amendment to an amendment, on the 
 motion to refer to a committee, on the mo- 
 tion to postpone to a certain time, or on the 
 motion to postpone indefinitely. 
 
 Its force is exhausted when it has accom- 
 plished its object, the closing of the debate 
 on that to which it is applied. If applied 
 to postponement only, it does not close de- 
 bate on the main question ; if to the motion 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 45 
 
 to commit, it is exhausted when the ques- 
 tion of reference to a committee is decided ; 
 if to an amendment, its force ceases when 
 the amendment has been voted upon. If 
 apphed to a main question when amend- 
 ments are pending it also covers the amend- 
 ments, and neither the amendments nor the 
 main question can be further debated. 
 
 In the U. S. Senate the Previous Ques- 
 tion cannot be moved, prejudice being 
 strong against shutting off debate in that de- 
 hberative body. 
 
 The motion to close debate should be 
 made only when debate has exhausted the 
 subject, and when there is no probability of 
 further enlightenment through discussion. 
 
 The right of debate on any debatable 
 question does not cease until the assembly 
 so orders by the adoption of the Previous 
 Question. Unless so ordered, debate may 
 even interrupt the vote if the noes have not 
 been called for. If there be debate after 
 the ayes have responded, then the vote 
 must again be taken. But after the noes 
 have been called for, debate must in any 
 case cease. 
 
 To shut off further debate is looked upon 
 as so serious an action that a two-thirds 
 
46 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 affirmative vote is generally required to 
 carry the Previous Question ; but when 
 party feeling runs high the rule for a two- 
 thirds vote might defeat the object of the 
 motion. In the House of Commons a 
 majority, with the assent of the speaker, 
 may close debate. 
 
 Common unwillingness to cut off discus- 
 sion is probably a sufficient protection 
 against the abuse of this motion. 
 
 It ranks below the Question of Consid- 
 eration and the motion to lay on the table, 
 and it should not be moved when either of 
 these is pending. It is of the same rank 
 with the two motions to postpone and the mo- 
 tion to refer to acommittee, and cannot be put 
 while either of its equals in rank is pending. 
 
 In some legislative bodies the Previous 
 Question outranks the other three just 
 named, as well as the motion to amend, 
 and may be put when either of them is 
 pending. 
 
 An adjournment may be moved after the 
 Previous Question is ordered and before 
 the main question is voted upon. If carried, 
 the main question is put to vote at the 
 next meeting immediately after the reading 
 of the minutes, or as unfinished business. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 47 
 
 A question may be laid on the table 
 after debate upon it has been closed; 
 but it cannot be debated if taken up at 
 a later time. 
 
 No debatable motion can be applied to 
 the main question after debate upon it has 
 been closed by vote. 
 
 It is allowable for a member to submit a 
 resolution and at the same time move the 
 Previous Question thereon. 
 
 The Previous Question may be affirma- 
 tively voted upon before debate has begun, 
 thus preventing debate. 
 
 The adoption of the motion closing de- 
 bate does not deprive the introducer of the 
 principal motion of his right to speak last in 
 debate, and one speech may therefore be 
 made after the Previous Question is or- 
 dered on the main question. 
 
 There are, in common use, various mis- 
 leading forms of putting the Previous Ques- 
 tion. Probably the clearest and most con- 
 cise form is as follows : '' The Previous 
 Question is moved. Those in favor of now 
 closing the debate will rise and stand to be 
 counted. — Be seated. — Those opposed will 
 rise." This form precisely expresses what 
 is voted upon, while other forms do not. 
 
48 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The result of the vote may be announced 
 as, ''The ayes have it, and debate is closed" ; 
 or, '^ The noes have it, and debate will con- 
 tinue." 
 
 To Postpone to a Certain 
 Day ox* Time of the Day. 
 
 R S. D. A. R. 
 
 This motion may be made with the object 
 of giving the members time to inform them- 
 selves, or because a certain learned man 
 can then be present, or because the subject 
 requires more time than is at hand, or for 
 other reasons. 
 
 Business cannot be postponed beyond 
 the end of the session, except in conven- 
 tions whose special rules permit it to come 
 up with unfinished business during the next 
 session. In Congress a motion cannot be 
 postponed to the next session. 
 
 A measure can be postponed only to a 
 time when it can be brought before the as- 
 sembly. A motion to postpone to an im- 
 possible time would be equivalent to a mo- 
 tion to postpone indefinitely, and should be 
 so presented. 
 
 The day and the hour should be fixed by 
 the motion. The mover may say, " I move 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 49 
 
 to postpone this question to next Tuesday 
 at three o'clock." This having been sec- 
 onded, stated, and subjected to debate, if 
 no amendment of time were made, the Chair 
 would put it to vote by saying, '' The ques- 
 tion is upon postponing this question to 
 next Tuesday at three o'clock. Those in 
 favor of this will say aye. Those opposed 
 will say 710^ The result of the vote would 
 •then be announced, the Chair saying, '' The 
 ayes have it, and the question is postponed 
 to next Tuesday at three o'clock"; or, 
 " The noes have it, and the question is still 
 before the assembly." 
 
 This motion allows limited debate on 
 the propriety of postponement, but no de- 
 bate on the merits of the main question. It 
 can be amended only as to time. 
 
 If it is desired to hold an adjourned 
 meeting to consider a special subject, the 
 time to which the assembly shall adjourn 
 should be fixed before making the motion 
 to postpone to that day. 
 
 This motion can be made when a motion 
 to amend is pending, being of higher rank. 
 It is of equal rank with the motion for the 
 previous question, to commit, and to post- 
 pone indefinitely, and consequently none of 
 
50 PARLIAME3NTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 them is in order when this motion is pend- 
 ing ; neither can this motion be made when 
 either of the other three is pending. 
 
 The effect of the motion if carried is to 
 postpone the entire subject with all pending 
 amendments to the time specified. Before 
 the time arrives it may be taken up by no 
 less than a two-thirds vote, and a unani- 
 mous vote might well be required. To per- 
 mit it to be taken up by a lesser number 
 obliges a faction to be always on guard 
 over it, lest in their absence it be taken up 
 and acted upon by the opposing party. 
 
 Order of the Day. 
 
 I. R. 
 
 When the specified time arrives, the post- 
 poned question is entitled to be taken up in 
 preference to any other business. It is re- 
 ferred to as the order of the day, and can 
 be called up on the suggestion of any mem- 
 ber, or the Chair may lay it before the as- 
 sembly. When the time fixed by the or- 
 der of the day is reached, a speaker may be 
 interrupted by the call. Any member may 
 rise, address the Chair, and say, " I call for 
 the order of the day." The Chair may at 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 5 I 
 
 once bring forward the order of the day, or 
 may put the call to vote, saying, " Shall 
 the order of the day be now taken up "; or, 
 " Will the assembly now proceed to the or- 
 ders of the day," and the question is de- 
 cided by a majority vote. 
 
 Or it may be that when the Chair brings 
 forward the order, or orders, of the day, 
 the assembly prefers to go on with the busi- 
 ness already before it. In that case any 
 member may rise, address the Chair, and 
 say, *' I raise the question of present con- 
 sideration against the order of the day"; 
 and if present consideration be decided 
 against, the business previously pending 
 can go on. If there were several orders, 
 the question of present consideration would 
 have to be raised against each order of the 
 day in succession. 
 
 An affirmative vote, on taking up the or- 
 der of the day, removes the question pre- 
 viously under consideration from before the 
 assembly, as though it had been inter- 
 rupted by an adjournment. 
 
 A negative vote dispenses with the or- 
 ders of the day only so far as they inter- 
 fere with the question then being consid- 
 ered. 
 
52 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The call for the order of the day cannot 
 be renewed until the question then being 
 considered is disposed of. 
 
 A motion to take up a question out of 
 its proper order cannot be amended nor 
 debated, and requires a two-thirds vote, 
 being the suspension of a rule. I 
 
 When several questions have been or- 
 dered for the day, each question can be laid 
 on the table as it comes up, and thus a par- 
 ticular question can be quickly reached. 
 
 When several questions are postponed 
 to different times and are not reached, they 
 must be considered in the order of the times 
 to which they were assigned. The ques- 
 tions would have priority in the order of 
 their assignment. But the business fixed 
 for a certain hour has at that hour preced- 
 ence over pending business, even though 
 that business be an order of the day. 
 
 A call for orders of the day takes pre- 
 cedence of everything except privileged 
 questions and the motion to reconsider. 
 
 A subject may be made a special order 
 by a two-thirds vote, the two-thirds vote 
 being required because the special order is 
 in the nature of a suspension of the rules. 
 When the special order arrives, it takes 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 53 
 
 precedence of all business except the read- 
 ing of the minutes. If two special orders 
 are made for the same day, the one first 
 made takes precedence. Special orders 
 outrank general orders. 
 
 Though a two-thirds vote is required for 
 making a special order, that vote can be 
 reconsidered on a majority vote for recon- 
 sideration. 
 
 To Commit, Recommit, or 
 Refer. 
 
 F. S. D. A. R. 
 
 A committee consists of a selected num- 
 ber of members appointed to perform cer- 
 tain work. The object of the motion to 
 refer to a committee, or to recommit to the 
 same committee, is to expedite business, to 
 furnish opportunity for special investiga- 
 tion by certain members, or to obtain ex- 
 pert judgment. When a motion or report 
 is not well digested, and requires many 
 amendments, much time is saved to the as- 
 sembly by referring it to a committee for 
 revision. 
 
 The great value of committees has led 
 many assemblies to perform nearly all their 
 
54 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 work in committee rooms. This plan frees 
 special branches of business from the in- 
 convenience of numbers, and tends to pre- 
 serve the assembly from being too greatly 
 influenced by plausible harangues. 
 
 The committee is the creature of the as- 
 sembly and can in no case exceed the in- 
 structions received from the assembly. If 
 the assembly directs the time and place of 
 meeting and the meeting be not held, new 
 instructions must be received before the 
 committee can act. 
 
 The Chair is always instructed by the 
 assembly as to the manner of forming the 
 committee and as to the number of which 
 it shall consist. 
 
 Whatever the method of forming the 
 committee the member first named acts as 
 temporary chairman and a permanent chair- 
 man is immediately elected by the commit- 
 tee itself, unless the chairman has been de- 
 signated by the assembly, or unless the rule 
 of the society requires the appointment of 
 the chairman by the President. 
 
 The motion to commit is debatable and 
 may be amended as to the number in the 
 committee, the manner of its formation, and 
 the instruction given. It is carried by a ma- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 55 
 
 jority vote, which can be reconsidered, but 
 not after the committee has acted. 
 
 The motion to commit may be made 
 while amendments are pending and if car- 
 ried the amendments go with the principal 
 motion to the committee. 
 
 The Previous Question may be applied 
 to this motion and so may the motion to 
 amend but no other subsidiary motion ap- 
 plies to it. It is itself applicable to nothing 
 other than the main question. 
 
 There are Five Kinds of 
 Oommittees. 
 
 1. Special Committees are appointed for 
 a particular occasion. They are dissolved 
 by the act of reporting or by the accom- 
 plishment of their work. 
 
 2. Standing Committees are created by 
 the rules of the assembly and are usually 
 appointed for the term of one year or for 
 the session. The rules regulate the method 
 of election or appointment of all standing 
 committees. A standing committee after 
 a full report has no further control of the 
 matter reported, unless there be a new 
 reference. 
 
56 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 3. Joint Committees are made up of | 
 members of two branches of a legislature 
 or convocation and may be either special 
 or standing. They perform certain work 
 in which the two branches have a mutual 
 interest. 
 
 4. A Conference Committee is a commit- 
 tee appointed by one branch of a legislature 
 or convocation to meet a similar committee 
 appointed by another branch of a legislature 
 or convocation when the two bodies have 
 disagreed. At the conference, there is 
 examination and discussion of the points of 
 difference and an effort to reach an agree- 
 ment. Each conference committee is com- 
 posed of an odd number, and the majority 
 in each should represent the majority of the 
 appointing body. To constitute an agree- 
 ment authorizing a report to the two bodies, 
 a majority of each constituent committee 
 must assent. The report when ready is 
 privileged over other business. 
 
 5. A Committee of the Whole is the as- 
 sembly itself in another form, since the 
 membership is identical, and the same 
 number is required for a quorum. It has 
 another presiding officer named by the 
 Chair, or elected by the assembly in case 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 5J^ 
 
 of dispute concerning the selection made 
 by the Chair. 
 
 The presiding officer of the assembly 
 may take part in the debate. The clerk of 
 the assembly acts as clerk of this commit- 
 tee, but keeps no record of its proceedings 
 except such temporary memoranda as will 
 enable him to assist the chairman in the 
 orderly conduct of business. The report 
 which the committee makes to the assembly 
 is its record, and becomes part of the record 
 of the assembly. 
 
 In Committee of the Whole each mem- 
 ber may debate as often as he can get the 
 floor ; otherwise the rules are the same as 
 for the assembly. But the Committee of 
 the Whole cannot adjourn, cannot lay on 
 the table, cannot move the Previous Ques- 
 tion, cannot postpone, and cannot refer to 
 another committee. The only motions in 
 order are to amend, to adopt, and that the 
 committee rise and report. The only way 
 to limit debate in Committee of the Whole, 
 whether in regard to the time allowed to 
 each speaker, or the time that the commit- 
 tee shall have for debate, is by the order of 
 the assembly. The Committee of the Whole 
 does its work as does any other committee 
 
58 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 and reports to the assembly through its 
 chairman. 
 
 In Committee of the Whole the yeas and 
 nays cannot be called, and therefore the 
 original purpose of the committee is sub- 
 served and the doings of its members 
 escape the notice of the public. 
 
 The Committee has no power to punish for 
 disorder. Any disorderly behavior should 
 be reported to the assembly for its action. 
 
 Instead of going into Committee of the 
 Whole it is sometimes better to move that 
 the question be considered informally. 
 While acting informally each member can 
 speak as often as he can get the floor and 
 if that be the desired object it is more easily 
 attained by the latter motion. In assem- 
 blies not legislative it is rarely worth while 
 to go into Committee of the Whole. 
 
 The form for the motion is " I move that 
 this assembly now resolve itself into a Com- 
 mittee of the Whole to consider the ques- 
 tion of " 
 
 There Are Four "Ways of 
 Forming Committees. 
 
 I . By Appointment by the Chair. This is 
 a speedy way of creating a committee and 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 59 
 
 is suitable when the Chair is thoroughly 
 acquainted with the members and when 
 there is no fear of placing too great power 
 in the hands of the Chair. 
 
 The form of this motion is, ** I move that 
 this question be referred to a committee 
 of appointed by the Chair." 
 
 2. By Resolution subject to amendment^ the 
 resolution naming the members. 
 
 The form of this motion is, "I move to 
 refer this question to a committee consist- 
 ing of Mr. — , Mr. — , and Mrs. — " This 
 might be amended by the insertion of 
 other names, or by striking out and insert- 
 ing names. 
 
 3. By Nomination front the Floor and 
 vote, when all have been nominated. In 
 nomination from the floor, no member has 
 the right to nominate more than one per- 
 son. All nominations must be seconded. 
 Nominations continue until closed by gen- 
 eral consent, or by majority vote. When 
 the nominations are closed, the Chair puts 
 the names to vote in the order in which 
 they were proposed, and when the number 
 mentioned by the motion have been elected, 
 no more names are voted upon. The form 
 of this motion is : "I move that this ques- 
 
6o PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 tion be referred to a committee of- 
 
 nominated from the floor and elected by- 
 acclamation." 
 
 4. By Ballot, which is taken separately 
 for each member, or by a single ballot for 
 the whole committee. This method takes 
 much time, and is therefore seldom called 
 for, but is useful in the choice of important 
 committees. The form of the motion is, 
 " I move to refer the question to a com- 
 mittee of elected by ballot," and 
 
 instruction as to the method of nominating 
 may be inserted. 
 
 Committees and Their 
 Work. 
 
 Members of Committee should represent 
 different views if for deliberation, similar 
 views if for action. Large committees are 
 usually best for deliberation, small ones for 
 action. 
 
 A committee should consist of an odd 
 number, so that a majority vote may be 
 easily secured. A committee may be given 
 power to add to its own number, or a 
 Chairman of Committee may be empowered 
 to create the committee. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 6 1 
 
 A committee does not adjourn at the close 
 of a meeting ; the committee rises. The 
 proper form for the motion is, "I move 
 that this committe do now rise." 
 
 A committee cannot act by separate as- 
 sent, but must meet in conference. If 
 all members have been notified of the meet- 
 ing, a majority is sufficient for the transac- 
 tion of business. 
 
 Sub-committees may be appointed from 
 among the members of a committee, to re- 
 port to the committee in the same manner 
 as the committee reports to the assembly. 
 
 It is customary to appoint the mover and 
 seconder upon the committee, but this is 
 not obligatory. Fitness is the sole qualifi- 
 cation demanded, and the mover may be 
 less fit than some other member. 
 
 Unless the committee otherwise directs, 
 its meetings are open to other members. 
 
 The President is not a member of any 
 committee unless made so by the rule of 
 the assembly, or by special appointment. 
 
 The number in the committee, and the 
 kind of committee, need not be decided 
 upon until after it has been voted to refer 
 the subject to a committee, though time is 
 usually saved by including in the motion to 
 
62 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 commit, the number in the committee, the 
 manner in which the committee shall be 
 formed, and the tirne when it shall report. 
 In case of need, the Chair inquires how the 
 committee shall be formed and of how 
 many it shall consist. 
 
 Members who are absent, or who cannot 
 be consulted, should not be nominated or 
 appointed to a committee ; and members 
 who cannot serve should decline when nomi- 
 nated, or immediately upon appointment. 
 
 The motion to commit may be thwarted 
 by being amended so as to refer to a Com- 
 mittee of the Whole. 
 
 When different committees are proposed 
 for reference, they should be voted upon in 
 the following order: ist, Committee of 
 the Whole ; 2d, Standing Committee ; 3d, 
 Special Committee. 
 
 At the first meeting of a committee it 
 elects its Chairman and Secretary, unless 
 the assembly has already designated these 
 officers. Its work is to carry out the in- 
 struction of the assembly, with whatever 
 power has been conferred upon it. 
 
 The Chairman of the committee calls the 
 meetings of the committee, unless the time 
 and place of meeting has been dictated by 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 63 
 
 the assembly. The Chairman presides at 
 the committee meetings, and, unless the 
 committee orders otherwise, makes all re- 
 ports to the assembly. 
 
 The Secretary of the committee notifies 
 its members of meetings, keeps minutes of 
 each meeting, has custody of all papers 
 sent to the committee, and transmits all 
 papers to the clerk of the assembly when 
 the committee ceases to have them in charge. 
 The minutes kept are for the use of the 
 committee alone. 
 
 No allusion should be made in the assem- 
 bly to what has occurred in committee, 
 except it be by report of the committee, or 
 by general consent of the committee. 
 
 Procedure in committee is the same as in 
 the assembly. The majority of the mem- 
 bers determine the report. But in com- 
 mittee meetings questions are usually de- 
 bated informally, and in small committees 
 members do not rise when addressing the 
 chairman, nor when seconding motions. 
 No limit is placed on debate, unless by 
 order of the assembly. 
 
 When a paper is referred to a cornmittee 
 the committee should not interline, disfigure, 
 nor tear it in any manner ; but must set 
 
64 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 down on a separate paper the amendments 
 agreed upon by the committee, stating what 
 they are and where they have been made. 
 
 When a paper is referred to a committee, 
 the paper is first read through to the com- 
 mittee, and is then read by paragraphs. 
 At the close of each paragraph the chair- 
 man asks if there are any amendments, and 
 puts to vote the amendments proposed, but 
 does not call for a vote on the whole paper. 
 A committee cannot reject a paper, but 
 must report it back either affirmatively or 
 negatively. 
 
 The report of a committee must be signed 
 by all members who concur in the report. 
 
 By consent of the assembly a minority 
 report may be received by it. 
 
 If a report be in writing, a copy should 
 be laid upon the clerk's desk, and a copy 
 should be held by the chairman of the com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The work of the committee must be re- 
 ported to and revised by the assembly. 
 The action of the committee is advisory 
 only. The committee has no more power 
 than is conferred upon it by the assembly, 
 and may exercise only the functions which 
 the assembly delegates to it. The assem- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 6$ 
 
 bly may amend, modify, accept, or reject 
 all, or any part, of the work of the com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The committee, when ready to report, 
 says, '' Your committee is now ready to re- 
 port." The report is for immediate action, 
 unless the rules prescribe otherwise. The 
 Chair may say, *' If there be no objection 
 the report will now be received." 
 
 Any member may raise the question of 
 immediate consideration of a report de- 
 manding that the question be put upon the 
 reception of the report. The Chair says, 
 '' The question is upon the immediate re- 
 ception of the report." If negatived the 
 committee must wait until a more favorable 
 season. 
 
 When a subject has been referred to a 
 committee that reports at the same meet- 
 ing, the subject stands before the assembly 
 as if introduced for the first time. 
 
 The report of a committee is received 
 when it is read. Hearing the report is re- 
 ceiving it. If the report be at all lengthy 
 some member should, after it has been 
 read by the chairman of the committee, 
 move that the report be considered seriatim, 
 that is, section by section, or paragraph by 
 
66 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 paragraph. This motion being seconded, 
 put to vote, and carried, the clerk reads the 
 report, a paragraph or section at a time, and 
 each section may in its order be debated 
 and amended ; but no vote should be taken 
 upon the separate paragraphs. 
 
 After seriatim consideration, in which all 
 amendments offered are voted upon in their 
 order, some member moves that the 
 amended report be adopted, or accepted, 
 and after debate the vote is taken upon the 
 report as a whole. 
 
 The preamble, if there be one, should be 
 considered last and should be separately- 
 voted upon. Seriatim consideration affords 
 two opportunities of discussing the report, 
 once under the consideration given to it 
 section by section, and once under the mo- 
 tion to adopt the report. 
 
 The member presenting the report is first 
 entitled to the floor in debate, and has also 
 the right to close the debate, even after the 
 Previous Question is ordered. 
 
 A report given simply for information 
 should not be adopted. To accept or 
 adopt, endorses the report and commits 
 the assembly to the statements included in 
 the report. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 67 
 
 No committee is discharged after com- 
 pleting its work. When its work is done, 
 its existence ceases. A committee which 
 does not perform its work may be dis- 
 charged and a new committee appointed. 
 
 To Postpone Indefinitely. 
 
 F. S. D. R. 
 
 After a question has been debated there 
 are two ways of suppressing it, one by vot- 
 ing it down, the other by an indefinite post- 
 ponement. Both have the same effect. 
 An affirmative vote on the motion to post- 
 pone indefinitely has the same effect as has 
 a negative vote on the main question. 
 The motion is used by the opponents of a 
 measure when doubtful of their own 
 strength, because if defeated on this motion 
 they still have opportunity for a further 
 struggle for victory, which would not be 
 the case if they were defeated in the vote 
 upon the main question. 
 
 If this motion is decided in the affirma- 
 tive, the main question, with what adheres 
 thereto, is entirely removed from before the 
 assembly for that session ; if decided in the 
 
68 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 negative, the debate proceeds as if this mo- 
 tion had not been made. 
 
 This motion ranks with the motion to 
 postpone to a certain time, to commit, and 
 to close debate, and above the motion to 
 amend. In some legislative bodies it 
 ranks below the motion to amend, and 
 cannot be made when an amendment is 
 pending. 
 
 No subsidiary motion, except the Pre- 
 vious Question, can be applied to it, and it 
 applies to nothing beside the main question. 
 It cannot be amended in regard to time 
 as that would make it equivalent to a motion 
 to postpone to a certain day, and that has a 
 different purpose. 
 
 It is eminently debatable and opens the 
 whole main question to debate. Any mo- 
 tion that has the effect to suppress a ques- 
 tion before an assembly so that it cannot 
 again be taken up during the session allows 
 free debate ; and any subsidiary motion is 
 debatable to just the extent that it inter- 
 feres with the right of the assembly to take 
 up the original question at its pleasure. 
 For instance, on a motion for indefinite 
 postponement the whole question is open 
 to debate, because an affirmative vote will 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 69 
 
 remove it permanently from the assembly. 
 In a motion for postponement to a certain 
 day, debate is limited to the question of 
 postponement, because there will be further 
 opportunity to debate the main question at 
 the time set. On a motion to commit, 
 debate is permitted, because it is important 
 that the committee should be formed and 
 instructed by the assembly ; but debate is 
 limited to the motion to commit, because 
 future occasion is provided for debate on 
 the main question at the report of the com- 
 mittee. A motion to lay on the table is 
 undebatable, because the question can at 
 any time be taken up and debated. 
 
 It thus appears that the amount of per- 
 missible debate is determined by the degree 
 of danger which the subsidiary motion 
 presents to the main question ; the subsi- 
 diary motion which, if carried, would kill 
 the measure, permits unlimited debate on 
 the main question itself, while the subsidiary 
 motion which offers no harm to the main 
 question is wholly undebatable. 
 
 The enemies of a measure sometimes 
 move indefinite postponement in order to 
 ascertain, through the opposing vote, how 
 numerous the friends of the measure may 
 
yO PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 be. They are then better prepared to adopt 
 tactics that may overthrow their opponents, 
 or they may discreetly adjust their forces 
 on the popular side. 
 
 The enemy of the proposition may say, 
 " I move the indefinite postponement of this 
 question." 
 
 In announcing the result of the vote the 
 Chair says, " The ayes have it, and the 
 question is indefinitely postponed," or else 
 says, " The noes have it, and the question 
 is before the assembly for further debate." 
 
 To Amend. ^ 
 
 F. S. D. A. R. ' 
 
 Every assembly has an indisputable right 
 to alter or modify any proposition laid 
 before it. The purpose of amendment is 
 to change the proposition so that it will 
 more perfectly express the mind of the 
 majority. 
 
 An amendment may be made which 
 changes the meaning of a proposition, but 
 none can be made which changes the sub- 
 ject. The censure of an individual may 
 be changed to an expression of thanks or 
 words may be inserted which will secure 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 7 1 
 
 the defeat of a proposition by making it 
 absurd. 
 
 When a proposition is not well expressed 
 or clearly put it is usually better to refer it 
 to a committee who may write it out in 
 better form. Motions should be well di- 
 gested and clearly written out before they 
 are placed before an assembly. 
 
 The effect of an amendment is always to 
 modify or change the main question. 
 
 An amendment made by inserting or by 
 striking out the word not is not permissible, 
 as the end would be reached as well by the 
 vote alone. 
 
 There are three ways of amending a mo- 
 tion, resolution, bill, or report. 
 
 I St. By striking out words. The form is 
 
 **I move to strike out ." Words that 
 
 have been stricken out cannot be again in- 
 serted except it be in connection with other 
 words that change the meaning of the 
 proposition. 
 
 2d. By inserting words. The form is 
 ** I move to insert — ." Words that have 
 been inserted cannot be stricken out, un- 
 less other words are at the same time 
 stricken out so that there is a change of 
 meaning. 
 
^2 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 3d. By Striking out and inserting. The 
 motion to strike out and insert is indivisible. 
 But the words proposed to be inserted need 
 not be inserted in the same place as the 
 words stricken out. 
 
 Two mnendments to different parts of the 
 propositio7i camtot be pending at the same 
 time ; but any number of amendments may- 
 be made one by one. Other amendments 
 than the one to the original proposition 
 must be confined to that one, and the ori- 
 ginal amendment must be disposed of be- 
 fore another amendment to the proposition 
 is entertained. 
 
 To Amesid an Amendment. 
 
 F. S. D. R. 
 
 An amendment may itself be amended, and 
 the second amendment may be debated, 
 but cannot be amended. Any number of 
 amendments may be made, one at a time, 
 to an amendment. The amendment to the 
 amendment is treated in the same way as is 
 the amendment to the original proposition : 
 it may be amended by striking out, by in- 
 serting, or by striking out and inserting. 
 
 When there is an amendment to an 
 amendment, the amendment to the amend- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 73 
 
 ment is first voted upon, and afterward the 
 amendment as amended is voted upon, and 
 lastly, after all amendment is completed, 
 the proposition as amended is put to vote. 
 
 When an amendment by striking out is 
 proposed, and an amendment by striking 
 out is offered as an amendment to that 
 amendment, the intention of the mover of 
 the amendment to the amendment is to 
 strike out from the original motion less 
 than the proposed amendment would take 
 out. For instance if the amendment pro- 
 poses to strike out from the proposition A- 
 B-C-D-E-F t h e letters B C-D, and 
 an amendment to this amendment proposes 
 to strike out in the amendment the letters 
 B-C, then if the amendment to the amend- 
 ment is agreed to, B-C is stricken out of 
 the amendment, and D alone remains in the 
 amendment. If this amendment be agreed 
 to, then the amended proposition would be 
 A-B-C-E-F. 
 
 When an amendment by striking out is 
 proposed, and an amendment by insertion 
 is offered as an amendment to the amend- 
 ment, the intention of the mover of the 
 amendment to the amendment is to strike 
 out from the original motion more than the 
 
74 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 offered amendment would remove. For 
 instance if from the proposition A-B-C-D- 
 E-F it is proposed to strike out B-C-D 
 and an amendment to this amendment pro- 
 poses to insert E-F, then if the amendment 
 to the amendment be agreed to, the amend- 
 ment would propose to strike out B-C-D- 
 E-F, and if this amendment were adopted, 
 only A would remain from the original mo- 
 tion. When anything is inserted in an 
 amendment to be made by striking out, that 
 which is inserted is always taken from the 
 principal motion. 
 
 An amendment made by striking out and 
 inserting in an amendment made by striking 
 out, restores to the original motion some- 
 thing which the amendment proposed to 
 remove, and takes from the original motion 
 something which the amendment would 
 have left therein. For instance, if the 
 amendment proposes to strike out B-C-D 
 from the proposition A-B-C-D-E-F, and 
 the amendment to the amendment proposes 
 to strike out B and insert E, agreement to 
 the amendment to the amendment would 
 leave the amendment ''to strike out C-D- 
 E," and if this were agreed to, the principal 
 motion would then stand as A-B-F. In 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^5 
 
 this case, what is stricken out from the 
 amendment goes back to the principal mo- 
 tion, and what is inserted in the amend- 
 ment disappears from the principal motion. 
 
 If the main question were A-B-C-D-E- 
 F, and an amendment proposed to insert G, 
 an amendmentto the amendment, proposing 
 to strike out G and insert M would not be in 
 order, because that is a proposal to destroy 
 the whole of the offered amendment. The 
 advocate of M should debate against G, 
 urging the superiority of M, and when G was 
 rejected, move a new amendment '' to insert 
 M." 
 
 When the amendment proposed is ^^ by 
 inserting'' alone, that which is inserted 
 comes always from outside the main ques- 
 tion. To strike out in an amendment by in- 
 serting, is to insert less. If the main ques- 
 tion were A-B-C, and the amendment 
 called for the insertion of E-F-G, and the 
 amendment were amended by striking out 
 F-G, the amended motion would be A-B- 
 C-E. 
 
 If the principal motion were A-B-C-D- 
 E-F, and an amendment proposed to strike 
 out D-E-F and to insert G-H, and this 
 amendment were amended by striking out 
 
76 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 D and amended again by inserting I, the 
 amended motion would be A-B-C-D-G-H-L 
 
 When it is proposed to amend by strik- 
 ing out certain words and inserting other 
 words in either portion of the proposed 
 amendment, the portion proposed for strik- 
 ing out, or the portion proposed for insert- 
 ing, may be amended by striking out, by 
 inserting, or by striking out and inserting. 
 
 In the proposition A-B-C-D-E-F it is 
 proposed to strike out A-B-C-D and to 
 insert X-Y-Z. The portion A-B-C-D is 
 amended by striking out A and inserting 
 E. Then the portion X-Y-Z is amended 
 by striking out X and inserting W. Then 
 this portion is further amended by striking 
 out Z. Then the first portion is further 
 amended by striking out C. The amended 
 amendment being agreed to, the main ques- 
 tion stands A-C-F-W-Y. 
 
 A proposition may be rejected after 
 amendment. Those who are opposed to 
 the proposition would better debate and 
 vote on the offered amendments, if there be 
 a probability that the principal motion may 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^J 
 
 be carried. The objectionable features of 
 an objectionable measure may thus be re- 
 duced to the smallest possible dimensions. 
 
 The motion to amend is of lowest rank, 
 and gives way to all other motions. When 
 pending, however, it is not cut off from final 
 consideration by any other motion. A mo- 
 tion to commit, if adopted, sends pending 
 amendments as well as the main question 
 to the committee ; a motion to lay on the 
 table, or to postpone, if agreed to, carries 
 all pending amendments with the main 
 question. The Previous Question, if or- 
 dered to the main question, requires pend- 
 ing amendments to be first voted upon. 
 
 No undebatable motion can be amended 
 except the privileged motion to fix the 
 time to which to adjourn, which can be 
 amended only as to time ; the motions re- 
 lating to method of consideration, which 
 can be amended only as to method; and the 
 motion to divide the question, which can be 
 amended only as to place of division. 
 
 Among the subsidiary motions, the mo- 
 tion to amend can be applied only to the 
 motion to postpone to a certain day, which 
 can be amended only as to time ; to the 
 motion to commit, which can be amended 
 
yS PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 as to the number of members in the 
 committee, the mode of forming the com- 
 mittee, or the instructions given the com- 
 mittee ; and to itself, in so far as a first 
 amendment can be itself amended. 
 
 None of the other subsidiary motions, 
 except the Previous Question, can be ap- 
 plied solely to the motion to amend. Any 
 other subsidiary motion, applied when an 
 amendment is pending, applies to the main 
 question as well as to the amendment. 
 
 If the Previous Question is adopted, it 
 bears on the principal motion and on all 
 pending amendments, unless otherwise 
 specified by the mover at the time of intro- 
 ducing it. 
 
 A member may move to amend his own 
 motion. 
 
 After the question has been stated, the 
 mover may accept an amendment, if there 
 be no objection ; but if objection is made, a 
 majority vote is required. 
 
 When an amendment has been moved 
 and seconded, the Chair should always 
 state the question distinctly, so that every 
 member may know exactly what is before 
 the assembly. The Chair should, if neces- 
 sary, first read the paragraph which it is 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. ^9 
 
 proposed to amend, then the words which 
 are to be struck out or inserted, and finally 
 the paragraph as it will stand if the amend- 
 ment is adopted. He then states that *'the 
 question is on the adoption of the amend- 
 ment." This is open to debate, the remarks 
 being confined to the merits of the amend- 
 ment. After the debate the Chair says, 
 ** Will the assembly agree to the amend- 
 ment ? Those agreeing will say aye. Those 
 opposed will say no.'" The result of the 
 vote is announced by saying : *^ The ayes 
 have it, and the amendment is agreed to " ; 
 or, '' The noes have it, and the amendment 
 is not agreed to." 
 
 A short and informal method of striking 
 out and inserting, may be applied to whole 
 paragraphs or bills. The mover says, *'For 
 the paragraph under consideration I offer 
 the following substitute," and reads a new 
 paragraph as a substitute for the old. The 
 friends of the old paragraph have a right to 
 perfect it by amendment before the vote is 
 put for the adoption of the substitute, and 
 the friends of the new paragraph have the 
 
80 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 same privilege in regard to the offered sub- 
 stitute. After the friends of the old para- 
 graph have completed their work, and the 
 friends of the new paragraph have perfected 
 theirs, both parties having the assistance of 
 the whole assembly, the question of the ac- 
 ceptance of the substitute is put to vote, and 
 if the substitute be accepted, the old para- 
 graph is stricken out and the new one is in- 
 serted. 
 
 It is manifest that if the assembly were 
 obliged to accept or reject the substitute 
 immediately, it would have to choose be- 
 tween two paragraphs, neither of which 
 might be fully acceptable. One of the two 
 paragraphs would be irrevocably out and 
 the other would be unalterably in. By 
 giving opportunity to perfect each by 
 amendment before making a final choice 
 between them, one of them can usually be 
 made to express the will of the majority. 
 
 But if the assembly approves neither 
 the substitute nor the original paragraph, 
 it rejects the substitute and then strikes 
 out the original paragraph. 
 
 The method of amendment by substitu- 
 tion is much used in legislative assemblies. 
 After the bill has been perfected by amend- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 8 I 
 
 ments, a member moves to strike out all 
 after the enacting clause, and to substitute 
 another bill, on the same subject. If the 
 enacting clause be stricken out, the result 
 is the defeat of the bill, for the result of the 
 amendment is to deprive the bill of that 
 which makes it a law. 
 
 Filling of Blanks. 
 
 Sometimes a measure is presented to an 
 assembly with blanks to be filled by dates 
 or amounts. Propositions are made and 
 seconded for the filling of these blanks, and 
 these propositions are not treated as amend- 
 ments, but when all have been made they 
 are marshalled by the clerk or secretary in 
 such order that the largest sum or the 
 longest time is first put to vote, and then if 
 this proposal be rejected, the next largest 
 sum or next longest time is put to vote, and 
 so on until the blank is filled. There may 
 be debate before each vote. 
 
 When a blank is to be filled by a name, 
 the clerk or secretary records the names 
 in the order in which they are proposed. 
 The Chair then reads all the names and 
 puts them to vote, one by one, in the order 
 
82 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE; 
 
 in which they are recorded, until a choice 
 is made by a majority vote of the assembly. 
 
 For instance, Mr. A. may move *'that 
 
 the name of this Club be changed to ." 
 
 When the motion has been seconded and 
 stated, the Chair calls for names to fill the 
 blank. Those who propose names rise and 
 address the Chair, but are not individually 
 named because the floor has already been giv- 
 en to the assembly for the purpose indicated. 
 No member may propose more than one 
 name, and each proposal should be seconded, 
 stated by the Chair, and recorded by the sec- 
 retary. When proposals cease, or are 
 closed by vote, debate may be had upon 
 each name before the vote upon it is taken. 
 
 By the filling of a blank, a satisfactory re- 
 sult is often reached more quickly than 
 would be possible by amendments. There 
 is also fuller opportunity for the expression 
 of the sentiments of the members, and the 
 process is less complicated. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 8$ 
 
 Recapitulation of Rank in 
 
 1— Question of Consideration, I. |. R. 
 2— To lay on the table, F. S. R- ?. 
 
 'The Previous Question, F. S. f. E. 
 3 J J° postpone to a certain day, F. S. D. A. R. 
 To commit, recommit or refer, F. S. D A R 
 
 L To postpone indefinitely, F. S. D. R. 
 4— To amend, F. S. D. A. R. 
 
 The seven subsidiary motions have in 
 their relation to each other a respective 
 rank, the question of consideration being 
 highest, and the motion to lay on the table 
 coming next it. Then there are four of 
 the same rank, the Previous Question, post- 
 ponement to a certain time, reference to a 
 committee, and indefinite postponement, 
 all being of the third rank. The lowest in 
 rank is the motion to amend. 
 
 We will give titles to these seven mo- 
 tions, and call the question of considera- 
 tion the Queen; the motion to lay on the 
 table the Princess ; the four motions— to 
 close debate, to postpone to a certain time, 
 to refer to a committee, and to postpone 
 indefinitely— all Dutchesses ; and the mo- 
 tion to amend will be the Countess. If the 
 Queen is about to enter a room, or signi- 
 
84 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 fies her intention of so doing, no lady of 
 lower rank should attempt to pass before 
 her. So, if the question of consideration is 
 raised, no question of lower rank is in or- 
 der until the question of consideration shall 
 have been disposed of If one of the 
 Dutchesses were entering a room, she 
 would yield the way to the Queen or the 
 Princess ; but no other Dutchess should 
 try to precede her. So any of the ques- 
 tions of the third rank yield to the two of 
 higher rank ; while among themselves the 
 first moved must be disposed of before any 
 of the other three is in order. The Countess 
 being of the lowest rank, would yield the 
 way to any or all of the other six ladies. 
 So the motion to amend yields precedence 
 to any of the six motions having higher 
 rank than itself 
 
 The general rule is that motions of lower 
 rank yield to those of higher rank, and that 
 those having higher rank at once super- 
 sede those of lower rank, while among 
 those of the same rank, the one first raised 
 must be voted upon before another should 
 be moved. To this general rule there are 
 no exceptions among the subsidiary mo- 
 tions in their relation to each other. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 85 
 
 Any motion that is in order when made, 
 unless superseded by a motion of higher 
 rank, must sooner or later be stated by the 
 Chair and receive the attention of the as- 
 sembly, but a motion not in order when 
 made has to be renewed if it be considered 
 at all. 
 
 If Mrs. A. moves to amend, and is sec- 
 onded, and Mrs. B. moves to postpone to a 
 certain time and is seconded, and Mrs. C. 
 moves to lay on the table and is seconded, 
 the Chair first states the motion to lay on 
 the table, because it is of highest rank. If 
 the vote upon it be negative, the Chair then 
 states the motion to postpone, and if this 
 be negatively decided, the Chair next states 
 the motion to amend. 
 
 If Mrs. E. then moves to postpone in- 
 definitely and is seconded, and Mrs. F. 
 raises the question of consideration, the 
 Chair would pronounce Mrs. F.'s motion 
 out of order, because of subsidiary motions 
 having already been applied to the main 
 question, would state the motion for in- 
 definite postponement, and if this motion 
 were negatively settled, would call for de- 
 bate on the offered amendment. 
 
S6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Privileg'ed Questions. 
 
 Privii<eged Motions: 
 
 1— To fix a time to which to adjourn, S. A. R. 
 
 2 — To adjourn, S. 
 
 3 — To take the recess, S. 
 
 Questions of Privii^ege: 
 
 4 — Concerning the assembly, I. — (F. S. D, A. R.) 
 5 — Concerning a member, I. — (F. S. D. A. R.) 
 
 Privileged Questions do not concern them- 
 selves with the progress of the main ques- 
 tion, but with the existence of the assem- 
 bly, the performance of its functions and its 
 general well-being. Their only immediate 
 relation to the main question is that of de- 
 laying it by taking up the time. Yet these 
 questions, which do not concern the im- 
 mediate business of the assembly, have 
 precedence over the main question and 
 over most subsidiary and incidental ques- 
 tions pertaining to it. 
 
 The essential characteristic of privileged 
 questions is that they interrupt the business 
 before the assembly. If such a question 
 were introduced when no business was 
 before the house, it would be, not a privi- 
 leged, but a main question, and would be 
 so treated. They are termed privileged 
 because they may interrupt business. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 8/ 
 
 Privileged Motions. 
 
 Three of these privileged questions are 
 called Privileged Motions, because the 
 mover, when introducing them, begins 
 with the words " / move^ These motions 
 cannot interrupt a member who has the 
 floor; but they are introduced without 
 getting the floor. They require a seconder. 
 None of them can be debated, because high 
 privilege is inconsistent with debate. 
 
 1— To Fix the Time to which 
 to Adjourn. 
 
 S. A. R. 
 
 This motion has the right to interrupt 
 business only when no time for the next 
 meeting has been fixed. The purpose and 
 effect of the motion is to fix the time for 
 the next meeting. This is often necessary 
 to the interest of the business before the 
 assembly, because committees may need 
 to be appointed with instruction when to 
 report, or questions may require postpone- 
 ment to a later period. 
 
 Moreover, when an assembly adjourns 
 with no time fixed for its next meeting, 
 such adjournment is equivalent to a dis- 
 
S8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 solution. In fact, to adjourn sine die, with- 
 out day, is to dissolve the assembly. 
 
 This motion is among all motions the 
 highest in rank, because of its function in 
 preserving the existence of the assembly 
 as such. It may be made even after the 
 vote has been taken on the motion to 
 adjourn, provided that the vote has not 
 yet been announced by the Chair. 
 
 The proper form of the motion is, ** I 
 move that when we adjourn, we adjourn 
 to meet" — Thursday, October 19th, at 
 two o'clock. 
 
 It is usually better to introduce the 
 motion fixing the time of the next meeting, 
 not as a privileged motion, when it cannot 
 be debated, but as a main question open to 
 debate. 
 
 As a privileged motion this motion can 
 be amended only as to time. 
 
 The vote on the motion fixing the time 
 of the next meeting can be reconsidered. 
 
 This motion takes precedence over the 
 motion to adjourn, but has no priority over 
 a motion for recess, if the motion for 
 recess is already pending. 
 
 The motion may be legally decided when 
 less than a quorum is present. 
 
PARLIAMENtARY PROCEDURE. Bg 
 
 2— To Adjourn. 
 
 S. 
 
 To adjourn implies an intermission of 
 business, the date for the next meeting 
 having been fixed. To adjourn with no 
 time fixed for the next meeting is to dis- 
 solve the assembly, and the Chair should 
 not entertain the motion as a privileged 
 one. A motion to dissolve the assembly- 
 would not be privileged, and would be 
 debatable. The meaning, the effective 
 significance, of a motion must always be 
 considered, rather than its mere wording. 
 When a motion is not properly framed, 
 the Chair may so state it as to properly 
 classify it under one of the established 
 headings. If a member moves " to adjourn 
 till next Monday, at one o'clock," the 
 Chair may state the motion in its proper 
 form, "that when we adjourn we adjourn 
 to meet next Monday at one o'clock." 
 After this motion is disposed of the motion 
 to adjourn might be in order. 
 
 An adjourned meeting is a legal conti- 
 nuation of a former one. The same busi- 
 ness is taken up according to the orders of 
 the day, or the order of business. 
 
90 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 No subsidiary motion can be applied 
 to this motion if it be privileged. It is 
 decided by a majority of the members 
 present, and does not require a quorum 
 for its decision. 
 
 There is an old parliamentary saying, 
 " The motion to adjourn is always in 
 order." This good rule is true with some 
 exceptions ; it is not in order to move to 
 adjourn when a speaker has the floor, 
 nor when the Question of Consideration 
 or the Previous Question is pending, nor 
 when a vote is being taken. This motion 
 may, however, be made between the 
 taking of the vote and the announcing of 
 the result. Much time is often consumed 
 in the counting of ballots after a vote, and 
 it is therefore most convenient to adjourn 
 the meeting and announce the result of the 
 vote when business is resumed at the next 
 meeting. 
 
 The motion to adjourn may also be made 
 after the Previous Question is ordered and 
 before the main question is put to vote. 
 The delay in voting on the main question 
 may furnish opportunity for its private 
 discussion, and it can be voted upon at the 
 next meeting. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 9 1 
 
 When the assembly adjourns with busi- 
 ness undisposed of by vote, the question 
 under consideration comes up at the next 
 meeting as unfinished business. The ef- 
 fect of adjournment is simply to suspend 
 till the next meeting any question be- 
 fore the assembly at the time when it 
 adjourns. 
 
 If a member yield the floor to a motion 
 to adjourn, he is entitled to resume it at the 
 next meeting, when the subject again 
 comes before the assembly, and the same 
 is true of a motion to take a recess. He 
 has the right to yield for these motions, 
 because they are motions affecting only 
 the sittings of the body. 
 
 The motion to adjourn gives way to no 
 other except that of fixing the time to 
 which to adjourn. If the motion to take 
 a recess is already pending, the motion 
 to adjourn has no priority over it, and 
 would be out of order. 
 
 In the House of Representatives this 
 motion yields, by special rule, to a Confer- 
 ence Report. 
 
 If the motion to adjourn is qualified in 
 any way, it cannot be introduced as a priv- 
 ileged motion. It thereby loses its privi- 
 
92 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 leged character and is treated like any- 
 other principal motion. For instance, *' I 
 move that we do now adjourn to meet at 
 the home of the President at three o'clock" 
 could not be introduced as a privileged 
 motion, but would be in order only when 
 no business was before the assembly. 
 
 No question of order nor any appeal 
 should be entertained after the motion to 
 adjourn has been made, unless the assem- 
 bly refuses to adjourn. 
 
 The motion to adjourn cannot be re- 
 newed until some business has intervened; 
 but the business may be only progress in 
 debate. 
 
 The form is, " I move that we do now 
 adjourn." No meeting is properly ad- 
 journed until the vote on adjournment is 
 taken, and the result announced by the 
 Chair. But when the time for adjourn- 
 ment is fixed by a rule, the Chair may take 
 the vote by general consent, saying, ** The 
 time for adjournment having arrived, if 
 there be no further business, the meeting 
 stands adjourned." 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 93 
 
 3— To take the Recess. 
 
 S. 
 
 A recess is a suspension of business for 
 a limited time. The motion for recess is 
 privileged only when the time for the re- 
 cess has been fixed by a special rule, an 
 order, or a by-law. 
 
 As a privileged motion, it can be neither 
 debated nor amended. It cannot be re- 
 considered, but it may be renewed after 
 further business has been transacted. 
 
 The form is, " I move that the assembly 
 now take its recess." 
 
 When a recess has been ordered to begin 
 at a certain time, a motion to adjourn be- 
 fore that time carries the assembly to the 
 next regular meeting. 
 
 A motion for a recess not fixed by law 
 or a rule can be introduced as a main ques- 
 tion, and as such is debatable and amend- 
 able. 
 
 The motion might also be introduced, 
 on permission, as a question of privilege. 
 The time consumed in the counting of bal- 
 lots, as at an annual election, may thus be 
 taken for a recess, and the result of the 
 vote announced when business is resumed. 
 
94 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 In such case the motion might be made in 
 the following form : " I move that we now 
 take a recess, to meet at the call of the 
 Chair"; or, "I move that this assembly 
 do now take a recess of ten minutes." 
 
 Questions of Privilege. 
 
 I._._(F. S. D. A. R.) 
 
 They are of two sorts, those concerning 
 the assembly and those concerning a mem- 
 ber. The former have precedence over the 
 latter, because the whole is more important 
 than a part. The two sorts of questions 
 receive similar treatment when once ad- 
 mitted. 
 
 Questions of privilege of the first class 
 are those affecting the safety, or the dig- 
 nity of the assembly, or the integrity of its 
 proceedings ; while those of the second 
 class affect the rights, reputation, or con- 
 duct of members individually in their rep- 
 resentative capacity. Examples of the first 
 class are a fire in the building, telegrams 
 or messages requiring immediate response, 
 divulging the secrets of the society, tam- 
 pering with the records, etc. Examples 
 of the second class are an offer to bribe a 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 95 
 
 member, threats used toward a member by 
 a witness, a quarrel between members, etc. 
 
 Either of the questions of privilege may 
 interrupt a speaker who has the floor ; may 
 be raised without getting the floor, and 
 requires no seconder. 
 
 Questions of privilege are first addressed 
 to the presiding oflicer,who decides whether 
 the question raised be one of privilege, 
 that is, whether it has a right to interrupt 
 the business before the house. As soon as 
 the Chair has mentally decided the point, 
 he makes a ruling, either that the question 
 raised is or is not one of privilege. If the 
 Chair rules that the question is not privi- 
 leged, and there be no appeal from this 
 ruling, then the business before the house 
 proceeds. If he rules that the question is 
 privileged, and this ruling is not appealed 
 from, then it is for the assembly to take 
 action, by motion and vote, upon the ques- 
 tion of privilege. Whenever a question is 
 decided to be one of privilege, that ques- 
 tion supersedes the main question for the 
 time being, and is first acted upon, and af- 
 terward the business interrupted by it is 
 resumed. A question of privilege having 
 been admitted, is treated in every respect 
 
96 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 like a main question, and may have subsi- 
 diary and incidental motions applied to it. 
 Final action need not, therefore, be taken 
 upon it at the time when it is raised. It 
 may be laid on the table, postponed to 
 another time, referred to a committee, 
 postponed indefinitely or amended. It 
 may be itself interrupted by a motion of 
 higher rank. The vote on it can be recon- 
 sidered. 
 
 A member who desires to introduce a 
 question of privilege rises, addresses the 
 Chair, and says, "I rise to a question of 
 privilege concerning the assembly, " or,'* I 
 rise to a question of privilege concerning a 
 member," or, ''I rise to a question of person- 
 al privilege." The Chair responds : " State 
 your question," or, ''The member will 
 state the question of privilege." After state- 
 ment, the Chair rules, saying, "The question 
 is one of privilege," or, " The question is 
 not one of privilege," meaning that it may 
 or may not interrupt the business before 
 the assembly. If the decision of the Chair 
 is not accepted, the member who raised 
 the question, or any other member, may 
 rise and say, " I appeal from the decision 
 of the Chair." This appeal is made to the 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 97 
 
 assembly, and the assembly has always the 
 right of reversing or of confirming the rul- 
 ing of the Chair, as described under Ap- 
 peal. 
 
 The Chair may introduce a question of 
 privilege. 
 
 Questions of privilege outrank all mo- 
 tions except the three privileged motions 
 and the motion to reconsider. 
 
 When a question of physical safety or of 
 humanity is involved, the Chair may as- 
 sume the consent of the assembly and di- 
 rect immediate action. But the assump- 
 tion may afterward be the subject of action 
 by the assembly. 
 
 Incidental Questions. 
 
 1 — Questions of order, I. R. 
 Reading of papers, F. S. R. 
 Withdrawal of motion, F. S. R. 
 Suspension of rules, F. S. f . 
 Division of question, F. S. A. R. 
 Method of consideration, F. S. A. R. 
 
 Incidental questions arise out of the 
 main question, subsidiary questions, or 
 privileged questions. They are always 
 decided, without debate, before further 
 action is taken upon the question out of 
 which the incidental question arose. 
 
98 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Incidental questions have precedence of 
 other questions in the sense that they are 
 decided before the question giving rise to 
 them. 
 
 With the exception of a point of order, 
 which outranks all the others, they are of 
 the same rank among themselves, and 
 when one has arisen it must be voted upon 
 before another can be put. 
 
 These questions can be entertained only 
 when immediately applicable to the ques- 
 tion then under consideration, and they 
 may, when applicable, interrupt the con- 
 sideration of either a main, a subsidiary, or 
 a privileged question. 
 
 For all incidental questions, except a 
 point of order, the floor must be obtained, 
 and a seconder is required. None is 
 amendable except the motion to divide a 
 question, and a motion as to method of 
 consideration ; and no other subsidiary 
 motion can be applied to any of them. 
 All are carried by majority vote, except 
 the motion to suspend the rules. The vote 
 on all except on the motion to suspend the 
 rules, may be reconsidered. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 99 
 
 Questions of Order. 
 
 I. R. 
 
 Order means conformity to parliament- 
 ary usages, to the standing rules of the 
 assembly, and to all its previous decisions. 
 The assembly, and each member of it, is 
 entitled to have its business proceed in 
 order. If the Chair allows the assembly 
 to depart from order, any member has the 
 right to call attention to the fact and to 
 secure a return to the correct way. A 
 speaker having the floor may be inter- 
 rupted for this object 
 
 A point of order must be raised at once 
 or it is deemed to be waived. It has no 
 standing except at the time when the 
 established law is departed from, and 
 before any other business has intervened. 
 If there be much confusion, rising and 
 endeavoring to make the point of order 
 secures the right to call attention to it later. 
 
 The question of order is always para- 
 mount and dominates every other question, 
 main, subsidiary, privileged or incidental. 
 It cannot however supersede the motion to 
 adjourn, if that motion is already made and 
 if it were in order when made. 
 
lOO PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The member who calls attention to a 
 departure from the rules, rises in his place, 
 and without getting the floor addresses the 
 Chair, saying, " I rise to a point of order." 
 The Chair responds, "State the point of or- 
 der," or, "The gentleman will state his point 
 of order." The statement is then made, and 
 the Chair thereupon says, either, " The 
 point of order is well taken," or, " The 
 point of order is not well taken." If the 
 member is content with the decision of the 
 Chair he resumes his seat. If the point of 
 order is sustained, the action of the as- 
 sembly is made to conform thereto. If it 
 is not sustained the proceedings continue 
 unchanged. 
 
 If any member is dissatisfied with the 
 decision of the Chair he may appeal from 
 its ruling, and the appeal then becomes 
 temporarily the question before the as- 
 sembly and is decided by the majority vote 
 of the assembly as set forth under the rules 
 relating to appeal from the ruling of the 
 Chair. This appeal is debatable. 
 
 The Chair may ask the advice of mem- 
 bers upon points of order, but the advice 
 must be given while sitting, in order to 
 avoid the appearance of debate. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 10 1 
 
 The Charir, when unable to decide a ques- 
 tion of order, may at once submit it to the 
 vote of the assembly. 
 
 A member may be called to order by the 
 Chair or by another member. It is a breach 
 of order to call for the question, or to move 
 an adjournment, when a speaker has the 
 floor ; to pass between the speaker and the 
 Chair ; to in any way distract attention from 
 the business of the assembly; or to use dis- 
 respectful or offensive language in debate. 
 
 When a member is called to order for 
 unparliamentary language used in debate, 
 the member called to order must sit down, 
 and the assembly having heard the words 
 complained of, acts upon the case. The 
 member may first be heard in explanation, 
 and if proper explanation or apology be 
 made, there is usually a motion that the 
 member be allowed to continue his speech. 
 This motion is undebatable, and is carried 
 by a majority vote. 
 
 If the member denies having used the 
 words complained of, the assembly must 
 first consider the evidence offered. If the 
 member who called the speaker to order 
 demanded that his words be taken down, 
 and the presiding officer so directed, the 
 
102 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 minutes may be used in evidence. The 
 action taken may be in the nature of a pun- 
 ishment, in which case the offending mem- 
 ber or members should withdraw while 
 action is taken. The only punishment which 
 the assembly can inflict for disorder, or 
 breach of decorum, is censure or expulsion. 
 The House of Representatives can imprison. 
 
 The action of the assembly may be de- 
 termined by a majority vote, upon a debat- 
 able motion, to censure, to reprimand, or to 
 demand an apology or a retraction upon 
 pain of expulsion, 
 
 A call for the order or orders of the day is 
 a demand for compliance with an order. 
 When an as^sembly has decided that a ques- 
 tion shall be taken up at a particular time, 
 thus making it an order of the day, in case 
 it is not at that time brought forward by 
 the Chair, any member may call for it, and 
 the Chair must put the question to vote, 
 saying, '' Will the assembly now proceed to 
 the orders of the day?" If carried, the 
 subject under consideration when the call 
 was made is laid aside, and the questions 
 appointed for the time are taken up in their 
 order, as explained under the motion to 
 postpone to a certain time. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IO3 
 
 Reading' of Papers. 
 
 F. S. R. 
 
 Whenever an assembly has to take final 
 action upon a paper, any member may de- 
 mand that the paper shall be once read, in 
 order that the assembly may know what it 
 is voting upon ; but any paper upon which 
 the assembly is not to act can be read only 
 by its consent. Papers offered solely for 
 reference cannot be read except by order of 
 the house. 
 
 Whenever a member asks for the read- 
 ing of any paper, evidently for the pur- 
 pose of information and not for delay, 
 the Chair may direct the paper to be read if 
 there be no objection, and the clerk may 
 read it. If any member objects to the read- 
 ing, the question is put to vote without de- 
 bate or amendment. 
 
 When papers are referred to a commit- 
 tee immediately upon presentation, they are 
 usually not read in the assembly, though 
 any member may insist on one reading. 
 
 A member may not, without permission, 
 read his own speech in debate. 
 
 A request for permission to read a paper 
 in debate has no rank above debate itselff 
 
104 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 In requesting the permission of the as- 
 sembly for the reading of a paper in de- 
 bate, it is usually well to mention the time 
 required for reading and the person by 
 whom the paper is to be read. 
 
 Witlidrai;«^al of a Motion, 
 
 F, S. R. 
 
 After a motion is stated by the Chair, it 
 belongs wholly to the assembly, and the 
 mover has no more power over it than has 
 any other member, except that he alone 
 may ask the consent of the assembly to 
 withdraw it. 
 
 Up to the time of statement by the Chair 
 the mover may withdraw or modify the 
 motion. If it be changed after being sec- 
 onded and before being stated, the seconder 
 can withdraw the seconding. 
 
 After statement by the Chair, the motion 
 can be withdrawn by no one but the mover, 
 and in no way but by the consent of the 
 assembly. In the withdrawal the seconder 
 need not be referred to. 
 
 When a motion is withdrawn, the effect 
 is to remove it from consideration. It has 
 not been acted upon, and it can therefore 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 10 5 
 
 be renewed at any later time. It need not 
 be entered in the minutes, because it does 
 not influence future action in the assembly. 
 
 The mover, desiring to withdraw his 
 motion, says, " I ask the consent of the as- 
 sembly to withdraw the motion." This is 
 seconded, and the Chair says, " The con- 
 sent of the assembly is asked for the with- 
 drawal of the motion. Those consenting 
 will say aye. Those opposed will say noT 
 The Chair announces the result of the vote, 
 saying, " The ayes have it, and consent is 
 given," or, " The noes have it, and consent 
 is withheld." If consent is given, the mover 
 then says, " I withdraw the motion." 
 
 An affirmative vote can be reconsidered, 
 but not after the member has withdrawn 
 the motion. A negative vote can be re- 
 considered. 
 
 Suspension of Rules. 
 
 F. S. f . 
 
 Parliamentary law governs, except when 
 its provisions are changed by the special 
 rules of the assembly. These special rules 
 may provide for their own suspension, and 
 may deniand therefor a majority, a two- 
 
I06 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 thirds, or a unanimous vote. Having been 
 made with deliberation, it is unwise to sus- 
 pend them on less than a two-thirds vote, 
 and if they do not provide for their own 
 suspension they should be suspended only 
 by unanimous consent. 
 
 The Constitution or the By-laws may be 
 amended by regular methods prescribed 
 by themselves, and all special rules may be 
 changed by majority vote. 
 
 The Constitution and By laws cannot be 
 suspended ; the special rules may be sus- 
 pended at any time by the required vote. 
 When suspended they resume sway as soon 
 as the special occasion for their suspension 
 has passed, and they cannot be twice sus- 
 pended for the same purpose at the same 
 meeting. 
 
 A motion to suspend a special rule out- 
 ranks the motion to lay on the table and 
 may supersede it when immediately appli- 
 cable. 
 
 The vote upon it cannot be reconsidered. 
 
 The motions to extend or to limit debate 
 where the rules fix the time, is a motion to 
 this effect. The following are also exam- 
 ples of motions to suspend the rules . " I 
 niove to suspend the rule limiting debate 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 10/ 
 
 to ten minutes." " I move the suspension 
 of the rule interfering with the continuance 
 of debate beyond ten o'clock." " I move 
 that the rule concerning the admission of 
 visitors be suspended." " I move that the 
 rule for adjournment at four o'clock be sus- 
 pended, and that business be continued till 
 half past four." 
 
 Division of tlie Question, 
 
 F. S. A. R. 
 
 When a motion is composed of more 
 than one distinct proposition, it may be di- 
 vided so as to enable the assembly to vote 
 on each proposition separately. Each pro- 
 position must be capable of standing by 
 itself as a substantive proposition, so that 
 either proposition can be adopted alone 
 and still be an intelligible expression of the 
 mind of the assembly. 
 
 A clause and its proviso could not be 
 divided. For instance the motion "to 
 commit with instructions;" ''to purchase 
 fifteen shares of stock in the Grand Canal ; " 
 "that a superintendent be placed in this 
 ward, with power to appoint the requisite 
 number of assistants ; " " that the class form 
 
I08 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 a permanent society for the study of Par- 
 liamentary Law and that it meet on Tues- 
 days at the homes of members," are all 
 indivisible propositions. 
 
 The following resolution is divisible into 
 three parts. 
 
 ^'Resolved that this Society establish a 
 permanent section for practice in Parlia- 
 mentary Procedure, which section shall 
 have exclusive use of its rooms every 
 Thursday evening. It is also 
 
 ^'Resolved\.\i-^\. any member of this society 
 shall be permitted to introduce to its sec- 
 tions on the terms prescribed for each sec- 
 tion, persons who are not members of this 
 society. And be it further 
 
 ^'Resolved that all persons attending the 
 meetings of sections shall be admitted 
 thereto only on presentation of the ticket 
 required by each section." 
 
 The parts into which a motion is divided 
 must not be interdependent. 
 
 A division cannot be demanded as of right 
 by any member but must depend on the vote 
 of the assembly. If division is refused, the 
 question may be amended with the same 
 effect by striking out as by a negative vote 
 on a part of the divided proposition. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IO9 
 
 When a proposition is divided, its parts 
 are taken up separately in their order, and 
 each is treated as a main question. 
 
 The motion to divide the question is not 
 debatable. It can be amended only in 
 regard to the place of division. 
 
 This motion is in order after the Previous 
 Question has been ordered. 
 
 Motions as to the Method 
 of Consideratiozi. 
 
 F. S. A. R. 
 
 These motions relate to limitation or 
 extension of debate and the order of action 
 in the assembly. Such a motion, when 
 adopted, constitutes a special rule appli- 
 cable only to the question under consider- 
 ation. It is made only when no rules on 
 the subject have been established. When 
 rules have been established, of course no 
 conflicting motion can be adopted, without 
 unanimous consent. 
 
 This motion can be amended only as to 
 method. A motion for a special order of 
 business, for informal consideration, to 
 consider a report seriatim, to limit debate, 
 to allow the speaker to continue, to go into 
 
no PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Committee of the Whole, are examples of 
 motions as to method of consideration. 
 
 Informal Consideration. — If a motion to 
 consider a question informally be carried, 
 each member may speak in debate as often 
 as he can obtain the floor ; but if there be 
 a rule limiting the time of each speaker, 
 that rule still prevails over each speech 
 made. While consideration is informal, no 
 motion is in order except the motion to 
 amend ; and the introduction of any other 
 motion puts an end to the informal consid- 
 eration. The method of procedure is the 
 same as in Committee of the Whole, but 
 the presiding officer of the assembly retains 
 the chair and, when informal consideration 
 ceases, announces to the assembly that the 
 assembly acting informally has made cer- 
 tain amendments which he reports. The 
 amendments go before the assembly as if 
 reported from a committee, and may be re- 
 jected or altered by the assembly. The 
 clerk keeps only a temporary record of the 
 informal proceedings, but the report of the 
 Chair to the assembly is entered on the 
 minutes. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. Ill 
 
 Appeal from tiie Ruling' of 
 the Chair. 
 
 S. D- ?. R. 
 
 While it is the duty of the Chair to first 
 decide questions of order, questions of privi- 
 lege, interpretations of the rules, and pri- 
 ority of business, any member who is 
 dissatisfied with the ruling of the Chair may 
 rise, turn to the assembly, and say, '' I ap- 
 peal from the ruling of the Chair," and 
 then resume his seat. If the appeal be 
 seconded, the Chair, without leaving his 
 place, says, ''The ruling of the Chair is 
 appealed from. The question now before 
 the assembly is : Shall the decision of the 
 Chair stand as the judgment of the assem- 
 bly f " 
 
 This causes the main question to fall into 
 abeyance until the appeal has been acted 
 upon, and opens to debate the question ap- 
 pealed to the assembly, unless the appeal 
 relates solely to indecorum, to violation of 
 the rules of speaking, or to priority of busi- 
 ness, in which cases it is not debatable. 
 Neither can it be debated if the Previous 
 Question was pending at the time the 
 appeal was made. 
 
112 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 If it be debatable, the Chair has the first 
 right to the floor, and may, by argument or 
 by reference to authorities, justify the ruHng 
 made. The member making the appeal 
 then has a right to the floor, and may cite 
 authorities or render reasons. Others may 
 debate, and if the debate be prolonged it 
 may be closed by ordering the Previous 
 Question. The Chair then puts the ques- 
 tion to vote in this form : '' Shall the de- 
 cision of the Chair stand as the judgment of 
 the assembly? Those sustaining the judg- 
 ment of the Chair will say aye. Those 
 opposing will say no.^' The result of the 
 vote is announced in one of the following 
 forms: *'The ayes have it, and the judg- 
 ment of the Chair is sustained;" or, "The 
 noes have it, and the appeal is sustained." 
 Whatever be the judgment of the assem- 
 bly, the subsequent proceedings are made 
 to conform thereto. 
 
 If the vote be a tie the Chair is sustained, 
 because the decision of the Chair stands 
 unless overruled. The presiding officer, 
 when a member of the assembly, has a 
 right to vote, but it is in better taste for 
 neither the member making the appeal nor 
 the presiding officer to vote. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. II3 
 
 When an appeal is pending no other 
 appeal can be entertained. Were the rule 
 otherwise appeal upon appeal might^ be 
 made, resulting in inextricable confusion. 
 All questions arising under an appeal must 
 be peremptorily decided by the Chair, 
 whose conduct may afterward be the sub- 
 ject of action by the assembly. 
 
 If the Chair refuses to put an appeal to 
 vote, the person appealing may put it himself. 
 Or the body may declare the Chair vacant 
 and may elect another presiding officer. 
 
 An appeal, to be in order, must be made 
 immediately. When an appeal becomes 
 debatable, only one speech from each mem- 
 ber is permitted. 
 
 An appeal may be laid on the table with- 
 out affecting the main question. The effect 
 is that of sustaining, at least temporarily, 
 the decision of the Chair. 
 
 The Previous Question when applied to 
 an appeal does not close debate upon what 
 was before the assembly before the appeal 
 was made. 
 
 An appeal yields to any Privileged Ques- 
 tion. 
 
 No appeal can be made from the decision 
 of the Chair as to who is entitled to the floor. 
 
114 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 On an appeal the incidental question as 
 to method of consideration may be raised. 
 
 The rule that an appeal shall be second- 
 ed protects the Chair from the assaults of 
 a single adversary, and also prevents the 
 wasting of the time of the assembly by one 
 obstreperous member. 
 
 Reconsideration. 
 
 I. S. D- ?. 
 
 The motion to reconsider a vote indi- 
 cates that since the vote was taken some- 
 thing has happened which has caused at 
 least two of those who voted upon the pre- 
 vailing side to change their views upon the 
 question. After this motion is introduced 
 no action can be taken in consequence of 
 the vote which it is moved to reconsider, 
 until the question of reconsideration is dis- 
 posed of, either by action upon it, or by 
 the ending of the session. The power to 
 change a decision which unexpected con- 
 ditions have rendered unwise is of such 
 value that the motion to reconsider is an 
 established one in Parliamentary Procedure, 
 though it may be so used as to thwart the 
 immediate effect of a motion that is sus- 
 tained by the majority. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. II5 
 
 In the British Parliament no question is 
 reconsidered. If an error has been com- 
 mitted it is rectified by another act. But 
 in the United States the vote on any mo- 
 tion may be reconsidered, and be either 
 reaffirmed or revised, excepting the mo- 
 tions to adjourn, to take the recess, to sus- 
 pend the rules, to reconsider, and the 
 motion to lay on the table, or to take from 
 the table when decided affirmatively. De- 
 cisions made by ballot, and the results of 
 elections cannot be reconsidered, though 
 they can be cast aside if reached irregu- 
 larly. 
 
 A question once adopted, rejected, or 
 suppressed, cannot again be considered 
 during the session, except by a majority 
 vote to reconsider that question. The im- 
 mediate effect of introducing the motion is 
 to suspend all action that the original 
 motion would have required. 
 
 A motion to reconsider, if carried, brings 
 back before the assembly the question that 
 has been decided and places it just as it 
 stood before the vote was taken upon it. 
 It does nothing more than to annul the 
 vote to which it is applied, and in all other 
 respects the question stands before the 
 
Il6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 assembly precisely as it did the moment 
 before it was put to vote. If any thing pre- 
 viously changed by an amendment is to be 
 altered, the vote on that amendment must 
 also be reconsidered, and in each case of 
 reconsideration the Chair must again put 
 the question to vote. In general it may be 
 said that if an assembly desires to recon- 
 sider an act) it must retract in regular 
 reverse order all votes affecting the point 
 to be reconsidered. 
 
 A motion to reconsider is not in order after 
 action has been taken by the assembly, or by 
 its members, in consequence of the decision 
 which it is proposed to reconsider. For 
 instance, a motion to commit cannot be 
 reconsidered after the committee has taken 
 the papers committed ; the papers could be 
 recalled only by discharging the com- 
 miteee. A motion to lay on the table, de- 
 cided negatively, cannot be reconsidered if 
 the business has proceeded further, for 
 that would be equivalent to a renewal of 
 the motion and should take that form. 
 After an appeal from the Chair has been 
 decided, and that decision has been acted 
 upon, a motion to reconsider the vote of 
 the assembly on the appeal would not be 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 11/ 
 
 in order. If anything which the assembly 
 cannot reverse has been done as a result of 
 a vote, then that vote cannot be recon- 
 sidered. 
 
 A motion to reconsider can be made only on 
 the day when the vote was taken. The House 
 of Representatives and some other leg- 
 islative bodies permit it to be made also 
 on the succeeding day. It may be acted upon 
 on another day than the one in which it is 
 made. 
 
 It can be withdrawn only by consent of 
 the assembly, and upon the day in which 
 it was made, and if withdrawn on that day 
 another member can renew it. 
 
 It can be made when a member has the 
 floor, when other business is before the 
 house, or when the vote is being taken on 
 the motion to adjourn ; but action upon it 
 must be deferred until the business then 
 before the house is disposed of If there be 
 business before the house, the motion to 
 reconsider is made, seconded, stated by the 
 Chair, and entered upon the minutes, and 
 the business previously before the assem- 
 bly proceeds. As soon as this business is 
 disposed of, the motion to reconsider may 
 be taken up, and at that time it has pre- 
 
Il8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 cedence over the orders of the day, and 
 over all other motions except to fix the 
 time to which to adjourn. 
 
 It may be laid on the table, or may be 
 postponed to a certain time, leaving the 
 original motion thereby unaffected. 
 
 If it is not called up, its effect terminates 
 with the session. As long as its effect lasts 
 any member may call up the motion to re- 
 consider. When taken up it yields to 
 privileged questions and incidental mo- 
 tions, but not to orders of the day. 
 
 The motion to reconsider can be made 
 only by a member who voted on the pre- 
 vailing side, as it would be mere waste of 
 time for one of the minority to make it. If 
 the vote was taken by yeas and nays, the 
 record shows who voted on the prevail- 
 ing side ; and if the vote was taken in 
 any other manner, the Chair may inquire 
 whether the mover voted on the pre- 
 vailing side, and there are always witnesses 
 whose testimony may be taken in cases of 
 doubt. 
 
 When the motion to reconsider is ap- 
 plied to a subsidiary or an incidental 
 question, it takes precedence of the main 
 question. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. IIQ 
 
 No question can be twice reconsidered, 
 unless an amendment has been made on 
 reconsideration. 
 
 When a vote taken under the operation 
 of the Previous Question is reconsidered, 
 the question is then divested of the Previ- 
 ous Question and is open to further debate 
 and amendment. 
 
 The motion to reconsider cannot be 
 amended. It is debatable or undebatable, 
 just as is the question which it is proposed 
 to reconsider. When that question is de- 
 batable, the motion to reconsider opens up 
 the entire subject to discussion ; when that 
 question is undebatable, its reconsideration 
 must be put to vote without debate. If it 
 be debatable, a person who has previously 
 exhausted his right of debate on the ques- 
 tion can debate the motion to reconsider, 
 but cannot debate further on the question 
 itself if the motion to reconsider be carried. 
 Under our system of reconsideration a main 
 question may be thrice debated, once before 
 its passage, once on the motion to recon- 
 sider, and again after the latter motion is 
 carried ; and every member of the assembly 
 would have two opportunities to formally 
 debate it. 
 
120 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The Previous Question can be applied to 
 the motion to reconsider, and affect noth- 
 ing beside it. The vote on the Previous 
 Question can itself be reconsidered, but 
 not after it has been partially executed. 
 
 The motion to reconsider requires a ma- 
 jority vote for its adoption, regardless of 
 the vote necessary to adopt the motion re- 
 considered. 
 
 To Rescind. 
 
 F. S. D. A. R. 
 
 After the lapse of the day on which the 
 motion to reconsider can be introduced, 
 the only way to annul the action is to re- 
 scind it. The motion to rescind can be 
 made regardless of the time that has 
 elapsed, and stands in every respect on the 
 footing of a main question. If carried, the 
 action to which it applies is null and void. 
 The motion to rescind action on a propo- 
 sition should include provision for meet- 
 ing pecuniary or moral obligations that 
 may have been incurred by the vote. 
 
 To reconsider is to annul the single vote 
 reconsidered ; to rescind is to do away with 
 the whole law, motion or proposition, mak- 
 ing room for a new question. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 121 
 
 Yielding* the Floor. 
 
 If a member yields the floor to a motion 
 to adjourn or for a recess, and the motion 
 is negatively decided, he is entitled to re- 
 sume and proceed with his speech. If the 
 motion is carried, he is entitled to resume 
 at the next meeting when the subject is 
 again before the assembly. 
 
 A member having the floor may yield it 
 for a question addressed to himself with- 
 out losing his right to continue, for he re- 
 gains the floor in the very act of replying. 
 A member interrupted by the Question of 
 Consideration may go on with his speech 
 if the assembly decides to consider the 
 question. In general a member interrup- 
 ted in a parliamentary manner, as by a 
 question of privilege, does not lose the right 
 to the floor, but may resume it when 
 the interrupting question is disposed of 
 
 In all other cases yielding the floor 
 means abandoning it to the assembly. 
 
 Parliamentary Inquiries. 
 
 When any member is in doubt concern- 
 ing the effect of a vote, or in regard to the 
 proper method of procedure, he may rise, 
 
122 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 address the chair and say, " I rise to a par- 
 liamentary inquiry." The Chair should 
 respond, saying, "Please state the inquiry," 
 or, "The gentleman will make his inquiry." 
 The member then asks his question, and 
 the Chair elucidates the point referred to. 
 
 Request foi* Information. 
 
 A member may rise, address the Chair, 
 and say, " I rise for information." The 
 Chair will say, " The member will make 
 his inquiry." After hearing the query, 
 the Chair may answer it, or may refer it to 
 another member for reply. A request for 
 information, or the giving of a reply, does 
 not destroy the right of debate on the mo- 
 tion under consideration. 
 
 Reports. 
 
 Reports are received by hearing them. 
 A report given simply for the information 
 of members need not be accepted or 
 adopted. Such reports are often given by 
 investigating committees, and by officers at 
 annual meetings. A treasurer's report may 
 be received whenever the assembly requires 
 it, but should be accepted only subsequent 
 o its having been audited. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 123 
 
 A report given for the information of the 
 assembly may furnish the occasion for a 
 vote of thanks, or for the introduction of a 
 main question of great importance. 
 
 Meeting's, 
 
 The sessions of a Society terminate with 
 its annual meetings, and for these a special 
 order of business is usually made. 
 
 Regular meetings are those whose times 
 are determined by the rules of the society. 
 
 An adjourned meeting is one for which 
 the time is fixed at a regular meeting, the 
 time being earlier than the next regular 
 meeting. Members may be notified of 
 an adjourned meeting. 
 
 A special meeting is one called, in ac- 
 cordance with the rules of the society, for 
 a particular purpose All members should 
 be notified of the meeting, and of the busi- 
 ness to be brought forward. 
 
 The minutes of all regular and adjourned 
 meetings should be read at the close of the 
 same meeting, or at the beginning of the 
 next succeeding regular meeting. The 
 minutes of a special meeting should be read 
 at the next regular meeting. 
 
124 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The whole series of regular and ad- 
 journed meetings during a session stand as 
 one continuous conclave, in which the 
 minutes are occasionally read for the re- 
 freshment of the memory of the members, 
 and for approval before final record. 
 
 Quorum. 
 
 The quorum of an assembly is the num- 
 ber which must be present in order to ren- 
 der the assembly competent to transact 
 business. 
 
 In assemblies which act upon their own 
 responsibility, and which are neither repre- 
 sentative nor judicial, no fixed number is 
 required. In some assemblies, as in a town 
 meeting, whoever comes is authorized to 
 act, and the action taken binds others. 
 Stockholders meetings are also of this 
 class. 
 
 In some bodies, as in a Board of Ref- 
 erees, the whole number constitutes a 
 quorum. 
 
 Where the body is a representative one, 
 performing the functions of government for 
 a constituency, or a financial one manag- 
 ing the business of the corporation which 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 12$ 
 
 selected it, the quorum is a majority of the 
 members and can be neither increased nor 
 diminished by the vote of the body. City 
 Councils and Boards of Directors are of 
 this class. 
 
 In voluntary bodies the quorum may be 
 fixed by the vote of the body itself 
 
 There is no definite rule, applicable to all 
 cases, for the determination of the number 
 that should form a quorum. 
 
 In the House of Lords, consisting of 
 about 550 members, three area quorum. 
 
 In the House of Commons, with about 
 670 members, forty are a quorum. 
 
 In the French Chamber of Deputies 
 and in the U. S. Congress, a majority of 
 the elected members are a quorum. 
 
 In the House of Representatives, fifteen 
 members may determine to compel the 
 attendance of absent members. 
 
 In committees, including a Committee of 
 the Whole, a majority is a quorum. 
 
 If a quorum be not present, and the fact 
 is ascertained by count of the Chair, or in 
 any other way previously determined by 
 the assembly, then the assembly must 
 adjourn, unless it remains in session to 
 compel attendance. 
 
126 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Even if there be no quorum, the assem- 
 bly may legally fix the time to which to 
 adjourn, and may adjourn; but these are 
 the only questions which can be con- 
 sidered. 
 
 All voluntary assemblies should deter- 
 mine their quorum, and it is usually 
 expedient to reduce the required number 
 below the majority. This should be done 
 after fixing the time and place of meetings. 
 
 The quorum required is a present, not a 
 voting, quorum. A quorum being present, 
 those who sit silent are regarded as voting 
 on the prevailing side. The Chair should, 
 however, generally insist upon every 
 member's voting. 
 
 In case that less than a quorum votes, 
 the Secretary or Clerk should record the 
 fact of a quorum being present, and this 
 should be done on an actual count. 
 
 In practical application a quorum is 
 presumed to be present, if no member 
 raises a question on the subject. 
 
 It is not decided whether a quorum is 
 necessary during debate. It is necessary in 
 England, but not in France, and is insisted 
 on in the U. S. Senate, but not in the 
 House of Representatives. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 12^ 
 
 Duties of Officers and Mem- 
 bers. 
 
 The presiding officer should be courteous, 
 impartial, and firm ; should cultivate a 
 good presence; should have a resonant voice 
 and a perfect temper; should understand par- 
 liamentary law; and should know when to 
 press a rule, and when to let common con- 
 sent hold sway. 
 
 The following statement of the duties of 
 officers and members is found in Reed's 
 Rules : — 
 
 It is the duty of the presiding officer to 
 call the assembly to order at the appointed 
 time ; to ascertain the presence of a quo- 
 rum; to call for the reading of the minutes 
 and to have them passed upon by the 
 assembly; to lay before the assembly its 
 business in the order indicated by its 
 rules ; to receive propositions made by 
 members of the assembly, to state them, 
 submit them to vote and announce the re- 
 sult; to decide all questions of order, sub- 
 ject to appeal to the assembly; to answer 
 all parliamentary inquiries, and give infor- 
 mation as to the parliamentary effect of 
 proposed action ; to present to the assem- 
 
128 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 bly all proper communications to it, and 
 all messages from coordinate branches ; to 
 sign and authenticate all acts, resolves, and 
 votes of the assembly ; to name a member 
 to take the chair until the adjournment of 
 the meeting; to keep the assembly in 
 order; and to represent the assembly sub- 
 ject to its expressed will. 
 
 The presiding officer can neither make 
 nor second motions, and in case of absence 
 cannot appoint a substitute. 
 
 The presiding officer should rise when 
 stating a question, when putting a question 
 to vote, and whenever addressing the as- 
 sembly as a whole, but may sit at other 
 times as when recognizing a member for 
 the purpose of giving him the floor, and 
 when hearing debate. 
 
 The presiding officer should always be 
 himself in order, and should act with the 
 decorum that he ought to demand from 
 other members. He should specifically call 
 to order any member who persists in dis- 
 order. If the authority of the Chair is 
 insufficient, the assembly should assist the 
 Chair iti the maintenance of order, and in 
 case the assembly fails in its duty, the pre- 
 siding officer may leave the chair and 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 29 
 
 refuse to return thereto until order is re- 
 stored. 
 
 A presiding officer elected by an assem- 
 bly may be removed by the assembly at its 
 will. The assembly can at all times control 
 the occupancy of the chair. By a two- 
 thirds vote the chair may be declared 
 vacant, and a new election may be had. 
 
 Vice-Preside7tt Whenever the President 
 is absent or disabled, the Vice-President 
 assumes all the duties of the office. If 
 no presiding officer be present, the record- 
 ing officer calls the meeting to order, and 
 then calls for the nomination of a tempo- 
 rary chairman. If no officer be present, 
 any member may call the meeting to order 
 and temporary officers may be chosen. 
 
 Recording Secretary, Clerk or Recorder. 
 The recording officer should be a good 
 reader, a ready penman, quick in observa- 
 tion, and apt at making accurate digests of 
 proceedings. He should at the meetings sit 
 near the presiding officer, so as to assist 
 more easily in the order of business. It is 
 the duty of the recording officer to keep 
 the journal or minutes; to read them on 
 the call of the Chair, and to read all papers 
 demanded by the assembly or its rules ; to 
 
130 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 keep an accurate list of members ; to call 
 the roll whenever the presence of members 
 is determined by that method, or when the 
 yeas and nays are ordered ; to preserve on 
 file all documents and papers belonging to 
 the assembly, or made a part of its pro- 
 ceedings ; to authenticate, either alone or 
 conjointly with the presiding officer, all 
 acts, resolves, and proceedings of the as- 
 sembly, except where by law or rule other 
 authentication is required ; to furnish to 
 the chairman of each comm-ittee a correct 
 list of its members ; to notify committees 
 of all business referred to them, and to 
 send them all papers relating to such busi- 
 ness. 
 
 The recording officer, if a member, has 
 the right to introduce motions, to second 
 motions, to debate, to vote, and to partici- 
 pate in the proceedings in all ways not in- 
 consistent with the performance of his 
 duties. The holding of office does not 
 annul the rights of membership. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary. It is the duty 
 of the Corresponding Secretary to conduct 
 the correspondence of the Society, and to 
 keep on file all important letters received 
 and copies of those written. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I3I 
 
 Treasurer. It is the duty of the Treas- 
 urer to securely keep the moneys of the 
 Society ; to collect the dues from mem- 
 bers ; to keep an accurate account of all 
 sums received and paid ; to make reports 
 and show vouchers at such times as may 
 be prescribed by the rules, and to follow all 
 instruction given by the assembly concern- 
 ing its funds. The Treasurer should pay 
 out money only on the order of the So- 
 ciety, signed by the President and Record- 
 ing Secretary. 
 
 A Treasurer's report should be accepted 
 only when it has been audited by the ap- 
 pointed persons, and this should be at least 
 annually. 
 
 Other Officers. A presiding and a re- 
 cording officer are all that are strictly 
 requisite for parliamentary organization, but 
 other officers may be added to any number 
 demanded by the needs of the assembly. 
 The rules of each deliberative body prescribe 
 the duties of its officers, as well as their 
 number and the manner in which they shall 
 be appointed. 
 
 Duties of Members. It is the duty of 
 every member to enter and leave the cham- 
 ber quietly ; to refrain from everything in- 
 
132 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 dicative of disrespect ; to address no one 
 but the presiding officer during the meet- 
 ing ; to obey the rules of the assembly ; 
 and to diligently attend to the business im- 
 mediately before the assembly. If the pre- 
 siding officer rises to speak, when the floor 
 has not been assigned to anyone, it is the 
 duty of any member who may previously 
 have risen to be seated. 
 
 Rights of Members. Every member is in 
 a parliamentary sense the equal of every 
 other member. Each has the right to pre- 
 sent propositions and to debate them ; to 
 vote on every question determined by the 
 assembly ; to demand that the proceedings 
 be in order and to insist on decorum in 
 debate. 
 
 Homination of Officers. 
 
 To nominate is to name for office. A 
 candidate receiving a majority of votes is 
 elected whether previously nominated or 
 not. The purpose of nomination is to con- 
 centrate votes, so that a majority can be 
 secured for one candidate without too great 
 expenditure of time in balloting. A person 
 who had not been nominated might be 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 33 
 
 elected, but election without repeated ballot- 
 ing would be improbable. 
 
 The rules of a Society should provide 
 for the nomination of officers as well as for 
 their election. There are several methods 
 of nomination, each appropriate in its place. 
 
 I . By nomination from the floor. As in the 
 nomination of members for a committee, no 
 one member should nominate more than 
 one candidate for each office. The mem- 
 ber rises in his place, addresses the Chair, 
 
 and says, '' I nominate Mr. ," and 
 
 sits down. When the nomination is 
 
 seconded, the Chair says '* Mr. 
 
 is nominated," and the Secretary records 
 the nomination. There is no limit to the 
 number of those who may be nominated, 
 except by order of the assembly. The nomi- 
 nations may close by common consent, or 
 any member may move ''That the nomina- 
 tions be now closed," and if the motion be 
 carried, no further nominations can be 
 made. When the nominations have been 
 closed, the Chair having so declared, the 
 Chair reads, in the order of their nomina- 
 tion, the names of all who have been nomi- 
 nated, and then puts the names to vote. 
 When nomination is from the floor, the 
 
134 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 vote on the names proposed may be by 
 acclamation or by ballot. If the vote 
 is by acclamation the Chair puts them 
 to vote in their order, one by one ; and 
 whenever a majority vote for any nominee, 
 that nominee is declared elected, and no 
 more names are voted upon. 
 
 2. By Nominating Committee. Officers 
 may be nominated by a committee appointed 
 by the Chair. This method gives the Chair 
 great power over the ensuing election, be- 
 cause the committee may be made up of 
 those known to favor the nomination of cer- 
 tain persons approved by the Chair. Even 
 when the committee is required to report 
 two sets of candidates, it can offer incom- 
 petent rivals to the favored candidates, and 
 thus secure the election of the latter. This 
 method of nomination is commendable only 
 when the majority of the members are un- 
 acquainted with each other and with the af- 
 fairs of the Society, or when they are indif- 
 ferent to the interests of the Society. 
 
 When the nominating committee is itself 
 nominated from the floor, and the names 
 proposed for the committee are voted upon 
 in the order of nomination, there is large 
 opportunity for different factions to be rep- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 35 
 
 resented upon the committee. But the 
 committee thus created has also great 
 power in controlling the election, and does 
 in fact virtually choose the officers. 
 
 3. By Informal Ballot. In this method of 
 nomination the ballot is taken in the usual 
 way, each member writing upon the ballot 
 the name of the person preferred for the of- 
 fice named. When all the ballots are re- 
 ceived, they are counted by the tellers un- 
 der the usual rules, and the two persons 
 receiving the highest and the next to the 
 highest number of votes are the nominees. 
 If there be a tie vote for the two next the 
 highest, then there are three nominees. 
 
 The nominees are announced by the 
 Chair, and the formal ballot is taken for 
 election, only the nominees being voted for. 
 Balloting must continue until one of the 
 nominees receives a majority of the votes 
 cast. 
 
 The advantage of this method is that it 
 gives to every member the opportunity to 
 nominate, and is therefore absolutely fair. It 
 is also an economy of material ; for after one 
 officer has been chosen, the whole remain- 
 ing membership is offered for choice of the 
 next officer, and so on to the end. 
 
136 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 In a small society this method is suffic- 
 iently short to be practicable. In large so- 
 cieties the principle may be preserved, and 
 time also saved, by issuing blank ballots for 
 nomination, having printed upon the infor- 
 mal ballot, under an invitation to nominate, 
 the titles of all offices to be filled in the 
 ensuing election. Every member should 
 receive a distinctive envelope and one infor- 
 mal ballot, printed on distinctive paper, and 
 duly signed by the Recording Secretary. 
 After writing under their respective titles 
 the names of preferred candidates, the mem- 
 ber returns the ballot to the Secretary, who 
 passes all the ballots, unopened, to the 
 Tellers, to be counted at a time and place 
 and under the eyes of Inspectors appointed 
 by the assembly. Ballots containing more 
 than one name to each office are cast out. 
 
 The informal ballot is the ballot for 
 nomination ; the formal ballot is the ballot 
 for election. In announcing the result of 
 the informal ballot, the Chair mentions no 
 names besides those of the nominees ; in 
 announcing the result of the /<?r/;/^/ ballot, 
 the Chair mentions no other name than 
 that of the successful candidate. In an- 
 nouncing the result of the informal ballot, 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 37 
 
 the Chair does not mention the number of 
 votes cast; in announcing the result of the 
 fonnal ballot, the Chair always mentions 
 the number of votes cast. 
 
 Election of Officers. 
 
 The nominees are sometimes announced 
 by the Chair at the meeting for the election 
 of officers and the formal ballot is then tak- 
 en, only those present being permitted to 
 cast votes. 
 
 When, in the informal ballot for nomin- 
 ation, a majority of votes are cast for one 
 nominee, time may be saved by a motion 
 "that the informal ballot be made formal." 
 This motion should be voted upon by ac- 
 clamation, and if carried, the nominee is 
 declared elected ; but if the motion be 
 lost, the formal ballot must be taken in the 
 usual way. 
 
 Or the Secretary, or a Teller may be 
 instructed to cast the formal ballot, as 
 described under the general directions for 
 balloting. 
 
 Formal Ballot by Mail. When members 
 of a society are numerous and scattered, 
 the ballot for election may also well be 
 
138 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 taken through the mails. A blanket ballot 
 containing the names of the nominees, 
 printed under the names of the offices to 
 which they are respectively nominated, may 
 be sent with a distinctive envelope to each 
 member. A cross, made before the name 
 of the preferred nominee in each office, indi- 
 cates the vote of the member. These for- 
 mal ballots are returned by mail to the Re- 
 cording Secretary, and are transferred un- 
 opened to the Tellers, who open and count 
 them in the presence of the Inspectors. A 
 majority for one nominee constitutes an 
 election, unless the Constitution requires 
 a larger or smaller number of votes there- 
 for. 
 
 When Nominees Vote. It is customary 
 for all nominees to refrain from voting upon 
 the question of their own election unless 
 there be a blanket ballot, that is, a ballot 
 containing the names of the nominees for 
 several offices. If a rival candidate votes, 
 it is permissible and often commendable for 
 the other nominee tO vote. 
 
 Voting by Proxy. No member may vote 
 by proxy unless the rules of the Society so 
 declare. If such voting is permitted, the 
 g,uthorization of the proxy should be 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 39 
 
 signed, and the signature be attested by a 
 Notary Public. 
 
 Electioneering . It is proper to election- 
 eer both publicly and privately. Previous 
 to an informal ballot, members may openly 
 recommend a certain candidate, and pre- 
 vious to the formal ballot speeches may be 
 made in favor of any nominee, but no mem- 
 ber is obliged to vote for the candidate thus 
 recommended. The purpose of electioneer- 
 ing is to concentrate votes on the candidate 
 recommended ; and an electioneering 
 speech may be made without discourtesy 
 to any rival candidate. 
 
 Declining Office. The time to decline 
 office is before election. Any member who 
 cannot serve in office should say so on the 
 earliest intimation of nomination. No per- 
 son should be elected to office without hav- 
 ing previously consented to serve in case of 
 election. 
 
 Installation in Office. The election of 
 officers is usually fixed for the annual meet- 
 ing, or the meeting next before it. The 
 officers take their place, one by one as soon 
 as elected, or all at the beginning of the 
 next succeeding meeting, or at such time 
 after election as the Constitution declares. 
 
I40 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 When permanent officers succeed tempor- 
 ary ones, each officer as soon as elected, 
 succeeds the temporary officer. 
 
 Temporary officers are either appointed 
 or elected. 
 
 Minutes or Journal. 
 
 The minutes are a record of the proceed- 
 ings, kept by the Recording Officer. The 
 rule is to record whatever influences future 
 action. The disposal of every principal mo- 
 tion must be recorded ; those that are lost, 
 because they are debarred from being in- 
 troduced again during the session, and 
 those that are affirmatively voted upon, 
 because they demand subsequent attention. 
 
 The minutes should begin with the name 
 of the Society, and the place and date of 
 its meeting ; should state whether the 
 meeting is regular, adjourned or special ; 
 who presided over it, and whether the min- 
 utes from the previous meeting were read 
 and approved. 
 
 It is usual to record the names of the 
 mover and the seconder of the main ques- 
 tions. A digest of the arguments presented 
 ia debate may be inserted if the recorder is 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I4I 
 
 apt in such work, and such digests often 
 make the minutes of greater value, but they 
 cannot be demanded, and it is usually bet- 
 ter to confine the journal strictly to what has 
 been done. What has been proposed or 
 discussed but not regularly presented and 
 acted upon has no place in the minutes. 
 
 The Recording Officer often writes the 
 journal three times. The first time all mo- 
 tions made in the meeting are noted in their 
 order, with the disposal of each, and these 
 notes are used if need be to assist the mem- 
 ory of the presiding officer during the pro- 
 gress of business, or in case of reconsider- 
 ation. 
 
 After adjournment for the day, when the 
 reconsideration of any vote would no longer 
 be in order, the notes may be written out 
 in full, omitting incidental motions, and all 
 such subsidiary motions as have no influ- 
 ence on future action. These minutes are 
 read at the next meeting on call of the 
 Chair, and are subject to correction and 
 amendment by the assembly. After ap- 
 proval by the assembly, the minutes may be 
 exactly copied for permanent preservation 
 and reference, and must be open, at reason- 
 able times, to the inspection of any member. 
 
142 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 It is in order for the assembly to correct 
 the minutes regardless of the time that has 
 elapsed since they were made, or of the 
 number of times they have been corrected. 
 
 When a vote is by ballot the number ol 
 votes on each side should be entered in the 
 minutes, and when the Yeas and Nays are 
 called the list of the names as well as the 
 number of votes should be recorded. 
 
 Minutes are usually read at the beginning 
 of the next meeting, but if the next meeting 
 will not soon occur, the minutes should be 
 read at the close of the meeting to which 
 they pertain, and should then be corrected 
 and approved. 
 
 Any member may offer either a correc- 
 tion or an amendment to the minutes, and in 
 case of dispute, the amendment is acted up- 
 on by the assembly as a main question. 
 
 The recording officer, whether a perman- 
 ent or a temporary one, should sign the 
 minutes of the meeting. The Recording 
 Secretary, or Clerk, or Recorder is the cus- 
 todian of all minutes recording the past pro- 
 ceedings of the assembly. 
 
 To Expunge from the Minutes. It some- 
 times happens that an assembly desires to 
 expunge from the minutes a true record 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 43 
 
 that has already been approved. In such 
 case any member may move to expunge a 
 certain page or paragraph, and if the vote 
 therefor be unanimous, the recording officer 
 pastes a blank paper over the expunged 
 portion and writes thereupon '' Expunged 
 by order of the assembly," giving the 
 
 date. 
 
 Numbering. The numbers prefixed to 
 paragraphs or sections, being only marginal 
 indications, should be corrected, if neces- 
 sary, by the recording officer, without a 
 motion to amend. 
 
 Org'anization of a Society. 
 
 A Society generally has its origin in the 
 mind of an individual, who confers with 
 others about the aims of the association. 
 When a few have been found to be of one 
 opinion in regard to the matter, a call for a 
 meeting is issued. When the time of the 
 meeting arrives, one of those who issued 
 the call rises and calls the meeting to order, 
 and either nominates or asks for the nomi- 
 nation of a temporary chairman. The nomi- 
 nation having been made and seconded, it 
 is put to vote by acclamation, and the tern- 
 
144 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 porary chairman as soon as elected, takes 
 the chair. 
 
 The election of a temporary secretary is 
 next in order, and as soon as one is like- 
 wise nominated and elected, the temporary 
 organization of the Society is effected. A 
 presiding and a recording officer are usually 
 the only ones necessary to the temporary 
 organization, but others may be chosen. 
 All the temporary officers hold office until 
 the permanent officers shall have been 
 elected. 
 
 A discussion of the object and rules of 
 the association follows, and then a motion is 
 made to proceed to permanent organiza- 
 tion. Those who intend to participate in 
 the undertaking, are asked to rise, and 
 these become the original members or 
 founders of the Society. 
 
 Tlie Making of a Oon-stitu- 
 
 tion, By-La^ws, and Special 
 Rules. 
 
 For this work it is customary to appoint 
 a committee, with instructions to report at 
 a future meeting. These fundamental rules 
 vary so greatly with the structure and pur- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 45 
 
 poses of Societies, that no model can be 
 given ; but certain provisions are alike 
 necessary for all. A Constitution should 
 contain only what is fundamental, and what 
 will require no speedy alteration, and 
 should contain at least six Articles. 
 
 ARTICLE I.— Name. 
 
 Under this heading the name of the or- 
 ganization should be declared. Its name 
 should be distinctive, that it may preserve 
 its individuality in case legal questions arise 
 concerning property belonging to, or be- 
 queathed to it. The name should be short, 
 because it is to be often written or spoken. 
 
 ARTICLE II.— Object. 
 
 Under this heading the reason which the 
 Society has for its being should be briefly 
 set forth. It is better to say too little 
 rather than too much, and to avoid details, 
 thus leaving freedom for adjustment to 
 changing circumstances. If there be a 
 motto it should be here inserted. 
 
 ARTICLE III. — Membership. 
 
 This article should clearly indicate the 
 method by which members enter the So- 
 
146 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 ciety, and everything relating to their ad- 
 mission should be methodically set forth. 
 
 ARTICLE IV.—Officers. 
 
 This article should state what officers the 
 Society shall have, when and how they 
 shall be nominated and elected, what their 
 term of office shall be, and how vacancies 
 shall be filled. If there is to be a Board 
 of Managers, Directors or Trustees, the 
 manner of creating the Board should be 
 described, and its powers should be defined, 
 either in this or a separate article. 
 
 ARTICLE v.— Meetings. 
 
 The times of the regular and annual 
 meetings should be stated, and the rule un- 
 der which special meetings may be called 
 should be laid down. The number forming 
 a quorum should also be declared. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. — ^Amendment. 
 
 Every Constitution should provide for 
 its own amendment, and this article should 
 be the last in the Constitution. If there 
 be other articles, they may be interposed 
 between the last two. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 47 
 
 Any article may contain several Sections, 
 and these should be consecutively num- 
 bered within each article, using Arabic 
 numerals. Clearness and the utmost 
 brevity consistent therewith should char- 
 acterize the fundamental laws of the Society. 
 
 A Society simply constructed, and with 
 no complexity in its business, may require 
 nothing more than a Constitution for a suf- 
 ficient setting forth of its rules ; but if there be 
 need of detailed statements for the guidance 
 of the members, these should be arranged as 
 By-Laws, giving specifically under consecu- 
 tive Articles the duties of Officers, duties 
 of Members, the list of Standing Commit- 
 tees and their respective duties, and all de- 
 tails relating to the meetings or manage- 
 ment of the Society. The By-Laws should 
 always mention the Parliamentary author- 
 ity which shall guide the Society in its pro- 
 cedure. 
 
 The last article in the By-Laws should 
 state how the By-Laws may be amended. 
 
148 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Special Rules. 
 
 The proceedings of no one deliberative 
 body can in every respect be taken as a Par- 
 liamentary model for any other. Each 
 body has, for matters of detail, special rules 
 adapting the general rules of procedure to 
 its special circumstances. All regulations 
 which the Society may wish to suddenly 
 alter, and all such rules as may need to be 
 suspended for a single occasion, should be 
 arranged under the head of Special Rules. 
 These can at any time be suspended, re- 
 suming sway as soon as the single occasion 
 for the suspension shall have passed. They 
 may determine the time allowed to each 
 speaker in debate, the terms upon which 
 visitors shall be admitted, the hour for call- 
 ing to order and for adjournment, the place 
 of meeting, the order of business, etc. 
 Whether any regulation should be placed 
 among the By-Laws or among the Special 
 Rules must be determined by the proba- 
 bility of need for its sudden supension. 
 
 The Special Rules should provide for 
 their own suspension. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 49 
 
 Order of Business. 
 
 Every deliberative body should have a 
 regular order of business to be followed at 
 its meetings. This may be prepared by a 
 member, or by a committee, and adopted by 
 a majority vote of the assembly. The order 
 may be more or less complex, depending on 
 the amount and variety of business to be 
 transacted. One of the following orders 
 would be practicable for most organizations : 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 1. Calling to order. 
 
 2. Reading and approval of minutes. 
 
 3. Unfinished business. 
 
 4. New business. 
 
 5. Adiournment. 
 
 No. 2. 
 1. Calling to order. 
 3. Approval of the journal. 
 
 3 . Orders of the day . 
 
 4. Report of committees. 
 
 5. Unfinished business. 
 
 6. New business. 
 
 7. Adiournment. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 1. Calling to order. 
 
 2 . Calling the roll. 
 
 3. Approval of the minutes . 
 
 4. Reports of officers. 
 
 5. Reports of special committees. 
 
 6. Reports of standing committees. 
 
 7. Unfinished business. 
 
 8 . Other business. 
 
 9. Adjournment. 
 
150 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Exercises. 
 
 The Association for Village Improvement is 
 holding a meeting. 
 
 Chair. New business is now in order. 
 
 Mr. A. rises. Mr. President. 
 
 Chair. Mr. A. 
 
 Mr. A. I offer the following resolution. 
 Whereas, dogs are subject to rabies, and 
 are thereby a source of danger in the com- 
 munity, and 
 
 Whereas, their barking destroys sleep, 
 and is afflictive both to the sick and the 
 well, and 
 
 Whereas, lawsuits on their account have 
 lately endangered friendly relations in this 
 neighborhood, be it 
 
 Resolved, that this Association print and 
 distribute in this township carefully pre- 
 pared literature dissuading householders 
 from the keeping of dogs. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. B. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the resolution. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises, and reads the resolution, then 
 says, the resolution is open to debate. Sit5» 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I5I 
 
 Mr. C. rises* Mr. President. 
 
 Chair. Mr. C. 
 
 Mr. C. speaks. During the last year, the 
 flocks of sheep, which are decorative to 
 the hills around this village and a source 
 of revenue to their owners, have been 
 worried 
 
 Mr. D. rises. Mr. President, I raise the 
 question of consideration. Sits. Mr. C. sits. 
 
 Chair rises. The question of considera- 
 tion is raised. Those in favor of consider- 
 ing the question will rise and stand to be 
 counted. Counts, Be seated* Those op- 
 posed to consideration of the question will 
 rise. Counts. Be seated. The ayes have 
 it and the resolution will be considered. 
 Sits. 
 
 Mr. C. rises ^ and without again getting the 
 floor ^ which is his by right ^ proceeds with his 
 speech. Others follow in debate^ pro and con. 
 
 Miss E. gets the floor. I move that a com- 
 mittee of three be appointed by the Chair, 
 to ascertain, and to report at our next 
 meeting, what is the highest pecuniary 
 value of any dog now kept in this village. 
 Sits. 
 
152 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Chair. That motion is not now in order, 
 as there is already a principal motion be- 
 fore the assembly. 
 
 Mr. D. gets the floor. I move the inde- 
 finite postponement of this question. Sits, 
 
 Mrs. D. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Mr. C. gets the floor, I move to lay the 
 question on the table. Sits. 
 
 Miss C. rises. I second the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved to lay the reso- 
 lution on the table. Those in favor of so 
 doing will say aye. — Those opposed will saj^ 
 no. — The Chair is in doubt. Those in favor 
 of laying the resolution on the table will 
 rise and stand to be counted. — Be seated. 
 Those opposed will rise.— Be seated. There 
 is a tie and the motion to lay on the table 
 is lost. 
 
 The motion for indefinite postponement 
 has been made, and that motion is now 
 open to debate. Sits. 
 
 Dr. F. gets the floor. I ask the consent of 
 the assembly to read a passage from a late 
 medical journal, concerning the number of 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 53 
 
 deaths from hydrophobia, in this State, 
 during the last decade. Sits. 
 
 Mr. A. rises. I second the request. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. Dr. F. asks the consent of 
 the assembly to his reading from a medical 
 journal a passage bearing upon the question 
 before us. Those consenting will say aye. 
 — Those opposed will say no. — The ayes 
 have it, and consent is given. Sits. 
 
 Dr. F. rises ^ and reads the passage. After 
 reading he continues in debate^ and closes by 
 saying, There is much more to be said on 
 this topic, but I see that my time has 
 lapsed. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. G. gets the floor. I move that the 
 rule limiting speakers in debate to ten min- 
 utes be suspended, in order to allow Dr. 
 F. as much time as he wishes to take for 
 his argument. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. A. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved to suspend the 
 rule limiting debaters to ten minutes, in 
 order that Dr* F. may continue his speech. 
 Those in favor of this will rise. — Be seated. 
 Those opposed will rise. — Be seated. There 
 
154 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 are nineteen ayes and ten noes. The Chair 
 votes with the ayes, making the requisite 
 two-thirds, and the rule is suspended. Dr. 
 F. has the floor* 
 
 Dr. F. concludes his speech; then sits. 
 
 Mr. H. gets the floor. Many dogs are kept 
 by residents who are not householders, 
 and these dogs are as subject to rabies as 
 are those of householders. I agree with 
 the last speaker in considering one citizen 
 to be of greater value than all the dogs in 
 the town; but I see no reason why we 
 should apply dissuasion from the keeping 
 of dogs, to householders only. I move to 
 amend the resolution by striking out the 
 word . 
 
 Chair. The motion to amend is not in 
 order; the question now before the as- 
 sembly is that of indefinite postponement. 
 
 Mr. H. I move the Previous Question 
 to the motion for indefinite postponement. 
 Sits. 
 
 Miss E. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. The Previous Question is 
 moved to the motion to postpone indefin- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I 55 
 
 itely. Those in favor of now closing debate 
 on the motion for the indefinite postpone- 
 ment of the resolution, will say aye. — Those 
 opposed will say no. — The ayes have it and 
 debate is closed. 
 
 The vote will now be taken upon the in- 
 definite postponement of the resolution. 
 Those in favor of its indefinite postpone- 
 ment will say aye. — Those opposed will say 
 no. — The noes have it; the resolution is 
 still before the assembly, and subject to 
 further debate. Sits. 
 
 Mr. H. gets the floor. I move to amend 
 the resolution by striking out the word 
 "householders" and inserting the words "all 
 residents." Sits. 
 
 Chair. Is the amendment seconded ? 
 
 Mrs. H. rises. I second the amendment. 
 Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved to amend the 
 resolution by striking out the word "house- 
 holders" and inserting the words "all resi- 
 dents/' making the resolution to read "lit- 
 erature dissuading all residents from the 
 keeping of dogs." Is there any debate on 
 the offered amendment? Sits. 
 
156 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Mrs. I. gets the floor. I move to amend 
 the amendment by striking out the words 
 "all residents" and inserting the word 
 "people." Sits. 
 
 Chair. The offered amendment to the 
 amendment is not in order, because it de- 
 stroys the offered amendment. If the 
 amendment is not carried, the offered 
 amendment to the amendment can then be 
 presented in the form of an amendment to 
 the principal motion. 
 
 Mr. M. gets the floor. It would perhaps 
 better express the views of a majority in 
 the Association to say "householders and 
 all residents." There are householders who 
 are not residents, and residents who are not 
 householders. If the mover of the amend- 
 ment will withdraw it, I will offer an 
 amendment in this form. Sits. 
 
 Mr. H. gets the floor. Mr. President, I ask 
 to withdraw my amendment. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. H. rises. I second the request. Sits. 
 
 Chair. Is there any objection to the 
 withdrawal of the amendment proposed 
 by Mr. H* to strike out the word '^house- 
 holders" and insert the words "all resi- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 5/ 
 
 dents?" No objection being made, Mr. H. 
 may withdraw the offered amendment. 
 
 Mr. H. says : I withdraw the amendment. 
 
 Mrs. H. rises. Mr. President, I rise to a 
 Parliamentary inquiry. 
 
 Chair. The lady will make her inquiry. 
 
 Mrs. H. Would it now be in order to 
 refer this resolution to a committee to be 
 revised and reported upon at our next 
 meeting? 
 
 Chair. That would be in order. 
 
 Mrs. H. Then I move that the resolution 
 be referred to a committee consisting of 
 Mr. A., Mrs. B. and Mr. M. to be revised 
 and reported upon at our next meeting. 
 Sits. 
 
 Mrs. I. rises, I second the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved to refer the re- 
 solution to a committee consisting of Mr. 
 A., Mrs. B. and Mr. M. to be revised and 
 reported upon at our next meeting. Are 
 there any remarks on this motion ? Sits. 
 
 Mrs. N. gets the floor. To our next meet- 
 ing several important questions have been 
 postponed, and it is improbable that there 
 will then be time for the report of any 
 
158 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 committee now appointed. Desiring the 
 resolution before us to have ample and un- 
 hurried consideration, I move to amend 
 the motion by striking out the words ''to 
 be revised and reported upon at our next 
 meeting," and to insert the words, "for its 
 revision." 
 
 Mrs. I. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved to amend the 
 motion to refer to a committee by striking 
 out the words "to be revised and reported 
 upon at our next meeting," and to insert 
 the words "for its revision," making the mo- 
 tion to be, "to refer the resolution to a com- 
 mittee consisting of Mr. A., Mrs. B. and Mr. 
 M. for its revision." Are there any remarks 
 on the proposed amendment ? Sits. 
 
 Mr. A. rises. Mr. President, I rise for 
 information. 
 
 Chair. The member will state his inquiry. 
 
 Mr. A. What are the questions ordered 
 for consideration at our next meeting ? Sits. 
 
 Chair. The Secretary will answer the 
 inquiry. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 59 
 
 Secretary rises and reads from the minutes^ 
 mentioning several questions that will at the 
 next meeting be orders of the day. Sits. 
 
 Chair. Are you ready for the question ? 
 
 Several voices. Question, question. 
 
 Chair rises. The vote will be taken on 
 the amendment to strike out the words 
 *'to be revised and reported upon at our 
 next meeting," and insertingthe words "for 
 revision." Those agreeing to this amend- 
 ment, will say ^j/^.-Those opposing it will 
 say;2^.-The ayes have it, and the amendment 
 is agreed to. The question is now upon re- 
 ferring the resolution to a committee. Are 
 there any further remarks or amendments ? 
 
 Mr. D. rises ^ gets the floor. I move to 
 amend the motion for referring to a com- 
 mittee, by adding to the names mentioned 
 those of Mr. O. and Mr. P. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. D. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair. It is moved to amend the motion, 
 by adding to the names on the committee 
 those of Mr. O. and Mr. P. Are there any 
 remarks ? None are\made. 
 
l60 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Is there any objection to adding these 
 names ? No objection being made, the 
 names of Mr. O. and Mr. P. are added to 
 those already mentioned in the motion to 
 refer. Is there any debate on the amended 
 motion ? The question now to be voted 
 upon is, "Will the Association refer the re- 
 solution to a committee consisting of Mr. A., 
 Mrs. B., Mr. M., Mr. O. and Mr. P. for re- 
 vision?" Those in favor of this will say aye 
 -Those opposed will say no— The ayes have 
 it and the resolution is so referred. Sits. 
 
 Mr. A. gets the floor. I move that when 
 we adjourn we adjourn to meet in this 
 place next Saturday morning at ten o'clock. 
 Sits. 
 
 Mrs. C. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved that when we 
 adjourn we adjourn to meet in this place 
 next Saturday morning at ten o'clock. Is 
 there any discussion ? Sits. 
 
 Mr. A. gets the floor. There is much un- 
 finished business to be attended to, more 
 than the Association seems quite able to 
 overtake. By the holding of an adjourned 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. l6l 
 
 meeting we might be able to reach a con- 
 clusion concerning the disputed uses of the 
 base-ball ground, and we might also act on 
 the report of the committee now appointed 
 for the revision of the resolution concern- 
 ing dogs. Spring is approaching, and any 
 action taken in consequence of the adop- 
 tion of the resolution would be now most 
 opportune. I hope that all members will 
 willingly give a few^ hours before the next 
 regular meeting, to the business of the 
 Association. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. M, gets the floor. It will be difficult 
 for some of our members to attend a Satur- 
 day morning meeting. I move to amend the 
 motion by striking out the words, "morning 
 at ten o'clock," and inserting, "evening at 
 eight o'clock." Sits. 
 
 Mr. M. rises. I second the amendment. 
 Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. It is moved to amend the 
 motion by striking out the words "morning 
 at ten o'clock," and inserting the words 
 "evening at eight o'clock," making the time 
 of the adjourned meeting to be Saturday 
 evening at eight o'clock. 
 
l62 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Miss E. gets the floor. I move to amend 
 by striking out "Saturday" and inserting 
 "Friday." Saturday night is . 
 
 Chair. The last motion is out of order. 
 There is one primary amendment before 
 the assembly, and another cannot be made 
 until this is disposed of. The question is 
 on the amendment, proposed by Mrs* M. 
 Miss E. sits. Chair sits. 
 
 Mr. J. rises, Mr. President, I rise to a 
 question of privilege. 
 
 Chair. The gentleman will state his 
 question. 
 
 Mr. J. The Janitor has just informed 
 me, as Chairman of the House Committee, 
 that the Good Templars of this village 
 have made application for the use of these 
 rooms on every Saturday evening until the 
 first of October next. The Committee 
 desires instruction from the Association as 
 to whether the rooms shall be rented, and 
 if so at what rental. Sits. 
 
 Chair. The question is one of privilege. 
 What is the pleasure of the Association in 
 regard to the renting of these rooms ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 6$ 
 
 Mr. N. gets the floor, I move that the 
 rooms of the Association be rented to the 
 Good Templars, for their use on all Satur- 
 day evenings till the first of October next, 
 for the sum of two hundred dollars, to be 
 prepaid. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. B. rises. Mr. President, I second 
 the motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises, states the question, and calls for 
 debate : debate follows : amendment is offered to 
 strikeout "-prepaid" and insert ''paid on the 
 first day of May, " and this is seconded and stated. 
 
 Mrs. A. gets the floor. I move the Pre- 
 vious Question. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. L. rises. I second the motion. Sits, 
 Chair rises. The Previous Question is 
 moved. Those in favor of now closing 
 debate will say aye. — Those opposed will 
 say no. — The vote is unanimously affirma- 
 tive and debate is closed. The question is 
 now upon agreeing to the amendment, to 
 strike out "prepaid ' and insert "paid on the 
 first day of May." Those agreeing to this 
 amendment will say aye.-Th.osQ opposed will 
 say no.-The noes have it and the amendment 
 is not agreed to. The privileged question 
 
164 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 will now be put to vote. Those in favor of 
 renting the rooms of the Association to the 
 Good Templars of this village for their use 
 on all Saturday evenings till the first of Oct- 
 ober next, for the sum of two hundred dol- 
 lars, to be prepaid, will raise the right hand. 
 The Secretary will count.-The count ismade. 
 Those opposed will manifest it in the same 
 manner. — The count is made. — Secretary 
 gives result to Chair. — The noes have it and 
 the motion is lost. 
 
 The question is again on the amendment 
 to the principal motion. Those agreeing 
 to strike out the words ''morning at ten o'- 
 clock," and to insert the words, "evening at 
 eight o'clock," making the time of the pro- 
 posed meeting to be Saturday evening at 
 eight o'clock, will say ^7^.- Those not agree- 
 ing will say no- The ayes have it and the 
 amendment is agreed to. Are there any 
 remarks on the amended motion ? Debate 
 follows, and is closed by ordering the Previous 
 Question. Then the vote is taken on the motion 
 for an adj ourned meeting and the motion is carried, 
 
 Mr. R. gets the floor and introduces a motion 
 that the Association invite Mrs. X, to give an ad- 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 16$ 
 
 dress at the meeting of June jd. This is seconded^ 
 and is stated dy the Chair. Mr. V. has the fioor 
 and is speaking. 
 
 Mr. M. rises, Mr. President, I move to 
 reconsider the motion to hold an adjourned 
 meeting next Saturday evening. Sits. 
 
 Mrs. H. rises. Mr. President, I second the 
 motion. Sits. 
 
 Chair. The Secretary will record the 
 motion to reconsider the question of an 
 adjourned meeting. 
 
 Mr, V. continues his speech. 
 
 Mr. T. rises. Mr. President, I rise to a 
 point of order. 
 
 Chair. The member will state his point 
 of order. 
 
 Mr. T. We have a By-law requiring 
 the first meeting in each month to be an 
 executive meeting, and another rule ex- 
 cluding visitors from the executive meet- 
 ings. The motion now before the house 
 is inconsistent with these rules. -5"//^. 
 
 Chair. The point of order is well taken, 
 and the last motion is overruled. 
 
 The reconsideration of the question re- 
 lating to an adjourned meeting is now 
 
1 66 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 in order. The Secretary will read the 
 question. 
 
 Secretary rises and reads from the minutes^ 
 Mr. A., seconded by Mrs. C, moved that 
 when we adjourn we adjourn to meet next 
 Saturday morning at ten o'clock. It was 
 moved to amend this motion by striking 
 out "morning at ten o'clock," and inserting 
 "evening at eight o'clock," and this amend- 
 ment was adopted. The amended motion, 
 that when we adjourn we adjourn to meet 
 next Saturday evening at eight o'clock, 
 was carried. Sits. 
 
 Chair. Is there any debate on the motion 
 to reconsider? 
 
 Mr. M. gets the floor. Since this motion 
 was carried I have received a telegram an- 
 nouncing the arrival of the Governor of 
 the State on Saturday next, and that he 
 will address the citizens of this village on 
 Saturday evening, in the Stone Church. 
 Under these circumstances, the members 
 of this Association will doubtless prefer 
 being free from duties here on Saturday 
 evening. Sits, 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 67 
 
 Chair. Are there any other remarks ? 
 If not, the vote will be taken on the motion 
 to reconsider. Those in favor of recon- 
 sideration will say aye. — Those opposed 
 will say no. — The ayes have it and the mo- 
 tion now before the house is that when we 
 adjourn we adjourn to meet next Saturday 
 evening at eight o'clock. 
 
 Mrs. A, gets the floor. I move to amend 
 the motion by striking out the word ''Sat- 
 urday"and inserting the word ^'Thursday," 
 making the time of the meeting to be 
 Thursday evening at eight o'clock. Sits, 
 
 Mrs. M. seconds the amendment; the Chair 
 states the amendment, asks for debate on it, puts 
 it to vote and when it is carried asks for debate 
 on the amended ^notion; there being no debate it is 
 immediately put to vote, and is carried. 
 
 Mr. K. gets the floor. I move that this 
 Association rent for the months of April, 
 May, June, July, August and September 
 the portion of land known as Forest 
 Meadow, to be used as a tennis court by 
 members and their guests. Sits, 
 
 Mr. Y. seconds the motion; the Chair states it, 
 and calls for debate. 
 
1 68 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Miss G. gets the floor. I move to amend the 
 motion by striking out the words "April, 
 May," at the beginning of the names of 
 months, and inserting the words "October 
 and November," at the end. Sits. 
 
 This is seconded, stated, and debated. 
 
 Mr. Y. gets the floor. I move that this 
 question be considered informally. This is 
 seconded y and stated. 
 
 Miss E. rises. Mr. President, I rise to a 
 point of order. 
 
 Chair. The lady will state her point of 
 order. 
 
 Miss E. There is an amendment before 
 the assembly, and the motion to consider 
 informally is therefore not in order. 
 
 Chair. The point of order is not well 
 taken. 
 
 Miss E. I appeal from the decision of 
 the Chair. Sits. 
 
 Mr. Q. rises. I second the appeal. Sits. 
 
 Chair rises. The decision of the Chair on 
 the point of order is appealed from, and the 
 question now before the assembly is, shall 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 69 
 
 the decision of the Chair stand as the judg- 
 ment of the assembly ? The Chair con- 
 siders that the incidental motion as to me- 
 thod of consideration, being immediately 
 applicable, outranks the motion to amend. 
 Miss E. has the floor. Stfs. 
 
 Miss E. does not take the floor. 
 
 Chair. Is there any discussion ? 
 
 Mr. B. gets the floor. I move the Previous 
 Question. Sits. 
 
 Mr. J. rises. I second the motion. Sits, 
 
 Chair rises. The Previous Question is 
 moved. Those in favor of now closing debate 
 on the appeal will say aye. — Those opposed 
 will say no. — The ayes have it and debate 
 is closed. Shall the decision of the Chair 
 stand as the judgment of the assembly ? 
 Those sustaining the judgment of the 
 Chair will say aye. — Those opposed will 
 say no. — The ayes have it and the judg- 
 ment of the Chair is sustained. 
 
 The vote will now be taken on the mo- 
 tion to consider informally the question of 
 renting Forest Meadow. — Those in favor 
 of informal consideration will say aye.-^ 
 
I/O PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 Those opposed will say no. — The noes have 
 
 it and the question will not be considered 
 informally. Debate is now in order, upon 
 
 the offered amendment, to strike out the 
 
 words ''April, May," and insert the words 
 
 "October and Novemt er." Sits. 
 
 Mr. H. gets the floor. May is one of the 
 best months for out-of-door games. I move 
 to amend the amendment by striking out 
 the word "May." Sits. 
 
 The motion is seconded, stated, debated, voted 
 upon and carried. The proposed amendment is 
 further amended by striking out '■'■November." 
 
 Chair rises. If there be no further debate 
 on the amended amendment it will be put 
 to vote. Will the assembly agree to strike 
 out the word "April," and insert the word 
 "October ? " — This amendment is adopted. 
 
 The question now before the assembly is 
 the amended motion, that this Association 
 rent for the months of May, June, July> 
 August, September and October, the por- 
 tion of land known as Forest Meadow, to 
 be used as a tennis-court by members and 
 their guests. Is there further debate ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I7I 
 
 Mrs. F. gets the floor, I move to postpone 
 this question till next Thursday evening at 
 half past eight o'clock. Sits. 
 
 This is seconded, stated, and is carried, 
 
 Mr. F. rises. I move that we do now 
 adjourn. Sits. 
 
 This is seconded, stated, put to vote and carried. 
 
1/2 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 The answers to the following questions 
 may be found in, or derived from, the 
 text, and all students should be able 
 to correctly reply to any of them. 
 
 1. What distinguishes a main question 
 from all other questions ? 
 
 2. How is a main question properly in- 
 troduced ? 
 
 3. Under what circumstances may the 
 Chair refuse to state a main question ? 
 
 4. Give several reasons for the require- 
 ment that motions shall be seconded 
 before being stated by the Chair ? 
 
 5. What is the correct way of seconding 
 a motion ? 
 
 6. What is meant by stating a motion ? 
 
 7. What does the Chair say immediately 
 after the stating of any main question ? 
 
 8. At what time does the Chair stand ? 
 
 9. Is every main question debatable ? 
 
 10. Is every main question amendable? 
 
 11. What is meant by the t^rms getting the 
 floor and giving the floor ? 
 
 12. What advantages accrue to the assem- 
 bly through the Chair being able to 
 give the floor at his option ? 
 
 13. Can the Chair be called to order on 
 g,ccount of giving the floor to another 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I 73 
 
 member than the one who first rises to 
 speak ? 
 
 14. What redress has the assembly if the 
 Chair abuse his power, or use it in the 
 service of a faction ? 
 
 15. Does the seconder get the floor? 
 
 16. Is it necessary for every speaker in 
 debate to get the floor ? 
 
 17. Give rules governing speakers in de- 
 ^bate. 
 
 18. What is the purpose of debate? 
 
 19. After a main question has been intro- 
 duced, how can it be removed from 
 before the assembly ? 
 
 20. When a vote is taken by common or 
 general consent, what does the Chair 
 say in taking the vote ? 
 
 21. Is there any difference between a 
 unanimous vote and a vote by general 
 consent? 
 
 22. When is an officer of government elect- 
 ed by a plurality vote ? 
 
 23. Give examples of a two-thirds nega- 
 tive vote, and of a four-fifths affirma- 
 tive vote. 
 
 24. What does the Chair say in taking a 
 vote by acclamation ? 
 
 25. How does the Chair announce the re- 
 
 It of a vote taken by acclamation ? 
 
1 74 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 26. Can any other than a majority vote be 
 determined by acclamation ? 
 
 27. What is a division of the house ^ and how 
 may it be accomplished ? 
 
 28. What does the Chair say when taking 
 a vote by the raising of hands ? 
 
 29. What is the purpose in taking a vote 
 by yeas and nays ? 
 
 30. Describe in full the process of taking 
 a vote by yeas and nays. 
 
 31. Can a vote taken by yeas and nays be 
 reconsidered ? 
 
 32* When does the Chair vote, if the vote 
 be taken by yeas and nays ? 
 
 33. What distinguishes the vote by ballot 
 from all other methods of voting ? 
 
 34. What is the work of Tellers in the 
 taking of a vote ? 
 
 35* What is the work of Inspectors when 
 a vote is by ballot ? 
 
 36. Describe the process of taking a vote 
 by ballot. 
 
 37. Mention nine or more methods of 
 voting, and for each method state cir- 
 cumstances under which that method 
 would be expedient. 
 
 38. Is it ever proper for the Chair to omit 
 taking the negative vote ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 75 
 
 39. May the mover vote against his own 
 motion ? 
 
 40. May the mover or the seconder speak 
 against the motion ? 
 
 41. May the mover amend his own mo- 
 tion ? 
 
 42. If there were a tie in a vote taken by 
 ballot, would the Chair then have a 
 casting vote ? 
 
 43. May a vote taken by ballot be recon- 
 sidered ? 
 
 44. May any vote taken for an election be 
 reconsidered ? 
 
 45. May any vote be reconsidered later 
 than the day on which it was taken ? 
 
 46. May any vote be reconsidered if action 
 consequent upon the vote has followed 
 it? 
 
 47. Mention votes that would be a tie, 
 and votes that would show a majority 
 of one. 
 
 48. When the vote is a tie, is the motion 
 carried or lost ? 
 
 49. If the Chair votes when there is a tie, 
 on which side does the Chair vote? 
 
 50. What does the Chair say when voting 
 to make a tie ? 
 
 51. What is the meaning of the casting vote .? 
 
1^6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 52. If there be a majority of more than 
 one, can the vote of the Chair affect 
 the result ? 
 
 53. Give examples in which the vote of 
 the Chair turns the result from affirm- 
 ative to negative, and others in 
 which it turns the result from nega- 
 tive to affirmative. 
 
 54. Give examples in which the vote of 
 the Chair changes the result in a vote 
 upon the Question of Consideration. 
 
 55. Give examples in which the vote of 
 the Chair changes the result in a vote 
 upon the Previous Question. 
 
 56. Give examples in which the vote of 
 the Chair changes the result in a vote 
 upon the suspension of a rule. 
 
 57. Give examples in which the vote of 
 the Chair changes the result in a vote 
 upon the main question. 
 
 58. When is a question said to h^ pending 1 
 
 59. Is the vote of the Chair more powerful 
 than the vote of any other member ? 
 
 60. Is every member required to vote ? 
 
 61. Can a question be determined, affirm- 
 atively or negatively, when only one 
 member votes upon it ? 
 
 62. How many questions are there that 
 are permitted to interrupt a speaker to 
 whom the floor has been given ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. \*Jj 
 
 6^. What justification has each of these 
 questions for interrupting a speaker? 
 
 64. How many questions require more 
 than a majority vote for their deter- 
 mination ? 
 
 65. What justification has each of these 
 questions for requiring more than a 
 majority ? 
 
 dd. How many ways are there of perma- 
 nently getting rid of a main question, 
 other than by a direct negative vote 
 upon it ? 
 
 67. How many ways are there of tempo- 
 rarily getting rid of a main question ? 
 
 68. How many motions are classified as 
 subsidiary ? 
 
 69. How many of the subsidiary motions 
 are applicable to any other question 
 than the main question ? 
 
 70. Which subsidiary motion applies to 
 nolhing beside the main question ? 
 
 71. Is the Question of Consideration ever 
 raised by a supporter of the main 
 question ? 
 
 73. How long may the first speaker in 
 debate continue to speak, before the 
 Question of Consideration becomes 
 inadmissible ? 
 
 73. Before debate had begun and as soon 
 as the main question was stated by 
 
1/8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 the Chair, the motion to commit was 
 made, seconded, and stated by the 
 Chair. Might the Question of Consi- 
 deration be then raised ? 
 
 74. As soon as the main question was 
 stated, the motion to lay on the table 
 w^as made, seconded, and stated. Was 
 it then too late to raise the Question 
 of Consideration ? 
 
 75. As soon as the main question was 
 stated, a question of order was raised 
 as to conflict between the main ques- 
 tion and the standing rules. This 
 question of order was settled in the 
 negative. Was it then too late to raise 
 the Question of Consideration? 
 
 76. As soon as the main question was 
 stated, a motion was made to divide 
 the main question, and the motion for 
 division was voted upon and lost. Was 
 it then too late to raise the Question of 
 Consideration ? 
 
 77. As soon as the main question was 
 stated, Mr. A. moved to amend, and 
 this was seconded ; Mr. B. moved to 
 postpone to a certain time, and this 
 was seconded ; Mr. C. moved to lay on 
 the table, and this was seconded, and 
 Mr. D. raised the Question of Consi- 
 deration. Which of these subsidiary 
 motions should the Chair first state ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 79 
 
 78. What justifies an assembly's refusal to 
 consider a question properly intro- 
 duced, and not in conflict with its 
 rules ? 
 
 79. Can the Chair alone decide that a 
 question shall not be considered ? 
 
 80. If there were twenty-four members in 
 an assembly how many would need to 
 vote affirmatively in order to secure 
 consideration of the question ? 
 
 81. If the Question of Consideration were 
 raised and nine voted in favor of con- 
 sideration, how many would have to 
 vote no in order to prevent considera- 
 tion ? 
 
 82. If the Question of Consideration were 
 raised, and seven voted affirmatively, 
 and fourteen voted negatively, how 
 could the Chair secure consideration 
 for the question ? 
 
 83. If the Question of Consideration were 
 raised, and fourteen voted affirma- 
 tively, and twenty-seven voted nega- 
 tively, how could the Chair prevent 
 the consideration of the question ? 
 
 84. What does the Chair say when an- 
 nouncing the result of a vote on the 
 Question of Consideration ? 
 
 85. What becomes of a question that the 
 assembly refuses to consider ? 
 
l80 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 S6. Why is a question that the assembly 
 has refused to consider recorded in 
 the minutes as thus disposed of ? 
 
 87. When the Question of Consideration 
 has been stated by the Chair, can it be 
 superseded by any other question? 
 
 88. When an assembly has decided to 
 consider a question, and has begun to 
 consider it, either by debating it, or 
 by applying any other subsidiary mo- 
 tion or any incidental motion to it, 
 may the assembly then reconsider its 
 vote on the Question of Consideration ? 
 
 89. The Chair has stated thatthe Question 
 of Consideration is raised. Is the mo- 
 tion to adjourn at that instant in order ? 
 
 90. What power has a unanimous vote? 
 
 91. How soon may the assembly take up a 
 question that it has laid on the table ? 
 
 92. If a question laid on the table is not 
 taken up before the end of the session, 
 what becomes of it ? 
 
 93. What is the difference between a 
 meeting and a session ? 
 
 94. What is the smallest number of meet- 
 ings that may be in a session ? 
 
 95. What is said by the mover of the mo- 
 tion to lay on the table ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. l8l 
 
 96. What does the Chair say when taking 
 the vote upon the motion to lay on the 
 table ? 
 
 97. If the motion to lay on the table is 
 carried when amendments are pending, 
 what becomes of the amendments ? 
 
 98. Can any amendment be laid on the 
 table without laying the main ques- 
 tion on the table ? 
 
 99. If the motion to lay on the table were 
 made, and then a motion to suspend a 
 rule were made, which of these two 
 motions should the Chair state ? 
 
 100. If the motion to lay on the table had 
 been stated, and at that moment a 
 member rose to a point of order, what 
 should the Chair then do ? 
 
 loi. If the motion to lay on the table had 
 been stated, and at that moment a 
 member moved to adjourn, and the 
 latter motion were seconded, what 
 should the Chair then do ? 
 
 102. Mention several reasons why the 
 friends of a proposition might wish to 
 lay it on the table. 
 
 103. Mention several reasons why the ene- 
 mies of a measure might wish to lay it 
 on the table. 
 
 104. Is the motion to take from the table 
 made by the friends or by the enemies 
 of the measure ? 
 
1 82 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 105. What is the condition of a question 
 when taken from the table ? 
 
 106. What is said by the mover of a motion 
 to take from the table ? 
 
 107. If a member says, " I move to lay this 
 question on the table until our next 
 meeting," and this is seconded, how 
 should the Chair state the motion? 
 
 108. How many times can a question be 
 laid on the table and again taken up ? 
 
 109. If a motion to lay on the table is lost, 
 how soon may it be again made ? 
 
 no. If a motion to lay on the table is nega- 
 tively dtci^td^ can that negative vote be 
 reconsidered, and if so, what is the 
 limit of the time within which it can 
 be reconsidered ? 
 
 111. When a motion to lay on the table is 
 affirmatively decided, why may the vote 
 not be reconsidered ? 
 
 112. Who may move to take a question 
 from the table ? 
 
 113. When may a question be taken from 
 the table? 
 
 114. What vote is required in taking a 
 question from the table ? 
 
 115. Is the motion to take from the table 
 debatable or amendable? 
 
 116. Why cannot an affirmative vott to take 
 from the table be reconsidered ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 83 
 
 117. How soon may a negative vote on the 
 motion to take from the table be recon- 
 sidered ? 
 
 118. What is the difference in effect be- 
 , tween the motion to lay on the table 
 
 and the motion to postpone to a certain 
 time ? 
 
 119. What is the difference in effect between 
 the motion to lay on the table and the 
 motion to postpone indefinitely ? 
 
 120. What may be said by a member who 
 thinks further debate unprofitable? 
 
 121. When the Previous Question is moved 
 without specification or limitation by 
 the mover, to what does it apply ? 
 
 122. To what questions may the Previous 
 Question be applied ? 
 
 •123. To what questions may the motion to 
 lay on the table be applied ? 
 
 124. To what questions may the motion to 
 take from the table be applied ? 
 
 125. How many debatable questions are 
 there ? 
 
 126. Are any of the incidental questions 
 debatable? 
 
 127. Is any privileged motion debatable ? 
 
 128. May any question of privilege be de- 
 bated before the Chair or the assembly 
 has decided that it shall be privileged ? 
 
184 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 129. May the Previous Question be applied 
 to debate on an appeal ? 
 
 130. May the Previous Question be applied 
 to the motion to reconsider? 
 
 131. Which of the seven subsidiary mo- 
 tions are debatable ? 
 
 132. What is the difference in the degree of 
 debatability of the subsidiary motions ? 
 
 133. What determines the degree of the 
 debatability of any subsidiary motion ? 
 
 134. Why is it necessary to be able to shut 
 off debate ? 
 
 135. Should subsidiary motions be written 
 when made? 
 
 136. What motions other than the main 
 question should be presented in writing ? 
 
 137. By what vote is debate closed in the 
 British Parliament ? 
 
 138. Why is a larger vote required in the 
 United States ? 
 
 139. Is the motion to close debate debat- 
 able ? 
 
 140. Suppose the Previous Question to have 
 been ordered on the motion that 
 the Society deposit its funds in the 
 H. B. Bank, and at that instant a 
 member opens a telegram warning him 
 that the H. B. Bank is unsound. How 
 can a member in a parliamentary man- 
 ner prevent the deposit of the funds in 
 the unsound bank ? 
 
MRLIAMfiNTARY PROCEDURE. 1 85 
 
 141. May the motion to reconsider an un- 
 debatable question be debated ? 
 
 142* Should debate be closed before it has 
 been exhaustive ? 
 
 143. May all debate be forestalled by or- 
 dering the Previous Question ? 
 
 144. May the introducer of a proposition 
 include in it the motion that it be 
 adopted without debate ? 
 
 145. How could such a proposition be made 
 debatable ? 
 
 146. What motions equal the Previous 
 Question in rank ? 
 
 147. If an amendment to an amendment 
 were pending, and the Previous Ques- 
 tion were ordered without limitation, 
 in what order would the questions then 
 before the assembly be voted upon ? 
 
 148. Is the motion to adjourn in order 
 when the Previous Question is pend- 
 ing? 
 
 149. Is the request for the reading of a 
 paper in order when the Previous 
 Question is pending? 
 
 150. Is a motion to suspend a rule in order 
 when the Previous Question is pend- 
 ing ? 
 
 151. Is the Question of Consideration in 
 order when the Previous Question is 
 pending ? 
 
1 86 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 152. After the Previous Question has been 
 ordered, may the main question be laid 
 on the table ? 
 
 153. After the debate on the main ques- 
 tion has been closed by vote, may the 
 main question be postponed to a cer- 
 tain time ? 
 
 154. After debate on the main question 
 has been closed by vote, may any one 
 debate that question ? 
 
 155. After the Previous Question is or- 
 dered, and before the vote on the 
 main question is taken, is it in order 
 to move to adjourn ? 
 
 156. If debate on the main question were 
 closed by vote, and adjournment were 
 effected before the question had been 
 put to vote, when would the question 
 be voted upon? 
 
 157. On the motion to close debate there 
 are 21 ayes and 11 noes. The Chair 
 does not approve of present closing of 
 the debate. What does the Chair say 
 in announcing the result of the vote ? 
 
 158. What does the Chair say when taking 
 a vote on the Previous Question ? 
 
 159. Is the main question always put as 
 soon as debate upon it is closed ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 87 
 
 160. If the Chair called for a vote on the 
 question, '' Shall the Mai?i Question be 
 now put 1 " and the vote thereupon were 
 affirmative, could the assembly adjourn 
 before voting upon the main question? 
 
 161. What subsidiary motions may be ap- 
 plied to the main question after the 
 ordering of the Previous Question ? 
 
 162. What Privileged Questions may be 
 introduced after ordering the closure 
 of debate and before taking the vote 
 on the main question ? 
 
 163. What incidental questions may be in- 
 troduced in the interval between the 
 closure of debate on the main question 
 and the putting of that question to 
 vote ? 
 
 164. May a question be divided after debate 
 upon it has been closed ? 
 
 165. If divided, would the separate parts 
 be then debatable ? 
 
 166. If debate were closed on a motion to 
 postpone to a certain time, is debate 
 on the main question closed also ? 
 
 167. Mention several reasons for fixing the 
 time when a question shall be taken 
 up. 
 
 168. After a motion to postpone to a cer- 
 tain time has been stated, may the 
 main question be then debated ? 
 
1 38 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 169. What is always the subject of debate ? 
 
 170. To what extent may the motion to 
 postpone to a certain time be debated ? 
 
 171. To what extent may a motion to post- 
 pone to a certain time be amended ? 
 
 172. For what length of time may a ques- 
 tion be postponed ? 
 
 173. May a question be postponed to a 
 time when there is no meeting ? 
 
 174. When a question is postponed and is 
 not taken up before the end of the ses- 
 sion, what becomes of it ? 
 
 175. Within what length of time may the 
 vote on a motion to postpone be recon- 
 sidered ? 
 
 176. May a question postponed to a certain 
 time be taken up before that time 
 arrives ? 
 
 177. When the time to which a question 
 was postponed has arrived, what is 
 that question called ? 
 
 178. Why is it so called ? 
 
 179. If the Chair does not bring forward 
 the order of the day, how may any 
 member secure attention for the post- 
 poned business ? 
 
 180. What is the rank of a call for the 
 order of the day ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 89 
 
 181. What maybe said by any member who 
 prefers going on with business already 
 under consideration ? 
 
 182. What does the Chair say when ascer- 
 taining the will of the assembly in 
 relation to the business to which it 
 shall first attend ? 
 
 183. What becomes of business to which 
 present consideration is denied ? 
 
 184. If different questions have been post- 
 poned, and have not been reached at 
 the times set for them, in what order 
 must they be taken up ? 
 
 185. If the assembly desires to reach 
 quickly a certain piece of business, 
 what can it do with the questions that 
 come before it, in orders of the day ? 
 
 186. How is an assembly protected from 
 dull and prolix debaters? 
 
 187. Who should enforce the special rule 
 limiting the time of each speaker in 
 debate ? 
 
 188. What is the difference in the effect of 
 the two motions: to postpone to a cer- 
 tain day, and to postpone indefinitely ? 
 
 189. Is the motion to postpone to a certain 
 time made by the friends or by the 
 enemies of the proposition ? 
 
 190. How many times can the same ques- 
 tion be made an order of the day ? 
 
190 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 191. Who may call for an order of the day ? 
 
 192. May an order of the day, after being 
 taken up, be referred to a committee, 
 or postponed indefinitely ? 
 
 193. If the Chair decides that a certain 
 question shall be taken up, and a mem- 
 ber thinks that some other question 
 should be first brought forward, how 
 is the difference of opinion settled ? 
 
 194. Is an appeal relating to priority of 
 business debatable ? 
 
 195. How is every disputed question set- 
 tled ? 
 
 196. What is a committee ? 
 
 197. Which is paramount, the committee or 
 the assembly ? 
 
 198. Mention five kinds of committees, and 
 define each kind. 
 
 199. Mention four ways in which a com- 
 mittee may be created. 
 
 200. Give the form of a motion by which 
 the committee is to be appointed by 
 the chair. 
 
 2oi» Give the form of a resolution naming 
 the members of a committee. 
 
 202. Give the form of an amendment 
 changing the names of members in a 
 committee created by resolution. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. I9I 
 
 203. Give the form of a motion for the 
 creation of a committee by nomination 
 from the floor and election by acclama- 
 tion. 
 
 204. Give the form of a motion for refer- 
 ence to a committee chosen by ballot, 
 
 205. Give the form of a motion for refer- 
 ence to a committee of five nominated 
 from the floor and elected by plurality 
 vote by ballot. 
 
 206. Give the form of a motion for creat- 
 ing a committee of seven, four of 
 whom shall be nominated from the 
 floor and elected by acclamation, and 
 three of whom shall be appointed by 
 the Chair. 
 
 207. To what extent is the motion to refer 
 to a committee debatable ? 
 
 208. In what ways may a motion to refer 
 to a committee be amended ? 
 
 209. If a motion to refer to a committee 
 had been stated, and at that moment 
 the motion to lay on the table were 
 made, voted upon and carried, what 
 would become of the motion to refer 
 to a committee ? 
 
 210. If amendments are pending when a 
 motion is referred to a committee, 
 what becomes of the pending amend- 
 ments ? 
 
192 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 211. Who is the temporary Chairman of a 
 committee ? 
 
 212. Who is the permanent Chairman of a 
 committee ? 
 
 213. What are the duties of a Chairman of 
 committee ? 
 
 214. What are the duties of a Secretary in 
 a committee ? 
 
 215. May a committee act by separate as- 
 sent ? 
 
 216. If sub-committees are formed, where 
 are they formed and to whom do they 
 report ? 
 
 217. What is the rule governing the num- 
 ber in a committee ? 
 
 218. Must the mover and seconder of a 
 motion be members of a committee to 
 which that motion is referred ? 
 
 219. What number is a quorum in a com- 
 mittee ? 
 
 220. A committee of five was created for 
 the nomination of officers, and was in- 
 structed to report at the next meeting. 
 In the interval between meetings, two 
 went to Europe ; what should the re- 
 maining members do ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 93 
 
 221. A committee of three was appointed 
 to nominate officers, and to report at 
 the next meeting. Before the report 
 of this committee was signed, two of 
 the members resigned from the com- 
 mittee. What should the remaining 
 member do ? 
 
 222. A standing committee of three was 
 created, with the duty of attending to 
 the decoration of the Club Rooms. 
 This committee took no action. What 
 should the assembly do ? 
 
 223. Should all members of a committee 
 sign the report ? 
 
 224. What is meant by a minority report, 
 and under what conditions may it be 
 made? 
 
 225. Who presents the report of a commit- 
 tee to an assembly ? 
 
 226. What is the reception of a report ? 
 
 227* What is the difference between accept- 
 ing a report and adopting a report ? 
 
 228. What is the difference between receiv- 
 ing a report and accepting a report ? 
 
 229. Who presents the report of the com- 
 mittee ? 
 
 230. What is the smallest number of copies 
 that should be made for presentation ? 
 
194 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 231. When papers have been handed to a 
 committee for examination, revision 
 or amendment, how should the papers 
 be used by the committee ? 
 
 232* When a member desires to delay the 
 reception of the report of a committee 
 what question may he raise ? 
 
 233. What does the Chair say when desir- 
 ing to ascertain the wishes of the assem- 
 bly concerning the immediate recep- 
 tion of a report ? 
 
 234. Are the meetings of a committee open 
 to other members ? 
 
 235. Is the Presiding Officer a member of 
 all committees ? 
 
 236. In calling a committee-meeting, should 
 every member of the committee be 
 notified of the meeting ? 
 
 237. Are there any Boards or Committees 
 in which it isnecessary for every mem- 
 ber to be present, in order to legally 
 transact business ? 
 
 238. Mention many advantages derived 
 from referring business to commit- 
 tees. 
 
 239. May a committee determine the time 
 and place of its own meetings ? 
 
 240. Are the minutes of a committee- 
 meeting to be used outside the com- 
 mittee ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 95 
 
 241. What is the degree of formality in the 
 proceedings of a committee ? 
 
 242. In committee-meeting are members 
 limited as to time in speaking, or as to 
 the number of times they may speak 
 in debate ? 
 
 243. Does a committee ever adjourn ? 
 
 244. When a committee makes its report, 
 who is first entitled to the floor in 
 debate ? 
 
 245. What motions may be made in Com- 
 mittee of the Whole ? 
 
 246. Who presides over a Committee of 
 the Whole ? 
 
 247. Who makes to the assembly the re- 
 port of the Committee of the Whole ? 
 
 248. Is the vote ever taken by yeas and nays 
 in Committee of the Whole ? 
 
 249. Who acts as Secretary in Committee 
 of the Whole ? 
 
 250. If the assembly has a rule limiting 
 speakers in debate to — minutes, does 
 this rule also govern the Committee of 
 the Whole ? 
 
 251. What are the advantages derived from 
 going into Committee of the Whole ? 
 
 252. What is the form of the motion for 
 Committee of the Whole ? 
 
196 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 253* Can a committee reconsider its own 
 votes ? 
 
 254. If papers had been transferred to a 
 committee, could the assembly recon- 
 sider the vote which occasioned the 
 transfer of papers to the committee ? 
 
 255. How could the assembly at once re- 
 cover papers transferred to a commit- 
 tee ? 
 
 256. If amendments are pending when a 
 motion to refer to a committee is agreed 
 to, what becomes of the amendments ? 
 
 257. If a motion to recommit has been 
 stated and a member then moves to 
 postpone to a certain day, what should 
 the Chair do ? 
 
 258. What power has a committee? 
 
 259. If the report of a committee is lengthy, 
 what should be done previous to its 
 acceptance ? 
 
 360. Can a report be amended after it is 
 adopted ? 
 
 261. What subsidiary motions may be ap- 
 plied to the report of a committee? 
 
 262. May the motion for the division of the 
 question be applied to the report of a 
 committee ? 
 
 263. When the report ofacommittee is pre- 
 sented, who first reads it ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. Ip/ 
 
 264. If the report is considered seriatim, 
 who reads the sections or paragraphs 
 in their order? 
 
 265. Has the report of a committee the 
 status of a main question ? 
 
 266 Can the vote upon the acceptance of a 
 report be reconsidered? 
 
 267. Is the motion " that the report of the 
 committee be accepted'' a debatable ques- 
 tion ? 
 
 268. When the report is considered seriatim 
 should the sections which are separ- 
 ately considered be separately voted 
 upon ? 
 
 269. If there have been amendments made 
 to the report can it afterward be re- 
 jected ? 
 
 270. After a report has been heard by the 
 assembly, does it belong to the com- 
 mittee that made it or to the assembly? 
 
 271. May a committee with the consent of 
 the assembly, withdraw a report that 
 has not yet been accepted? 
 
 272. May a committee without the consent 
 of the assembly, withdraw a report 
 that the assembly has received ? 
 
 273. Mention all differences between the 
 reception and treatment of the report 
 of a committee, and the statement and 
 treatment of any other main question. 
 
198 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 274. Are there any subsidiary or incidental 
 questions that can be applied to any 
 main question that cannot be applied 
 to the report of a committee? 
 
 275. Can the reception of a report be inter- 
 rupted by privileged questions? 
 
 276. Can the consideration of a report be 
 interrupted by privileged questions? 
 
 277. When a question has been referred to 
 a standing committee, and that com- 
 mittee has made its report thereupon, 
 has the standing committee further 
 control over that question ? 
 
 278. When does a special committee cease 
 to exist ? 
 
 279. When does a standing committee 
 cease to exist ? 
 
 280. What right has every committee, not 
 hampered by a rule of the assembly, 
 concerning its Chairman ? 
 
 28 r. May a committee offer a substitute for 
 any paper referred to it ? 
 
 282. Who decides when a committee shall 
 report? 
 
 283. May a committee hold its meetings at 
 the same time with the assembly ? 
 
 284. May a committee make a report which 
 is partial^ and then continue its work 
 until a final, report is rendered ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 1 99 
 
 285* Has the member of a committee who 
 presents its report, a right to close, as 
 well as to open, the debate on the re- 
 port ? 
 
 286. When the work of a committee has 
 been that of investigation only, with a 
 view to informing the assembly con- 
 cerning the subject of inquiry, should 
 any motion for the acceptance of its 
 report be made ? 
 
 287. What is the practical effect of the ac- 
 ceptance of any report ? 
 
 288. Are Boards of Managers, Boards of 
 Trustees, and Executive Boards, gov- 
 erned by the same general rules as are 
 committees ? 
 
 289. May the motion for indefinite post- 
 ponement be applied to the report of a 
 committee ? 
 
 290. To what may the motion to commit or 
 to recommit be applied ? 
 
 291. To what extent may the motion to 
 commit be debated or amended ? 
 
 292. To what may the motion to postpone 
 indefinitely be applied ? 
 
 293. May this motion be in any way 
 amended ? 
 
 294. May the main question be debated 
 after the motion to postpone it in- 
 definitely has been introduced > 
 
200 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 295. What becomes of a question that is 
 indefinitely postponed ? 
 
 296. May debate be closed on the motion 
 to postpone indefinitely, without clos- 
 ing debate on the main question ? 
 
 297. When the motion for indefinite post- 
 ponement is pending, may the assem- 
 bly consent to the withdrawal of the 
 main question ? 
 
 298. Would the motion for the division of 
 the question be in order while the mo- 
 tion for indefinite postponement was 
 pending? 
 
 299. May a question be laid on the table 
 while the motion for indefinite post- 
 ponement is pending ? 
 
 300. Are privileged questions in order when 
 a motion for the indefinite postpone- 
 ment is pending? 
 
 301. What incidental questions would be in 
 order while the motion for indefinite 
 postponement was pending ? 
 
 302. If an objectionable question has been 
 debated, what is the best way of re- 
 moving it from the assembly ? 
 
 303. Is the motion for indefinite postpone- 
 ment ever made by a friend of the 
 proposition ? 
 
 304. What has been gained by the enemies 
 of a measure when the motion for in- 
 definite postponement has been nega- 
 tively decided ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 20I 
 
 305. When a proposition is but partially 
 satisfactory what may be done with it ? 
 
 306. How many methods of amendment 
 are established ? 
 
 307. What should be done with a badly con 
 structed proposition ? 
 
 308. State the form of an amendment to 
 be made by striking out words. 
 
 309. State the form of an amendment to be 
 made by inserting words. 
 
 310. State the form of an amendment to be 
 made by striking out words and insert- 
 ing other words. 
 
 311. What does the Chair say when put- 
 ting an amendment to vote ? 
 
 312. What does the Chair say when an- 
 nouncing the result of a vote upon 
 an amendment ? 
 
 313. In how many ways can an amend- 
 ment be amended ? 
 
 314. Give an example of an amendment 
 made by striking out in an amendment 
 to be made by striking out. 
 
 315. Give an example of an amendment 
 made by inserting in an amendment 
 to be made by striking out. 
 
 316. Give an example of an amendment 
 made by striking out and inserting in 
 an amendment to be made by striking 
 out. 
 
202 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 317. Give an example of an amendment 
 made by striking out in a proposed 
 amendment by insertion. 
 
 318. Give an example of an amendment 
 made by inserting in a proposed 
 amendment by insertion. 
 
 319. Give an example of an amendment 
 made by striking out and inserting in a 
 proposed amendment by insertion. 
 
 320. Give an example of an amendment by 
 striking out in a proposed amendment 
 by striking out and inserting. 
 
 321. Give an example of an amendment by 
 inserting in a proposed amendment by 
 striking out and inserting. 
 
 322. Give an example of an amendment by 
 striking out and inserting in a proposed 
 amendment by striking out and insert- 
 ing. 
 
 323. When an amendment to an amend- 
 ment is before the assembly, what is 
 first voted upon ? 
 
 324. How many times may a proposition be 
 amended ? 
 
 325. How many times may an amend- 
 ment be amended ? 
 
 326. How many amendments may be be- 
 fore the assembly at one time ? 
 
 327. May an amended amendment be re- 
 jected ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 203 
 
 328. May an amended motion be rejected? 
 
 329. Is it politic for those who will vote neg- 
 atively on the main question, to debate 
 and vote upon offered amendments ? 
 
 330. May a member vote against an amend- 
 ment offered by himself ? 
 
 331. If an amendment has been stated, 
 can the Question of Consideration be 
 raised ? 
 
 332. What subsidiary motions may be made 
 when an amendment is pending ? 
 
 333. What privileged questions may be in- 
 troduced when an amendment is pend- 
 ing? 
 
 334. What incidental questions may be in- 
 troduced when an amendment is pend- 
 ing? 
 
 335. To what may the motion to amend be 
 applied ? 
 
 336. How can words that have been insert- 
 ed be taken out ? 
 
 337. How can words that have been taken 
 out be inserted ? 
 
 338. If in a completed measure something 
 has been inserted by an amendment to 
 an amendment, and afterward it is de- 
 sired to take out what has been inserted, 
 how many times would the motion to 
 reconsider have to be made and car- 
 ried in order to take out what w^s irj- 
 §erted f 
 
204 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 339. How can a whole paragraph that re- 
 quires much amendment, be soonest 
 amended ? 
 
 340. When a substitute is offered, by what 
 process is it made to supersede the 
 original paragraph, section or bill ? 
 
 341. Describe the process of filling a blank 
 in a proposition. 
 
 342. How is a blank filled when an amount 
 is to be determined ? 
 
 343. How is a blank filled when length of 
 time is to be determined ? 
 
 344. How is a blank filled when a name is to 
 be chosen ? 
 
 345. What gives a question the right to 
 supersede, for a time, the business be- 
 fore the assembly ? 
 
 346. What are Privileged Questions ? 
 
 347. Which privileged motion has highest 
 rank, and why has it this rank ? 
 
 348. When the intention is that of dissolv- 
 ing the assembly in what form should 
 the motion be made ? 
 
 349. When the intention is to hold an ad- 
 journed meeting in what form should 
 the motion be made, and at what time 
 should it be made ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 205 
 
 350. When no time for the next meeting 
 has been fixed, and the mover desires 
 to have that time fixed, what is the 
 proper form of the motion ? 
 
 351. Mention all the times when it is not 
 in order to move ** that when we ad- 
 journ we adjourn to m-eet,'^ etc. 
 
 352. Mention all the times when it is «^/ 
 in order to move to adjourn. 
 
 353. In what way can the motion fixing 
 the time of the next meeting be 
 amended ? 
 
 354. May the amendment to the mo- 
 tion to fix the time to which to ad- 
 journ, be debated ? 
 
 355. In introducing privileged motions, 
 should the introducer get the floor ? 
 
 356. If the motion to adjourn is made 
 when no business is before the assem- 
 bly is it then a privileged motion ? 
 
 357. If the rules fix the time to adjourn, or 
 if there is no further business to be 
 brought forward, what is the best 
 method of taking the vote on adjourn- 
 ment? 
 
 358. What is the proper form of the mo^ 
 tion to adjourn ? 
 
206 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 359. What effect has adjournment on busi- 
 ness before the assembly at the time 
 of adjournment? 
 
 360. May privileged questions interrupt 
 subsidiary questions ? 
 
 361. Under what conditions may incidental 
 questions be applied to privileged ques- 
 tions ? 
 
 362. Do incidental questions ever yield to 
 privileged questions ? 
 
 363. Give an example in which a privileged 
 motion is superseded by an incidental 
 question. 
 
 364. Give examples in which incidental 
 questions yield to privileged questions. 
 
 365. Is a motion to take a recess privileged 
 if the time of the recess has not been 
 fixed? 
 
 366. May a motion for a recess be intro- 
 duced under a question of privilege ? 
 
 367. What is meant by a question of privi- 
 lege? 
 
 368. How is a question of privilege intro- 
 duced ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 207 
 
 369. If a Speaker yields the floor to a 
 question of privilege, has he the right 
 to resume his speech when the ques- 
 tion of privilege is disposed of? 
 
 370. What does the Chair say when ren- 
 dering a decision concerning a question 
 of privilege ? 
 
 371. In what way may the member who 
 wishes to introduce a question of privi- 
 lege seek redress from what he be- 
 lieves to be an unjust decision of the 
 Chair? 
 
 372. When a question has been introduced 
 as one of privilege what is done with 
 it? 
 
 373. If the Chair says '* The question is one 
 of privilege " what does the Chair say 
 next ? 
 
 374. If the Chair says " The question is not 
 one of privilege " and no appeal is 
 taken, what is next done ? 
 
 375. What becomes of the main question 
 if a question of privilege occupies all 
 the time until adjournment ? 
 
 376. What is an incidental question ? 
 
208 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 377. Can any action be taken on any ques- 
 tion that was pending when an inci- 
 dental question was entertained, before 
 the incidental question is itself decided ? 
 
 378. If the incidental question is immedi- 
 ately applicable, may it precede a sub- 
 sidiary question ? 
 
 379. Mention incidental questions that arise 
 out of and have precedence over sub- 
 sidiary questions. 
 
 380. Give an example in which a question 
 of order supersedes the question of 
 consideration. 
 
 381. Give an example in which an amend- 
 ment yields to the reading of a paper. 
 
 382. Give an example in which the motion 
 to lay on the table yields to the mo- 
 tion to suspend a rule. 
 
 383. Give an example in which an amend- 
 ment yields to a request to withdraw 
 the motion. 
 
 384. Can the motion for the division of the 
 question be applied to an amendment ? 
 
 385. May incidental questions arise out of 
 privileged questions ? 
 
 386. Is any incidental question debatable? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 20g 
 
 387. Which incidental question may inter- 
 rupt a speaker ? 
 
 388. Which incidental question has a higher 
 rank than any other ? 
 
 389. Is there any time when the question 
 of order cannot be raised ? 
 
 390. What does a member mean to declare 
 when he says "/ rise to a point of 
 order " ? 
 
 391. What should the Chair say when a 
 member rises to a point of order ? 
 
 392. Who first decides whether Parliament- 
 ary Law has been departed from ? 
 
 393. Why is it necessary for every deliber- 
 ative body to adopt a Parliamentary 
 standard ? 
 
 394. What may the Chair do if he desires 
 advice concerning a point of order ? 
 
 395. When must a point of order be raised, 
 if raised at all ? 
 
 396. What may any member do if dissatis- 
 fied with the decision of the Chair on 
 a point of order ? 
 
 397. When a member uses unparliament- 
 ary language in debate, what should 
 be done ? 
 
210 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 398. May the Chair call a member to 
 order ? 
 
 399. When a member is called to order 
 what should he first do ? 
 
 400. State the method of proceeding against 
 a refractory member who has been 
 called to order for using unparliament- 
 ary language. 
 
 401. Describe the process of calling for 
 the order or orders of the day. 
 
 402. Who makes the orders of the day ? 
 
 403. By what method are orders of the day 
 made ? 
 
 404. What is a special order of the day ? 
 
 405. May permission to read papers be 
 given for a future time ? 
 
 406. Is a request for permission to read a 
 paper in debate an incidental question? 
 
 407. Who may ask the consent of the as- 
 sembly for the withdrawal of a 
 motion ? 
 
 408. At what moment does ownership of a 
 motion pass from the mover to the 
 assembly ? 
 
 409. State the form of a request for with- 
 drawal of the motion. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 211 
 
 410. How does the Chair announce the 
 vote on the request for withdrawal of 
 the motion ? 
 
 411. May the vote be reconsidered after the 
 mover has withdrawn the motion ? 
 
 412. May a question of privilege be with- 
 drawn ? 
 
 413. Why can not a motion to suspend the 
 rules be reconsidered ? 
 
 414. May the Constitution or the By-Laws 
 be suspended ? 
 
 415. Who makes the Special Rules of an 
 assembly ? 
 
 416. Give an example in which the vote of 
 the Chair prevents the suspension of a 
 rule. 
 
 417. Give examples of rules that might re- 
 quire sudden suspension. 
 
 418. May a rule be suspended more than 
 once for the same purpose at the same 
 meeting ? 
 
 419. What is the form of the motion for 
 the suspension of a rule ? 
 
 420. To what is the motion for the division 
 of the question applicable ? 
 
212 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 421. In the division of a question may a 
 clause be separately considered ? 
 
 422. If the parts of a proposition are in- 
 terdependent can the proposition be di- 
 vided ? 
 
 423. Into how many parts may a proposi- 
 tion be divided ? 
 
 424. When a proposition is divided, how 
 are its parts treated, and in which order 
 are they taken up ? 
 
 425. In what way can the motion to divide 
 the question be amended ? 
 
 426. Give an example of a divisible propo - 
 sition. 
 
 427. If a part of the divided proposition 
 has been acted upon, may the vote on 
 the motion to divide the proposition 
 then be reconsidered ? 
 
 428. May a proposition be divided after it 
 has been debated and amended ? 
 
 429. Give examples of motions as to 
 method of consideration. 
 
 430. Give examples of amendments offered 
 upon motions as to method of con- 
 sideration ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 213 
 
 431. If a certain method of consideration 
 has been decided upon, and that 
 method has been for a time pursued, 
 may the method then be changed by- 
 reconsideration of the vote ? 
 
 432. How many of the incidental questions 
 require a seconder ? 
 
 433. Describe the informal consideration 
 of a question. 
 
 434. Describe the method of procedure in 
 Committee of the Whole. 
 
 435. Compare these two methods of con- 
 sideration and note the points of simi- 
 larity and of difference. 
 
 436. Give the form of a motion to extend 
 the limit of debate. 
 
 437. Give the form of a motion to limit de- 
 bate. 
 
 438. When an appeal is made from the de- 
 cision of the Chair, what is said by the 
 appealing member ? 
 
 439. To whom is the appeal addressed ? 
 
 440. Why should an appeal be seconded? 
 
 441. When is an appeal debatable ? 
 
 442. Under what circumstances is an ap- 
 peal undebatable ? 
 
214 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 443. When an appeal is debatable who 
 first has the floor, and who next has 
 
 the floor ? 
 
 444. May all members debate on an appeal ? 
 
 445. Can the debate on an appeal be 
 closed by ordering the Previous Ques- 
 tion ? 
 
 446. What does the Chair say when tak- 
 ing the vote on an appeal ? 
 
 447. What does the Chair say when an- 
 nouncing the result of a vote on an 
 appeal ? 
 
 448. If the vote on an appeal is a tie, is 
 the judgment of the Chair sustained ? 
 
 449. On what questions may an appeal 
 from the ruling of the Chair be made ? 
 
 450. May an appeal be laid on the table? 
 
 451. May more than one appeal be con- 
 sidered at one time ? 
 
 452. May privileged questions interrupt an 
 appeal ? 
 
 453. What subsidiary questions may be 
 applied to an appeal ? 
 
 454. What incidental questions may arise 
 during an appeal ? 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 21$ 
 
 455. During what time may a vote be re- 
 considered ? 
 
 456. Who may move to reconsider? 
 
 457. When is the motion to reconsider de- 
 batable and when is it undebatable ? 
 
 458. If any action that cannot be reversed 
 has followed as a consequence of a 
 vote, can that vote be reconsidered ? 
 
 459. Tell what motions cannot be recon- 
 sidered, and why they cannot be re- 
 considered ? 
 
 460. What is the rank of the motion to re- 
 consider ? 
 
 461. If the motion to reconsider is made 
 when other business is pending, what 
 is done with the motion ? 
 
 462. Is the motion to reconsider a privi- 
 leged motion? 
 
 463. When the motion to reconsider is ap- 
 plied to a subsidiary motion, which is 
 first decided, the motion to reconsider, 
 or the main question ? 
 
 464. May the motion to reconsider be 
 made when a member has the floor ? 
 
2l6 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 465. May the motion to reconsider be 
 made when a vote is being taken upon 
 the motion to adjourn ? 
 
 466. If the motion to reconsider is carried, 
 what is the question then before the 
 assembly ? 
 
 467. If the Previous Question was ordered 
 before the vote was taken on the main 
 question, may the main question be 
 debated after the vote thereupon is re- 
 considered ? 
 
 468. How many times may a vote be re- 
 considered ? 
 
 469. To what extent may the main ques- 
 tion be debated under the motion to 
 reconsider the vote upon it ? 
 
 470. May the Previous Question be ap- 
 plied to the motion to reconsider ? 
 
 471. When the Previous Question is 
 ordered upon the motion to reconsider, 
 does it close debate upon the question 
 to be reconsidered? 
 
 472. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
 tion of the Question of Consideration. 
 
 473. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
 tion of the motion to close debate. 
 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 21^ 
 
 474. What vote is required to carry the 
 motion to reconsider ? 
 
 475. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
 tion of the motion to postpone indefi- 
 nitely. 
 
 476. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
 tion of a negative vote on the motion 
 to lay on the table. 
 
 477. Describe the process of reconsidera- 
 tion of the vote upon a main question. 
 
 478. Describe the process of reconsidering 
 an amendment after the main question 
 has been decided. 
 
 479. Describe the process of reconsidering 
 an amendment to an amendment, after 
 
 the main question has been decided. 
 
 480. After a motion for the reconsidera- 
 tion of a main question has been 
 made, and before the question of re- 
 consideration has been acted upon, 
 what is the status of the main ques- 
 tion ? 
 
 481. Compare the two motions, to recon- 
 sider and to rescind, and state the 
 points of difference between them. 
 
2l8 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. 
 
 482. How long after the decision of a 
 question may the action upon that 
 question be annulled ? 
 
 483. Has the motion to rescind the status 
 of a main question ? 
 
 484. Should it include provision for meet- 
 ing obligations incurred by the 
 original motion ? 
 
 485. Would it be well to exclude from the 
 list of permissible motions, the motion 
 to reconsider? 
 
 486. What are the duties of Chairman ? 
 
 487. What duty has the Vice-President ? 
 
 488. What duties has the Treasurer? 
 
 489. What duties has the Clerk ? 
 
 490. What duty has an Auditor ? 
 
 491. What are Tellers ? 
 
 492. What duties have members ? 
 
 493. Who announces all votes ? 
 
 494. Who reads the minutes ? 
 
 495. What is Electioneering ? 
 
 496. What is an Informal Ballot ? 
 
 497. What is a Formal Ballot ? 
 
 498. What constitutes a Quorum ? 
 
 499. What is a Parliamentary Inquiry ? 
 
 500. Who answers such inquiries? 
 
Index. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Acceptance of reports 66, 123 
 
 ** '* amendments 78 
 
 Acclamation, vote by 31 
 
 Adjourn, motion to 89 
 
 effect on unfinished business 91 
 
 exceptions to rule 90 
 
 fix the time to which to 87 
 
 form of motion 93 
 
 in committee 61 
 
 rank of motion 11 
 
 renewal of motion to , 93 
 
 Adopt, accept, agree to 66, 133 
 
 Advice on points of order 100 
 
 Amendment 9, 10, 11, 70, 77 
 
 application of motion for 10, 77 
 
 by filling blanks 81 
 
 by inserting 71, 75 
 
 by striking out 71 
 
 by striking out and inserting 73, 76 
 
 by substitution 79 
 
 form of motion for 71 , 79 
 
 of motion to commit 53, 54 
 
 of motion for division of question 109 
 
 of motion for method of consideration. , 109 
 
 of motion to postpone 49 
 
 of time to which to adjourn 88 
 
 rank of motion for 11, 77 
 
 Amendment of an amendment 73, 74 
 
 Amendment of the minutes 41, 141, 143 
 
 Announcing the vote 31, 33, 33, 34, 35 
 
220 INDEX, 
 
 PAQB. 
 
 Appeal from ruling of the Chair Ill 
 
 on point of order 100 
 
 on questions of privilege 96 
 
 Application of motions 10 
 
 Articles in a Constitution 145 
 
 Assembly, how organized 144, 14^ 
 
 its right to punish members 102 
 
 Ballots and balloting 25, 135, 136, 137 
 
 blank , 25 
 
 blanket 138 
 
 formal 136, 137 
 
 informal 135, 136 
 
 in elections 26, 137 
 
 method of 25 
 
 not to reconsider , 10, 27 
 
 Blanks, how filled 81 
 
 Business, how introduced 13, 15, 17 
 
 order of 149 
 
 priority of 52, 111, 149 
 
 unfinished 91, 149 
 
 By-Laws 147, 148 
 
 cannot be suspended 106 
 
 Call to order 101 
 
 Call for orders of the day 50, 52, 102 
 
 Call the roll 24, 130, 149 
 
 Censure 102 
 
 Chairman 14. 127, 131, 143 
 
 election of 54, 143 
 
 his right to vote 30 
 
 of a committee 54 
 
 of Committee of the Whole 56 
 
 temporary 129, 143 
 
 Classification of motions 9 
 
 Clerk, or recording officer 129 
 
 Closing debate 44, 47 
 
INDEX. 221 
 
 PAGE. 
 Commit, or recommit 9, 10, 55 
 
 } Committee 53 
 
 J action of 63, 64 
 
 I chairman of 54,62, 63 
 
 4 composition of 60, 61 
 
 discharge of 67 
 
 j formation of . . . . 54, 58 
 
 j kinds of 55 
 
 meetings of 62 
 
 nominating 134 
 
 object of 53 
 
 power of 64 
 
 I procedure in 62,63, 64 
 
 quorum in 125 
 
 report from 64, 65 
 
 I rising of 61 
 
 j secretary of 57, 63 
 
 I sub- committees 61 
 
 work of 64 
 
 i Committee of the Whole 56, 62, 110 
 
 j chairman of 56 
 
 1 clerk of 57 
 
 debate in 57 
 
 ' motion for 58 
 
 procedure in 57 
 
 quorum in 125 
 
 records of 5 
 
 report from 57 
 
 rising of 57, 61 
 
 Consent, general or unanimous. . » 21 
 
 Consideration, question of 9, 10, 11, 34, 35 
 
 application of 10, 36 
 
 effect of 38 
 
 object of 35 
 
 time of raising 36 
 
 rank of 11, 37 
 
 vote upon 37 
 
222 INDEX. 
 
 PAOE. 
 
 Consideration, motion as to method of 109 
 
 amendment of motion as to 109 
 
 rank of motion 98 
 
 objection to present 51 
 
 seriatim 65 
 
 Consider informally 58 
 
 Constitution 106, 144 
 
 amendment of 106, 146 
 
 cannot be suspended 106 
 
 necessary articles in 145 
 
 Debate 8, 18 
 
 cessation of 38, 45 
 
 closing of 44 
 
 decorum in 19 
 
 extend the limits of 106 
 
 in Committee of the Whole 57 
 
 limit 106 
 
 main question open to 9, 18 
 
 object of 29 
 
 speak but once in 19 
 
 relevancy in 18 
 
 right of mover in 19, 47, 66 
 
 Debate on subsidiary motions 9, 69 
 
 Declining office 139 
 
 Decorum 101, 138, 133 
 
 Division of a question 107 
 
 Division of the house 32 
 
 Disorder .58, 99, 103, 138 
 
 Duties of presiding officer *••*.. 137 
 
 of recording officer 139 
 
 of treasurer 131 
 
 of other officers 131 
 
 of committees 54, 64 
 
 of members 131, 133 
 
 Election of officers 137 
 
 Electioneering 139 
 
INDEX. 223 
 
 -, . PAGE. 
 Exercises 150 
 
 Explanation of signs 8 
 
 Expulsion of members 102 
 
 Expunge from minutes I43 
 
 Extend limits of debate 106 107 
 
 Filling of blanks 81 
 
 Fix the time to which to adjourn 9, 11, 87 
 
 object of motion [ 87 
 
 form of motion 88 
 
 rank of motion 88 
 
 Floor, how to obtain the 14 15 
 
 getting the '.'.8,14,' 98 
 
 yielding the 121 
 
 Formal ballot 136 137 
 
 General consent 21 97 
 
 House of Representatives 14, 16, 91, 102,117, 
 
 125,' 126 
 
 Incidental questions 9 97 
 
 application of .' 98 
 
 amendment of ! ! 77, 9*8* 109 
 
 forms of .....'....' 100 
 
 rank of ......"..', 98 
 
 undebatable , !...,! 97 
 
 Indefinite postponement 67 
 
 application of motion for '. . . . 10 
 
 effect of • • • • 67 
 
 form of motion 70 
 
 rank of motion iV 53 
 
 why debatable .......' 69 
 
 Informal consideration, HO 
 
 Informal ballot 136 
 
 Introduction of motions 13, 15 
 
 Inquiries, parliamentary 121 
 
 in debate ][[[ 122 
 
224 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Installation in office 139 
 
 Journal 140 
 
 Lay on the table 9, 10, 11, 38, 47 
 
 application of motion 10, 40, 41 
 
 effect of motion 38, 41 
 
 rank of motion 40 
 
 renewal of motion to 43, 43 
 
 Leave to continue speaking 101 
 
 Limit debate 96 
 
 Main question 9, 10, 11, 13 
 
 applications to 10 
 
 disposal of 13 
 
 introduction of 13 
 
 rank of 11 
 
 Majority vote 20 
 
 Meetings 33, 133, 146 
 
 Members, rights and duties of 131, 133 
 
 Membership 145 
 
 Method of consideration 109 
 
 Minority report 64 
 
 Minutes , 139, 140 
 
 amendment of 143 
 
 approval of 140, 149 
 
 correction of 143 
 
 expunge from 143 
 
 reading of 133, 139, 143, 149 
 
 Motions 9, 17, 39, 33, 150 
 
 as to method of consideration 9, 109 
 
 incidental 9, 97 
 
 privileged 9, 86, 87 
 
 principal 9, 13 
 
 subsidiary 9, 10, 33, 83 
 
 to take up a question out of its proper 
 order 53 
 
INDEX. 225 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Mover, closes debate 19, 47 
 
 withdraws motion 104 
 
 Name of society 145 
 
 Nomination 59, 133 
 
 by committee 134 
 
 by informal ballot 135, 136 
 
 closing of I83 
 
 from the floor 59, 183 
 
 in temporary organization 144 
 
 of committees 59 
 
 of ofiicers 132 
 
 Nominees vote 138 
 
 Numbering 143 
 
 Objection to consideration 35 
 
 to present consideration 51 
 
 Obtaining the floor 8, 14 
 
 Officers 143, 146 
 
 duties of 127 
 
 election of 137 
 
 necessary 131 
 
 nomination of 132 
 
 temporary 129, 140, 144 
 
 Order of business 149 
 
 Order, point of 99, 100 
 
 calling to 101 
 
 of the day 50, 102 
 
 questions of 100 
 
 special 52, 53 
 
 Order of the day 50, 102 
 
 call for 50, 52, 103 
 
 Organization of a society 143 
 
 temporary 144 
 
 permanent 144 
 
 Parliamentary, use of word 5 
 
 inquiries 121 
 
226 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Plurality . . 20 
 
 Postpone to a certain time 9, 10, 11, 48, 52 
 
 application of motion 10 
 
 amendment of time 49 
 
 effect of motion 50 
 
 rank of motion . . 11, 49 
 
 Postpone indefinitely 9, 10, 11, 65 
 
 application of motion 10 
 
 debate on motion to 69 
 
 effect of motion 67 
 
 Preamble. 66 
 
 Presiding officer 127 
 
 duties of 127 
 
 power of assembly over 97, 129 
 
 qualifications of 127 
 
 Previous Question 9, 10, 11, 44, 119 
 
 application of 10, 44, 120 
 
 effect of 45, 119 
 
 form of putting 47 
 
 rank of 11, 46 
 
 Precedence or rank of motions 8, 11, 83 
 
 Principal motion or main question 8, 11, 13 
 
 Priority of business 52, 111, 149 
 
 Privileged motions 9, 87 
 
 introduction of 87 
 
 rank of 11, 86, 88, 113 
 
 Privileged questions 9, 86 
 
 rank of 11, 87, 97, 113 
 
 Proxy 138 
 
 Questions and motions 13 
 
 Question of consideration 35 
 
 effect of 38 
 
 form of 37 
 
 rank of 37 
 
 reconsideration of. . . , 38 
 
INDEX. 227 
 
 ^ . PAGE. 
 
 Questions of order. 99 
 
 advice on 100 
 
 rank of .93, 99 
 
 Questions of privilege 9, 86. 94 
 
 introduction of .95, 96 
 
 rank of 11, 97,' 113 
 
 disposal of 96 
 
 Quiz 163 
 
 Quorum 124 
 
 in committee 135 
 
 Rank of motions 9, 11, 84, 86, 98 
 
 of incidental motions 98 
 
 of principal motion .... ; 11 
 
 of privileged questions 11. 88, 9*4, 113 
 
 of subsidiary motions 34, 83, 85 
 
 Reading of papers 103 
 
 Recapitulation of rank 83 
 
 Receiving reports , 65 
 
 Recording officer 129, 130, 141 
 
 Reference tables 9, 10, 11 
 
 Report 65, 122 
 
 after informal consideration 110 
 
 of committees 65, 66 
 
 of Committee of the Whole 57 
 
 of minorir^y 64 
 
 of treasurer 131 
 
 Renewal of motions 42, 43, 93, 115 
 
 Recommit 9, 53 
 
 Recess 93 
 
 form of motion for 93, 94 
 
 rank of motion for 11 
 
 Reconsider 9,11,114,117, 118 
 
 Reconsideration 10, 114 
 
 Request for information . , 122 
 
228 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Rescind 120 
 
 Rights of members 133 
 
 Rise, in committee 61 
 
 Rules 105, 144, 147 
 
 amend 106 
 
 suspend , 105 
 
 special 148 
 
 Seconder 15 
 
 Seconding 16,17, 114 
 
 Secretary 129 
 
 corresponding 130 
 
 duties of 180 
 
 of committee 63 
 
 recording 129 
 
 rights of 130 
 
 temporary 144 
 
 Sections , 147 
 
 Senate 45, 126 
 
 Session 33 
 
 Special order 52, 53 
 
 Special rules 105, 148 
 
 Stating a question 17 
 
 Sub-committees 61 
 
 Subsidiary motions 9, 10 33 
 
 application of 10 34 
 
 effect of 33 
 
 list of 9, 33, 83 
 
 rank of 10, 11, 35, 83 
 
 Substitution 79 
 
 Substitute bill 81 
 
 Suspension of rules 105, 148 
 
 Tables, motions 9 
 
 applications 10 
 
 rank 11 
 
 recapitulation 83 
 
INDEX. 229 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Take from the table 42 
 
 Take up out of order 52 
 
 Take up order of the day 50 
 
 Tellers 26, 138 
 
 Temporary organization 144 
 
 Time of next meeting 87 
 
 Treasurer 131 
 
 Two thirds vote 20 
 
 Unanimous consent 20, 21 
 
 Undebatable motions 8, 9, 68, 69, 87, 97, 119 
 
 Vice-President 129 
 
 Votes and voting .20, 21, 27, 137 
 
 announcing 21, 127 
 
 by acclamat ion 21 
 
 by ballot 25,27, 30, 135, 137 
 
 by general consent 21 
 
 by proxy , 138 
 
 by raising of hands 23 
 
 by standing 22 
 
 by yeas and nays 23, 24, 30 
 
 casting vote 30 
 
 changing a vote 28 
 
 duty of members in 28 
 
 methods of voting 21 
 
 majority 20 
 
 plurality 20 
 
 putting to vote 21 
 
 two-thirds 20, 32 
 
 tie vote 20,30, 31 
 
 unanimous vote 20, 27 
 
 vote for the candidate 26 
 
 vote of thanks 28 
 
 when the Chair votes 30 
 
 Withdrawal of a motion 104 
 
 Yeas and nays 23, 58, 142 
 
 Yielding the floor 121 
 
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