,,robert',s  ,,rules ,,of ,,order       
,for  ,deliberative ,assemblies         
,part ,i4  ,rules of ,order4    ,a      
,compendium of ,parliamentary ,law1     
based upon the rules and practice of    
,congress4    ,part ,,ii4  ,organization
 and ,conduct ,of ,business4    ,a      
simple explanation of the methods of    
organizing and conducting the business  
of societies1 conventions1 and other    
deliberative assemblies4    by ,major   
,henry ,m4 ,robert1  ,corps of          
,engineers1 ,u4,s4,a4      ,chicago3    
,s4 ,c4 ,griggs  ,company4  #ahgf4      
,copyright1 ,a4,d4 #ahgf1  by  ,h4 ,m4  
,robert      ,printed by ,burdick       
,armitage1 ,milwaukee                   
,,preface4      ,there appears to be    
much needed a work on parliamentary law1
 based1 in its  general principles1 upon
 the rules and practice of ,congress1   
and adapted1 in  its details1 to the use
 of ordinary societies4 ,such a work    
should give1 not  only the methods of   
organizing and conducting the meetings1 

the duties of the  officers and the     
names of the ordinary motions1 but in   
addition1 should state  in a systematic 
manner1 in reference to each motion1 its
 object and effect2  whether it can be  
amended or debated2 if debatable1 the   
extent to which it  opens the main      
question to debate2 the circumstances   
under which it can be  made1 and what   
other motions can be made while it is   
pending4 ,this ,manual has  been        
prepared with a view to supplying the   
above information in a condensed and    
systematic manner1 each rule being      
either complete in itself1 or giving    
references to every section that in any 
way qualifies it1 so that a stranger to 
the work can refer to any special       
subject with safety4    ,to aid in      
quickly referring to as many as possible
 of the rules relating to  each motion1 
there is placed immediately before the  
,index1 a ,table of ,rules1  which      
enables one1 without turning a page1 to 
find the answers to some two  hundred   

questions4 ,the ,table of ,rules is so  
arranged as to greatly assist the       
reader in systematizing his knowledge of
 parliamentary law4    ,the second part 
is a simple explanation of the common   
methods of conducting  business in      
ordinary meetings1 in which the motions 
are classified according to  their uses1
 and those used for a similar purpose   
compared together4 ,this part  is       
expressly intended for that large class 
of the community1 who are unfamiliar    
with parliamentary usages and are       
unwilling to devote much study to the   
subject1 but would be glad with little  
labor to learn enough to enable them to 
take part in meetings of deliberative   
assemblies without fear of being out of 
order4 ,the object of ,rules of ,order  
in deliberative assemblies1 is to assist
 an  assembly to accomplish the work for
 which it was designed1 in the best     
possible  manner4 ,to do this1 it is    
necessary to somewhat restrain the      
individual1 as the  right of an         

individual in any community to do what  
he pleases1 is incompatible  with the   
best interests of the whole4 ,where     
there is no law1 but every man does     
what is right in his own eyes1 there is 
the least of real liberty4 ,experience  
has shown the importance of definiteness
 in the law2 and in this country1 where 
customs are so slightly established and 
the published manuals of parliamentary  
practice so conflicting1 no society     
should attempt to conduct business      
without  having adopted some work upon  
the subject1 as the authority in all    
cases not  covered by their own rules4  
,it has been well said by one of the    
greatest of ,english writers on         
parliamentary law3 8,whether these forms
 be in all cases the most rational or   
not is really not of so great           
importance4 ,it is much more material   
that there  should be a rule to go by1  
than what that rule is1 that there may  
be a  uniformity of proceeding in       
business1 not subject to the caprice of 

the  chairman1 or captiousness of the   
members4 ,it is very material that      
order1  decency and regularity be       
preserved in a dignified public body40  
,h4 ,m4 ,r4      ,december1 #ahge4      
,,table ,,of ,,contents4     ,preface   
,introduction   ,parliamentary ,law     
,plan of the ,work   ,definitions       
,part ,i4--,rules of ,order   ,art4     
,i4--,introduction of ,business    #a4  
,how introduced    #b4 ,obtaining the   
floor    #c4 ,what precedes debate on a 
question    #d4 ,what motions to be in  
writing1 and how they shall be divided  
#e4 ,modification of a motion by the    
mover     ,art4 ,,ii4--,general         
,classification of ,motions    #f4      
,principal or ,main motions    #g4      
,subsidiary or ,secondary motions    #h4
 ,incidental motions    #i4 ,privileged 
motions     ,art4 ,,iii4--,motions and  
their ,order of ,precedence             
,privileged ,motions    #aj4 ,to fix the
 time to which to adjourn    #aa4       
,adjourn    #ab4 ,questions of privilege

    #ac4 ,orders of the day             
,incidental ,motions    #ad4 ,appeal    
,questions of ,order    #ae4 ,objection 
to the consideration of a question      
#af4 ,reading papers    #ag4 ,withdrawal
 of a motion    #ah4 ,suspension of the 
,rules   ,subsidiary ,motions    #ai4   
,lie on the table    #bj4 ,previous     
,question    #ba4 ,postpone to a certain
 day    #bb4 ,commit or ,re-commit      
#bc4 ,amend    #bd4 ,postpone           
indefinitely   ,miscellaneous ,motions  
#be4 ,filling blanks1 and ,nominations  
#bf4 ,renewal of a motion    #bg4       
,reconsideration     ,art4              
,,iv4--,committees and ,informal ,action
    #bh4 ,committees    #bi4 ,form of   
their ,reports    #cj4 ,reception of    
their ,reports    #ca4 ,adoption of     
their ,reports    #cb4 ,committee of the
 ,whole    #cc4 ,informal consideration 
of a question     ,art4 ,v4--,debate and
 ,decorum    #cd4 ,debate    #ce4       
,undebatable questions and those opening
 the main question to debate    #cf4    

,decorum in debate    #cg4 ,closing     
debate1 methods of     ,art4 ,art4      
,,vi4--,vote    #ch4 ,voting1 various   
modes of    #ci4 ,motions requiring more
 than a majority vote     ,art4         
,,vii4--,officers and the ,minutes      
#dj4 ,chairman or ,president    #da4    
,clerk1 or ,secretary1 and the ,minutes 
,art4 ,,viii4--,miscellaneous    #db4   
,session    #dc4 ,quorum    #dd4 ,order 
of business    #de4 ,amendment of the   
,rules of ,order     ,part              
,,ii4--,organization and ,conduct of    
,business   ,art4 ,,ix4--,organization  
and ,meetings    #df4 ,an ,occasional or
 ,mass ,meeting   7a7 ,organization     
7b7 ,adoption of resolutions   7c7      
,committee on resolutions   7d7         
,additional ,officers    #dg4 ,a        
,convention or ,assembly of ,delegates  
#dh4 ,a ,permanent ,society   7a7 ,first
 meeting   7b7 ,second meeting    #di4  
,constitutions1 ,by-,laws1 ,rules of    
,order and ,standing ,rules     ,art4   
,x4--,officers and ,committees    #ej4  

,president or ,chairman    #ea4         
,secretary1 or ,clerk1 and the ,minutes 
#eb4 ,treasurer    #ec4 ,committees     
,art4 ,,xi--,introduction of ,business  
#ed4 ,introduction of ,business         
,art4 ,,xii4--,motions    #ee4 ,motions 
classified according to their object    
#ef4 ,to ,amend or modify   7a7 ,amend  
7b7 ,commit    #eg4 ,to ,defer action   
7a7 ,postpone to a certain time   7b7   
,lie on the table    #eh4 ,to ,suppress 
,debate   7a7 ,previous ,question   7b7 
,an ,order limiting or closing debate   
#ei4 ,to ,suppress the question   7a7   
,objection to its consideration   7b7   
,postpone indefinitely   7c7 ,lie on the
 table    #fj4 ,to ,consider a question 
the second time   7a7 ,reconsider       
#fa4 ,order and ,rules   7a7 ,orders of 
the day   7b7 ,special orders   7c7     
,suspension of the rules   7d7          
,questions of order   7e7 ,appeal       
#fb4 ,miscellaneous   7a7 ,reading of   
papers   7b7 ,withdrawal of a motion    
7c7 ,questions of privilege    #fc4 ,to 

close a meeting   7a7 ,fix the time to  
which to adjourn   7b7 ,adjourn    #fd4 
,order of ,precedence of motions        
,art4 ,,xiii4--,debate    #fe4 ,rules of
 speaking in debate    #ff4 ,undebatable
 questions and those that open the main 
question to debate     ,art4            
,,xiv4--,miscellaneous    #fg4 ,forms of
 stating and putting questions    #fh4  
,motions requiring a two-thirds vote for
 their adoption    #fi4 ,unfinished     
business    #gj4 ,session    #ga4       
,quorum    #gb4 ,order of ,business     
#gc4 ,amendment of ,constitutions1      
,by-,laws and ,rules of ,order          
,legal ,rights of ,deliberative         
,assemblies   ,table of ,rules ,relating
 to ,motions   ,index                   
,,introduction4      ,parliamentary     
,law4    ,parliamentary ,law refers     
originally to the customs and rules of  
conducting business in the ,english     
,parliament2 and thence to the customs  
and rules of our own legislative        
assemblies4 ,in ,england these customs  

and usages of ,parliament form a part of
 the unwritten law of the land1  and in 
our own legislative bodies they are of  
authority in all cases  where they do   
not conflict with existing rules or     
precedents4    ,but as a people we have 
not the respect which the ,english have 
for customs and  precedents1 and are    
always ready for innovations which we   
think are  improvements1 and hence      
changes have been and are being         
constantly made in the  written rules   
which our legislative bodies have found 
best to adopt4 ,as each  house adopts   
its own rules1 it results that the two  
houses of the same  legislature do not  
always agree in their practice2 even in 
,congress the order  of precedence of   
motions is not the same in both houses1 
and the ,previous  ,question is admitted
 in the ,house of ,representatives1 but 
not in the ,senate4 ,as  a consequence  
of this1 the exact method of conducting 
business in any  particular legislative 
body is to be obtained only from the    

,legislative ,manual  of that body4     
,the vast number of societies1          
political1 literary1 scientific1        
benevolent and religious1 formed all    
over the land1 though not  legislative1 
are still deliberative in their         
character1 and must have  some system of
 conducting business1 and some rules to 
govern their  proceedings1 and are      
necessarily subject to the common       
parliamentary law  where it does not    
conflict with their own special rules4  
,but as their  knowledge of             
parliamentary law has been obtained from
 the usages in this  country1 rather    
than from the customs of ,parliament1 it
 has resulted  that these societies have
 followed the customs of our own        
legislative  bodies1 and our people have
 thus been educated under a system of   
parliamentary law which is peculiar to  
this country1 and yet so well           
established as to supersede the ,english
 parliamentary law as the common  law of
 ordinary deliberative assemblies4      

,the practice of the ,national ,house of
 ,representatives should have the  same 
force in this country as the usages of  
the ,house of ,commons have in          
,england1 in determining the general    
principles of the common  parliamentary 
law of the land2 but it does not follow 
that in every  matter of detail the     
rules of ,congress can be appealed to as
 the common  law governing every        
deliberative assembly4 ,in these matters
 of detail1  the rules of each ,house of
 ,congress are adapted to their own     
peculiar  wants1 and are of no force    
whatever in other assemblies4    ,but   
upon all great parliamentary questions1 
such as what motions can be  made1 what 
is their order of precedence1 which can 
be debated1 what is  their effect1 etc41
 the common law of the land is settled  
by the  practice of the ,u4 ,s4 ,house  
of ,representatives1 and not by that of 
the  ,english ,parliament1 the ,u4 ,s4  
,senate1 or any other body4    ,while in
 extreme cases there is no difficulty in

 deciding the question  as to whether   
the practice of ,congress determines the
 common  parliamentary law1 yet between 
these extremes there must necessarily be
  a large number of doubtful cases upon 
which there would be great  difference  
of opinion1 and to avoid the serious    
difficulties always  arising from a lack
 of definiteness in the law1 every      
deliberative  assembly should imitate   
our legislative bodies in adopting      
,rules of  ,order for the conduct of    
their business499 ,where the practice of
  ,congress differs from that of        
,parliament upon a material point1 the  
common law of this country follows the  
practice of ,congress4 ,thus in  every  
,american deliberative assembly having  
no rules for conducting  business1 the  
motion to adjourn would be decided to be
 undebatable1 as  in ,congress1 the     
,english parliamentary law to the       
contrary  notwithstanding2 so if the    
,previous ,question were negatived1 the 
debate  upon the subject would continue 

as in ,congress1 whereas in ,parliament 
the subject would be immediately        
dismissed2 so too the ,previous         
,question  could be moved when there was
 before the assembly a motion either to 
amend1 to commit1 or to postpone        
definitely or indefinitely1 just as in  
,congress1 notwithstanding that1        
according to ,english parliamentary law1
  the ,previous ,question could not be  
moved under such circumstances4  ,when  
the rules of the two ,houses of         
,congress conflict1 the ,h4 ,r4 rules   
are of greater authority than those of  
the ,senate in determining the          
parliamentary law of the country1 just  
as the practice of the ,house of        
,commons1 and not the ,house of ,lords1 
determines the parliamentary law of     
,england4 ,for instance1 though the     
,senate rules do not allow the motion   
for the ,previous ,question1 and make   
the motion to postpone indefinitely     
take precedence of every other          
subsidiary motion  #g except to lie on  

the table1 yet the parliamentary law of 
the land follows the practice of  the   
,house of ,representatives1 in          
recognizing the ,previous ,question as a
  legitimate motion1 and assigning to   
the very lowest rank the motion to      
postpone indefinitely4 ,but in matters  
of detail1 the rules of the ,house  of  
,representatives are adapted to the     
peculiar wants of that body1 and  are of
 no authority in any other assembly4 ,no
 one for instance would  accept the     
following ,h4 ,r4 rules as common       
parliamentary law in this  country3     
,that the chairman1 in case of          
disorderly conduct1 would have  the     
power to order the galleries to be      
cleared2 that the ballot could  not be  
used in electing the officers of an     
assembly2 that any fifteen  members     
would be authorized to compel the       
attendance of absent members  and make  
them pay the expenses of the messengers 
sent after them2 that  all committees   
not appointed by the ,chair would have  

to be appointed by  ballot1 and if the  
required number were not elected by a   
majority vote1  then a second ballot    
must be taken in which a plurality of   
votes would  prevail2 that each member  
would be limited in debate upon any     
question1  to one hour2 that a day's    
notice must be given of the introduction
 of a  bill1 and that before its passage
 it must be read three times1 and that  
without the special order of the        
assembly it cannot be read twice the    
same day4 ,these examples are sufficient
 to show the absurdity of the  idea that
 the rules of ,congress in all things   
determine the common  parliamentary law4
    ,plan of the ,work4    ,this ,manual
 is prepared to partially meet this want
 in deliberative assemblies  that are   
not legislative in their character4 ,it 
has been made sufficiently  complete to 
answer for the rules of an assembly1    
until they see fit to adopt  special    
rules conflicting with and superseding  
any of its rules of detail1 such  as the

 ,order of ,business  #dd1 etc4 ,even in
 matters of detail the practice of      
,congress is followed1 wherever it is   
not manifestly unsuited to ordinary     
assemblies1 and in such cases1 in ,part 
,i1 there will be found1 in a foot note1
  the ,congressional practice4 ,in the  
important matters referred to above1 in 
which the practice of the ,house of     
,representatives settles the common     
parliamentary law of the country1 this  
,manual strictly conforms to such       
practice499 ,on account of the party    
lines being so strictly drawn in        
,congress1  no such thing as harmony of 
action is possible1 and it has been     
found best to  give a bare majority in  
the ,house of ,representatives 7but not 
in the ,senate7  the power to take final
 action upon a question without allowing
 of any  discussion4 ,in ordinary       
societies more regard should be paid to 
the rights of  the minority1 and a      
two-thirds vote be required1 as in this 
,manual  #ci1 for  sustaining an        

objection to the introduction of a      
question1 or for adopting a  motion for 
the ,previous ,question1 or for adopting
 an order closing or limiting  debate4  
,in this respect the policy of the      
,pocket ,manual is a mean between those 
of the ,house and ,senate4 ,but some    
societies will doubtless find it        
advantageous  to follow the practice of 
the ,h4 ,r41 and others will prefer that
 of the ,senate4  ,it requires a        
majority1 according to the ,pocket      
,manual1 to order the yeas and  nays1   
which is doubtless best in the majority 
of assemblies2 but in all bodies  in    
which the members are responsible to    
their constituents1 a much smaller      
number should have this power4 ,in      
,congress it requires but a one-fifth   
vote1  and in some bodies a single      
member can require a vote to be taken by
 yeas and  nays4 ,any society adopting  
this ,manual1 should make its rules     
govern them in  all cases to which they 
are applicable1 and in which they are   

not inconsistent  with the ,by-,laws and
 ,rules of ,order of the society4 ,their
 own rules should  include all of the   
cases where it is desirable to vary from
 the rules in the  ,manual1 and         
especially should provide for a ,quorum 
#dc1 and an ,order of  ,business  #dd1  
as suggested in these rules4    ,the    
,manual is divided into two distinct    
parts1 each complete in itself4  ,the   
table at the end contains a large amount
 of information in a  tabular form1 for 
easy reference in the midst of the      
business of a  meeting4    ,part ,i     
contains a set of ,rules of ,order      
systematically arranged1 as shown in    
the ,table of ,contents4 ,each one of   
the forty-five sections is complete in  
itself1 so that no one unfamiliar with  
the work can be misled in examining any 
particular subject4 ,cross references   
are freely used to save repeating from  
other sections1 and by this means the   
reader1 without using the index1 is     
referred to everything in the ,rules of 

,order that has any bearing upon the    
subject he is investigating4 ,the       
references are by sections1 and for     
convenience the numbers of the sections 
are placed at the top of each page4 ,the
  motions are arranged under the usual  
classes1 in their order of rank1 but in 
the index under the word motion will be 
found an alphabetical list of all the   
motions generally used4 ,in reference to
 each motion there is stated3      7#a7 
,of what motions it takes precedence    
7that is1 what motions may1 be  pending1
 and yet it be in order to make this    
motion74    7#b7 ,to what motions it    
yields 7that is1 what motions may be    
made while this  motion is pending74    
7#c7 ,whether it is debatable or not4   
7#d7 ,whether it can be amended or not4 
7#e7 ,in case the motion can have no    
subsidiary motion applied to it1 the    
fact  is stated see ,adjourn1  #aa1 for 
an example3 the meaning is1 that the    
particular motion to adjourn1 for       
example1 cannot be laid on the table1   

postponed1 committed or amended4    7#f7
 ,the effect of the motion if adopted4  
7#g7 ,the form of stating the question  
when peculiar1 and whatever other       
information is necessary to enable one  
to understand the question4    ,part    
,,ii4 ,while the second part covers the 
entire ground of the first part1 it     
does so in a much simpler manner1 being 
intended for those who have no          
acquaintance with the usages of         
deliberative assemblies4 ,it also       
explains the  method of organizing an   
assembly or society1 and conducting a   
meeting4 ,the  motions are treated on an
 entirely different plan1 being         
classified according  to the objects for
 which they are used1 and those of each 
class compared  together so that the    
reader may obtain the best motion for   
the accomplishment  of any given object4
 ,it omits the complications of         
parliamentary law1 and has  but few     
references to the rules of ,congress1 or
 those in this ,manual4 ,in order  to   

make it complete in itself1 it was      
necessary to repeat a few pages from the
  first part4    ,definitions4    ,in   
addition to the terms defined above     
7taking precedence of1 yielding  to and 
applying to1 see p4 #ad71 there are     
other terms that are liable to  be      
misunderstood1 to which attention should
 he called4    ,meeting and             
,session4--,in this ,manual the term    
8meeting0 is used to  denote an         
assembling together of the members of a 
deliberative assembly  for any length of
 time1 during which there is no         
separation of the  members by           
adjournment4 ,an adjournment to meet    
again at some other  time1 even the same
 day1 terminates the meeting1 but not   
the session1  which latter includes all 
the adjourned meetings4 ,the next       
meeting1 in  this case1 would be an     
8adjourned meeting0 of the same session4
    ,a 8meeting0 of an assembly is      
terminated by a temporary adjournment2 a
  8session0 of an assembly ends with an 

adjournment without day1 and may consist
  of many meetings see ,session1  #db4  
,previous ,question--,this term is      
frequently understood to refer to the   
question previously under consideration4
 ,as used in this country it is         
equivalent to a motion to 8,stop debate1
 and proceed to voting on all the       
questions before the assembly10 with    
certain exceptions1 where it  affects   
only one motion 7as to postpone1 to     
reconsider and an appeal2  see  #bj for 
a full explanation74    ,shall the      
,question be ,considered 7or discussed78
 ,this question1 which  is put as soon  
as a subject is brought before an       
assembly1 if any member  8objects to its
 consideration0 7or 8discussion10 or    
8introduction071 is  not intended to    
merely cut off debate1 but to prevent   
the question from  coming before the    
assembly for its action4 ,if decided by 
a two-thirds  vote in the negative1 the 
question is removed from before the     
assembly  immediately see  #ae4         

,whenever the word 8assembly10 which is 
used throughout these rules1  occurs in 
forms of motions 7as in ,appeals1  #ad71
 it is better to  replace it by the     
special term used to designate the      
particular  assembly2 as for instance1  
8,society10 or 8,convention10 or        
8,board40 ,the  term 8,congress10 when  
used in this ,manual1 refers to the     
,house of  ,representatives of the      
,u4,s4    ,part ,i4  ,rules of ,order4  
,art4 ,i4 ,introduction of ,business4   
#a-e4    #a4 ,all business should be    
brought before the assembly by a  motion
 of a member1 or by the presentation of 
a communication to the assembly4  ,it is
 not usual1 however1 to make a motion to
 receive the reports of committees   #cj
 or communications to the assembly2 and 
in many other cases in the  ordinary    
routine of business1 the formality of a 
motion is dispensed with2 but  should   
any member object1 a regular motion     
becomes necessary4    #b4 ,before a     
member can make a motion or address the 

assembly upon any question1 it is       
necessary that he obtain the floor2 that
 is1  he must rise and address the      
presiding officer by his title1 thus3   
8,mr4  ,chairman0  #cd1 who will then   
announce the member's name4 ,where two  
or more  rise at the same time the      
,chairman must decide who is entitled to
 the floor1  which he does by announcing
 that member's name4 ,from this         
decision1 however1 an  appeal  #ad can  
he taken2 though if there is any doubt  
as to who is entitled  to the floor1 the
 ,chairman can at the first allow the   
assembly to decide the  question by a   
vote--the one getting the largest vote  
being entitled to the  floor4    ,the   
member upon whose motion the subject    
under discussion was brought  before the
 assembly 7or1 in case of a committee's 
report1 the one who  presented the      
report7 is entitled to be recognized as 
having the floor  7if he has not already
 had it during that discussion71        
notwithstanding  another member may have

 first risen and addressed the ,chair4  
,if the  ,chairman rise to speak before 
the floor has been assigned to any one1 
it  is the duty of a member who may have
 previously risen to take his seat4     
,see ,decorum in ,debate1  #cf4    ,when
 a member has obtained the floor1 he    
cannot be cut off from addressing the   
assembly1 nor be interrupted in this    
speech by a motion to adjourn1 or for   
any  purpose1 by either the ,chairman or
 any member1 except 7a7 to have entered 
on  the minutes a motion to reconsider  
#bg2 7b7 by a call to order  #ad2 7c7   
by an objection to the consideration of 
the question  #ae2 or 7d7 by a call  for
 the orders of the day  #ac499 ,see note
 to  #fa4 ,in such cases the member     
when he arises and addresses the ,chair 
should state at once for what purpose he
  rises1 as1 for instance1 that he      
8rises to a point of order40 ,a call for
 an  adjournment1 or for the question1  
by members in their seats1 is not a     
motion2  as no motion can be made1      

without rising and addressing1 the      
,chair1 and being  announced by the     
presiding officer4 ,such calls for the  
question are themselves  breaches of    
order1 and do not prevent the speaker   
from going on if he pleases4    #c4     
,before any subject is open to debate   
#cd it is  necessary1 first1 that a     
motion he made2 second1 that it be      
seconded1 7see  exceptions below72 and  
third1 that it be stated by the         
presiding officer4 ,when  the motion is 
in writing it shall be handed to the    
,chairman1 and read before it  is       
debated4    ,this does not prevent      
suggestions of alterations1 before the  
question is stated  by the presiding    
officer4 ,to the contrary1 much time may
 be saved by such  informal remarks2    
which1 however1 must never be allowed to
 run into debate4 ,the  member who      
offers the motion1 until it has been    
stated by the presiding  officer1 can   
modify his motion1 or even withdraw it  
entirely2 after it is  stated he can do 

neither1 without the consent of the     
assembly4 ,see  #e and  #ag4 ,when the  
mover modifies his motion1 the one who  
seconded it can withdraw  his second4   
,exceptions3 ,a call for the order of   
the day1 a question of order  7though   
not an appeal71 or an objection to the  
consideration of a  question  #ac1 #ad1 
#ae1 does not have to be seconded2 and  
many  questions of routine are not      
seconded or even made2 the presiding    
officer merely announcing that1 if no   
objection is made1 such will be         
considered the action of the assembly4  
#d4 ,all ,principal ,motions  #f1       
,amendments and ,instructions  to       
,committees1 should be in writing1 if   
required by the presiding officer4      
,although a question is complicated1 and
 capable of being made into several     
questions1 no one member 7without there 
is a special rule allowing it7 can      
insist upon its being divided2 his      
resource is to move that the question be
  divided1 specifying in his motion how 

it is to be divided4 ,any one else can  
move as an amendment to this1 to divide 
it differently4    ,this ,division of a 
,question is really an amendment  #bc1  
and subject  to the same rules4 ,instead
 of moving a division of the question1  
the  same result can be usually attained
 by moving some other form of an        
amendment4 ,when the question is        
divided1 each separate question must be 
a proper one for the assembly to act    
upon1 even if none of the others  were  
adopted4 ,thus1 a motion to 8commit with
 instructions10 is  indivisible1 because
 if divided1 and the motion to commit   
should fail1  then the other motion to  
instruct the committee would be         
improper1 as  there would be no         
committee to instruct499 ,the #dfth     
,rule of the ,house of  ,representatives
 requires the division of a question on 
the demand of one  member1 provided 8it 
comprehends propositions in substance so
 distinct  that one being taken away1 a 
substantive proposition shall remain for

  the decision of the ,house40 ,but this
 does not allow a division so as to     
have a vote on separate items or names4 
,the #abast ,rule expressly  provides   
that on the demand of one-fifth of the  
members a separate vote  shall be taken 
on such items separately1 and others    
collectively1 as  shall be specified in 
the call1 in the case of a bill making  
appropriations for internal             
improvements4 ,but this right to divide 
a  question into items extends to no    
case but the one specified4 ,the  common
 parliamentary law allows of no division
 except when the assembly  orders it1   
and in ordinary assemblies this rule    
will be found to give  less trouble than
 the ,congressional one4    ,the motion 
to 8strike out certain words and insert 
others10 is  indivisible1 as it is      
strictly one proposition4    #e4 ,after 
a question has been stated by the       
presiding  officer1 it is in the        
possession of the assembly for debate2  
the mover cannot  withdraw or modify it1

 if any one objects1 except by obtaining
 leave from the  assembly  #ag1 or by   
moving an amendment4    ,art4 ,,ii4     
,general ,classification of ,motions4   
#f-i4    #f4 ,a ,principal or ,main     
,question or ,motion1 is a motion made  
to bring before the assembly1 for its   
consideration1 any particular subject4  
,no  ,principal ,motion can be made when
 any other question is before the       
assembly4 ,it  takes precedence of      
nothing1 and yields to all ,privileged1 
,incidental and  ,subsidiary ,questions 
#g1 #h1 #i4    #g4 ,subsidiary or       
,secondary ,questions or ,motions relate
 to a  ,principal ,motion1 and enable   
the assembly to dispose of it in the    
most  appropriate manner4 ,these motions
 take precedence of the ,principal      
,question1  and must be decided before  
the ,principal ,question can be acted   
upon4 ,they yield  to ,privileged and   
,incidental ,questions  #h1 #i1 and are 
as follows 7being  arranged in their    
order of precedence among themselves73  

,lie on the ,table ''''''''''''''''''44 
,see  #ai4  ,the ,previous ,question    
''''''''''''''' 0  #bj4  ,postpone to a 
,certain ,day '''''''''44 0  #ba4       
,commit '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 0
  #bb4  ,amend                          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 0  #bc4 
,postpone ,indefinitely ''''''''''''''' 
0  #bd4    ,any of these motions 7except
 ,amend7 can be made when one of a lower
  order is pending1 but none can        
supersede one of a higher order4 ,they  
cannot be applied99 ,see ,plan of ,work 
and ,definitions1 in ,introduction1  for
 explanation of some of these technical 
terms4 to one another except  in the    
following cases3 7a7 the ,previous      
,question applies to the motion  to     
,postpone1 without affecting the        
principal motion1 and can1 if           
specified1 be applied to a pending      
amendment  #bj2 7b7 the motions to      
,postpone to a certain day1 and to      
,commit1 can be amended2 and 7c7 a      
motion to ,amend the minutes can be laid

 on the table without carrying  the     
minutes with it  #ai4    #h4 ,incidental
 ,questions are such as arise out of    
other  questions1 and1 consequently1    
take precedence of1 and are to be       
decided before1  the questions which    
give rise to them4 ,they yield to       
,privileged ,questions   #i1 and cannot 
be amended4 ,excepting an ,appeal1 they 
are undebatable2 an ,appeal  is         
debatable or not1 according to          
circumstances1 as shown in  #ad4 ,they  
are as  follows3      ,appeal 7or       
,questions of ,order7                   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ,see  #ad4  
,objection to the ,consideration of a   
,question ''''''''''''4 0  #ae4    ,the 
,reading of ,papers                     
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 0  
#af4    ,leave to ,withdraw a ,motion   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 0  #ag4 
,suspension of the ,rules               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 0    
#ah4    #i4 ,privileged ,questions are  
such as1 on account of their            

importance1 take precedence over all    
other questions whatever1 and on account
  of this very privilege they are       
undebatable  #ce1 excepting when        
relating to  the rights of the assembly 
or its members1 as otherwise they could 
be made use  of so as to seriously      
interrupt business4 ,they are as follows
 7being arranged  in their order of     
precedence among themselves73      ,to  
,fix the ,time to which the ,assembly   
shall ,adjourn '''''' ,see  #aj4        
,adjourn                                
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 0  #aa4    ,questions        
relating to the ,rights and             
,privileges of the ,assembly or any of  
its ,members                            
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 0  #ab4    ,call for the ,orders of
 the ,day ''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 0 
#ac4    ,art4 ,,iii4 ,motions and their 
,order of ,precedence499 ,for a list of 
all  the ordinary motions1 arranged in  
their order of precedence1 see  #fd4    

,all the ,privileged and ,subsidiary    
ones in this ,article are so arranged4  
#aj-bg4    ,privileged ,motions4        
#aj-ac4 ,see  #i4    #aj4 ,to ,fix the  
,time to which the ,assembly shall      
,adjourn4  ,this motion takes precedence
 of all others1 and is in order even    
after the  assembly has voted to        
adjourn1 provided the ,chairman has not 
announced the  result of the vote4 ,if  
made when another question is before the
 assembly1 it is  undebatable  #ce2 it  
can be amended by altering the time4 ,if
 made when no  other question is before 
the asembly1 it stands as any other     
principal motion1  and is debatable49999
 ,in ordinary societies it is better to 
follow the common  parliamentary law1   
and permit this question to be          
introduced as a principal  question1    
when it can be debated and suppressed   
#eh1 #ei like other  questions4 ,in     
,congress1 it is never debatable1 and   
has entirely superseded the             
unprivileged and inferior motion to     

8adjourn to a particular time40    ,the 
,form of this motion is1 8,when this    
assembly adjourns1 it adjourns to meet  
at such a time40    #aa4 ,to ,adjourn4  
,this motion 7when unqualified7 takes   
precedence of all others1 except to 8fix
 the time to which to adjourn10 to      
which it yields4 ,it is not debatable1  
and cannot be amended1 or have any other
  subsidiary motion  #g applied to it4  
,if qualified in any way it loses its   
privileged character1 and stands as any 
other principal motion4 ,the motion to  
adjourn can be repeated if there has    
been any intervening business1 though it
  be simply progress in debate  #bf4    
,when a committee is through with any   
business referred to it1 and prepared to
 report1 instead of adjourning1 a       
motion should be made 8to rise10 which  
motion1 in committee1 has the same      
privileges as to adjourn in the assembly
  #cb4    ,the effect upon ,unfinished  
,business of an adjournment is as       
follows99  8,after six days from the    

commencement of a second or subsequent  
session  of any ,congress1 all bills1   
resolutions and reports which originated
 in  the ,house1 and at the close of the
 next preceding session remained        
undetermined1 shall be resumed1 and     
acted on in the same manner as if an    
adjournment had not taken place40 ,rule 
#acf1 ,h4 ,r4 ,any ordinary society     
that meets as seldom as once each year1 
is apt to be composed of as  different  
membership at its successive meetings1  
as any two successive  ,congresses1 and 
only trouble would result from allowing 
unfinished  business to hold over to the
 next yearly meeting4 see ,session1     
#db3    7a7 ,when it does not close the 
session1 the business interrupted by the
  adjournment is the first in order     
after the reading of the minutes at  the
 next meeting1 and is treated the same  
as if there had been no  adjournment2 an
 adjourned meeting being legally the    
continuation of the  meeting of which it
 is an adjournment4    7b7 ,when it     

closes a session in an assembly which   
has more than one  regular session each 
year1 then the unfinished business is   
taken up at  the next succeeding session
 previous to new business1 and treated  
the  same as if there had been no       
adjournment see  #dd1 for its place in  
the  order of business4 ,provided1 that1
 in a body elected for a definite  time 
7as a board of directors elected for one
 year71 unfinished business  falls to   
the ground with the expiration of the   
term for which the board  or any portion
 of them were elected4    7c7 ,when the 
adjournment closes a session in an      
assembly which does not meet  more      
frequently than once a year1 or when the
 assembly is an elective body1 and  this
 session ends the term of a portion of  
the members1 the adjournment shall  put 
an end to all business unfinished at the
 close of the session4 ,the business    
can be introduced at the next session1  
the same as if it had never been before 
the assembly4    #ab4 ,questions of     

,privilege4 ,questions relating to the  
rights and privileges of the assembly1  
or any of its members1 take precedence  
of all other questions1 except the two  
preceding1 to which they yield4 ,the    
,previous ,question  #bj can be applied 
to these1 as to all other debatable     
questions4    #ac4 ,orders of the ,day4 
,a call for the ,orders of the ,day     
takes precedence of every other motion1 
excepting to ,reconsider  #bg1 and the  
three preceding1 to which latter three  
it yields1 and is not debatable1 nor can
  it be amended4 ,it does not require to
 be seconded4    ,when one or more      
subjects have been assigned to a        
particular day or hour1 they  become the
 ,orders of the ,day for that day or    
hour1 and they cannot be  considered    
before that time1 except by a two-thirds
 vote  #ci4 ,and when that  day or hour 
arrives1 if called up1 they take        
precedence of all but the three         
preceding questions  #aj1 #aa1 #ab4     
,instead of considering them1 the       

assembly  may appoint another time for  
their consideration4 ,if not taken up on
 the day  specified1 the order falls to 
the ground4    ,when the ,orders of the 
,day are taken up1 it is necessary to   
take up the  separate questions in their
 exact order1 the one first assigned to 
the  day or hour1 taking precedence of  
one afterwards assigned to the same  day
 or hour4 7,a motion to take up a       
particular part of the ,orders of  the  
,day1 or a certain question1 is not a   
privileged motion74 ,any of the         
subjects1 when taken up1 instead of     
being then considered1 can be  assigned 
to some other time4    ,the ,form of    
this question1 as put by the ,chair when
 the proper time  arrives1 or on the    
call of a member1 is1 8,shall the ,order
 of the ,day be  taken up80 or1 8,will  
the assembly now proceed with the       
,orders of the  ,day80    ,the ,effect  
of an affirmative vote on a call for the
 ,orders of the ,day1  is to remove the 
question under consideration from before

 the assembly1  the same as if it had   
been interrupted by an adjournment  #aa4
    ,the ,effect of a negative vote is  
to dispense with the orders merely so   
far as  they interfere with the         
consideration of the question then      
before the assembly4    ,incidental     
,motions4   #ad-ah2 see  #h    #ad4     
,appeal ,questions of ,order4 ,a        
,question of ,order takes  precedence of
 the question giving rise to it1 and    
must be decided by the  presiding       
officer without debate4 ,if a member    
objects to the decision1 he says1  8,i  
appeal from the decision of the ,chair40
 ,if the ,appeal is seconded1 the       
,chairman immediately states the        
question as follows3 8,shall the        
decision of the  ,chair stand as the    
judgement of the assembly8099 ,the word 
,assembly can be  replaced by ,society1 
,convention1 ,board1 etc41 according to 
the name of the  organization4 ,this    
,appeal yields to ,privileged ,questions
  #i4 ,it cannot be  amended2 it cannot 

be debated when it relates simply to    
indecorum  #cf1 or to  transgressions of
 the rules of speaking1 or to the       
priority of business1 or if  it is made 
while the previous question  #bj is     
pending4 ,when debatable1 no  member is 
allowed to speak but once1 and whether  
debatable or not1 the  presiding        
officer1 without leaving the ,chair1 can
 state the reasons upon which  he bases 
his decision4 ,the motions to ,lie on   
the ,table  #ai1 or for the  ,previous  
,question  #bj1 can be applied to an    
,appeal1 when it is debatable1  and when
 adopted they affect nothing but the    
,appeal4 ,the vote on an ,appeal may    
also be reconsidered  #bg4 ,an ,appeal  
is not in order when another ,appeal is 
pending4    ,it is the duty of the      
presiding officer to enforce the rules  
and orders of the  assembly1 without    
debate or delay4 ,it is also the right  
of every member1 who  notices a breach  
of a rule to insist upon its            
enforcement4 ,in such cases he  shall   

rise from his seat1 and say1 8,mr4      
,chairman1 ,i rise to a point of order40
  ,the speaker should immediately take  
his seat1 and the ,chairman requests the
  member to state his point of order1   
which he does1 and resumes his seat4    
,the  ,chair decides the point1 and     
then1 if no appeal is taken1 permits the
 first  member to resume his speech4 ,if
 the member's remarks are decided to be 
improper1 and any one objects to his    
continuing his speech1 he cannot        
continue  it without a vote of the      
assembly to that effect4 ,instead of the
 method just  described1 it is usual1   
when it is simply a case of improper    
language used in  debate1 for a member  
to say1 8,i call the gentleman to       
order20 the ,chairman  decides whether  
the speaker is in or out of order1 and  
proceeds as before4 ,the  ,chairman can 
ask the advice of members when he has to
 decide questions of  order1 but the    
advice must be given sitting1 to avoid  
the appearance of debate2  or the       

,chair1 when unable to decide the       
question1 may at once submit it to the  
assembly4 ,the effect of laying an      
appeal on the table1 is to sustain1 at  
least  for the time1 the decision of the
 ,chair1 and does not carry to the table
 the  question which gave rise to the   
question of order4    #ae4 ,objection to
 the ,consideration of a ,question4 ,an 
objection can be made to any principal  
motion  #f1 but only when it is first   
introduced1 before it has been debated4 
,it is similar to a question of order   
#ad1 in that it can be made while       
another member has the floor1 and does  
not  require a second2 and as the       
,chairman can call a member to order1 so
 can he put  this question if he deems  
it necessary1 upon his own              
responsibility4 ,it can not  be debated 
#ce or have any subsidiary motion  #g   
applied to it4 ,when a  motion is made  
and any member 8objects to its          
consideration10 the ,chairman  shall    
immediately put the question1 8,will the

 assembly consider it80 or1 8,shall  the
 question be considered0 or discussed8  
,if decided in the negative by a        
two-thirds vote  #ci1 the whole matter  
is dismissed for that session  #db2     
otherwise the discussion continues as if
 this question had never been made4     
,the ,object of this motion is not to   
cut off debate 7for which other  motions
 are provided1 see  #cg71 but to enable 
the assembly to avoid  altogether any   
question which it may deem irrelevant1  
unprofitable or  contentious499 ,in     
,congress1 the introduction of such     
questions could be  temporarily         
prevented by a majority vote under the  
#dast ,rule of the  ,house of           
,representatives1 which is as follows3  
8,where any motion or  proposition is   
made1 the question1 #8,will the ,house  
now consider it8'  shall not be put     
unless it is demanded by some member1 or
 is deemed  necessary by the ,speaker40 
,the ,english use the 8,previous        
,question10 for  a similar purpose see  

note to  #bj4 ,the question of          
consideration is  seldom raised in      
,congress1 but in assemblies with very  
short sessions1  where but few questions
 can or should be considered1 it seems a
  necessity that two-thirds of the      
assembly should be able to instantly    
throw out a question they do not wish to
 consider4 ,the more common  form1 in   
ordinary societies1 of putting this     
question1 is1 8,shall the  question be  
discussed80 ,the form to which          
preference is given in the  rule        
conforms more to the ,congressional one1
 and is less liable to be               
misunderstood4    #af4 ,reading ,papers4
 ,for the order of precedence1 see  #h4 
,where papers are laid before the       
assembly1 every member has a right to   
have  them once read before he can be   
compelled to vote on them1 and whenever 
a  member asks for the reading of any   
such paper1 evidently for information1  
and  not for delay1 the ,chair should   
direct it to be read1 if no one objects4

 ,but a  member has not the right to    
have anything read 7excepting stated    
above7 without  getting permission from 
the assembly4    #ag4 ,withdrawal of a  
,motion4 ,for order of precedence1 see  
#h4 ,when a question is before the      
assembly and the mover wishes to        
withdraw or  modify it1 or substitute a 
different one in its place1 if no one   
objects1 the  presiding officer grants  
the permission2 if any objection is     
made1 it will be  necessary to obtain   
leave to withdraw1 etc41 on a motion for
 that purpose4 ,this  motion cannot be  
debated or amended4 ,when a motion is   
withdrawn1 the effect is  the same as if
 it had never been made499 ,in          
,congress1 a motion may be withdrawn  by
 the mover1 before a decision or        
amendment ,rule #dj1 ,h4 ,r44 ,nothing  
would be  gained in ordinary societies  
by varying from the common law as stated
 above4    #ah4 ,suspension of the      
,rules4 ,for the order of precedence1   
see  #h4 ,this motion is not debatable1 

and cannot be amended1 nor can any      
subsidiary  #g motion be applied to it1 
nor a vote on it be reconsidered   #bg1 
nor a motion to suspend the rules for   
the same purpose be renewed  #bf  at the
 same meeting1 though it may be renewed 
after an adjournment1 though the  next  
meeting be held the same day499 ,in     
,congress1 it cannot be renewed the same
  day4 ,the rules of the assembly shall 
not be suspended except for a definite  
purpose1 and by a two-thirds vote4      
,the ,form of this motion is1 to        
8suspend the rules which interfere      
with10  etc41 specifying the object of  
the suspension4    ,subsidiary ,motions4
   #ai-bd2 see  #g4    #ai4 ,to ,lie on 
the ,table4 ,this motion takes          
precedence of  all other ,subsidiary    
,questions  #g1 and yields to any       
,privileged  #i or  ,incidental  #h     
,question4 ,it is not debatable1 and    
cannot be amended or have  any other    
subsidiary motion  #g applied to it4 ,it
 removes the subject from  consideration

 till the assembly vote to take it from 
the table4    ,the ,form of this motion 
is1 8,i move that the question lie on   
the table10 or1  8that it be laid on the
 table10 or1 8to lay the question on the
 table40 ,when it  is desired to take   
the question up again1 a motion is made1
 either 8to take the  question from the 
table10 or 8to now consider such and    
such a question20 which  motion is      
undebatable1 and cannot have any        
subsidiary motion applied to it4    ,the
 ,object of this motion is to postpone  
the subject in such a way1 that  at any 
time it can be taken up1 either at the  
same or some future  meeting1 which     
could not be accomplished by a motion to
 postpone1 either  definitely or        
indefinitely4 ,it is also frequently    
used to suppress a  question  #ei1 which
 it does1 provided a majority vote can  
never be  obtained to take it from the  
table during that session  #db4    ,the 
,effect of this motion is in general to 
place on the table everything that      

adheres to the subject2 so that if an   
amendment be ordered to lie on the      
table1  the subject which it is proposed
 to amend1 goes there with it4 ,the     
following  cases are exceptional3 7a7   
,an appeal  #ad being laid on the table1
 has the  effect of sustaining1 at least
 for the time1 the decision of the      
,chair1 and  does not carry the original
 subject to the table4 7b7 ,so when a   
motion to  reconsider  #bg a question is
 laid on the table1 the original        
question is  left where it was before   
the reconsideration was moved4 7c7 ,an  
amendment to the  minutes being laid on 
the table does not carry the minutes    
with it4    ,even after the ordering of 
the ,previous ,question up to the moment
 of  taking the last vote under it1 it  
is in order to lay upon the table the   
questions still before the assembly4    
#bj4 ,the ,previous ,question99 ,the    
,previous ,question is a  technical name
 for this motion1 conveying a wrong     
impression of its import1 as  it has    

nothing to do with the subject          
previously under consideration4 ,to     
demand  the previous question is        
equivalent in effect to moving 8,that   
debate now cease1  and the assembly     
immediately proceed to vote on the      
questions before it10 7the  exceptions  
are stated above74 ,the ,english        
,previous ,question is an entirely      
different one from ours1 and is used for
 a different purpose4 ,in the ,english  
,parliament it is moved by the enemies  
of a measure1 who then vote in the      
negative1 and thus prevent for the day1 
the consideration of the main question1 
7which in this country could be         
accomplished by 8objecting to the       
consideration  of the question0  #ae1 if
 the objection were sustained74 ,in our 
,congress1 it  is moved by the friends  
of a measure1 who vote in the           
affirmative with a view  to cutting off 
debate and immediately bringing the     
assembly to a vote on the  questions    
before it4 ,the rules in the two cases  

are as different as the objects  of the 
motions4 ,it requires only a majority   
vote for its adoption in the ,house  of 
,representatives1 and is not allowed in 
the ,united ,states ,senate4 takes      
precedence of every debatable question  
#ce1 and yields to ,privileged  #i  and 
,incidental  #h questions1 and to the   
motion to ,lie on the table  #ai4  ,it  
is not debatable1 and cannot be amended 
or have any other ,subsidiary  #g       
motion applied to it4 ,it shall require 
a two-thirds vote for its adoption4     
,when a member calls for the previous   
question1 and the call is seconded1  the
 presiding officer must immediately put 
the question3 8,shall the  main question
 be now put80 ,if adopted1 the member   
who introduced the  pending measure     
still has the right to close the debate 
#cd2 after  which the presiding officer1
 without allowing further discussion1   
shall  put to vote the questions before 
the assembly1 in their order of         
precedence1 till the main question1 with

 all its subsidiary and  incidental     
questions1 is disposed of 7see the      
exceptions below74 ,if it  fails1 the   
discussion continues as if this motion  
had not been made4    ,the previous     
question can be moved on a pending      
amendment1 and if  adopted1 debate is   
closed on the amendment only4 ,after the
 amendment is  voted on1 the main       
question is again open to debate and    
amendments4 ,in  this case the form of  
the question would be similar to this 3 
8,shall  the amendment be now put to the
 question80    ,the ,object of this     
motion is to bring the assembly to a    
vote on the  question before it without 
further debate4 ,in ordinary assemblies 
it is  rarely expedient to deprive a    
large minority of the right of debate1  
and  yet two-thirds of the members      
should have the right to close the      
debate  when they think it best4    ,it 
applies to questions of privilege  #ab  
as well as any other  debatable         
questions4 ,it is allowable for a member

 to submit a  resolution and at the same
 time move the previous question        
thereon4    ,to illustrate the ,effect  
of this motion1 suppose it is adopted   
when we  have before the assembly1 7a7  
the main question2 7b7 an amendment2 7c7
 a  motion to commit2 7d7 a motion to   
amend the last motion by giving the     
committee instructions4 ,the previous   
question being carried1 the  presiding  
officer would immediately put the       
question on the last motion  7d72 then  
on the motion to commit1 7c72 and if    
this is adopted1 of  course the subject 
is referred to the committee and        
disposed of for the  present2 but if it 
fails1 the amendment 7b7 is put1 and    
finally the main  question4             
,exceptions3 ,if the ,previous ,question
 is carried while a motion to ,postpone 
is  pending1 its effect is only to bring
 the assembly to a vote on that motion2 
if  it is voted not to postpone1 the    
subject is again open for debate4 ,so if
 an  ,appeal  #ad or a motion to        

,reconsider  #bg is pending when the    
,previous  ,question is ordered1 it     
applies only to them and is exhausted by
 the vote on  them4    ,an affirmative  
vote on the motion to ,commit  #bb      
exhausts the ,previous  ,question1 and  
if the vote is reconsidered1 it is      
divested of the ,previous  ,question4   
,for other methods of closing debate see
  #cg and  #eh4    #ba4 ,to ,postpone to
 a ,certain ,day4 ,this motion takes    
precedence of a motion to ,commit1 or   
,amend1 or ,indefinitely ,postpone1 and 
yields to any ,privileged  #i or        
,incidental  #h question1 and to the    
motion  to ,lie on the ,table1 or for   
the ,previous ,question4 ,it can be     
amended by  altering the time1 and the  
,previous ,question can be applied to it
 without  affecting any other motions   
pending4 ,it allows of very limited     
debate  #ce1  and that must not go into 
the merits of the subject matter any    
further than is  necessary to enable the
 assembly to judge the propriety of the 

postponement4    ,the ,effect of this   
motion is to postpone the entire subject
 to the time  specified1 until which    
time it cannot be taken up except by a  
two-thirds  vote  #ac4 ,when that time  
arrives it is entitled to be taken up in
  preference to every thing except      
,privileged questions4 ,where several   
questions are postponed to different    
times and are not reached then1  they   
shall be considered in the order of the 
times to which they were  postponed4 ,it
 is not in order to postpone to a time  
beyond that session   #db of the        
assembly1 except99 ,in ,congress a      
motion cannot be  postponed to the next 
session1 but it is customary in ordinary
  societies4 to the day of the next     
session when it comes up with the       
unfinished business1 and consequently   
takes precedence of new business   #dd4 
,if it is desired to hold an adjourned  
meeting to consider a  special subject1 
the time to which the assembly shall    
adjourn  #aj  should be first fixed     

before making the motion to postpone the
 subject  to that day4    #bb4 ,to      
,commit or ,recommit as it is called    
when the subject  has been previously   
committed4 ,this motion takes precedence
 of the motions to  ,amend or           
,indefinitely ,postpone1 and yields to  
any ,privileged  #i or  ,incidental  #h 
,question1 and also to the motion to    
,lie on the ,table1 or for  the         
,previous ,question1 or to ,postpone to 
a certain day4 ,it can be amended by    
altering the committee1 or giving it    
instructions4 ,it is debatable1 and     
opens  to debate  #ce the merits of the 
question it is proposed to commit4      
,the ,form of this motion is 8to refer  
the subject to a committee40 ,when      
different committees are proposed they  
should he voted in the following order3 
7#a7 ,committee the whole  #cb1 7#b7 a  
standing committee1 and 7#c7 a special  
7or  select7 committee4 ,the number of a
 committee is usually decided without   
the  formality of a motion1 as in       

filling blanks  #be3 the ,chairman asks 
8of how  many shall the committee       
consist80 and a question is then put    
upon each number  suggested1 beginning  
with the largest4 ,the number and kind  
of the committee  need not be decided   
till after it has been voted to refer   
the subject to a  committee4 ,if the    
committee is a select one1 and the      
motion does not include  the method of  
appointing it1 and there is no standing 
rule on the subject1 the  ,chairman     
inquires how the committee shall be     
appointed1 and this is usually  decided 
informally4 ,sometimes the ,chair       
8appoints10 in which case he names the  
members of the committee and no vote is 
taken upon them2 or the committee is    
8nominated0 either by the ,chair or     
members of the assembly 7no member      
nominating more than one except by      
general consent71 and then they are all 
voted upon together1 except where more  
nominations are made than the number of 
the committee1 when they shall be voted 

upon singly4    ,where a committee is   
one for action 7a committee of          
arrangements for  holding a public      
meeting1 for example71 it should        
generally be small1 and  no one placed  
upon it who is not favorable to the     
proposed action2 and  if any such should
 be appointed he should ask to be       
excused4 ,but when  the committee is for
 deliberation or investigation1 it is of
 the utmost  importance that all parties
 be represented on it1 so that in       
committee  the fullest discussion may   
take place1 and thus diminish the       
chances of  unpleasant debates in the   
assembly4    ,in ordinary assemblies1 by
 judicious appointment of committees1   
debates  upon delicate and troublesome  
questions can be mostly confined to the 
committees1 which will contain the      
representative members of all  parties4 
,see ,reports of ,committees1  #bi4     
#bc4 ,to ,amend4 ,this motion takes     
precedence of nothing but  the question 
which it proposed to amend1 and yields  

to any ,privileged  #i1  ,incidental  #h
 or ,subsidiary  #g ,question1 except to
 ,indefinitely ,postpone4  ,it can be   
amended itself1 but this 8amendment of  
an amendment0 cannot be  amended4 ,an   
,amendment may be inconsistent with one 
already adopted1 or may  directly       
conflict with the spirit of the original
 motion1 but it must have a  direct     
bearing upon the subject of that motion4
 ,to illustrate3 a motion for a  vote of
 thanks could be amended by substituting
 for 8thanks0 the word  8censure20 or   
one condemning certain customs could be 
amended by adding other  customs4    ,an
 ,amendment may be in any of the        
following forms3 7a7 to 8add or insert0 
certain words or paragraphs2 7b7 to     
8strike out0 certain words or           
paragraphs1  the question1 however1     
being stated by the ,chair thus3 8,shall
 these words 7or  paragraphs7 stand as a
 part of the resolution80 and if this is
 adopted 7that  is1 the motion to       
8strike out10 fails7 it does not        

preclude either amendment or  a motion  
to 8strike out and insert20 7c7 8to     
strike certain words and insert         
others10 which motion is indivisible1   
and if lost does not preclude another   
motion to strike out the same words and 
insert different ones2 7d7 to           
8substitute0 another motion on the same 
subject for the one pending2 7e7 to     
8divide the question0 into two or more  
questions1 as the mover specifies1 so as
  to get a separate vote on any         
particular point or points see  #d4     
,if a paragraph is inserted it should be
 perfected by its friends  previous to  
voting on it1 as when once inserted it  
cannot be struck out  or amended except 
by adding to it4 ,the same is true in   
regard to words  to be inserted in a    
resolution1 as when once inserted they  
cannot be  struck out1 except by a      
motion to strike out the paragraph1 or  
such a  portion of it as shall make the 
question an entirely different one from 
that of inserting the particular words4 

,the principle involved is that  when   
the assembly has voted that certain     
words shall form a part of a            
resolution1 it is not in order to make  
another motion which involves  exactly  
the same question as the one they have  
decided4 ,the only way to  bring it up  
again is to move a ,reconsideration  #bg
 of the vote by  which the words were   
inserted4    ,in stating the question on
 an ,amendment the ,chairman should read
 7#a7 the  passage to be amended2 7#b7  
the words to be struck out1 if any2 7#c7
 the words to  be inserted1 if any2 and 
7#d7 the whole passage as it will stand 
if the  amendment is adopted4 ,for      
amending reports of committees1 and     
propositions  containing several        
paragraphs1 see  #dd4    ,the numbers   
prefixed to paragraphs are only marginal
 indications1 and  should be corrected1 
if necessary1 by the clerk1 without any 
motion to  amend4    ,the following     
motions cannot be amended3      ,to     
,adjourn 7when unqualified7             

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 ,see  #aa4 
,for the ,orders of the ,day            
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 0  #ab4
    ,all ,incidental ,questions         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 0  #h4
    ,to ,lie on the ,table              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 0
  #ai4    ,for the ,previous ,question  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 0  #bj4
    ,an ,amendment of an ,amendment     
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 0  #bc4   
,to ,postpone ,indefinitely             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 0     
#bd4    ,reconsider                     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''44 0  #bg4    ,an ,amendment to    
,rules of ,order1 ,by-,laws or a        
,constitution shall require  previous   
notice and a two-thirds vote for its    
adoption see  #de4    #bd4 ,to ,postpone
 ,indefinitely4 ,this motion takes      
precedence  of nothing except the       
,principal ,question  #f1 and yields to 
any ,privileged   #i1 ,incidental  #h or
 ,subsidiary  #g ,motion1 except to     

,amend4 ,it cannot be  amended2 it opens
 to debate the entire question which it 
is proposed to  postpone4 ,its effect is
 to entirely remove the question from   
before the  assembly for that session   
#db4    ,the ,previous ,question  #bj1  
if ordered when this motion is pending1 
applies only to it without affecting the
 main question4    ,miscellaneous       
,motions4   #be-bg4    #be4 ,filling    
,blanks4 ,in filling blanks the largest 
sum and  the longest time proposed shall
 be first put to the question4          
,sometimes the  most convenient way of  
amending a resolution is to create a    
blank by moving to  strike out a certain
 number or time4 ,it is customary for   
any number of members  to propose       
numbers to fill a blank without the     
formality of a motion1 these  different 
propositions not being regarded in the  
light of amendments4    ,nominations are
 treated in a similar manner1 so that   
the second nomination1  instead of being
 an amendment to the first1 is an       

independent motion1 which1 if  the first
 fails1 is to be immediately voted upon4
 ,any number of nominations can  be     
made1 the ,chairman announcing each name
 as he hears it1 and they should be     
voted upon in the order announced1 until
 one receives a vote sufficient for an  
election4    #bf4 ,renewal of a ,motion4
 ,when any ,principal ,question  #f  or 
,amendment has been once acted upon by  
the assembly1 it cannot be taken up     
again at the same session  #db except by
 a motion to ,reconsider  #bg4 ,the     
motion to ,adjourn can be renewed if    
there has been progress in debate1 or   
any  business transacted4 ,as a general 
rule the introduction of any motion that
  alters the state of affairs makes it  
admissible to renew any ,privileged or  
,incidental motion 7excepting           
,suspension of the ,rules as provided in
  #ah71 or  ,subsidiary motion          
7excepting an amendment71 as in such a  
case the real question  before the      
assembly is a different one4    ,to     

illustrate3 a motion that a question lie
 on the table having failed1 suppose    
afterwards it be moved to refer the     
matter to a committee1 it is now in     
order  to move again that the subject   
lie on the table2 but such a motion     
would not be  in order1 if it were not  
made till after the failure of the      
motion to commit1  as the question then 
resumes its previous condition4    ,when
 a subject has been referred to a       
committee which reports at the  same    
meeting1 the matter stands before the   
assembly as if it had been  introduced  
for the first time4 ,a motion which has 
been withdrawn has  not been acted upon1
 and therefore can be renewed4    #bg4  
,reconsider4 ,it is in order at any     
time1 even when  another member has the 
floor1 or while the assembly is voting  
on the motion to  ,adjourn1 during the  
day99 ,in ,congress any one can move a  
reconsideration1  excepting where the   
vote is taken by yeas and nays  #ch1    
when the rule above  applies4 ,the      

motion can be made on the same or       
succeeding day4 on which a  motion has  
been acted upon1 to move to 8,reconsider
 the vote0 and have such  motion        
8entered on the record10 but it cannot  
be considered while another  question is
 before the assembly4 ,it must be made1 
excepting when the vote is by  ballot1  
by a member who voted with the          
prevailing side2 for instance1 in case a
  motion fails to pass for lack of a    
two-thirds vote1 a reconsideration must 
be  moved by one who voted against the  
motion4    ,a motion to reconsider the  
vote on a ,subsidiary  #g motion takes  
precedence  of the main question4 ,it   
yields to ,privileged  #i questions     
7except for the  ,orders of the ,day71  
and ,incidental  #h questions4    ,this 
motion can be applied99 ,it is not the  
practice to reconsider an  affirmative  
vote on the motion to lie on the table1 
as the same result can be  more easily  
reached by the motion to take from the  
table4 ,for a similar reason1  an       

affirmative vote on the motion to take  
from the table cannot be  reconsidered4 
to every question1 except to ,adjourn   
and to ,suspend the ,rules4  ,it is     
debatable or not1 just as the question  
to be reconsidered is debatable or      
undebatable  #ce2 when debatable1 it    
opens up for discussion the entire      
subject to be reconsidered1 and can have
 the ,previous question  #bj applied  to
 it without affecting any thing but the 
motion to reconsider4 ,it can be laid   
on the table  #ai1 and in such cases the
 last motion cannot be reconsidered2  it
 is quite common and allowable to       
combine these two motions 7though they  
must  be voted on separately72 in this  
case1 the reconsideration like any other
  question1 can be taken from the table1
 but possesses no privilege49999 ,in    
,congress this is a common method used  
by the friends of a measure to prevent  
its reconsideration4 ,the motion to     
reconsider being laid on the table does 
not  carry with it the pending measure4 

,if an amendment to a motion has been   
either  adopted or rejected1 and then a 
vote taken on the motion as amended1 it 
is not  in order to reconsider the vote 
on the amendment until after the vote on
 the  original motion has been          
reconsidered4 ,if anything which the    
assembly cannot  reverse1 has been done 
as the result a vote1 then that vote    
cannot be  reconsidered4    ,the ,effect
 of making this motion is to suspend all
 action that the original  motion would 
have required until the reconsideration 
is acted upon2 but if it  is not called 
up1 its effect terminates with the      
session  #db1 provided199 ,in  ,congress
 the effect always terminates with the  
session1 and it cannot be called  up by 
any one but the mover1 until the        
expiration of the time during which it  
is in order to move a reconsideration4  
that in an assembly having regular      
meetings as often as monthly1 if no     
adjourned meeting upon another day is   
held  of the one at which the           

reconsideration was moved1 its effect   
shall not  terminate till the close of  
the next succeeding session4 ,see note  
at end of  this section4 ,while this    
motion is so highly privileged as far as
 relates to  having it entered on the   
minutes1 yet the reconsideration of     
another question  cannot be made to     
interfere with the discussion of a      
question before the  assembly1 but as   
soon as that subject is disposed of1 the
 reconsideration1 if  called up1 takes  
precedence of every thing except the    
motions to adjourn1 and  to fix the time
 to which to adjourn4 ,as long as its   
effect lasts 7as shown  above71 any one 
can call up the motion to reconsider and
 have it acted  upon--excepting that    
when its effect extends beyond the      
meeting at which the  motion was made1  
no one but the mover can call it up at  
that meeting4 ,but the  reconsideration 
of an ,incidental  #h or ,subsidiary  #g
 motion shall be  immediately acted     
upon1 as otherwise it would prevent     

action on the main  question4    ,the   
,effect of the adoption of this motion  
is to place before the  assembly the    
original question in the exact position 
it occupied before  it was voted upon2  
consequently no one can debate the      
question  reconsidered who had          
previously exhausted his right of debate
  #cd on  that question2 his only       
resource is to discuss the question     
while the  motion to reconsider is      
before the assembly4    ,when a vote    
taken under the operation of the        
previous question  #bj is  reconsidered1
 the question is then divested of the   
previous question1  and is open to      
debate and amendment1 provided the      
previous question had  been exhausted   
see latter part of  #bj by votes taken  
on all the  questions covered by it1    
before the motion to reconsider was     
made4    ,a reconsideration requires    
only a majority vote1 regardless of the 
vote  necessary to adopt the motion     
reconsidered4 ,for reconsidering in     

committee see  #bh4    ,note ,on        
,reconsider4--,in the ,english          
,parliament a vote once taken cannot be 
reconsidered1 but in our ,congress it is
 allowed to move a reconsideration of   
the vote on the same or succeeding day1 
and after the close of the last day for 
making the motion1 any one can call up  
the motion to reconsider1 so that this  
motion cannot delay action more than two
 days1 and the effect of the motion1 if 
not acted upon1 terminates with the     
session4 ,there seems to be no reason or
  good precedent for permitting merely  
two persons1 by moving a                
reconsideration1  to suspend for any    
length of time all action under         
resolutions adopted by the  assembly1   
and yet where the delay is very short   
the advantages of  reconsideration      
overbalance the evils4    ,where a      
permanent society has meetings weekly or
 monthly1 and usually  only a small     
proportion of the society is present1 it
 seems best to  allow a reconsideration 

to hold over to another meeting1 so that
 the  society may have notice of what   
action is about to be taken4 ,to prevent
  the motion being used to defeat a     
measure that cannot be deferred till    
the next regular meeting1 it is provided
 that in case the society  adjourn1 to  
meet the next day for instance1 then the
 reconsideration  will not hold over    
beyond that session2 this allows        
sufficient delay to  notify the society1
 while1 if the question is one requiring
 immediate  action1 the delay cannot    
extend beyond the day to which they     
adjourn4  ,where the meetings are only  
quarterly or annual1 the society should 
be  properly represented at each        
meeting1 and their best interests are   
subserved by following the practice of  
,congress1 and letting the effect  of   
the reconsideration terminate with the  
session4    ,art4 ,,iv4 ,committees and 
,informal ,action4   #bh-cc4    #bh4    
,committees4 ,it is usual in            
deliberative assemblies1 to  have all   

preliminary work in the preparation of  
matter for their action1 done  by means 
of committees4 ,these may be either     
8standing committees0 7which are        
appointed for the session  #db1 or for  
some definite time1 as one year72 or    
8select committees10 appointed for a    
special purpose2 or a 8committee of the 
whole0  #cb1 consisting of the entire   
assembly4 ,for method of appointing     
committees of the whole1 see  #cb2 other
 committees1 see commit1  #bb4 ,the     
first person named on a committee is    
chairman1 and should act as such1       
without  the committee should see fit to
 elect another chairman1 which they are 
competent to do4 ,the clerk should      
furnish him1 or some other member of the
  committee1 with notice of the         
appointment of the committee1 giving the
 names of  the members1 the matter      
referred to them1 and such instructions 
as the assembly  have decided upon4 ,the
 chairman shall call the committee      
together1 and if there  is a quorum 7a  

majority of the committee1 see  #dc17 he
 should read or have  read1 the entire  
resolutions referred to them2 he should 
then read each  paragraph1 and pause for
 amendments to be offered2 when the     
amendments to that  paragraph are voted 
on he proceeds to the next1 only taking 
votes on  amendments1 as the committee  
cannot vote on the adoption of matter   
referred to  them by the assembly4      
,if the committee originate the         
resolutions1 they vote1 in the same way1
 on  amendments to each paragraph of the
 draft of the resolutions1 7which draft 
has  been previously prepared by one of 
their members or a sub-committee72 they 
do  not vote on the separate paragraphs1
 but having completed the amendments1   
they  vote on the adoption of the entire
 report4 ,when there is a preamble1 it  
is  considered last4 ,if the report     
originates with the committee1 all      
amendments  are to be incorporated in   
the report2 but1 if the resolutions were
 referred1  the committee cannot alter  

the text1 but must submit the original  
paper intact1  with their amendments    
7which may be in the form of a          
substitute1  #bc7 written  on a separate
 sheet4    ,a committee is a miniature  
assembly that must meet together in     
order to  transact business1 and usually
 one of its members should be appointed 
its  clerk4 ,whatever is not agreed to  
by the majority of the members present  
at a  meeting 7at which a quorum1       
consisting of a majority of the members 
of the  committee1 shall be present7    
cannot form a part of its report4 ,the  
minority may  be permitted to submit    
their views in writing also1 either     
together1 or each  member separately1   
but their reports can only be acted     
upon1 by voting to  substitute one of   
them for the report of the committee4   
,the rules of the  assembly1 as far as  
possible1 shall apply in committee2 but 
a reconsideration   #bg of a vote shall 
be allowed1 regardless of the time      
elapsed1 only when  every member who    

voted with the majority is present when 
the reconsideration is  moved499 ,both  
the ,english common parliamentary law   
and the rules of ,congress  prohibit the
 reconsideration of a vote by a         
committee2 but the strict  enforcement  
of this rule in ordinary committees1    
would interfere with rather  than assist
 the transaction of business4 ,the rule 
given above seems more just1  and more  
in accordance with the practice of      
ordinary committees1 who usually        
reconsider at pleasure4 ,no improper    
advantage can be taken of the privilege1
 as  long as every member who voted with
 the majority must be present when the  
reconsideration is moved4 ,a committee  
7except a committee of the whole1  #cb  
may appoint a sub-committee4 ,when      
through with the business assigned them1
 a  motion is made for the committee to 
8rise0 7which is equivalent to the      
motion  to adjourn71 and that the       
chairman 7or some member who is more    
familiar with  the subject7 make its    

report to the assembly4 ,the committee  
ceases to exist as  soon as the assembly
 receives the report  #cj4    ,the      
committee has no power to punish its    
members for disorderly conduct1 its     
resource being to report the facts to   
the assembly4 ,no allusion can be made  
in  the assembly to what has occurred in
 committee1 except it be by a report of 
the  committee1 or by general consent4  
,it is the duty of a committee to meet  
on the  call of any two its of members1 
if the chairman be absent or decline to 
appoint  such meeting4 ,when a committee
 adjourns without appointing a time for 
the next  meeting1 it is called together
 in the same way as at its first        
meeting4 ,when a  committee adjourns to 
meet at another time1 it is not         
necessary 7though usually  advisable7   
that absent members should be notified  
of the adjourned meeting4    #bi4 ,forms
 of ,reports of ,committees4 ,the form  
of a report is  usually similar to the  
following3    ,a standing committee     

reports thus3 8,the committee on insert 
name of  committee respectfully report10
 or 8beg leave to report10 or 8beg      
leave to submit the following report10  
etc41 letting the report follow4    ,a  
select or special committee reports as  
follows3 8,the committee to  which was  
referred state the matter referred      
having considered the  same respectfully
 report10 etc4 ,or for 8,the committee0 
is sometimes  written 8,your committee10
 or 8,the undersigned1 a committee40    
,when a minority report is submitted1 it
 should be in this form 7the  majority  
reporting as above73 8,the undersigned1 
a minority of a  committee to which was 
referred10 etc4 ,the majority report is 
the  report of the committee1 and should
 never be made out as the report of  the
 majority4    ,all reports conclude     
with1 8,all of which is respectfully    
submitted40 ,they are  sometimes signed 
only by the chairman of the committee1  
but if the matter is of  much           
importance1 it is better that the report

 be signed by every member who  concurs4
 ,the report is not usually dated1 or   
addressed1 but can he headed1 as  for   
example1 8,report of the ,finance       
,committee of the ,y4 ,p4 ,a41 on       
,renting a  ,hall40    #cj4 ,reception  
of ,reports4 ,when the report of a      
committee is to be  made1 the chairman  
7or member appointed to make the report7
 informs the  assembly that the         
committee to whom was referred such a   
subject or  paper1 has directed him to  
make a report thereon1 or report it with
 or  without amendment1 as the case may 
be2 either he or any other member may   
move that it be 8received099 ,a very    
common error is1 after a report has     
been read1 to move that it be received2 
whereas1 the fact that it has  been     
read1 shows that it has been already    
received by the assembly4  ,another     
mistake1 less common1 but dangerous1 is 
to vote that the report  be accepted    
7which is equivalent to adopting it1 see
  #ca71 when the  intention is only to  

have the report up for consideration and
 afterwards  move its adoption4 ,still a
 third error is to move that 8the report
 be  adopted and the committee          
discharged10 when the committee have    
reported  in full and their report been 
received1 so that the committee has     
already ceased to exist4 ,if the        
committee however have made but a       
partial report1 or report progress1 then
 it is in order to move that the        
committee be discharged from the further
 consideration of the subject4  now or  
at some other specified time4           
,usually the formality of a vote on the 
reception of a report of a  committee is
 dispensed with1 the time being settled 
by general consent4  ,should any one    
object1 a formal motion becomes         
necessary4 ,when the time  arrives for  
the assembly to receive the report1 the 
chairman of the  committee reads it in  
his place1 and then delivers it to the  
clerk1 when  it lies on the table till  
the assembly sees fit to consider it4   

,if the  report consists of a paper with
 amendments1 the chairman of the        
committee reads the amendments with the 
coherence in the paper1  explaining the 
alterations and reasons of the committee
 for the  amendments1 till he has gone  
through the whole4 ,if the report is    
very  long1 it is not usually read until
 the assembly is ready to consider it   
see  #ca and #dd4    ,when the report   
has been received1 whether it has been  
read or not1 the  committee is thereby  
dissolved1 and can act no more without  
it is  revived by a vote to recommit4   
,if the report is recommitted1 all the  
parts of the report that have not been  
agreed to by the assembly1 are  ignored 
by the committee as if the report had   
never been made4    #ca4 ,adoption of   
,reports4 ,when the assembly is to      
consider a  report1 a motion should be  
made to 8adopt10 8accept10 or 8agree to0
 the report1  all of which1 when        
carried1 have the same effect1 namely1  
to make the doings of  the committee    

become the acts of the assembly1 the    
same as if done by the  assembly without
 the intervention of a committee4 ,if   
the report contains merely  a statement 
of opinion or facts1 the motion should  
be to 8accept0 the report2  if it also  
concludes with resolutions or certain   
propositions1 the motion  should be to  
8agree to0 the resolutions1 or to       
8adopt0 the propositions4 ,after  the   
above motion is made1 the matter stands 
before the assembly exactly the  same as
 if there had been no committee1 and the
 subject had been introduced by  the    
motion of the member who made the       
report4 ,see  #cd for his privileges in 
debate1 and  #dd for the method of      
treating a report containing several    
propositions1 when being considered by  
the assembly4    #cb4 ,committee of the 
,whole4 ,when an assembly has to        
consider a subject which it does not    
wish to refer to a committee1 and yet   
where the subject matter is not well    
digested and put into proper form for   

its  definite action1 or1 when for any  
other reason1 it is desirable for the   
assembly to consider a subject with all 
the freedom of an ordinary committee1   
it is the practice to refer the matter  
to the 8,committee of the ,whole4099 ,in
  large assemblies1 such as the ,u4 ,s4 
,house of ,representatives1 where a     
member  can speak to any question but   
once1 the committee of the whole seems  
almost a  necessity1 as it allows the   
freest discussion of a subject1 while at
 any time  it can rise and thus bring   
into force the strict rules of the      
assembly4    ,if it is desired to       
consider the question at once1 the      
motion is made1  8,that the assembly do 
now resolve itself into a committee of  
the whole  to take under consideration10
 etc41 specifying the subject4 ,this is 
really a motion to 8commit0 see  #bb for
 its order of precedence1  etc4 ,if     
adopted1 the ,chairman immediately calls
 another member to the  chair1 and takes
 his place as a member of the committee4

 ,the committee  is under the rules of  
the assembly1 excepting as stated       
hereafter in  this section4    ,the only
 motions in order are to amend and      
adopt1 and that the committee 8rise  and
 report10 as it cannot adjourn2 nor can 
it order the 8yeas and nays0  #ch4  ,the
 only way to close or limit debate in   
committee of the whole1 is for the      
assembly to vote that the debate in     
committee shall cease at a certain time1
 or  that after a certain time no debate
 shall be allowed excepting on new      
amendments1 and then only one speech in 
favor of and one against it1 of say1    
five minutes each2 or in some other way 
regulate the time for debate499 ,in     
,congress no motion to limit debate in  
committee of the whole is in order till 
after the subject has been already      
considered in committee of the whole4   
,as no  subject would probably be       
considered more than once in committee  
of the whole1  in an ordinary society1  
the enforcement of this rule would      

practically prevent  such a society from
 putting any limit to debate in the     
committee4 ,the rule as  given above1   
allows the society1 whenever resolving  
itself into committee of  the whole1 to 
impose upon the debate in the committee1
 such restrictions as are  allowed in   
,congress after the subject has already 
been considered in committee  of the    
whole4    ,if no limit is prescribed1   
any member may speak as often as he can 
get  the floor1 and as long each time as
 allowed in debate in the assembly1     
provided no one wishes the floor who has
 not spoken on that particular          
question4 ,debate having been closed at 
a particular time by order of  the      
assembly1 it is not competent for the   
committee1 even by unanimous  consent1  
to extend the time4 ,the committee      
cannot refer the subject to  another    
committee4 ,like other committees  #bh1 
it cannot alter the  text of any        
resolution referred to it2 but if the   
resolution originated  in the committee1

 then all the amendments are            
incorporated in it4    ,when it is      
through with the consideration of the   
subject referred to it1  or if it wishes
 to adjourn1 or to have the assembly    
limit debate1 a  motion is made that    
8the committee rise and report10 etc41  
specifying  the result of its           
proceedings4    ,this motion 8to rise0  
is equivalent to the motion to adjourn1 
in the  assembly1 and is always in order
 7except when another member has the    
floor71 and is undebatable4 ,as soon as 
this motion is adopted1 the  presiding  
officer takes the chair1 and the        
chairman of the committee1  having      
resumed his place in the assembly1      
arises and informs him1 that  8the      
committee have gone through the business
 referred to them1 and that  he is ready
 to make the report1 when the assembly  
is ready to receive  it20 or he will    
make such other report as will suit the 
case4    ,the clerk does not record the 
proceedings of the committee on the     

minutes1 but should keep a memorandum of
 the proceedings for the use of  the    
committee4 ,in large assemblies the     
clerk vacates his chair1 which  is      
occupied by the chairman of the         
committee1 and the assistant clerk  acts
 as clerk of the committee4 ,should the 
committee get disorderly1  and the      
chairman be unable to preserve order1   
the presiding officer can  take the     
chair1 and declare the committee        
dissolved4 ,the quorum of the  committee
 of the whole is the same as that of the
 assembly  #dc4 ,if  the committee finds
 itself without a quorum1 it can only   
rise and report  the fact to the        
assembly1 which in such a case would    
have to adjourn4    #cc4 ,informal      
,consideration of a ,question 7or acting
 as if  in committee of the whole74 ,it 
has become customary in many assemblies1
 instead  of going into committee of the
 whole1 to consider the question        
8informally10  and afterwards to act    
8formally40 ,in a small assembly there  

is no objection to  this499 ,in the ,u4 
,s4 ,senate all bills1 joint resolutions
 and treaties1 upon  their second       
reading are considered 8as if the       
,senate were in committee of the        
whole10 which is equivalent to          
considering them informally4 ,u4 ,s4    
,senate ,rules  #bh and #ch4 ,in large  
assemblies it is better to follow the   
practice of the  ,house of              
,representatives1 and go into committee 
of the whole4 ,while acting  informally 
upon any resolutions1 the assembly can  
only amend and adopt them1  and without 
further motion the ,chairman announces  
that 8the assembly acting  informally or
 as in committee of the whole has had   
such a subject under  consideration1 and
 has made certain amendments1 which he  
will report40 ,the  subject comes before
 the assembly then as if reported by a  
committee4 ,while  acting informally1   
the ,chairman retains his seat1 as it is
 not necessary to  move that the        
committee rise1 but at any time the     

adoption of such motions as  to adjourn1
 the previous question1 to commit1 or   
any motion except to amend or  adopt1   
puts an end to the informal             
consideration2 as for example1 the      
motion to  commit is equivalent to the  
following motions when in committee of  
the whole3  7#a7 ,that the committee    
rise2 7#b7 that the committee of the    
whole be discharged  from the further   
consideration of the subject1 and 7#c7  
that it be referred to a  committee4    
,while acting informally1 every member  
can speak as many times as he  pleases1 
and as long each time as permitted in   
the assembly  #cd1 and  the informal    
action may be rejected or altered by the
 assembly4 ,while  the clerk should keep
 a memorandum of the informal           
proceedings1 it  should not be entered  
on the minutes1 being only for temporary
 use4 ,the  ,chairman's report to the   
assembly of the informal action1 should 
be  entered on the minutes1 as it       
belongs to the assembly's proceedings4  

,art4 ,v4 ,debate and ,decorum4         
#cd-cg4    #cd4 ,debate499 ,in          
connection with this section read  #a-e4
  ,when a motion is made and seconded1  
it shall be stated by the ,chairman     
before  being debated see  #c4 ,when any
 member is about to speak in debate1 he 
shall  rise and respectfully address    
himself to 8,mr4 ,chairman40 8,mr4      
,president0 is  used where that is the  
designated title of the presiding       
officer2 8,brother  ,moderator0 is more 
common in religious meetings4 ,the      
,chairman shall then  announce his name 
see  #b4 ,by parliamentary courtesy1 the
 member upon whose  motion a subject is 
brought before the assembly is first    
entitled to the floor1  even though     
another member has risen first and      
addressed the ,chair2 in case of  a     
report of a committee1 it is the member 
who presents the report 2 and this      
member is also entitled to close the    
debate1 but not until every member      
choosing to speak1 has spoken4 ,this    

right to make the last speech upon the  
question1 is not taken away by the      
,previous ,question  #bj being ordered1 
or  in any other way4 ,with this        
exception1 no member shall speak more   
than twice to  the same question 7only  
once to a question of order1  #ad71 nor 
longer than ten  minutes at one time1   
without leave of the assembly1 and the  
question upon  granting the leave shall 
be decided by a majority vote without   
debate499 ,the  limit in time should    
vary to suit circumstances1 but the     
limit of two speeches  of ten minutes   
each will usually answer in ordinary    
assemblies1 and it can be  increased1   
when desirable1 by a majority vote as   
shown above1 or diminished as  shown in 
#cg4 ,in the ,u4 ,s4 ,house of          
,representatives no member can speak    
more  than once to the same question1   
nor longer than one hour4 ,the fourth   
rule of  the ,senate is as follows3 8,no
 ,senator shall speak more than twice in
 any one  debate on the same day1       

without leave of the ,senate1 which     
question shall be  decided without      
debate40 ,if no rule is adopted1 each   
member can speak but once  to the same  
question4    ,if greater freedom is     
desired1 the proper course is to refer  
the subject to the  committee of the    
whole  #cb1 or to consider it informally
  #cc4 ,for  limiting or closing the    
debate1 see  #cg4 ,no member can speak  
the second time  to a question1 until   
every member choosing to speak has      
spoken4 ,but an  amendment1 or any other
 motion being offered1 makes the real   
question before  the assembly a         
different one1 and1 in regard to the    
right to debate1 is treated  as a new   
question4 ,merely asking a question1 or 
making a suggestion1 is not  considered 
as speaking4    #ce4 ,undebatable       
,questions4 ,the following questions    
shall be  decided without debate1 all   
others being debatable see note at end  
of this  section3    --,to ,fix the     
,time to which the ,assembly shall      

,adjourn 7when a privileged  question1  
#aj74  --,to ,adjourn  #aa1 7or in      
committee1 to rise1 which is used       
instead of  to adjourn74  --,for the    
,orders of the ,day  #ac1 and questions 
relating to the priority  of business4  
--,an ,appeal  #ad when made while the  
,previous ,question is pending1 or  when
 simply relating to indecorum or        
transgressions of the rules of speaking1
  or to the priority of business4       
--,objection to the ,consideration of a 
,question  #ae4  --,questions relating  
to ,reading of ,papers  #af1 or         
,withdrawing a ,motion   #ag1 or        
,suspending the ,rules  #ah1 or         
extending the limits of debate   #cd1 or
 limiting or closing debate1 or granting
 leave to continue his speech to  one   
who has been guilty of indecorum in     
debate  #cf4  --,to ,lie on the ,table  
or to ,take from the ,table  #ai4       
--,the ,previous ,question  #bj4  --,to 
,reconsider  #bf a question which is    
itself undebatable4    ,the motion to   

,postpone to a certain time  #ba allows 
of but very  limited debate1 which must 
be confined to the propriety of the     
postponement2 but to ,reconsider a      
debatable question  #bf1 or to  ,commit 
#bb1 or ,indefinitely ,postpone  #bd1   
opens the main question   #f to debate4 
,to ,amend  #bc opens the main question 
to debate only  so far as it is         
necessarily involved in the amendment4  
,the distinction between debate and     
making suggestions or asking a          
question1 should always be kept in view1
 and when the latter will  assist the   
assembly in determining the question1 is
 allowed to a  limited extent1 even     
though the question before the assembly 
is  undebatable4    ,note ,on           
,undebatable ,questions4--,the ,english 
common parliamentary law makes all      
motions debatable1 without there is a   
rule adopted limiting debate ,cushing's 
,manual1  #ccj2 but every assembly is   
obliged to restrict debate upon certain 
motions4 ,the restrictions to debate    

prescribed in this section conform to   
the  practice of ,congress1 where1      
however1 it is very common to allow of  
brief  remarks upon the most undebatable
 questions1 sometimes five or six       
members  speaking2 this of course is    
allowed only when no one objects4    ,by
 examining the above list1 it will be   
found1 that1 while free debate  is      
allowed upon every principal question   
#f1 it is permitted or  prohibited upon 
other questions in accordance with the  
following  principles3    7a7 ,highly   
privileged questions1 as a rule1 should 
not be debated1 as in  that case they   
could be used to prevent the assembly   
from coming to a  vote on the main      
question2 7for instance1 if the motion  
to adjourn were  debatable1 it could be 
used see  #aa in a way to greatly hinder
  business74 ,high privilege is1 as a   
rule1 incompatible with the right of    
debate on the privileged question4      
7b7 ,a motion that has the effect to    
suppress a question before the          

assembly1 so that it cannot again be    
taken up that session  #db1  allows of  
free debate4 ,and a subsidiary motion   
#g1 except commit1  which see below1 is 
debatable to just the extent that it    
interferes  with the right of the       
assembly to take up the original        
question at its  pleasure4              
,illustrations3 ,to 8,indefinitely      
,postpone0  #bd a question1 places it   
out of the power of the assembly to     
again take it up during that  session1  
and consequently this motion allows of  
free debate1 even  involving the whole  
merits of the original question4    ,to 
8,postpone to a certain time0 prevents  
the assembly taking up the  question    
till the specified time1 and therefore  
allows of limited debate  upon the      
propriety of the postponement4    ,to   
8,lie on the ,table0 leaves the question
 so that the assembly can at any time   
consider it1 and therefore should not   
be1 and is not debatable4    ,to        
8,commit0 would not be very debatable1  

according to this rule1 but it  is an   
exception1 because it is often important
 that the committee should  know the    
views of the assembly on the question1  
and it therefore is not  only debatable1
 but opens to debate the whole question 
which it is  proposed to refer to the   
committee4    #cf4 ,decorum in ,debate  
see  #b4 ,in debate a member must       
confine himself to the question before  
the assembly1 and avoid personalities4  
,he cannot reflect upon any act of the  
assembly1 unless he intends to conclude 
his remarks with a motion to rescind    
such action1 or else while debating such
  motion4 ,in referring to another      
member1 he should1 as much as possible1 
avoid  using his name1 rather referring 
to him as 8the member who spoke last10  
or in  some other way describing him4   
,the officers of the assembly should    
always be  referred to by their official
 titles4 ,it is not allowable to arraign
 the  motives of a member1 but the      
nature or consequences of a measure may 

be  condemned in strong terms4 ,it is   
not the man1 but the measure1 that is   
the  subject of debate4 ,if at any time 
the ,chairman rises to state a point of 
order1  or give information1 or         
otherwise speak1 within his privilege   
see  #dj1 the  member speaking must take
 his seat till the ,chairman has been   
first heard4 ,when  called to order1 the
 member must sit down until the question
 of order is  decided4 ,if his remarks  
are decided to be improper1 he cannot   
proceed1 if any  one objects1 without   
the leave of the assembly expressed by a
 vote1 upon which  question there shall 
be no debate4    ,disorderly words      
should be taken down by the member who  
objects to them1  or by the clerk1 and  
then read to the member2 if he denies   
them1 the  assembly shall decide by a   
vote whether they are his words or not4 
,if a  member cannot justify the words  
he used1 and will not suitably apologize
  for using them1 it is the duty of the 
assembly to act in the case1  requiring 

both members to withdraw99 ,if both are 
personally interested4  ,see page #afa4 
till it has decided its course1 it being
 a general rule  that no member should  
he present in the assembly when any     
matter  relating to himself is under    
debate4 ,if any business has taken place
  since the member spoke1 it is too late
 to take notice of any disorderly  words
 he used4    #cg4 ,closing ,debate4     
,debate upon a question is not closed by
  the ,chairman rising to put the       
question1 as1 until both the affirmative
 and  negative are put1 a member can    
claim the floor1 and re-open debate see 
#ch4  ,debate can be closed by the      
following motions1 which are undebatable
  #ce1  and1 except to ,lie on the      
,table1 shall require a two-thirds99 ,in
 ,congress1  where each speaker can     
occupy the floor one hour1 any of these 
motions to cut  off debate can be       
adopted by a mere majority4 ,in ordinary
 societies harmony is  so essential1    
that a two-thirds vote should be        

required to force the assembly  to a    
final vote without allowing free debate4
 vote for their adoption  #ci3    7a7   
,an objection to the consideration of a 
question only allowable  when the       
question is first introduced1  #ae1     
which1 if sustained1 not only  stops    
debate1 but also throws the subject out 
of the assembly for that  session  #db2 
which latter effect is the one for which
 it was  designed4    7b7 ,to lie on the
 table  #ai1 which1 if adopted1 carries 
the  question to the table1 from which  
it cannot be taken without a majority   
favors such action4    7c7 ,the previous
 question  #bj1 which has the effect of 
requiring  all the questions before the 
assembly excepting as limited in  #bj to
  be put to vote at once without further
 debate4 ,it may be applied merely  to  
an amendment or to an amendment of an   
amendment4    7d7 ,for the assembly to  
adopt an order 7#a7 limiting debate upon
 a  special subject1 either as to the   
number or length of the speeches2 or    

7#b7 closing debate upon the subject at 
a stated time1 when all pending         
questions shall be put to vote without  
further debate4 ,either of these  two   
measures may be applied only to a       
pending amendment1 or an amendment      
thereto1 and when this is voted upon1   
the original question is still  open to 
debate and amendment4    ,art4 ,,vi4    
,vote4   #ch-ci4    #ch4 ,voting4       
,whenever from the nature of the        
question it  permits of no modification 
or debate1 the ,chairman immediately    
puts it to vote2  if the question is    
debatable1 when the ,chairman thinks the
 debate has been  brought to a close1 he
 should inquire if the assembly is ready
 for the  question1 and if no one rises 
he puts the question to vote4 ,there are
 various  forms for putting the         
question1 in use in different parts of  
the country4 ,the  rule in ,congress1 in
 the ,house of ,representatives1 is as  
follows3 8,questions  shall be          
distinctly put in this form1 to-wit3    

#8,as many as are of the opinion  that  
7as the question may be7 say ,aye2' and 
after the affirmative voice is          
expressed1 #8,as many as are of the     
contrary opinion1 say ,no4'0 ,the       
following  form is very common3 8,it has
 been moved and seconded that 7here     
state the  question74 ,as many as are   
favor of the motion say ,aye2 those     
opposed1 ,no40 ,or1  if the motion is   
for the adoption of a certain           
resolution1 after it has been  read the 
,chairman can say1 8,you have heard the 
resolution read2 those in favor  of its 
adoption will hold up the right hand2   
those opposed will manifest it by  the  
same sign40 ,these examples are         
sufficient to show the usual methods of 
putting a question1 the affirmative     
being always put first4    ,when a vote 
is taken1 the ,chairman should always   
announce the result in the  following   
form3 8,the motion is carried--the      
resolution is adopted10 or1 8,the  ayes 
have it--the resolution is adopted40    

,if1 when he announces a vote1 any      
member rises and states that he doubts  
the vote1 or calls for a 8division10 the
  ,chairman shall say1 8,a division is  
called for2 those in favor of the motion
  will rise40 ,after counting these1 and
 announcing the number1 he shall say1   
8,those opposed will rise40 will count  
these1 announce the number1 and declare 
the result2 that is1 whether the motion 
is carried or lost4 ,instead of counting
  the vote himself1 he can appoint      
tellers to make the count and report to 
him4  ,when tellers are appointed1 they 
should be selected from both sides of   
the  question4 ,a member has the right  
to change his vote 7when not made by    
ballot7  before the decision of the     
question has been finally and           
conclusively  pronounced by the ,chair1 
but not afterwards4    ,until the       
negative is put1 it is in order for any 
member1 in the same  manner as if the   
voting had not been commenced1 to rise  
and speak1 make  motions for amendment  

or otherwise1 and thus renew the debate2
 and this1  whether the member was in   
the assembly room or not when the       
question was  put and the vote partly   
taken4 ,in such case the question is in 
the same  condition as if it had never  
been put4    ,no one can vote on a      
question affecting himself1 but if more 
than one name is  included in the       
resolution 7though a sense of delicacy  
would prevent this right  being         
exercised1 excepting when it would      
change the vote7 all are entitled to    
vote2 for if this were not so1 a        
minority could control an assembly by   
including the names of a sufficient     
number in a motion1 say for preferring  
charges against them1 and suspend them1 
or even expel them from the assembly4   
,when there is a tie vote the motion    
fails1 without the ,chairman gives his  
vote  for the affirmative1 which in such
 case he can do4 ,where his vote will   
make a  tie1 he can cast it and thus    
defeat the measure4    ,another form of 

voting is by ballot4 ,this method is    
only adopted when required  by the      
constitution or by-laws of the assembly1
 or when the assembly has  ordered the  
vote to be so taken4 ,the ,chairman1 in 
such cases1 appoints at least  two      
tellers1 who distribute slips of paper  
upon which each member1 including  the  
,chairman199 ,should the ,chairman      
neglect to vote before the ballots are  
counted1 he cannot then vote without the
 permission of the assembly4 writes  his
 vote2 the votes are then collected1    
counted by the tellers1 and the result  
reported to the ,chairman1 who announces
 it to the assembly4 ,the ,chairman     
announces the result of the vote1 in    
case of an election to office1 in a     
manner  similar to the following3 8,the 
whole number of votes cast is --2 the   
number  necessary for an election is --2
 ,mr4 ,a4 received --2 ,mr4 ,b4 --2 ,mr4
 ,c4 --4 ,mr4 ,b4  having received the  
required number is elected --40 ,where  
there is only one  candidate for an     

office1 and the constitution requires   
the vote to be by  ballot1 it is common 
to authorize the clerk to cast the vote 
of the assembly  for such and such a    
person2 if any one objects however1 it  
is necessary to  ballot in the usual    
way4 ,so when a motion is made to make a
 vote unanimous1 it  fails if any one   
objects4 ,in counting the ballots all   
blanks are ignored4    ,the assembly can
 by a majority vote order that the vote 
on any question be  taken by ,yeas and  
,nays499 ,taking a vote by yeas and     
nays1 which has the effect  to place on 
the record how each member votes1 is    
peculiar to this country1 and  while it 
consumes a great deal of time1 is rarely
 useful in ordinary societies4  ,by the 
,constitution1 one-fifth of the members 
present can1 in either house of         
,congress1 order a vote to be taken by  
yeas and nays1 and to avoid some of the 
resulting inconveniences various rules  
and customs have been established1 which
  are ignored in this ,manual1 as       

according to it the yeas and nays can   
only be  ordered by a majority1 which   
prevents its being made use of to hinder
 business4  ,in representative bodies it
 is very useful1 especially where the   
proceedings  are published1 as it       
enables the people to know how their    
representatives voted  on important     
measures4 ,in some small bodies a vote  
on a resolution must be  taken by yeas  
and nays1 upon the demand of a single   
member4 ,in this method of  voting the  
,chairman states both sides of the      
question at once2 the clerk calls  the  
roll and each member as his name is     
called rises and answers yes or no1 and 
the clerk notes his answer4 ,upon the   
completion of the roll call the clerk   
reads over the names of those who       
answered the affirmative1 and afterwards
  those in the negative1 that mistakes  
may be corrected2 he then gives the     
number  voting on each side to the      
,chairman1 who announces the result4 ,an
 entry must be  made in the minutes of  

the names of all voting in the          
affirmative1 and also of  those in the  
negative4    ,the form of putting a     
question upon which the vote has been   
ordered to be taken  by yeas and nays1  
is similar to the following3 8,as many  
as are in favor of the  adoption of     
these resolutions will1 when their names
 are called1 answer yes or  aye--those  
opposed will answer no40 ,the ,chairman 
will then direct the clerk to  call the 
roll4 ,the negative being put at the    
same time as the affirmative1 it  is too
 late1 after the question is put1 to    
renew the debate4 ,after the            
commencement of the roll call1 it is too
 late to ask to be excused from voting4 
,the yeas and nays cannot be ordered in 
committee of the whole  #cb4    #ci4    
,motions ,requiring ,more than a        
,majority ,vote499 ,where no  rule to   
the contrary is adopted1 a majority vote
 of the assembly1 when a quorum   #dc is
 present1 is sufficient for the adoption
 of any motion1 except for the          

suspension of a rule1 which can only be 
done by general consent1 or             
unanimously4 ,congress requires a       
two-thirds vote for only the motions to 
suspend and to amend the ,rules1 to take
 up business out of its proper order1   
and to make a special order see note to 
#cg4 ,the following motions shall       
require a two-thirds vote for their     
adoption1 as the right of discussion1   
and  the right to have the rules        
enforced1 should not be abridged by a   
mere  majority3      ,an ,objection to  
the ,consideration of a ,question       
''''''''''''44  #ae4    ,to ,take up a  
,question out of its proper order       
'''''''''''''''4  #ac4    ,to ,suspend  
the ,rules                              
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
4  #ah4    ,the ,previous ,question     
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
  #bj4    ,to ,close or ,limit ,debate  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#cg4    ,to ,amend the ,rules 7requires 
previous notice also7 '''''''''44  #dc4 

,to ,make a special order               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#ac4    ,art4 ,,vii4 ,the ,officers and 
the ,minutes4   #dj1 #da4    #dj4       
,chairman99 ,in connection with this    
section read  #dd1  and also  #dj1 #da4 
or ,president4 ,the presiding officer1  
when no special title  has been assigned
 him1 is ordinarily called the ,chairman
 7or in religious  assemblies more      
usually the ,moderator72 frequently the 
constitution of the  assembly prescribes
 for him a title1 such as ,president4   
,his duties are generally as follows3   
,to open the session at the time at     
which the assembly is to meet1 by       
taking the chair and calling the members
 to order2 to announce the  business    
before the assembly in the order in     
which it is to be acted  upon  #dd2 to  
state and to put to vote  #ch all       
questions which are  regularly moved1 or
 necessarily arise in the course of     
proceedings1 and  to announce the result
 of the vote2    ,to restrain the       

members1 when engaged in debate1 within 
the rules of order2 to  enforce on all  
occasions the observance of order and   
decorum  #cf among the  members1        
deciding all questions of order 7subject
 to an appeal to the assembly  by any   
two members1  #ad71 and to inform the   
assembly when necessary1 or when        
referred to for the purpose1 on a point 
of order or practice2    ,to            
authenticate1 by his signature1 when    
necessary1 all the acts1 orders  and    
proceedings of the assembly1 and in     
general to represent and stand  for the 
assembly1 declaring its will1 and in all
 things obeying its  commands4    ,the  
chairman shall rise99 ,it is not        
customary for the chairman to rise while
  putting questions in very small       
bodies1 such as committees1 boards of   
trustees1  c4 to put a question to vote1
 but may state it sitting2 he shall also
  rise from his seat 7without calling   
any one to the chair71 when speaking to 
a  question of order1 which he can do in

 preference to other members4 ,in       
referring  to himself he should always  
use his official title thus3 8,the      
,chair decides so  and so10 not 8,i     
decide1 c40 ,when a member has the      
floor1 the chairman  cannot interrupt   
him as long as he does not transgress   
any of the rules of the  assembly1      
excepting as provided in  #b4    ,he is 
entitled to vote when the vote is by    
ballot199 ,but this right is  lost if he
 does not use it before the tellers have
 commenced to count  the ballots4 ,the  
assembly can give leave to the chairman 
to vote under  such circumstances4 and  
in all other cases where the vote would 
change  the result4 ,thus in a case     
where two-thirds vote is necessary1 and 
his  vote thrown with the minority would
 prevent the adoption of the  question1 
he can cast his vote2 so also he can    
vote with the minority  when it will    
produce a tie vote and thus cause the   
motion to fail4  ,whenever a motion is  
made referring especially to the        

chairman1 the  maker of the motion      
should put it to vote4    ,the chairman 
can1 if it is necessary to vacate the   
chair1 appoint a chairman  pro tem419999
 ,when there are ,vice ,presidents1 then
 the first one on the list  that is     
present1 is1 by virtue of his office1   
chairman during the absence of  the     
,president1 and should always be called 
to the chair when the ,president        
temporarily vacates it4 but the first   
adjournment puts an end to the          
appointment1 which the assembly can     
terminate before1 if it pleases1 by     
electing another chairman4 ,but the     
regular chairman1 knowing that he will  
be  absent from a future meeting1 cannot
 authorize another member to act in his 
place at such meeting2 the clerk  #da1  
or in his absence any member1 should  in
 such case call the meeting to order1   
and a chairman pro tem4 be elected1 who 
would hold office during that session   
#db1 without such office was  terminated
 by the entrance of the regular         

chairman4    ,the chairman sometimes    
calls a member to the chair1 and himself
 takes  part in the debate4 ,but this   
should rarely be done1 and nothing can  
justify it in a case where much feeling 
is shown1 and there is a  liability to  
difficulty in preserving order4 ,if the 
chairman has even  the appearance of    
being a partisan1 he loses much of his  
ability to  control those who are on the
 opposite side of the question499 ,the  
unfortunate habit many chairmen have of 
constantly speaking upon  questions     
before the assembly1 even interrupting  
the member who has the  floor1 is       
unjustified by either the common        
parliamentary law1 or the  practice of  
,congress4 ,one who expects to take an  
active part in debate  should never     
accept the chair4 8,it is a general     
rule1 in all  deliberative assemblies1  
that the presiding officer shall not    
participate in the debate1 or other     
proceedings1 in any other capacity  than
 as such officer4 ,he is only allowed1  

therefore1 to state matters  of fact    
within his knowledge2 to inform the     
assembly on points of order  or the     
course of proceeding1 when called upon  
for that purpose1 or when  he finds it  
necessary to do so2 and on appeals from 
his decision on  questions of order1 to 
address the assembly in debate40        
,cushing's  ,manual1 page #ajf4 8,though
 the ,speaker chairman may of right     
speak to  matters of order and be first 
heard1 he is restrained from speaking on
  any other subject except where the    
assembly have occasion for facts  within
 his knowledge2 then he may1 with their 
leave1 state the matter of  fact40      
,jefferson's ,manual1 sec4 xvii1 and    
,barclay's 8,digest of the  ,rules and  
,practice of the ,house of              
,representatives1 ,u4 ,s410 page #aie4  
,the chairman should not only be        
familiar with parliamentary usage1 and  
set the  example of strict conformity to
 it1 but he should be aman of executive 
ability1  capable of controlling men2   

and it should never be forgotten1 that1 
to control  others1 it is necessary to  
control one's self4 ,an excited chairman
 can scarcely  fail to cause trouble in 
a meeting4    ,a chairman will often    
find himself perplexed with the         
difficulties  attending his position1   
and in such cases he will do well to    
heed the  advice of a distinguished     
writer on parliamentary law1 and        
recollect  that--8,the great purpose of 
all rules and forms1 is to subserve the 
will of the assembly1 rather than to    
restrain it2 to facilitate1 and not  to 
obstruct1 the expression of their       
deliberate sense40    #da4 ,clerk or    
,secretary and the ,minutes4 ,the       
recording  officer is usually called the
 8,clerk0 or 8,secretary1099 ,when there
 are two  secretaries1 he is termed the 
8recording secretary10 and the other    
one1 the  8corresponding secretary40 ,in
 many societies the secretary1 besides  
acting as  recording officer1 collects  
the dues of members1 and thus becomes to

 a certain  extent a financial officer4 
,in most cases the treasurer acts as    
banker1 only  paying on the order of the
 society1 signed by the secretary alone1
 or by the  president and secretary4 ,in
 such cases the secretary becomes in    
reality the  financial officer of the   
society1 and should make reports to the 
society1 of  funds received and from    
what sources1 and of the funds expended 
and for what  purposes4 ,see  #eb for   
his duties as financial officer4 and the
 record of  proceedings the 8,minutes40 
,his desk should be near that of the    
chairman1 and in  the absence of the    
chairman1 7if there is no vice president
 present7 when the  hour for opening the
 session arrives1 it is his duty to call
 the meeting to  order1 and to preside  
until the election of a chairman pro    
tem41 which should  be done immediately4
 ,he should keep a record of the        
proceedings1 commencing in  a form      
similar to the following 39999 ,see     
,clerk and ,minutes in ,part ,,ii1  #ea4

    8,at a regular quarterly meeting of 
state the name of the society held on   
the  #cast day of ,march1 #ahge1 at     
state the place of meeting1 the         
,president in the  chair1 the minutes   
were read by the clerk and approved40   
,if the regular clerk  is absent1 insert
 after the words 8in the chair10 the    
following3 8,the clerk  being absent1   
,robert ,smith was appointed clerk pro  
tem4 ,the minutes were then  read and   
approved40 ,if the minutes were not     
read1 say 8the reading of the  minutes  
was dispensed with40 ,the above form    
will show the essentials1 which are  as 
follows3 7a7 ,the kind of meeting1      
8regular0 or stated or 8special10 or    
8adjourned regular10 or 8adjourned      
special20 7#f7 name of the assembly2 7c7
 date  and place of meeting 7excepting  
when the place is always the same72 7d7 
the  fact of the presence of the regular
 chairman and clerk1 or in their absence
 the  names of their substitutes2 7e7   
whether the minutes of the previous     

meeting  were approved4    ,the minutes 
should be signed by the person who acted
 as clerk for that  meeting3 in some    
societies the chairman must also sign   
them4 ,when  published1 they should be  
signed by both officers4    ,in keeping 
the minutes much depends upon the kind  
of meeting1 and  whether the minutes are
 to be published4 ,if they are to be    
published1  it is often of far more     
interest to know what was said by the   
leading  speakers1 than to know what    
routine business was done1 and what     
resolutions adopted4    ,in such case   
the duties of the secretary are arduous1
 and he should have at  least one       
assistant4 ,in ordinary society meetings
 and meetings of ,boards of  ,managers  
and ,trustees1 on the contrary1 there is
 no object in reporting the  debates2   
the duty of the clerk1 in such cases1 is
 mainly to record what is  8done0 by the
 assembly1 not what is said by the      
members4 ,without there is a  rule to   
the contrary1 he should enter every     

,principal motion  #f that is  before   
the assembly1 whether it is adopted or  
rejected2 and where there is a  division
 see ,voting1  #ch1 or where the vote is
 by ballot1 he should enter  the number 
of votes on each side2 and when the     
voting is by yeas and nays   #ch1 he    
should enter a list of the names of     
those voting on each side4 ,he  should  
endorse on the reports of committees1   
the date of their reception1 and  what  
further action was taken upon them1 and 
preserve them among the records1  for   
which he is responsible4 ,he should in  
the minutes make a brief summary of a   
report that has been agreed to1 except  
where it contains resolutions1 in which 
case the resolutions will be entered in 
full as adopted by the assembly1 and    
not as if it was the report accepted4   
,the proceedings of the committee of the
  whole  #cb1 or while acting informally
  #cc1 should not be entered on the     
minutes4 ,before an adjournment without 
day1 it is customary to read over the   

minutes for approval1 if the next       
meeting of the board or society will not
  occur for a long period4 ,where the   
regular meetings are not separated by   
too  great a time1 the minutes are read 
at the next meeting4    ,the clerk      
should1 previous to each meeting1 for   
the use of the chairman1  make out an   
order of business  #dd1 showing in their
 exact order what  is necessarily to    
come before the assembly4 ,he should    
also have at each  meeting a list of all
 standing committees1 and such select   
committees as  are in existence at the  
time4 ,when a committee is appointed1 he
 should  hand the names of the committee
 and all papers referred to it to the   
chairman1 or some other of its members4 
,art4 ,,viii4 ,miscellaneous4   #db-de4 
#db4 ,a ,session of an assembly is a    
meeting99 ,see definitions  in          
,introduction for the distinction       
between 8meeting0 and 8session40 which1 
though it may last for days1 is         
virtually one meeting1 as a session of a

  ,convention2 or even months1 as a     
session of ,congress2 it terminates by  
an  8adjournment without day40 ,the     
intermediate adjournments from day to   
day1 or  the recesses taken during the  
day1 do not destroy the continuity of   
the  meeting--they in reality constitute
 one session4 ,in the case of a         
permanent  society1 having regular      
meetings every week1 month1 or year1 for
 example1 each  meeting constitutes a   
separate session of the society1 which  
session however  can be prolonged by    
adjourning to another day4    ,if a     
principal motion  #f is indefinitely    
postponed or rejected at one  session1  
while it cannot be introduced again at  
the same session see ,renewal  of a     
,motion1  #bf1 it can be at the next1   
without it is prohibited by a rule  of  
the assembly4    ,no one session of the 
assembly can interfere with the rights  
of the assembly at  any future          
session199 ,any one session can adopt a 
rule or resolution of a  permanent      

nature1 and it continues in force until 
at some future session it is  rescinded4
 ,but these ,standing ,rules1 as they   
are termed1 do not interfere with       
future sessions1 because at any moment a
 majority can suspend or rescind them1  
or adopt new ones4 without it is        
expressly so provided in their          
,constitution1  ,bylaws1 or ,rules of   
,order1 all of which are so guarded 7by 
requiring notice of  amendments1 and at 
least a two-thirds vote for their       
adoption7 that they are  not subject to 
sudden changes1 but may be considered as
 expressing the  deliberate views of the
 whole society1 rather than the opinions
 or wishes of  any particular meeting4  
,thus1 if the presiding officer were    
ill1 it would not  be competent for one 
session of the assembly to elect a      
chairman to hold office  longer than    
that session1 as it cannot control or   
dictate to the next session  of the     
assembly4 ,by going through the         
prescribed routine of an election to    

fill  the vacancy1 giving whatever      
notice is required1 it could then       
legally elect a  chairman to hold office
 while the vacancy lasted4 ,so it is    
improper for an  assembly to postpone   
anything to a day beyond the next       
succeeding session1 and  thus attempt to
 prevent the next session from          
considering the question4 ,on the  other
 hand1 it is not permitted to move a    
reconsideration  #bg of a vote  taken at
 a previous session though the motion to
 reconsider can be called up1  provided 
it was made at the last meeting of the  
previous session4 ,committees  can be   
appointed to report at a future session4
    ,note ,on ,session--,in ,congress1  
and in fact all legislative bodies1 the 
limits of the sessions are clearly      
defined2 but in ordinary societies      
having a permanent existence1 with      
regular meetings more or less  frequent1
 there appears to be a great deal of    
confusion upon the  subject4 ,any       
society is competent to decide what     

shall constitute one  of its sessions1  
but1 where there is no rule on the      
subject1 the common  parliamentary law  
would make each of its regular or       
special meetings a  separate session1 as
 they are regarded in this ,manual4     
,the disadvantages of a rule making a   
session include all the meetings of an  
ordinary society1 held during a long    
time as one year1 are very great4       
,examine  ,indefinitely ,postpone1  #bd1
 and ,renewal of a ,motion1  #bf4 ,if   
members of any  society take advantage  
of the freedom allowed by considering   
each regular  meeting a separate        
session1 and repeatedly renew obnoxious 
or unprofitable  motions1 the society   
can adopt a rule prohibiting the second 
introduction of  any principal question 
#f within1 say1 three or six months     
after its  rejection1 or indefinite     
postponement1 or after the society has  
refused to  consider it4 ,but generally 
it is better to suppress the motion by  
refusing to  consider it  #ae4    #dc4  

,a ,quorum of an assembly is such a     
number as is  competent to transact its 
business4 ,without there is a special   
rule on the  subject1 the quorum of     
every assembly is a majority of all the 
members of the  assembly4 ,but whenever 
a society has any permanent existence1  
it is usual to  adopt a much smaller    
number1 the quorum being often less than
 one-twentieth of  its members2 this    
becomes a necessity in most large       
societies1 where only a  small fraction 
of the members are ever present at a    
meeting499 ,while a quorum  is competent
 to transact any business1 it is usually
 not expedient to transact  important   
business without there is a fair        
attendance at the meeting1 or else      
previous notice of such action has been 
given4    ,the ,chairman should not take
 the chair till a quorum is present1    
except where  there is no hope of there 
being a quorum1 and then no business can
 be  transacted1 except simply to       
adjourn4 ,so whenever during the meeting

 there is  found not to be a quorum     
present1 the only thing to be done is to
  adjourn--though if no question is     
raised about it1 the debate can be      
continued1  but no vote taken1 except to
 adjourn4    ,in committee of the whole1
 the quorum is the same as in the       
assembly2 in  any other committee the   
majority is a quorum1 without the       
assembly order  otherwise1 and it must  
wait for a quorum before proceeding to  
business4  ,if the number afterwards    
should be reduced below a quorum1       
business is  not interrupted1 unless a  
member calls attention to the fact2 but 
no  question can be decided except when 
a quorum is present4 ,boards of         
,trustees1 ,managers1 ,directors1 etc41 
are on the same footing as  committees1 
in regard to a quorum4 ,their power is  
delegated to them as  a body1 and what  
number shall be present in order that   
they may act as a  ,board1 is to be     
decided by the society that appoints the
 ,board4 ,if no  quorum is specified1   

then a majority constitutes a quorum4   
#dd4 ,order of ,business4 ,it is        
customary for every society  having a   
permanent existence1 to adopt an order  
of business for its meetings4  ,when no 
rule has been adopted1 the following is 
the order3     7#a7 ,reading the        
,minutes of the previous meeting and    
their approval4   7#b7 ,reports of      
,standing ,committees4   7#c7 ,reports  
of ,select ,committees4   7#d7          
,unfinished ,business4   7#e7 ,new      
,business4    ,boards of ,managers1     
,trustees1 etc41 come under the head of 
standing  committees4 ,questions that   
have been postponed from a previous     
meeting1 come under the head of         
unfinished business2 and if a subject   
has been made a 8special order0 for the 
day1 it shall take precedence of  all   
business except reading the minutes4 ,if
 it is desired to transact  business out
 of its order1 it is necessary to       
suspend the rules  #ah1  which can only 
be done by a two-thirds vote2 but as    

each subject comes  up1 a majority can  
at once lay it on the table  #ai1 and   
thus reach  any question which they     
desire to first dispose of4    ,the     
order of business1 in considering any   
report or proposition  containing       
several paragraphs199 ,no vote should be
 taken on the adoption  of the several  
paragraphs1--one vote being taken       
finally on the  adoption of the whole   
paper4 ,by not adopting separately the  
different  paragraphs1 it is in order1  
after they have all been amended1 to go 
back  and amend any of them still       
further4 ,in committee a similar paper  
would  be treated the same way see  #cj4
 ,in  #dh 7b7 an illustration is  given 
of the practical application of this    
section4 is as follows3    ,the whole   
paper should be read entirely through by
 the clerk2 then the  ,chairman should  
read it by paragraphs1 pausing at the   
end of each1 and  asking1 8,are there   
any amendments proposed to this         
paragraph80 ,if none  are offered1 he   

says1 8,no amendments being offered to  
this paragraph1  the next will be read20
 he then reads the next1 and proceeds   
thus to the  last paragraph1 when he    
states that the whole report or         
resolutions have  been read1 and are    
open to amendment4 ,he finally puts the 
question on  agreeing to or adopting the
 whole paper as amended4 ,if there is a 
preamble it should be read after the    
last paragraph4    ,if the paper has    
been reported back by a committee with  
amendments1 the clerk  reads only the   
amendments1 and the ,chairman then reads
 the first and puts it to  the question1
 and so on till all the amendments are  
adopted or rejected1  admitting         
amendments to the committee's           
amendments1 but no others4 ,when through
  with the committee's amendments1 the  
,chairman pauses for any other          
amendments  to be proposed by the       
assembly2 and when these are voted on1  
he puts the  question on agreeing to or 
adopting the paper as amended4 ,where   

the resolutions  have been just read by 
the member presenting them1 the reading 
by the clerk is  usually dispensed with 
without the formality of a vote4 ,by    
8suspending the  rules0  #ah1 or by     
general consent1 a report can be at once
 adopted without  following any of the  
above routine4    #de4 ,amendments of   
,rules of ,order4 ,these rules can be   
amended at any regular meeting of the   
assembly1 by a two-thirds vote of the   
members present1 provided the amendment 
was submitted in writing at the         
previous regular meeting4 ,and no       
amendment to ,constitutions or ,by-,laws
 shall be  permitted1 without at least  
equal notice and a two-thirds vote499   
,constitutions1 ,by-,laws and ,rules of 
,order should always prohibit their     
being  amended by less than a two-thirds
 vote1 and without previous notice of   
the  amendment being given4 ,if the     
,by-,laws should contain rules that it  
may be  desirable to occasionally       
suspend1 then they should state how they

 can be  suspended1 just as is done in  
these ,rules of ,order1  #ah4 ,if there 
is no such  rule it is impossible to    
suspend any rule1 if a single member    
objects4          ,,part ,,ii4          
,,organization ,,and ,,conduct ,,of     
,,business499      ,the exact words used
 by the chairman or member1 are in many 
cases in  quotations4 ,it is not to be  
inferred that these are the only forms  
permitted1  but that these forms are    
proper and common4 ,they are inserted   
for the benefit  of those unaccustomed  
to parliamentary forms1 and are         
sufficiently numerous for  ordinary     
meetings4    ,art4 ,,ix4 ,organization  
and ,meetings4   #df-di4    #df4 ,an    
,occasional or ,mass ,meeting4 7a7      
,organization4 ,when a meeting is held  
which is not one of an organized        
society1  shortly after the time        
appointed for the meeting1 some member  
of the assembly  steps forward and says3
 8,the meeting will please come to      
order2 ,i move that ,mr4  ,a4 act as    

chairman of this meeting40 ,some one    
else says1 8,i second the motion40  ,the
 first member then puts the question to 
vote1 by saying1 8,it has been moved    
and seconded that ,mr4 ,a4 act as       
chairman of this meeting2 those in favor
 of the  motion will say aye10 and when 
the affirmative vote is taken1 he says1 
8those  opposed will say no40 ,if the   
majority vote in the affirmative1 he    
says1 8,the  motion is carried2 ,mr4 ,a4
 will take the chair40 ,if the motion is
 lost1 he  announces that fact1 and     
calls for the nomination of some one    
else for  chairman1 and proceeds with   
the new nomination as in the first      
case499  ,sometimes a member nominates a
 chairman and no vote is taken1 the     
assembly  signifying their approval by  
acclamation4 ,the member who calls the  
meeting to  order1 instead of making the
 motion himself1 may act as temporary   
chairman1 and  say3 8,the meeting will  
please come to order3 will some one     
nominate a  chairman80 ,he puts the     

question to vote on the nomination as   
described above4  ,in large assemblies1 
the member who nominates1 with one other
 member1  frequently conducts the       
presiding officer to the chair1 and the 
chairman makes  a short speech1 thanking
 the assembly for the honor conferred on
 him4    ,when ,mr4 ,a4 takes the chair1
 he says1 8,the first business in order 
is the  election of a secretary40 ,some 
one then makes a motion as just         
described1 or he  says 8,i nominate ,mr4
 ,b10 when the chairman puts the        
question as before4  ,sometimes several 
names are called out1 and the chairman1 
as he hears them1  says1 8,mr4 ,b4 is   
nominated2 ,mr4 ,c4 is nominated10 etc2 
he then takes a vote on  the first one  
he heard1 putting the question thus3    
8,as many as are in favor of  ,mr4 ,b4  
acting as secretary of this meeting1    
will say aye2--those opposed will  say  
no40 ,if the motion is lost the question
 is put on ,mr4 ,c41 and so on1 till    
some one is elected4 ,in large meetings 

the secretary takes his seat near the   
chairman3 he should in all cases keep a 
record of the proceedings as described  
in  #ea4    7b7 ,adoption of            
,resolutions4 ,these two officers are   
all  that are usually necessary for a   
meeting2 so1 when the secretary is      
elected1  the chairman asks1 8,what is  
the further pleasure of the meeting80   
,if the  meeting is merely a public     
assembly called together to consider    
some special  subject1 it is customary  
at this stage of the proceedings for    
some one to offer  a series of          
resolutions previously prepared1 or else
 to move the appointment of  a committee
 to prepare resolutions upon the        
subject4 ,in the first case he rises    
and says1 8,mr4 ,chairman20 the chairman
 responds1 8,mr4 ,c40 ,mr4 ,c41 having  
thus  obtained the floor1 then says1 8,i
 move the adoption of the following     
resolutions10 which he then reads and   
hands to the chairman299 ,the practice  
in  legislative bodies1 is to send to   

the clerk's desk all resolutions1 bills1
  etc41 the title of the bill and the   
name of the member introducing it1 being
  endorsed on each4 ,in such bodies1    
however1 there are several clerks and   
only  one chairman4 ,in many assemblies 
there is but one clerk or secretary1    
and1 as  he has to keep the minutes1    
there is no reason for his being        
constantly  interrupted to read every   
resolution offered4 ,in such assemblies1
 without there  is a rule or established
 custom to the contrary1 it is          
allowable1 and  frequently much better1 
to hand all resolutions1 reports1 etc41 
directly to the  chairman4 ,if they were
 read by the member introducing them1   
and no one calls  for another reading1  
the chairman can omit reading them when 
be thinks they are  fully understood4   
,in reference to the manner of reading  
and stating the  question1 when the     
resolution contains several paragraphs1 
see ,rules of ,order1   #dd4 some one   
else says1 8,i second the motion40 ,the 

chairman sometimes  directs the         
secretary to read the resolutions again1
 after which he says1 8,the  question is
 on the adoption of the resolutions just
 read10 and if no one rises             
immediately1 he adds1 8,are you ready   
for the question80 ,if no one then      
rises1  he says1 8,as many as are in    
favor of the adoption of the resolutions
 just read1  will say aye20 after the   
ayes have voted1 he says1 8,as many as  
are of a  contrary opinion will say no20
 he then announces the result of the    
vote as  follows3 8,the motion is       
carried--the resolutions are adopted10  
or1 8,the ayes  have it--the resolutions
 are adopted40    7c7 ,committee to     
draft ,resolutions4 ,if it is preferred 
to  appoint a committee to draft        
resolutions1 a member1 after he has     
addressed the  ,chair and been          
recognized1 says1 8,i move that a       
committee be appointed to draft         
resolutions expressive of the sense of  
this meeting on10 etc41 adding the      

subject for which the meeting was       
called4 ,this motion being seconded1 the
  ,chairman states the question  #fg and
 asks1 8,are you ready for the          
question80  ,if no one rises1 he puts   
the question1 announces the result1 and1
 if it is  carried1 he asks1 8,of how   
many shall the committee consist80 ,if  
only one number  is suggested1 he       
announces that the committee will       
consist of that number2 if  several     
numbers are suggested1 he states the    
different ones and then takes a  vote on
 each1 beginning with the largest1 until
 one number is selected4    ,he then    
inquires1 8,how shall the committee be  
appointed80 ,this is usually  decided   
without the formality of a vote4 ,the   
committee may be 8appointed0 by  the    
,chair--in which case the chairman names
 the committee and no vote is taken2  or
 the committee may be 8nominated0 by the
 ,chair1 or the members of the  assembly
 7no member naming more than one1 except
 by unanimous consent71 and  then the   

assembly vote on their appointment4     
,when the chairman nominates1 after     
stating the names he puts one question  
on the entire committee1 thus3 8,as many
  as are in favor of these gentlemen    
constituting the committee1 will say    
aye40  ,if nominations are made by      
members of the assembly1 and more names 
mentioned  than the number of the       
committee1 a separate vote should be    
taken on each name4  7,in a mass meeting
 it is safer to have all committees     
appointed by the  chairman47    ,when   
the committee are appointed they should 
at once retire and agree  upon a report1
 which should be written out as         
described in  #ec4 ,during  their       
absence other business may be attended  
to1 or the time may be  occupied with   
hearing addresses4 ,upon their return   
the chairman of the  committee 7who is  
the one first named on the committee1   
and who quite  commonly1 though not     
necessarily1 is the one who made the    
motion to  appoint the committee71      

avails himself of the first opportunity 
to  obtain the floor199 ,see ,rules of  
,order1  #b4 when he says1 8,the        
committee appointed to draft            
resolutions1 are prepared to report40   
,the  chairman tells him that the       
assembly will now hear the report1 which
 is  then read by the chairman of the   
committee1 and handed to the presiding  
officer1 upon which the committee is    
dissolved without any action of the     
assembly4    ,a member then moves the   
8adoption0 or 8acceptance0 of the       
report1 or that 8the  resolutions be    
agreed to10 which motions have the same 
effect if carried1  namely1 to make the 
resolutions the resolutions of the      
assembly just as if the  committee had  
had nothing to do with them499 ,a very  
common error is1 after a  report has    
been read1 to move that it be received2 
whereas1 the fact that it  has been     
read1 shows that it has been already    
received by the assembly4 ,another      
mistake1 less common but dangerous1 is  

to vote that the report be accepted     
which is equivalent to adopting it71    
when the intention is only to have the  
report up for consideration and         
afterwards move its adoption4    ,when  
one of these motions is made1 the       
chairman acts as stated above  when the 
resolutions were offered by a member4   
,if it is not desired to  immediately   
adopt the resolutions1 they can be      
debated1 modified1 their  consideration 
postponed1 etc41 as explained in        
#ee-fc4    ,when through with the       
business for which the assembly were    
convened1 or  when from any other cause 
it is desirable to close the meeting1   
some one  moves 8to adjourn20 if the    
motion is carried and no other time for 
meeting has been appointed1 the chairman
 says1 8,the motion is carried2  --this 
assembly stands adjourned without day40 
,another method by which  the meeting   
may be conducted is shown in  #dh4      
7d7 ,additional ,officers4 ,if more     
officers are required  than a chairman  

and secretary1 they can be appointed    
before introducing the  resolutions1 in 
the manner described for those officers2
 or the assembly can  first form a      
temporary organization in the manner    
already described1 only  adding 8pro    
tem40 to the title of the officers1     
thus3 8chairman pro tem40 ,in  this     
latter case1 as soon as the secretary   
pro tem4 is elected1 a committee is     
appointed to nominate the permanent     
officers1 as in the case of a convention
   #dg4 ,frequently the presiding       
officer is called the ,president1 and   
sometimes  there is a large number of   
,vice ,presidents appointed for mere    
complimentary  purposes4 ,the ,vice     
,presidents in large formal meetings1   
sit on the platform  beside the         
,president1 and in his absence1 or when 
he vacates the chair1 the  first on the 
list that is present should take the    
chair4    #dg4 ,meeting of a ,convention
 or ,assembly of ,delegates4 ,if  the   
members of the assembly have been       

elected or appointed as members1 it     
becomes necessary to know who are       
properly members of the assembly and    
entitled  to vote1 before the permanent 
organization is effected4 ,in this case 
a  temporary organization is made1 as   
already described1 by the election of a 
chairman and secretary 8pro tem410 when 
the chairman announces1 8,the next      
business in order is the appointment of 
a committee on credentials40 ,a motion  
may then be made covering the entire    
case1 thus3 8,i move that a committee of
  three on the credentials of members be
 appointed by the ,chair1 and that the  
committee report as soon as             
practicable20 or they may include only  
one of these  details1 thus3 8,i move   
that a committee be appointed on the    
credentials of  members40 ,in either    
case the ,chair proceeds as already     
described in the cases  of committees on
 resolutions  #df1 7c74    ,on the      
motion to accept the report of the      
committee1 none can vote  except those  

reported by the committee as having     
proper credentials4  ,the committee1    
beside reporting a list of members with 
proper  credentials1 may report doubtful
 or contested cases1 with               
recommendations1 which the assembly may 
adopt1 or reject1 or postpone1  etc4    
,only members whose right to their seats
 is undisputed1 can vote4    ,the       
chairman1 after the question of         
credentials is disposed of1 at least for
  the time1 announces that 8,the next   
business in order is the election of    
permanent officers of the assembly40    
,some one then moves the appointment of 
a  committee to nominate the officers1  
in a form similar to this3 8,i move that
 a  committee of three be appointed by  
the ,chair to nominate the permanent    
officers  of this convention40 ,this    
motion is treated as already explained4 
,when the  committee make their report1 
some one moves 8,that the report of the 
committee  be accepted and that the     
officers nominated be declared the      

officers of this  convention4099 ,where 
there is any competition for the        
offices1 it is better  that they be     
elected by ballot4 ,in this case1 when  
the nominating committee  report1 a     
motion can be made as follows3 8,i move 
that the convention now  proceed to     
ballot for its permanent officers20 or  
8,i move that we now proceed  to the    
election1 by ballot1 of the permanent   
officers of this convention40 ,see      
,rules of ,order1  #ch1 for balloting1  
and other methods of voting4 ,the       
constitutions of permanent societies    
usually provide that the officers shall 
be  elected by ballot4 ,this motion     
being carried1 the chairman declares the
  officers elected1 and instantly calls 
the new presiding officer to the chair1 
and the temporary secretary is at the   
same time replaced4 ,the convention is  
now  organized for work4    #dh4 ,a     
,permanent ,society4 7a7 ,first         
,meeting4 ,when it is desired to form a 
permanent society1 those interested in  

it  should see that only the proper     
persons are invited to be present1 at a 
certain  time and place4 ,it is not     
usual in mass meetings1 or meetings     
called to  organize a society1 to       
commence until fifteen or thirty minutes
 after the  appointed time1 when some   
one steps forward and says1 8,the       
meeting will please  come to order2 ,i  
move that ,mr4 ,a4 act as chairman of   
this meeting20 some one  8seconds the   
motion10 when the one who made the      
motion puts it to vote 7or1 as  it is   
called1 8puts the question071 as already
 described1 under an 8occasional        
meeting0  #df1 7a72 and1 as in that     
case1 when the chairman is elected1 he  
announces as the first business in order
 the election of a secretary4    ,after 
the secretary is elected1 the chairman  
calls on some member who is  most       
interested in getting up the society1 to
 state the object of the  meeting4 ,when
 this member rises he says1 8,mr4       
,chairman20 the chairman  then announces

 his name1 when the member proceeds to  
state the object of  the meeting4       
,having finished his remarks1 the       
chairman may call on  other members to  
give their opinions upon the subject1   
and sometimes a  particular speaker is  
called out by members who wish to hear  
him4 ,the  chairman should observe the  
wishes of the assembly1 and while being 
careful not to be too strict1 he must   
not permit any one to occupy too  much  
time and weary the meeting4    ,when a  
sufficient time has been spent in this  
informal way1 some one should  offer a  
resolution1 so that definite action can 
be taken4 ,those interested in  getting 
up the meeting1 if it is to be a large  
one1 should have previously  agreed upon
 what is to be done1 and be prepared at 
the proper time to offer a  suitable    
resolution1 which may be in a form      
similar to this3 8,resolved1 ,that it   
is the sense of this meeting that a     
society for state the object of the     
society should now be formed in this    

city40 ,this resolution1 when seconded1 
and stated by the chairman1 would be    
open to debate and be treated as already
  described  #df1 7b74 ,this preliminary
 motion could have been offered at the  
commencement of the meeting1 and if the 
meeting is a very large one1 this would 
probably be better than to have the     
informal discussion4    ,after this     
preliminary motion has been voted on1 or
 even without waiting  for such motion1 
one like this can be offered3 8,i move  
that a committee  of five be appointed  
by the ,chair1 to draft a ,constitution 
and ,by-,laws  for a society for here   
state the object1 and that they report  
at an  adjourned meeting of this        
assembly40 ,this motion can be amended  
#ef  by striking out and adding words1  
etc41 and it is debatable4    ,when this
 committee is appointed1 the chairman   
may inquire1 8,is there  any other      
business to be attended to80 or1 8,what 
is the further pleasure  of the         
meeting80 ,when all business is         

finished1 a motion can be made to       
adjourn to meet at a certain place and  
time1 which1 when seconded1 and  stated 
by the ,chair1 is open to debate and    
amendment4 ,it is usually  better to fix
 the time of the next meeting see  #fc  
at an earlier  stage of the meeting1 and
 then1 when it is desired to close the  
meeting1  move simply 8to adjourn10     
which cannot be amended or debated4     
,when this  motion is carried1 the      
chairman says1 8,this meeting stands    
adjourned to  meet at10 etc41 specifying
 the time and place of the next meeting4
    7b7 ,second ,meeting499 ,ordinary   
meetings of a society are  conducted    
like this second meeting1 the chairman1 
however1 announcing the  business in the
 order prescribed by the rules of the   
society  #gb4 ,for  example1 after the  
minutes are read and approved1 he would 
say1 8,the next  business in order is   
hearing reports from the standing       
committees40 ,he may then  call upon    
each committee in their order1 for a    

report1 thus3 8,has the committee  on   
applications for membership any report  
to make80 ,in which case the committee  
may report1 as shown above1 or some     
member of it reply that they have no    
report  to make4 ,or1 when the chairman 
knows that there are but few if any     
reports to  make1 it is better1 after   
making the announcement of the business1
 for him to  ask1 8,have these          
committees any reports to make80 ,after 
a short pause1 if no  one rises to      
report1 he states1 8,there being no     
reports from the standing  committees1  
the next business in order is hearing   
the reports of select  committees10 when
 he will act the same as in the case of 
the standing  committees4 ,the chairman 
should always have a list of the        
committees1 to enable  him to call upon 
them1 as well as to guide him in the    
appointment of new  committees4 ,at the 
next meeting the officers of the        
previous meeting1 if  present1 serve    
until the permanent officers are        

elected4 ,when the hour arrives  for the
 meeting1 the chairman standing1 says1  
8,the meeting will please come to       
order30 as soon as the assembly is      
seated1 he adds1 8,the secretary will   
read  the minutes of the last meeting40 
,if any one notices an error in the     
minutes1  he can state the fact as soon 
as the secretary finishes reading them2 
if there  is no objection1 without      
waiting for a motion1 the chairman      
directs the  secretary to make the      
correction4 ,the chairman then says1    
8,if there is no  objection the minutes 
will stand approved as read0 or         
8corrected10 if any  corrections have   
been made4    ,he announces as the next 
business in order1 8the hearing of the  
report of the  committee on the         
,constitution and ,by-,laws40 ,the      
chairman of the committee1  after       
addressing 8,mr4 ,chairman0 and being   
recognized1 reads the committee's       
report and then hands it to the         
chairman499 ,in large and formal bodies 

the  chairman1 before inquiring what is 
to be done with the report1 usually     
directs  the secretary to read it again4
 ,see note to  #df 7c71 for a few common
 errors  in acting upon reports of      
committees4 ,see also note to  #df 7b74 
,if no  motion is made1 the chairman    
says1 8,you have heard the report       
read--what order  shall be taken upon   
it80 ,or simply inquires1 8,what shall  
be done with the  report80 ,some one    
moves its adoption1 or still better1    
moves 8the adoption of  the             
,constitution reported by the           
committee10 and when seconded1 the      
chairman  says1 8,the question is on the
 adoption of the ,constitution reported 
by the  committee40 ,he then reads the  
first article of the ,constitution1 and 
asks1 8,are  there any amendments       
proposed to this article80 ,if none are 
offered1 after a  pause1 he reads the   
next article and asks the same question1
 and proceeds thus  until he reads the  
last article1 when he says1 8,the whole 

,constitution having  been read1 it is  
open to amendment40 ,now any one can    
move amendments to any  part of the     
,constitution4    ,when the chairman    
thinks it has been modified to suit the 
wishes of the  assembly1 he inquires1   
8,are you ready for the question80 ,if  
no one wishes to  speak1 he puts the    
question1 8,as many as are in favor of  
adopting the  ,constitution as amended1 
will say aye20 and then1 8,as many as   
are opposed1 will  say no40 ,he         
distinctly announces the result of the  
vote1 which should always be  done4 ,if 
the articles of the ,constitution are   
subdivided into sections or  paragraphs1
 then the amendments should be made by  
sections or paragraphs1  instead of by  
articles4    ,the chairman now states   
that the ,constitution having been      
adopted1 it  will be necessary for those
 wishing to become members to sign it   
7and  pay the initiation fee1 if        
required by the ,constitution71 and     
suggests1  if the assembly is a large   

one1 that a recess be taken for the     
purpose4  ,a motion is then made to take
 a recess for say ten minutes1 or until 
the  ,constitution is signed4 ,the      
constitution being signed1 no one is    
permitted to vote excepting those who   
have signed it4    ,the recess having   
expired1 the chairman calls the meeting 
to order and says1  8,the next business 
in order is the adoption of ,by-,laws40 
,some one moves the  adoption of the    
,by-,laws reported by the committee1 and
 they are treated just  like the        
,constitution4 ,the chairman then asks1 
8,what is the further pleasure of  the  
meeting80 or states that the next       
business in order is the election of the
  permanent officers of the society4 ,in
 either case some one moves the         
appointment of a committee to nominate  
the permanent officers of the society1  
which motion is treated as already      
described in  #dg4 ,as each officer is  
elected he replaces the temporary one1  
and when they are all elected the       

organization is completed4    ,if the   
society is one that expects to own real 
estate1 it should be  incorporated      
according to the laws of the state in   
which it is situated1  and for this     
purpose1 some one on the committee on   
the ,constitution  should consult a     
lawyer before this second meeting1 so   
that the laws may  be conformed to4 ,in 
this case the trustees are usually      
instructed to  take the proper measures 
to have the society incorporated4       
#di4 ,constitutions1 ,by-,laws1 ,rules  
of ,order and ,standing  ,rules4 ,in    
forming a ,constitution and ,by-,laws1  
it is always best to procure  copies of 
those adopted by several similar        
societies1 and for the committee1  after
 comparing them1 to select one as the   
basis of their own1 amending each       
article just as their own report is     
amended by the ,society4 ,when they have
  completed amending the ,constitution1 
it is adopted by the committee4 ,the    
,by-,laws are treated in the same way1  

and then1 having finished the work      
assigned them1 some one moves1 8,that   
the committee rise1 and that the        
chairman  7or some other member7 report 
the ,constitution and ,by-,laws to the  
assembly40 ,if  this is adopted1 the    
,constitution and ,by-,laws are written 
out1 and a brief  report made of this   
form3 8,your committee1 appointed to    
draft a ,constitution  and ,by-,laws1   
would respectfully submit the following1
 with the recommendation  that they be  
adopted as the ,constitution and        
,by-,laws of this society20 which is    
signed by all the members of the        
committee that concur in it4 ,sometimes 
the  report is only signed by the       
chairman of the committee4    ,in the   
organization just given1 it is assumed  
that both a ,constitution  and ,by-,laws
 are adopted4 ,this is not always done2 
some societies adopt  only a            
,constitution1 and others only          
,by-,laws4 ,where both are adopted1  the
 constitution usually contains only the 

following3    7#a7 ,name and object of  
the society4  7#b7 ,qualification of    
members4  7#c7 ,officers1 their election
 and duties4  7#d7 ,meetings of the     
society 7only including what is         
essential1 leaving details to the       
,by-,laws74  7#e7 ,how to amend the     
,constitution4    ,these can be arranged
 in five articles1 each article being   
subdivided into  sections4 ,the         
,constitution containing nothing but    
what is fundamental1 it  should be made 
very difficult to amend2 usually        
previous notice of the  amendment is    
required1 and also a two-thirds or      
three-fourths vote for its  adoption    
#gc4 ,it is better not to require a     
larger vote than two-thirds1  and1 where
 the meetings are frequent1 an amendment
 should not be allowed to be  made      
except at a quarterly or annual meeting1
 after having been proposed at the      
previous quarterly meeting4    ,the     
,by-,laws contain all the other standing
 rules of the society1 of such          

importance that they should be placed   
out of the power of any one  meeting to 
modify2 or they may omit the rules      
relating to the conduct of  business in 
the meetings1 which would then          
constitute the ,rules of ,order  of the 
society4 ,every society1 in its         
,by-,laws or ,rules of ,order1 should   
adopt a rule like this3 8,the rules     
contained in--7specifying the work  on  
parliamentary practice7 shall govern the
 society in all cases to  which they are
 applicable1 and in which they are not  
inconsistent with  the ,rules of ,order 
7or ,by-,laws7 adopted by the society40 
,without such a  rule1 any one so       
disposed1 could cause great trouble in a
 meeting4    ,in addition to the        
,constitution1 ,by-,laws and ,rules of  
,order1 in nearly  every society        
resolutions of a permanent nature are   
occasionally  adopted1 which are binding
 on the society until they are rescinded
 or  modified4 ,these are called        
,standing ,rules1 and can be adopted by 

a  majority vote at any meeting4 ,after 
they have been adopted1 they cannot  be 
modified at the same session except by a
 reconsideration  #fj4 ,at  any future  
session they can be suspended1 modified 
or rescinded by a  majority vote4 ,the  
,standing ,rules1 then1 comprise those  
rules of a  society which have been     
adopted like ordinary resolutions1      
without the  previous notice1 etc41     
required for ,by-,laws1 and             
consequently1 future  sessions of the   
society are at liberty to terminate them
 whenever they  please4 ,no ,standing   
,rule 7or other resolution7 can be      
adopted which  conflicts with the       
,constitution1 ,by-,laws or ,rules of   
,order499 ,in  practice these various   
classes of rules are frequently very    
much mixed4  ,the ,standing ,rules of   
some societies are really ,by-,laws1 as 
the society  cannot suspend them1 nor   
can they be amended until previous      
notice is  given4 ,this produces        
confusion without any corresponding     

benefit4  ,standing ,rules should       
contain only such rules as are subject  
to the will  of the majority of any     
meeting1 and which it may be expedient  
to change  at any time1 without the     
delay incident to giving previous       
notice4  ,rules of ,order should contain
 only the rules relating to the orderly 
transaction of the business in the      
meetings of the society4 ,the ,by-,laws 
should contain all the other rules of   
the society which are of too great      
importance to be changed without giving 
notice to the society of such  change2  
provided that the most important of     
these can be placed in a  ,constitution 
instead of in the ,by-,laws4 ,these     
latter three should  provide for their  
amendment4 ,the ,rules of ,order should 
provide for  their suspension4 ,the     
,by-,laws sometimes provide for the     
suspension of  certain articles4 ,none  
of these three can be suspended without 
it is  expressly provided for4    ,art4 
,x4 ,officers and ,committees4    #ej4  

,chairman or ,president4 ,it is the duty
 of the chairman  to call the meeting to
 order at the appointed time1 to preside
 at all the  meetings1 to announce the  
business before the assembly in its     
proper order1 to  state and put all     
questions properly brought before the   
assembly1 to preserve  order and        
decorum1 and to decide all questions of 
order 7subject to an appeal74  ,when he 
8puts a question0 to vote1 and when     
speaking upon an appeal1 he should      
stand299 ,in meetings of boards of      
managers1 committees and other small    
bodies1  the chairman usually retains   
his seat1 and even members in speaking  
do not  rise4 in all other cases he can 
sit4 ,in all cases where his vote would 
affect  the result1 or where the vote is
 by ballot1 he can vote4 ,when a member 
rises to  speak1 he should say1 8,mr4   
,chairman10 and the chairman should     
reply1 8,mr4 ,a20  he should not        
interrupt a speaker as long as he is in 
order1 but should listen  to his speech1

 which should be addressed to him and   
not to the assembly4 ,the  chairman     
should be careful to abstain from the   
appearance of partizanship1 but  he has 
the right to call another member to the 
chair while he addresses the  assembly  
on a question2 when speaking to a       
question of order he does not leave  the
 chair4    #ea4 ,the ,clerk1 ,secretary 
or ,recording ,secretary1 as he is      
variously called1 should keep a record  
of the proceedings1 the character of    
which depends upon the kind of meeting4 
,in an occasional or mass meeting1 the  
record usually amounts to nothing1 but  
he should always record every resolution
  or motion that is adopted4    ,in a   
convention it is often desirable to keep
 a full record for publication1  and    
where it lasts for several days1 it is  
usual1 and generally best1 to  appoint  
one or more assistant clerks4           
,frequently it is a tax on the judgment 
of  the clerk to decide what to enter on
 the record1 or the 8,minutes10 as it is

  usually called4 ,sometimes the points 
of each speech should be entered1 and at
  other times only the remark that the  
question was discussed by ,messrs4 ,a41 
,b4  and ,c4 in the affirmative1 and    
,messrs4 ,d41 ,e4 and ,f4 in the        
negative4 ,every  resolution that is    
adopted should be entered1 which can be 
done in this form3  8,on motion of ,mr4 
,d4 it was resolved that1 c40           
,sometimes a convention does its work by
 having certain topics previously       
assigned to certain speakers1 who       
deliver formal addresses or essays1  the
 subjects of which are afterwards open  
for discussion in short  speeches1 of   
five minutes1 for instance4 ,in such    
cases the minutes are  very brief1      
without they are to be published1 when  
they should contain  either the entire  
addresses or carefully prepared         
abstracts of them1 and  should show the 
drift of the discussion that followed   
each one4 ,in  permanent societies1     
where the minutes are not published1    

they consist  of a record of what was   
done and not what was said1 and should  
be kept  in a book4    ,the ,form of the
 ,minutes can be as follows3    8,at a  
regular meeting of the ,m4 ,l4 ,society1
 held in their hall1 on ,tuesday        
evening1 ,march #af1 #ahge1 ,mr4 ,a4 in 
the chair and ,mr4 ,b4 acting as        
secretary1  the minutes of the previous 
meeting were read and approved4 ,the    
committee on  ,applications reported the
 names of ,messrs4 ,c4 and ,d4 as       
applicants for  membership2 and on      
motion of ,mr4 ,f4 they were admitted as
 members4 ,the  committee on ----       
reported a series of resolutions1 which 
were thoroughly  discussed and amended1 
and finally adopted as follows3         
8,resolved1 ,that 99 99 99 99 99 99 99  
99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 990    ,on      
motion of ,mr4 ,l4 the society          
adjourned4  ,l- ,b-1 ,secretary4    ,if 
the proceedings are to be published1 the
 secretary should always  examine the   
published proceedings of similar        

meetings1 so as to conform  to the      
custom1 excepting where it is manifestly
 improper4    ,the ,constitution1       
,by-,laws1 ,rules of ,order and         
,standing ,rules should all  be written 
in one book1 leaving every other page   
blank2 and whenever an  amendment is    
made to any of them1 it should be       
immediately entered on  the page        
opposite to the article amended1 with a 
reference to the date  and page of the  
minutes where is recorded the action of 
the society4    ,the secretary has the  
custody of all papers belonging to the  
society1 not  specially under charge of 
any other officer4 ,sometimes his duties
 are also of a  financial kind1 when he 
should make such reports as are         
prescribed in the next  section4    #eb4
 ,treasurer4 ,the duties of this officer
 vary in different  societies4 ,in      
probably the majority of cases he acts  
as a banker1 merely  holding the funds  
deposited with him1 and paying them out 
on the order of the  society signed by  

the secretary4 ,his annual report1 which
 is always required1  in this case      
consists of merely a statement of the   
amount on hand at the  commencement of  
the year1 the amount received during the
 year 7stating from  what source        
received71 the total amount paid out by 
order of the society1 and  the balance  
on hand4 ,when this report is presented 
it is referred to an  8auditing         
committee10 consisting of one or two    
persons1 who examine the  treasurer's   
books and vouchers1 and certify on his  
report that they 8have  examined his    
accounts and vouchers and find them     
correct1 and the balance on  hand is10  
etc41 stating the amount on hand4 ,the  
auditing committee's report  being      
accepted is equivalent to a resolution  
of the society to the same effect1      
namely1 that the treasurer's report is  
correct4    ,in the case here supposed1 
the real financial statement is made    
either by the  board of trustees1 or by 
the secretary or some other officer1    

according to the  ,constitution of the  
society4 ,the principles involved1 are1 
that every officer  who receives money  
is to account for it in a report to the 
society1 and that  whatever officer is  
responsible for the disbursements1 shall
 report them to the  society4 ,if the   
secretary1 as in many societies1 is     
really responsible for the  expenses1   
the treasurer merely paying upon his    
order1 then the secretary should  make a
 full report of these expenses1 so      
classified as to enable the society to  
readily see the amounts expended for    
various purposes4    ,it should always  
be remembered that the financial report 
is made for the  information of members4
 ,the details of dates and separate     
payments for  the same object1 are a    
hinderance to its being understood1 and 
are  useless1 as it is the duty of the  
auditing committee to examine into the  
details and see if the report is        
correct4    ,every disbursing officer   
should be careful to get a receipt      

whenever he makes a  payment2 these     
receipts should be preserved in regular 
order1 as they are the  vouchers for the
 payments1 which must be examined by the
 auditing committee4  ,disbursing       
officers cannot be too careful in       
keeping their accounts1 and they  should
 insist upon having their accounts      
audited every time they make a report1  
as by this means any error is quickly   
detected and may be corrected4 ,when the
  society has accepted the auditing     
committee's report that the financial   
report  is correct1 the disbursing      
officer is relieved from the            
responsibility of the  past1 and if his 
vouchers were lost afterwards1 it would 
cause no trouble4 ,the  best form for   
these financial reports depends upon the
 kind of society1 and is  best          
determined by examining those made in   
similar societies4    ,the following    
form can be varied to suit most cases3  
7when the  statement of receipts and    
expenses is very long1 it is often      

desirable  to specify the amounts       
received from one or two particular     
sources1  which can be done immediately 
after stating the total receipts2 the   
same  course can be taken in regard to  
the expenditures73    ,treasurer's      
,report4    ,the undersigned1 ,treasurer
 of the ,m4 ,l4 ,society1 begs leave to 
submit  the following annual report3    
,the balance on hand at the commencement
 of the year was ---- dollars and ----  
cents4 ,there was received from all     
sources during the year1 ---- dollars   
and ----  cents2 during the same time   
the expenses amounted to ---- dollars   
and ---- cents1  leaving a balance on   
hand of ---- dollars and ---- cents4    
,the annexed statement of  receipts and 
expenditures will show in detail the    
sources from which the  receipts were   
obtained1 and the objects to which the  
expenditures have been  applied4 ,all of
 which is respectfully submitted4       
,s-- ,m--1 ,treasurer ,m4 ,l4 ,s4       
,the 8,statement of receipts and        

expenditures0 can be made1 by simply    
giving a list of receipts1 followed by a
 list of expenses1 and finishing  up    
with the balance on hand4 ,the auditing 
committee's certificate to  the         
correctness of the account should be    
written on the statement4  ,often the   
statement is made out in the form of an 
account1 as follows3    ,dr4 ,the ,m4   
,l4 ,s4 in acct4 with ,s4 ,m41 ,treas4  
,cr4                                    
----------------------------------------
-------------------------------  #ahgd4 
#ahgd4    ,dec4 #ca4 ,to rent of hall 44
 #ejj #jj ,jan4 #a4 ,by balance on hand 
0 ,gas '''''''''44  #hj #jj     from    
last year's           0 ,stationery '''4
  #bf #ej     account '''''''''4  #ba   
#ac           0 ,janitor ''''''4 #cfj   
#jj ,dec4 #ca4 ,by initiation fees  #ie 
#jj           0 ,balance on hand  #bd   
#fc     0 members' dues 44 #hge #jj     
-------               -------           
#iia #ac               #iia #ac    ,we  
do hereby certify that we have examined 

the accounts and vouchers of  the       
treasurer1 and find them correct2 and   
that the balance in his hands  is       
twenty-four dollars and sixty-three     
cents4 ,r4 ,v41 ,j4 ,l41 ,audit ,comm4  
#ec4 ,committees4 ,in small assemblies1 
especially in those  where but little   
business is done1 there is not much need
 of committees4 ,but in  large          
assemblies1 or in those doing a great   
deal of business1 committees are of  the
 utmost importance4 ,when a committee is
 properly selected1 in nine cases out   
of ten its action decides that of the   
assembly4 ,a committee for action should
  be small and consist only of those    
heartily in favor of the proposed       
action4 ,a  committee for deliberation  
or investigation1 on the contrary1      
should be larger  and represent all     
parties in the assembly1 so that its    
opinion will carry with  it as great    
weight as possible4 ,the usefulness of  
the committee will be greatly  impaired1
 if any important faction of the        

assembly be unrepresented on the        
committee4 ,the appointment of a        
committee is fully explained in  #df    
7c74    ,the first member named on a    
committee is their chairman1 and it is  
his duty to  call together the          
committee1 and preside at their         
meetings4 ,if he is absent1 or  from any
 cause fails or declines to call a      
meeting1 it is the duty of the          
committee to assemble on the call of any
 two of their members4 ,the committee   
are a miniature assembly1 only being    
able to act when a quorum is present4   
,if a  paper is referred to them they   
must not deface it in any way1 but write
 their  amendments on a separate sheet4 
,if they originate the paper1 all       
amendments  must be incorporated in it4 
,when they originate the paper1 usually 
one member  has previously prepared a   
draft1 which is read entirely through1  
and then read  by paragraphs1 the       
chairman pausing after each paragraph   
and asking1 8,are there  any amendments 

proposed to this paragraph80 ,no vote is
 taken on the adoption of  the separate 
paragraphs1 but after the whole paper   
has been read in this way1  it is open  
to amendment1 generally1 by striking out
 any paragraph or inserting  new ones1  
or by substituting an entirely new paper
 for it4 ,when it has been  amended to  
suit the committee1 they should adopt it
 as their report1 and direct  the       
chairman or some other member to report 
it to the assembly4 ,it is then  written
 out1 usually commencing in a style     
similar to this3 8,the committee to     
which was referred state the matter     
referred1 beg leave to submit the       
following report20 or1 8,your committee 
appointed to specify the object1 would  
respectfully report10 etc4 ,it usually  
closes thus3 8,all of which is          
respectfully submitted10 followed by the
 signatures of all the members          
concurring in the report1 or sometimes  
by only that of the chairman4    ,if the
 minority submit a report1 it commences 

thus3 8,the undersigned1 a  minority of 
the committee appointed10 etc41         
continuing as the regular  report of the
 committee4 ,after the committee's      
report has been read1 it  is usual to   
allow the minority to present their     
report1 but it cannot be  acted upon    
except by a motion to substitute it for 
the report of the  committee4 ,when the 
committee's report is read1 they are    
discharged  without any motion4 ,a      
motion to refer the paper back to the   
same  committee 7or to re-commit71 if   
adopted1 revives the committee4    ,art4
 ,,xi4 ,introduction of ,business4      
#ed4 ,any member wishing to bring       
business before the  assembly1 should1  
without it is very simple1 write down in
 the form of a  motion1 what he would   
like to have the assembly adopt1 thus3  
,resolved1 ,that the thanks of this     
convention be tendered to the citizens  
of this community for their hearty      
welcome and generous hospitality4       
,when there is no other business before 

the assembly1 he rises and addresses the
  chairman by his title1 thus3 8,mr4    
,chairman10 who immediately recognizes  
him by  announcing his name499 ,if the  
chairman has any special title1 as      
,president1 for  instance1 he should be 
addressed by it1 thus3 8,mr4            
,president40 ,sometimes the  chairman   
recognizes the speaker by merely bowing 
to him1 but the proper course  is to    
announce his name4 ,he1 then having the 
floor1 says that he 8moves the  adoption
 of the following resolution10 which he 
reads and hands to the  chairman49999   
,or1 when he is recognized by the chair1
 he may say that he wishes  to offer the
 following resolutions1 which he reads  
and then moves their  adoption4 ,some   
one else seconds the motion1 and the    
chairman says1 8,it has  been moved and 
seconded that the following resolution  
be adopted10 when he  reads the         
resolution2 or he may read the          
resolution and then state the question  
thus3 8,the question is on the adoption 

of the resolution just read40 ,the      
merits  of the resolution are then open 
to discussion1 but before any member can
  discuss the question or make any      
motion1 he must first obtain the floor  
as just  described4 ,after the chairman 
states the question1 if no one rises to 
speak1 or  when he thinks the debate    
closed1 he asks1 8,are you ready for the
 question80 ,if  no one then rises1 he  
puts the question in a form similar to  
the following3  8,the question is on the
 adoption of the resolution which you   
have heard2 as  many as are in favor of 
its adoption will say aye40 ,when the   
ayes have voted1  he says1 8,as many as 
are of a contrary opinion will say      
no4099 ,there are many  other ways of   
putting a question2 see  #fg1 and ,rules
 of ,order1  #ch4 ,other  illustrations 
of the ordinary practice in introducing 
business will be seen in   #df-dh4 ,he  
then announces the result1 stating that 
the motion is carried1 or  lost1 as the 
case may be1 in the following form3     

8,the motion is carried--the  resolution
 is adopted20 or1 8,the ayes have       
it--the resolution is adopted40 ,a      
majority of the votes cast is sufficient
 for the adoption of any motion1        
excepting those mentioned in  #fh4      
,art4 ,,xii4 ,motions4    #ee4 ,motions 
,classified ,according to their ,object4
 ,instead  of immediately adopting or   
rejecting a resolution as originally    
submitted1 it  may be desirable to      
dispose of it in some other way1 and for
 this purpose  various motions have come
 into use1 which can be made while a    
resolution is  being considered1 and for
 the time being1 supersede it4 ,no one  
can make any of  these motions while    
another member has the floor1 excepting 
as shown in  #fd1  which see for the    
circumstances under which each motion   
can be made4    ,the following list     
comprises most of these motions1        
arranged in eight  classes1 according to
 the object for which each motion is    
used4 ,the  names of the motions are    

printed in ,italics2 each class is      
treated  separately1 as shown by the    
references4    ,motions ,classified4    
7#a7 ,to ,amend or ,modify              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#ef      7a7 ,amend4      7b7 ,commit4  
7#b7 ,to ,defer action                  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''  #eg      7a7 ,postpone to a certain 
time4      7b7 ,lie on the ,table4      
7#c7 ,to ,suppress ,debate              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#eh      7a7 ,previous ,question4       
7b7 ,an ,order limiting or closing      
,debate4    7#d7 ,to ,suppress the      
question                                
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''  #ei  
7a7 ,objection to its ,consideration4   
7b7 ,postpone ,indefinitely4      7c7   
,lie on the ,table4    7#e7 ,to         
,consider a question the second time    
''''''''''''''''''4  #fj      7a7       
,reconsider4    7#f7 ,order and ,rules  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''  #fa      7a7 ,orders of the day4    

7b7 ,special ,orders4      7c7          
,suspension of the ,rules4      7d7     
,questions of ,order4      7e7 ,appeal4 
7#g7 ,miscellaneous                     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44  #fb      7a7 ,reading of ,papers4 
7b7 ,withdrawal of a ,motion4      7c7  
,questions of ,privilege4    7#h7 ,to   
close a meeting                         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#fc      7a7 ,fix the time to which to  
,adjourn4      7b7 ,adjourn4    #ef4 ,to
 ,amend or ,modify4 7a7 ,amend4 ,if  it 
is desired to modify the question in any
 way1 the proper motion to make is  to  
8amend10 either by 8adding0 words1 or by
 8striking out0 words2 or by  8striking 
out certain words and inserting others20
 or by 8substituting0 a  different      
motion on the same subject for the one  
before the assembly2 or by  8dividing   
the question0 into two or more          
questions1 as the mover specifies1 so   
as to get a separate vote on any        
particular point or points4 ,sometimes  

the  enemies of a measure seek to amend 
it in such a way as to divide its       
friends1  and thus defeat it4    ,when  
the amendment has been moved and        
seconded1 the chairman should always    
state the question distinctly1 so that  
every one may know exactly what is      
before them1 reading first the paragraph
 which it is proposed to amend2 then    
the words to be struck out1 if there are
 any2 next1 the words to be inserted1   
if any2 and finally1 the paragraph as it
 will stand if the amendment is         
adopted4 ,he then states that the       
question is on the adoption of the      
amendment1  which is open to debate1 the
 remarks being confined to the merits of
 the  amendment1 only going into the    
main question so far as is necessary in 
order to  ascertain the propriety of    
adopting the amendment4    ,this        
amendment can be amended1 but an        
8amendment of an amendment0 cannot  be  
amended4 ,none of the undebatable       
motions mentioned in  #ff1 except  to   

fix the time to which to adjourn1 can be
 amended1 nor can the motion  to        
postpone indefinitely4    7b7 ,commit4  
,if the original question is not well   
digested1  or needs more amendment than 
can well be made in the assembly1 it is 
usual to  move 8to refer it to a        
committee40 ,this motion can be made    
while an amendment  is pending1 and it  
opens the whole merits of the question  
to debate4 ,this  motion can be amended 
by specifying the number of the         
committee1 or how they  shall be        
appointed1 or when they shall report1 or
 by giving them any other  instructions4
 ,see  #ec on committees1 and  #df 7c7  
on their appointment4    #eg4 ,to ,defer
 ,action4 7a7 ,postpone to a  certain   
time4 ,if it is desired to defer action 
upon a question till a  particular time1
 the proper motion to make1 is to       
8postpone it to that time40  ,this      
motion allows of but limited debate1    
which must be confined to the  propriety
 of the postponement to that time2 it   

can be amended by altering the  time1   
and this amendment allows of the same   
debate4 ,the time specified must not  be
 beyond that session  #gj of the        
assembly1 except it be the next session1
  in which case it comes up with the    
unfinished business at the next session4
  ,this motion can be made when a motion
 to amend1 or to commit or to postpone  
indefinitely1 is pending4    7b7 ,lie on
 the table4 ,instead of postponing a    
question to  a particular time1 it may  
be desired to lay it aside temporarily  
until some  other question is disposed  
of1 retaining the privilege of resuming 
its  consideration at any time499 ,in   
,congress this motion is commonly used  
to defeat  a measure1 though it does not
 prevent a majority from taking it at   
any other  time4 ,some societies        
prohibit a question from being taken    
from the table1  except by a two-thirds 
vote4 ,this rule deprives the society of
 the advantages  of the motion to 8lie  
on the table40 because it would not be  

safe to lay a  question aside           
temporarily1 if one-third of the        
assembly were opposed to the  measure1  
as that one-third could prevent its ever
 being taken from the table4 ,a  bare   
majority should not have the power1 in  
ordinary societies1 to adopt or  reject 
a question1 or prevent its              
consideration1 without debate4 ,see note
 at  end of  #ce1 ,rules of ,order1 on  
the principles involved in making       
questions  undebatable4 ,the only way to
 accomplish this1 is to move that the   
question  8lie on the table40 ,this     
motion allowing of neither debate nor   
amendment1 the  chairman immediately    
puts the question2 if carried1 the whole
 matter is laid  aside until the        
assembly vote to 8take it from the      
table0 7which latter motion  is         
undebatable and possesses no privilege74
 ,sometimes this motion is used to      
suppress a measure1 as shown in  #ei    
7c74    #eh4 ,to ,suppress ,debate4 7a7 
,previous  ,question4 ,while as a       

general rule free debate is allowed upon
 every motion199  ,except an 8objection 
to the consideration of the question0   
#ei 7a74 ,see  note to  #ce1 ,rules of  
,order1 for a full discussion of this   
subject of debate4  which1 if adopted1  
has the effect of adopting the original 
question or removing  it from before the
 assembly for the session1--yet1 to     
prevent a minority from  making an      
improper use of this privilege1 it is   
necessary to have methods by  which     
debate can be closed1 and final action  
at once be taken upon a question4    ,to
 accomplish this1 when any debatable    
question is before the assembly1 it is  
only necessary for some one to obtain   
the floor and 8call for the previous    
question20 this call being seconded1 the
 chairman1 as it allows of no debate1   
instantly puts the question1 thus3      
8,shall the main question be now put80  
,if  this is carried by a two-thirds    
vote  #fh1 all debate instantly ceases1 
excepting that the member who offered   

the original resolution1 or reported it 
from a committee1 is1 as in all other   
cases1 entitled to the floor to close   
the  debate2 after which1 the chairman  
immediately puts the questions to the   
assembly1 first1 on the motion to       
commit1 if it is pending2 if this is    
carried1  of course the subject goes to 
the committee2 if1 however1 it fails1   
the vote is  next taken on amendments1  
and finally on the resolution as        
amended4    ,if a motion to postpone1   
either definitely or indefinitely1 or a 
motion  to reconsider1 or an appeal is  
pending1 the previous question is       
exhausted by the vote on the            
postponement1 reconsideration or appeal1
  and does not cut off debate upon any  
other motions that may be pending4  ,if 
the call for the previous question      
fails1 that is1 the debate is not  cut  
off1 the debate continues the same as if
 this motion had not been  made4 ,the   
previous question can be called for     
simply on an amendment1  and after the  

amendment has been acted upon1 the main 
question is again  open to debate4      
7b7 ,an order limiting or closing       
debate4 ,sometimes1  instead of cutting 
off debate entirely by ordering the     
previous question1 it is  desirable to  
allow of but very limited debate4 ,in   
this case1 a motion is made  to limit   
the time allowed each speaker or the    
number of speeches on each side1  or to 
appoint a time at which debate shall    
close and the question be put4 ,the     
motion may be made to limit debate on an
 amendment1 in which case the main      
question would afterwards be open to    
debate and amendment2 or it may be made 
simply on an amendment to an amendment4 
,in ordinary societies1 where harmony is
 so important1 a two-thirds vote  should
 be required for the adoption of any of 
the above motions to cut  off or limit  
debate499 ,in the ,house of             
,representatives1 these motions  require
 only a majority vote for their         
adoption4 ,in the ,senate1 to the       

contrary1 not even two-thirds of the    
members can force a measure to its      
passage without allowing debate1 the    
,senate rules not recognizing the  above
 motions4    #ei4 ,to ,suppress the     
,question4 7a7  ,objection to the       
consideration of a question4 ,sometimes 
a resolution is  introduced that the    
assembly do not wish to consider at all1
 because it is  profitless1 or          
irrelevant to the objects of the        
assembly1 or for other reasons4  ,the   
proper course to pursue in such case1 is
 for some one1 as soon as it is         
introduced1 to 8object to the           
consideration of the question40 ,this   
objection  not requiring a second1 the  
chairman immediately puts the question1 
8,will the  assembly consider this      
question80 ,if decided in the negative  
by a two-thirds  vote1 the question is  
immediately dismissed1 and cannot be    
again introduced  during that session4  
,this objection must be made when the   
question is first  introduced1 before it

 has been debated1 and it can be made   
when another member  has the floor4     
7b7 ,postpone indefinitely4 ,after the  
question has been  debated1 the proper  
motion to use in order to suppress the  
question for the  session1 is to        
postpone indefinitely4 ,it cannot be    
made while any motion except  the       
original or main question is pending1   
but it can be made after an amendment   
has been acted upon1 and the main       
question1 as amended1 is before the     
assembly4  ,it opens the merits of the  
main question to debate to as great an  
extent as if  the main question were    
before the assembly4 ,on account of     
these two facts1 in  assemblies with    
short sessions it is not very useful1 as
 the same result can  usually be more   
easily attained by the next motion4     
7c7 ,lie on the table4 ,if there is no  
possibility during  the remainder of the
 session of obtaining a majority vote   
for taking up the  question1 then the   
quickest way of suppressing it is to    

move 8that the question  lie on the     
table20 which1 allowing of no debate1   
enables the majority to  instantly lay  
the question on the table1 from which it
 cannot be taken without  their consent4
    ,from its high rank  #fd and        
undebatable character1 this motion is   
very  commonly used to suppress a       
question1 but1 as shown in  #eg 7b71 its
  effect is merely to lay the question  
aside till the assembly choose to       
consider it1 and it only suppresses the 
question so long as there is a  majority
 opposed to its consideration4    #fj4  
,to ,consider a question a second  time4
 ,reconsider4 ,when a question has been 
once adopted1 rejected or  suppressed1  
it cannot be again considered during    
that session  #gj1 except by  a motion  
to 8reconsider the vote0 on that        
question4 ,this motion can only be  made
 by one who voted on the prevailing     
side1 and on the day the vote was taken 
which it is proposed to reconsider499   
,in ,congress it can be made on the same

 or  succeeding day2 and if the yeas and
 nays were not taken on the vote1 any   
one  can move the reconsideration4 ,the 
yeas and nays are however ordered on all
  important votes in ,congress1 which is
 not the case in ordinary societies4 ,it
  can be made and entered on the minutes
 in the midst of debate1 even when      
another member has the floor1 but cannot
 be considered until there is no        
question before the assembly1 when1 if  
called up1 it takes precedence of every 
motion except to adjourn and to fix the 
time to which the assembly shall        
adjourn4    ,a motion to reconsider a   
vote on a debatable question1 opens to  
debate  the entire merits of the        
original motion4 ,if the question to be 
reconsidered is undebatable1 then the   
reconsideration is undebatable4    ,if  
the motion to reconsider is carried1 the
 chairman announces that the  question  
now recurs on the adoption of the       
question the vote on which  has been    
just reconsidered3 the original question

 is now in exactly the  same condition  
that it was in before the first vote was
 taken on its  adoption1 and must be    
disposed of by a vote4    ,when a motion
 to reconsider is entered on the        
minutes1 it need not be called up  by   
the mover till the next meeting1 on a   
succeeding day499 ,if the assembly has  
not adopted these or similar rules1 this
 paragraph would not apply1 but this    
motion to reconsider would1 like any    
other motion1 fall to the ground if not 
acted upon before the close of the      
session at which the original vote was  
adopted4 ,if he fails to call it up     
then1 any one else can do so4 ,but      
should  there be no succeeding meeting1 
either adjourned or regular1 within a   
month1  then the effect of the motion to
 reconsider terminates with the         
adjournment of  the meeting at which it 
was made1 and any one can call it up at 
that meeting4    ,in general no motion  
7except to adjourn7 that has been once  
acted upon1  can again be considered    

during the same session1 except by a    
motion to  reconsider4 ,the motion to   
adjourn can be renewed if there has been
  progress in business or debate1 and it
 cannot be reconsidered4 ,but this  rule
 does not prevent the renewal of any of 
the motions mentioned in   #fd1 provided
 the question before the assembly has in
 any way changed2  for in this case1    
while the motions are nominally the     
same1 they are in  fact different499    
,thus to move to postpone a resolution  
is a different  question from moving to 
postpone it after it has been amended4  
,a motion  to suspend the rules for a   
certain purpose cannot be renewed at the
 same  meeting1 but can be at an        
adjourned meeting4 ,a call for the      
orders of  the day that has been        
negatived1 cannot be renewed while the  
question  then before the assembly is   
still under consideration4 ,see ,rules  
of  ,order1  #bg1 for many peculiarities
 of this motion4    #fa4 ,order and     
,rules4 7a7 ,orders of the  ,day4       

,sometimes an assembly decides that     
certain questions shall be considered   
at a particular time1 and when that time
 arrives those questions constitute     
what is termed the 8orders of the day10 
and if any member 8calls for the orders 
of the day10 as it requires no second1  
the chairman immediately puts the       
question1 thus3 8,will the assembly now 
proceed to the orders of the day80 ,if  
carried1 the subject under consideration
 is laid aside1 and the questions       
appointed for that time are taken up in 
their order4 ,when the time arrives1 the
  chairman may state that fact1 and put 
the above question without waiting for a
  motion4 ,if the motion fails1 the call
 for the orders of the day cannot be    
renewed till the subject then before the
 assembly is disposed of499 ,in         
,congress1 a member entitled to the     
floor cannot be interrupted by a call   
for  the orders of the day4 ,in an      
ordinary assembly1 the most common case 
where  orders of the day are decided    

upon is where it is necessary to make a 
programme  for the session4 ,when the   
hour arrives for the consideration of   
any subject on  the programme1 these    
rules permit any member to call for the 
orders of the day  7as described in     
,rules of ,order1  #b7 even though      
another person has the floor4  ,if this 
were not permitted1 it would often be   
impossible to carry out the  programme1 
though wished for by the majority4 ,a   
majority could postpone the  orders of  
the day1 when called for1 so as to      
continue the discussion of the  question
 then before the assembly4 ,an order as 
to the time when any subject  shall be  
considered1 must not be confounded with 
the rules of the assembly2 the  latter  
must be enforced by the chairman1       
without they are suspended by a         
two-thirds vote2 the former1 in         
strictness1 can only be carried out by  
the  order of a majority of the assembly
 then present and voting4    7b7        
,special ,order4 ,if a subject is of    

such importance that  it is desired to  
consider it at a special time in        
preference to the orders of  the day and
 established order of business1 then a  
motion should be made to make  the      
question a 8special order0 for that     
particular time4 ,this motion requires a
  two-thirds vote for its adoption1     
because it is really a suspension of the
  rules1 and it is in order whenever a  
motion to suspend the rules is in order4
  ,if a subject is a special order for a
 particular day1 then on that day it    
supersedes all business except the      
reading of the minutes4 ,a special order
 can  be postponed by a majority vote4  
,if two special orders are made for the 
same  day1 the one first made takes     
precedence4    7c7 ,suspension of the   
,rules4 ,it is necessary for every      
assembly1 if discussion is allowed1 to  
have rules to prevent its time being    
wasted1 and to enable it to accomplish  
the object for which the assembly was   
organized4 ,and yet at times their best 

interests are subserved by suspending   
their rules temporarily4 ,in order to do
 this1 some one makes a motion 8to      
suspend the rules that interfere with10 
etc41 stating the object of the         
suspension4 ,if this motion is carried  
by a two-thirds vote1 then the          
particular  thing for which the rules   
were suspended can be done4 ,by 8general
 consent10  that is1 if no one objects1 
the rules can at any time be ignored    
without the  formality of a motion4     
7d7 ,questions of ,order4 ,it is the    
duty of the chairman to  enforce the    
rules and preserve order1 and when any  
member notices a breach of  order1 he   
can call for the enforcement of the     
rules4 ,in such cases1 when he  rises he
 usually says1 8,mr4 ,chairman1 ,i rise 
to a point of order40 ,the chairman     
then directs the speaker to take his    
seat1 and having heard the point of     
order1  decides the question and permits
 the first speaker to resume his speech1
  directing him to abstain from any     

conduct that was decided to be out of   
order4  ,when a speaker has transgressed
 the rules of decorum he cannot continue
 his  speech1 if any one objects1       
without permission is granted him by a  
vote of the  assembly4 ,instead of the  
above method1 when a member uses        
improper language1  some one says1 8,i  
call the gentleman to order20 when the  
chairman decides as  before whether the 
language is disorderly4    7e7 ,appeal4 
,while on all questions of order1 and of
  interpretation of the rules and of    
priority of business1 it is the duty of 
the  chairman to first decide the       
question1 it is the privilege of any    
member to  8appeal from the decision40  
,if the appeal is seconded1 the chairman
 states his  decision1 and that it has  
been appealed from1 and then states the 
question1  thus3 8,shall the decision of
 the chair stand as the judgment of the 
assembly80  or society1 convention1 etc4
    ,the chairman can then1 without     
leaving the chair1 state the reasons for

  his decision1 after which it is open  
to debate 7no member speaking but       
once71 excepting in the following cases1
 when it is undebatable3 7#a7  ,when it 
relates to transgressions of the rules  
of speaking1 or to some  indecorum1 or  
to the priority of business2 and 7#b7   
when the previous  question was pending 
at the time the question of order was   
raised4  ,after the vote is taken1 the  
chairman states that the decision of the
  chair is sustained1 or reversed1 as   
the case may be4    #fb4                
,miscellaneous4 7a7 ,reading of papers  
and 7b7 ,withdrawal of a motion4 ,if a  
speaker wishes to read a paper1 or a    
member to withdraw his motion after it  
has  been stated by the chair1 it is    
necessary1 if any one objects1 to make a
 motion  to grant the permission4    7c7
 ,questions of ,privilege4 ,should any  
disturbance occur  during the meeting1  
or anything affecting the rights of the 
assembly or any of  the members1 any    
member may 8rise to a question of       

privilege10 and state the  matter1 which
 the chairman decides to be1 or not to  
be1 a matter of privilege3  7from the   
chairman's decision of course an appeal 
can be taken74 ,if the  question is one 
of privilege1 it supersedes1 for the    
time being1 the business  before the    
assembly2 its consideration can be      
postponed to another time1 or the       
previous question can be ordered on it  
so as to stop debate1 or it can be laid 
on the table1 or referred to a committee
 to examine and report upon it4 ,as soon
  as the question of privilege is in    
some way disposed of1 the debate which  
was  interrupted is resumed4    #fc4 ,to
 ,close the ,meeting4 7a7 ,fix the  time
 to which to adjourn4 ,if it is desired 
to have an adjourned meeting of the     
assembly1 it is best some time before   
its close to move1 8,that when this     
assembly adjourns1 it adjourns to meet  
at such a time10 specifying the time4   
,this motion can be amended by altering 
the time1 but if made when another      

question is before the assembly1 neither
 the motion nor the amendment can be    
debated4 ,if made when no other business
 is before the assembly1 it stands as   
any other main question1 and can be     
debated4 ,this motion can be made even  
while  the assembly is voting on the    
motion to adjourn1 but not when another 
member  has the floor4    7b7 ,adjourn4 
,in order to prevent an assembly from   
being  kept in session an unreasonably  
long time1 it is necessary to have a    
rule  limiting the time that the floor  
can be occupied by any one member at one
  time499 ,ten minutes is allowed by    
these rules4 ,when it is desired to     
close the  meeting1 without the member  
who has the floor will yield it1 the    
only resource  is to wait till his time 
expires1 and then a member who gets the 
floor should  move 8to adjourn40 ,the   
motion being seconded1 the chairman     
instantly put the  question1 as it      
allows of no amendment or debate2 and if
 decided in the  affirmative1 he says1  

8,the motion is carried2--this assembly 
stands adjourned40  ,if the assembly is 
one that will have no other meeting1    
instead of 8adjourned10  he says        
8adjourned without day10 or 8sine die40 
,if previously it had been  decided when
 they adjourned to adjourn to a         
particular time1 then he states  that   
the assembly stands adjourned to that   
time4 ,if the motion to adjourn is      
qualified by specifying the time1 as1   
8to adjourn to to-morrow evening10 it   
cannot be made when any other question  
is before the assembly2 like any other  
main motion1 it can then be amended and 
debated49999 ,for the effect of an      
adjournment upon unfinished business see
  #fi4    #fd4 ,order of ,precedence of 
,motions4 ,the ordinary motions  rank as
 follows1 and any of them 7except to    
amend7 can be made while one of a  lower
 order is pending1 but none can         
supersede one of a higher order3    ,to 
,fix the ,time to which to ,adjourn4    
,to ,adjourn 7when unqualified74  ,for  

the ,orders of the ,day4  ,to ,lie on   
the ,table4  ,for the ,previous         
,question4  ,to ,postpone to a ,certain 
,time4  ,to ,commit4  ,to ,amend4  ,to  
,postpone ,indefinitely4    ,the motion 
to ,reconsider can be made when any     
other question is before  the assembly1 
but cannot be acted upon until the      
business then before  the assembly is   
disposed of2 when1 if called up1 it     
takes precedence of  all other motions  
except to adjourn and to fix the time to
 which to  adjourn4 ,questions          
incidental to those before the assembly 
take  precedence of them1 and must be   
acted upon first4    ,a question of     
order1 a call for the orders of the day1
 or an objection to the  consideration  
of a question1 can be made while another
 member has the floor3  so1 too1 can a  
motion to reconsider1 but it can only be
 entered on the minutes  at that time1  
as it cannot supersede the question then
 before the assembly4    ,art4 ,,xiii4  
,debate4    #fe4 ,rules of ,speaking in 

,debate4 ,all remarks must be  addressed
 to the chairman1 and must be confined  
to the question before the  assembly1   
avoiding all personalities and          
reflections upon any one's motives4 ,it 
is usual for permanent assemblies to    
adopt rules limiting the number of times
  any member can speak to the same      
question1 and the time allowed for each 
speech299 ,in ,congress the ,house of   
,representatives allows from each member
 only  one speech of one hour's length2 
the ,senate allows two speeches without 
limit  as to length4 as otherwise one   
member1 while he could speak only once  
to the  same question1 might defeat a   
measure by prolonging his speech and    
declining to  yield the floor except for
 a motion to adjourn4 ,in ordinary      
assemblies two  speeches should be      
allowed each member 7except upon an     
appeal71 and these rules  also limit the
 time for each speech to ten minutes4 ,a
 majority can permit a  member to speak 
oftener or longer whenever it is        

desired1 and the motion  granting such  
permission cannot be debated4           
,however1 if greater freedom is wanted1 
it is only necessary to consider  the   
question informally1 or if the assembly 
is large1 go into committee  of the     
whole499 ,see ,rules of ,order1  #cb1   
#cc4 ,if on the other hand it  is       
desired to limit the debate more1 or    
close it altogether1 it can be  done by 
a two-thirds vote1 as shown in  #eh 7b74
    #ff4 ,undebatable ,questions and    
those ,opening the ,main  ,question to  
,debate4 ,a full list of these will be  
found in  #ce1 to which the  reader is  
referred4 ,to the undebatable motions in
 that list1 should be added  the motion 
to close or limit debate4    ,art4      
,,xiv4 ,miscellaneous4    #fg4 ,forms of
 ,stating and ,putting ,questions4      
,whenever a  motion has been made and   
seconded1 it is the duty of the         
chairman1 if the  motion is in order1 to
 state the question so that the assembly
 may know what  question is before them4

 ,the seconding of a motion is required 
to prevent a  question being introduced 
when only one member is in favor of it1 
and  consequently but little attention  
is paid to it in mere routine motions1  
or  when it is evident that many are in 
favor of the motion2 in such cases the  
chairman assumes that the motion is     
seconded4    ,often in routine work the 
chairman puts the question without      
waiting for  even a motion1 as few      
persons like to make such formal        
motions1 and much  time would be wasted 
by waiting for them3 7but the chairman  
can only do  this as long as no one     
objects47 ,the following motions1       
however1 do not  have to be seconded3   
7a7 a call for the orders of the day2   
7b7 a call  to order1 or the raising of 
any question of order2 and 7c7 an       
objection  to the consideration of a    
question4    ,one of the commonest forms
 of stating a question is to say that1  
8,it is moved  and seconded that10 and  
then give the motion4 ,when an amendment

 has been voted  on1 the chairman       
announces the result1 and then says1    
8,the question now recurs  on the       
resolution10 or1 8on the resolution as  
amended10 as the case may be4 ,so  in   
all cases1 as soon as a vote is taken1  
he should immediately state the         
question then before the assembly1 if   
there be any4 ,if the motion is         
debatable  or can be amended1 the       
chairman1 usually after stating the     
question1 and always  before finally    
putting it1 inquires1 8,are you ready   
for the question80 ,some of  the common 
forms of stating and putting questions  
are shown in  #df-dh4 ,the  forms of    
putting the following questions1 are1   
however1 peculiar3    ,if a motion is   
made to ,strike out certain words1 the  
question is put in  this form3 8,shall  
these words stand as a part of the      
resolution80 so  that on a tie vote they
 are struck out4    ,if the ,previous   
,question is demanded1 it is put thus3  
8,shall the main  question be now put80 

,if an ,appeal is made from the decision
 of the ,chair1 the question is  put    
thus3 8,shall the decision of the ,chair
 stand as the judgment of the           
assembly80 convention1 society1 etc4 ,if
 the ,orders of the ,day are  called    
for1 the question is put thus3 8,will   
the assembly now proceed to  the ,orders
 of the ,day80    ,when1 upon the       
introduction of a question1 some one    
objects to its  consideration1 the      
chairman immediately puts the question  
thus3 8,will  the assembly consider it80
 or1 8,shall the question be            
considered80 or  discussed4    ,if the  
vote has been ordered to be taken by    
yeas and nays1 the question  is put in a
 form similar to the following3 8,as    
many as are in favor of  the adoption of
 these resolutions1 will1 when their    
names are called1  answer yes or        
aye--those opposed will answer no40     
#fh4 ,motions requiring a two-thirds    
vote499 ,see ,two-thirds  ,vote1 page   
#aei1 and  #ci of ,rules of ,order4     

,all motions that have the effect to    
make a variation from the  established  
rules and customs1 should require a     
two-thirds vote for  their adoption4    
,among these established customs should 
be regarded the  right of free debate   
upon the merits of any measure1 before  
the assembly  can be forced to take     
final action upon it4 ,the following    
motions would  come under this rule3    
,to amend or suspend the rules4  ,to    
make a special order4  ,to take up a    
question out of its proper order4  ,an  
objection to the consideration of a     
question4  ,the ,previous ,question1 or 
a motion to limit or close debate4      
#fi4 ,unfinished ,business4 ,when an    
assembly adjourns1 the  unfinished      
business comes up at the adjourned      
meeting1 if one is held1 as the  first  
business after the reading of the       
minutes2 if there is no adjourned       
meeting1 the unfinished business comes  
up immediately before new business at   
the next regular meeting1 provided the  

regular meetings are more frequent than 
yearly49999 ,see ,rules of ,order1  #aa1
 for a fuller explanation of the effect 
of  an adjournment upon unfinished      
business1 and the ,congressional        
practice4 ,if  the meetings are only    
once a year1 the adjournment of the     
session puts an end  to all unfinished  
business4    #gj4 ,session4 ,each       
regular meeting of a society constitutes
  a separate session4 ,any meeting which
 is not an adjournment of another       
meeting1  commences a new session2 the  
session terminates as soon as the       
assembly  8adjourns without day4099 ,in 
ordinary practice1 a meeting is closed  
by moving  simply 8to adjourn20 the     
society meet again at the time provided 
either by  their rules or by a          
resolution of the society4 ,if they do  
not meet till the  time for the next    
regular meeting1 as provided in the     
,by-,laws1 then the  adjournment closed 
the session1 and was in effect an       
adjournment without day4  ,if1 however1 

they had previously fixed the time for  
the next meeting1 either by  a direct   
vote1 or by adopting a programme of     
exercises covering several  meetings or 
even days1 in either case the           
adjournment is in effect to a certain   
day1 and does not close the session4    
,when an assembly has meetings for      
several days consecutively1 they all    
constitute one session4 ,each session of
 a society is independent of the  other 
sessions1 excepting as expressly        
provided in their ,constitution1        
,by-,laws1 or ,rules of ,order1 and     
excepting that resolutions adopted by   
one session are in force during         
succeeding sessions until rescinded by a
  majority vote see note to  #di4       
,where a society holds more than one    
regular session a year1 these rules     
limit  the independence of each session 
as follows3 7a7 ,the ,order of ,business
  prescribed in  #gb requires that the  
minutes of the previous meeting1 the    
reports of committees previously        

appointed1 and the unfinished business  
of the  last session1 shall all take    
precedence of new business1 and that no 
subject  can be considered out of its   
proper order1 except by a two-thirds    
vote2 7b7 it  is allowable to postpone a
 question to the next session1 when it  
comes up with  unfinished business1 but 
it is not allowable to postpone to a day
 beyond the  next session1 and thus     
interfere with the right of the next    
session to consider  the question2 7c7 a
 motion to reconsider a vote can be made
 at one meeting and  called up at the   
next meeting even though it be another  
session1 provided the  society holds its
 regular sessions as frequently as      
monthly499 ,see ,rules of  ,order1  #db1
 for a full discussion of this subject4 
#ga4 ,quorum4 ,see  #dc for full        
information on this  subject4    #gb4   
,order of ,business4 ,every society     
should adopt an order of business       
adapted to its special wants4 ,the      
following is the usual order where no   

special rule is adopted1 and when more  
than one regular meeting is held  each  
year3    7#a7 ,reading of the minutes of
 the last meeting4  7#b7 ,reports of    
,boards of ,trustees or ,managers1 and  
,standing ,committees4  7#c7 ,reports of
 ,select ,committees4  7#d7 ,unfinished 
,business 7including questions postponed
 to this meeting74  7#e7 ,new ,business4
    ,business cannot be considered out  
of its order1 except by a two-thirds    
vote2 but a majority can lay on the     
table the different questions as  they  
come up1 and thus reach a subject they  
wish first to consider4 ,if  a subject  
has been made a ,special ,order for this
 meeting1 then it is to  be considered  
immediately after the minutes are read4 
#gc4 ,amendments of ,constitutions1     
,by-,laws and ,rules of  ,order1 should 
be permitted only when adopted by a     
two-thirds vote1 at a regular  meeting  
of the society1 after having been       
proposed at the previous regular        
meeting4 ,if the meetings are very      

frequent1 weekly1 for instance1         
amendments  should be adopted only at   
the quarterly meetings1 after having    
been proposed at  the previous quarterly
 meeting4    ,legal ,rights of          
,assemblies and the ,trial of their     
,members4    ,the ,right of             
,deliberative ,assemblies to ,punish    
their ,members4 ,a  deliberative        
assembly has the inherent right to make 
and enforce its own  laws and punish an 
offender--the extreme penalty1 however1 
being  expulsion from its own body4     
,when expelled1 if the assembly is a    
permanent society1 it has a right1 for  
its own protection1 to give  public     
notice that the person has ceased to be 
a member of that society4    ,but it has
 no right to go beyond what is necessary
 for self protection  and publish the   
charges against the member4 ,in a case  
where a member of  a society was        
expelled1 and an officer of the society 
published1 by  their order1 a statement 
of the grave charges upon which he had  

been found  guilty1 the expelled member 
recovered damages from the officer1 in a
  suit for libel--the court holding that
 the truth of the charges did  not      
affect the case4    ,the ,right of an   
,assembly to ,eject any one from its    
place of meeting4  ,every deliberative  
assembly has the right to decide who may
 be present  during its session1 and    
when the assembly1 either by a rule or  
by a  vote1 decides that a certain      
person shall not remain in the room1 it 
is  the duty of the chairman to enforce 
the rule or order1 using whatever  force
 is necessary to eject the party4       
,the chairman can detail members to     
remove the person1 without calling  upon
 the police4 ,if1 however1 in enforcing 
the order1 any one uses  harsher        
treatment than is necessary to remove   
the person1 the courts  have held that  
he1 and he alone is liable to           
prosecution1 just the same  as a        
policeman would be under similar        
circumstances4 ,however badly the  man  

may be abused while being removed from  
the room1 neither the  chairman nor the 
society are liable for damages1 as1 in  
ordering his  removal1 they did not     
exceed their legal rights4    ,rights of
 ,ecclesiastical ,tribunals4 ,many of   
our deliberative assemblies  are        
ecclesiastical bodies1 and it is        
important to know how much respect  will
 be paid to their decisions by the civil
 courts4    ,a church became divided and
 each party claimed to be the church1   
and therefore  entitled to the church   
property4 ,the case was taken into the  
civil courts1 and  finally1 on appeal1  
to the ,u4 ,s4 ,supreme ,court1 which   
held the case under  advisement for one 
year1 and then reversed the decision of 
the ,state ,court1  because it          
conflicted with the decision of the     
highest ecclesiastical court  that had  
acted upon the case4 ,the ,supreme      
,court1 in rendering its decision1  laid
 down the broad principle that1 when a  
local church is but a part of a  larger 

and more general organization or        
denomination1 it will accept the        
decision of the highest ecclesiastical  
tribunal to which the case has been     
carried within that general church      
organization1 as final1 and will not    
inquire  into the justice or injustice  
of its decree as between the parties    
before it4  ,the officers1 the          
ministers1 the members1 or the church   
body which the highest  judiciary of the
 denomination recognizes1 the court will
 recognize4 ,whom that  body expels or  
cuts off1 the court will hold to be no  
longer members of that  church4         
,trial of ,members of ,societies4 ,every
 deliberative assembly1 having the      
right to purify its own body1 must      
therefore have the right to  investigate
 the character of its members4    ,it   
can require any of them to testify in   
the case1 under pain of  expulsion if   
they refuse4 ,in  #cf is shown the      
method of procedure when  a member is   
charged with violating the rules of     

decorum in debate4 ,if  the disorderly  
words are of a personal nature1 before  
the assembly  proceeds to deliberate    
upon the case1 both parties to the      
personality  should retire4 ,it is not  
necessary for the member objecting to   
the  words to retire1 unless he is      
personally involved in the case4        
,when the charge is against the member's
 character1 it is usually  referred to a
 committee of investigation or          
discipline1 or to some  standing        
committee to report upon4 ,some         
societies have standing  committees1    
whose duty it is to report cases for    
discipline whenever any  are known to   
them4    ,in either case the committee  
investigate the matter and report to the
 society4  ,this report need not go into
 details1 but should contain their      
recommendations  as to what action the  
society should take1 and should usually 
close with  resolutions covering the    
case1 so that there is no need for any  
one to offer  any additional resolutions

 upon it4 ,the ordinary resolutions1    
where the member  is recommended to be  
expelled1 are 7#a7 to fix the time to   
which the society  shall adjourn2 and   
7#b7 to instruct the clerk to cite the  
member to appear  before the society at 
this adjourned meeting to show cause why
 he should not be  expelled1 upon the   
following charges1 which should then be 
given4    ,after charges are preferred  
against a member and the assembly has   
ordered that he be cited to appear for  
trial1 he is theoretically under        
arrest1 and is deprived of all the      
rights of membership until his case  is 
disposed of4    ,the clerk should send  
the accused a written notice to appear  
before the  society at the time         
appointed1 and should at the same time  
furnish him  with a copy of the charges4
 ,a failure to obey the summons is      
generally  cause enough for summary     
expulsion4    ,at the appointed meeting1
 what may be called the trial1 takes    
place4  ,frequently the only evidence   

required against the member is the      
report  of the committee4 ,after it has 
been read and any additional evidence   
offered that the committee may see fit  
to introduce1 the accused should  be    
allowed to make an explanation and      
introduce witnesses if he so  desires4  
,either party should be allowed to      
cross-examine the other's  witnesses and
 introduce rebutting testimony4    ,when
 the evidence is all in1 the accused    
should retire from the room1  and the   
society deliberate upon the question1   
and finally act by a vote  upon the     
question of expulsion or other          
punishment proposed4    ,in acting upon 
the case1 it must be borne in mind that 
there is a vast  distinction between the
 evidence necessary to convict in a     
civil court  and that required to       
convict in an ordinary society or       
ecclesiastical  body4 ,a notorious      
pickpocket could not even be arrested1  
much less  convicted1 by a civil court1 
simply on the ground of being commonly  

known as a pickpocket2 while such       
evidence would convict and expel him    
from any ordinary society4    ,the moral
 conviction of the truth of the charge  
is all that is necessary  in an         
ecclesiastical or other deliberative    
body1 to find the accused  guilty of the
 charges4    ,if the trial is liable to 
be long and troublesome1 or of a very   
delicate  nature1 the member is         
frequently cited to appear before a     
committee1  instead of the society1 for 
trial4 ,in this case the committee      
report to  the society the result of    
their trial of the case1 with           
resolutions  covering the punishment    
which they recommend the society to     
adopt4          ,,table ,,of ,,rules    
,,relating ,,to ,,motions4      ,this   
,table contains the answers to more than
 two hundred questions on  parliamentary
 law1 and should always be consulted    
before referring to  the body of the    
,manual4    ,explanation of the ,table4 
,a ,star shows that the rule heading the

 column  in which it stands1 applies to 
the motion opposite to which it is      
placed3 a blank shows that the rule does
 not apply3 a figure shows  that the    
rule only partially applies1 the figure 
referring to the note  on the next page 
showing the limitations4 ,take1 for     
example1 8,lie on  the table30 the      
,table shows that  #ai of the ,pocket   
,manual treats of  this motion2 that it 
is 8undebatable0 and 8cannot be         
amended20 and that  an affirmative vote 
on it 7as shown in note #c7 8cannot be  
reconsidered30  -- the four other       
columns being blank1 show that this     
motion does not  8open the main question
 to debate10 that it does not 8require a
 #b_/c  vote10 that it does 8require to 
be seconded10 and that it is not 8in    
order when another member has the       
floor40    ,the column headed 8,requires
 a two-thirds vote10 applies only where 
the  8,pocket ,manual of ,rules of      
,order10 or similar rules1 have been    
adopted4  ,see 8,two-thirds ,vote10 on  

next page1 under ,miscellaneous ,rules4 
,after the note to the ,table is some   
additional information that a  chairman 
should always have at hand1 such as the 
,order of ,precedence of  ,motions1 the 
,forms ,of ,putting ,certain ,questions1
 etc4            ,in order when another 
has the floor  #b-------------          
,requires no ,second  #c-----------     
,requires a #b_/c vote  #ci--,see ,note 
#a4---------                  ,cannot be
 ,reconsidered  #bg-------              
,cannot be ,amended  #bc-----           
,opens ,main ,question to ,debate       
#ce---                                  
,undebatable  #ce-        - ,section in 
,pocket ,manual                         
#aa ,adjourn                            
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' x 4 x x 4 4 4  #aj ,adjourn1 ,fix 
the ,time to which to                   
''''''''''''''''''4 #b 4 4 4 4 4 4  #bc 
,amend                                  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''44 4 4 4 4 4 4 4  #bc ,amend an    

,amendment                              
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 4 4 x
 4 4 4 4  #dc ,amend the ,rules         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 4 
4 4 4 x 4 4  #ad ,appeal1 relating to   
indecorum1 etc41 #f '''''''''''' x 4 x 4
 4 4 x  #ad ,appeal1 all other cases    
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 4 4 x 4 4 
4 x  #ad ,call to ,order                
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
x 4 x 4 4 x x  #cg ,close ,debate1      
motion to '''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 
x 4 4 4 x 4 4  #bb ,commit              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''4 4 x 4 4 4 4 4  #ca ,extend the   
limits of debate1 motion to             
''''''''''''44 x 4 4 4 4 4 4  #aj ,fix  
the ,time to which to ,adjourn          
''''''''''''''''''44 #b 4 4 4 4 4 4  #ae
 ,leave to continue speaking when guilty
 of indecorum x 4 x 4 4 4 4  #ai ,lie on
 the ,table                             
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' x 4
 x #c 4 4 4  #cg ,limit ,debate1 motion 
to '''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 x 4 4 4

 x 4 4  #ac ,objection to ,consideration
 of a ,question #g ''''''44 x 4 x 4 x x 
x  #ac ,orders of the ,day1 motion for  
the ''''''''''''''''''4 x 4 x 4 4 x x   
#ba ,postpone to a certain time         
''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #d 4 4 4 4 4 
4  #bd ,postpone indefinitely           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 4 x x 4 
4 4 4  #bj ,previous ,question          
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 x 4 
x 4 x 4 4  #dd ,priority of ,business1  
questions relating to ''''''''' x 4 4 4 
4 4 4  #af ,reading ,papers             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 x
 4 x 4 4 4 4  #bg ,reconsider a         
debatable question '''''''''''''''''''''
 4 x x 4 4 4 #e  #bg ,reconsider an     
undebatable question '''''''''''''''''' 
x 4 x 4 4 4 #e  #bb ,refer 7same as     
,commit7 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
4 x 4 4 4 4 4  #aa ,rise 7in ,committee 
equals ,adjourn7 '''''''''''''''''' x 4 
x x 4 4 4  #aa ,shall the question be   
discussed8 #g '''''''''''''''4 x 4 x 4 x
 x x  #fa ,special ,order1 to make a    

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 4 4 4 4 x 4
 4  #bc ,substitute 7same as ,amend7    
''''''''''''''''''''''''44 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
  #ah ,suspend the ,rules               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 x 4 
x x x 4 4  #ei ,take from the table     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' x 4 x 
#c 4 4 4  #dd ,take up a question out of
 its proper order '''''''''4 x 4 x 4 x 4
 4  #ag ,withdrawal of a motion         
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' x 4 x 4 4
 4 4    ,notes ,to ,the ,table4    7#a7 
,this column only applies to assemblies 
that have adopted these  ,rules4 ,if no 
rules are adopted1 a majority vote is   
sufficient for the  adoption of any     
motion1 except to 8suspend the rules10  
which requires a  unanimous vote4 ,see  
,two-thirds ,vote1 below4    7#b7       
,undebatable if made when another       
question is before the assembly4    7#c7
 ,an affirmative vote on this motion    
cannot be reconsidered4    7#d7 ,allows 
of but limited debate upon the propriety
 of the postponement4    7#e7 ,can be   

moved and entered on the record when    
another has the floor1  but cannot      
interrupt the business then before the  
assembly2 it must be  made on the day   
the original vote was taken1 and by one 
who voted with  the prevailing side4    
7#f7 ,an appeal is undebatable only when
 relating to indecorum1 or to           
transgressions of the rules of speaking1
 or to the priority of business1  or    
when made while the ,previous ,question 
is pending4 ,when debatable1  only one  
speech from each member is permitted4   
7#g7 ,the objection can only be made    
when the question is first  introduced1 
before debate4          ,,miscellaneous 
,,rules4      ,order of ,precedence of  
,motions4    ,the ordinary motions rank 
as follows1 and any of them 7except to  
amend7  can be made while one of a lower
 order is pending1 but none can         
supercede one of a higher order3    ,to 
,fix the ,time to which to ,adjourn4    
,to ,adjourn 7when unqualified74  ,for  
the ,orders of the ,day4  ,to ,lie on   

the ,table4  ,for the ,previous         
,question4  ,to ,postpone to a ,certain 
,time4  ,to ,commit4  ,to ,amend4  ,to  
,postpone ,indefinitely4    ,the motion 
to ,reconsider can be made when any     
other question is before  the assembly1 
but cannot be acted upon until the      
business then before  the assembly is   
disposed of see note #e above1 when1 if 
called up1 it  takes precedence of all  
other motions except to adjourn and to  
fix the  time to which to adjourn4      
,questions incidental to those before   
the  assembly1 take precedence of them  
and must be acted upon first4           
,two-thirds ,vote4    ,in ,congress the 
only motions requiring a two-thirds     
vote1 are to suspend  or amend the      
,rules1 to take up business out of its  
proper order1 and to  make a special    
order4 ,in ordinary societies harmony is
 so essential1  that a two-thirds vote  
should be required to force the assembly
 to a  final vote upon a resolution     
without allowing free debate4 ,the      

,table  conforms to the ,rules of       
,order1 which are based upon this       
principle4 ,if  an assembly has adopted 
no ,rules of ,order1 then a majority    
vote is  sufficient for the adoption of 
any motion1 except to 8suspend the      
rules10 which would require a unanimous 
vote4    ,forms of ,putting ,certain    
,questions4    ,if a motion is made to  
,strike out certain words1 the question 
is put in  this form3 8,shall these     
words stand as a part of the            
resolution80 so  that on a tie vote they
 are struck out4    ,if the ,previous   
,question is demanded1 it is put thus3  
8,shall the main  question now be put80 
,if an ,appeal is made from the decision
 of the ,chair1 the question is put     
thus3 8,shall the decision of the ,chair
 stand as the judgement of the          
assembly80 convention1 society1 etc44   
,if the ,orders of the ,day are called  
for1 the question is put thus3  8,will  
the assembly now proceed to the ,orders 
of the ,day80    ,when1 upon the        

introduction of a question1 some one    
objects to its  consideration1 the      
chairman immediately puts the question  
thus3 8,will  the assembly consider it80
 or 8,shall the question be considered80
 or  discussed4    ,if the vote has been
 ordered to be taken by yeas and nays1  
the question  is put in a form similar  
to the following3 8,as many as are in   
favor of  the adoption of these         
resolutions1 will1 when their names are 
called1  answer yes or aye--those       
opposed will answer no40    ,various    
,forms of ,amendments4    ,an ,amendment
 may be either 7#a7 by 8adding0 or 7#b7 
by 8striking out0  words or paragraphs2 
or 7#c7 by 8striking out certain words  
and inserting  others20 or 7#d7 by      
8substituting0 a different motion on the
 same  subject2 or 7#e7 by 8dividing the
 question0 into two or more questions1  
so as to get a separate vote on any     
particular point or points4             
,additions and ,corrections4    ,these  
corrections1 though mostly contained in 

other parts of  the ,manual1 are also   
needed in the places here indicated4    
#aith page1 #gth line1 after 8 #ac0     
insert a star referring to this note3   
8,see  note to  #fa40  #ejth 0  #b;d    
line of last note1 omit all after       
8reconsideration40  #east 0  at end of  
#abth line1 insert 8upon another day40  
0 0 #ajth line1 insert a star1 referring
 to this note3 8,in ,congress the       
effect always terminates with the       
session1 and it cannot be called up by  
any  one but the mover1 until the       
expiration of the time during which it  
is in order  to move a reconsideration40
  #fith 0  #dth line1 after 8 #cd10     
insert 8or limiting or closing debate40 
#gb;d  0  #agth line1 insert a star     
referring to this note3 8,if both are   
personally interested4 ,see p4 #afa40   
#gc;d  0  last line of note1 insert     
8final0 before 8vote40  #hjth 0  add to 
the list in  #ci the motion 8,to make a 
special order40          ,,index4       
,the figures from #a to #de refer to    

sections in ,part ,i2 those greater than
  #de1 to sections in ,part ,,ii4 ,a    
complete list of motions will be found  
in  the ,index1 under the title         
,motions1 list of4 ,the arrangement of  
the  work can be most easily seen by    
examining the ,table of ,contents pp4   
#e-h2 its plan is explained in the      
,introduction1 pp4 #ab-ae4              
,,section4    ,adjourn1 motion to       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #aa1 #fc;b    when in order       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #aa1 #fd    effect upon        
unfinished business                     
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #aa1 #fi 
motion to 8fix the time to which to     
adjourn0 '''''''''''''''''' #aj1 #fc    
,amendment1 motion to 8amend0           
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #bc1 
#ef;a    by 8adding0 or 8striking out0  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #bc1   
#ef;a    by 8striking out and inserting0
 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #bc1    
#ef;a    by 8substituting0              

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #bc1 #ef;a    by 8dividing the     
question0                               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #d1    
#bc1 #ef;a    of an amendment           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''4 #bc1 #ef;a    in committee       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #bh1 #ec    in committee of  
the whole                               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #cb    of reports or propositions with 
several paragraphs '''''''''44 #dd1     
#dh;b    of ,rules of ,order1 ,by-,laws 
and ,constitutions ''''''''''''''''''   
#de1 #gc    motions that cannot be      
amended ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 
#bc1 #ef;a  ,announcing the vote4 ,see  
,forms4  ,appeal from the decision of   
the chair ''''''''''''''''''''''''44    
#ad1 #fa;e  ,apply1 meaning of          
7,introduction1 page #ad74  ,assembly1  
how organized                           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#df1 #dg1 #dh    the word to be replaced

 by ,society1 ,convention1 etc41        
when it occurs in forms of questions1 p 
#af4    legal rights of1 pp4 #aeh-afc4  
right to punish members1 p4 #aeh4       
right to eject persons from their room1 
p4 #aei4    trial of members1 p4 #afj4  
,ayes and ,noes4 ,see ,yeas and ,nays1  
#ch4  ,ballot                           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''44 #ch  ,blanks1    
filling of                              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #be    in balloting1 not to  
be counted                              
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #ch 
,boards of ,trustees1 ,managers1 etc41  
their reports in    order when reports  
of standing committees are made         
'''''''''''' #dd1 #gb    7,see ,quorum47
  ,business1 introduction of            
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#a-e1 #ed    order of                   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #dd1 #gb    unfinished1  
effect of an adjournment upon           

''''''''''''''''''''' #aa1 #fi          
,see ,priority of ,business4  ,by-,laws1
 what they should contain               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #di 
adoption of                             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #df;a    amendment of    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #de1 #gc  ,chairman1 duties  
of                                      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #dj1 #ej    election of           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #df;a    temporary       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''44 #dj1 #dg    of a committee
                                        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #bh1 #ec  of committee of the  
whole                                   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #cb  ,change of ,vote allowed before
 result is announced ''''''''''''''''''4
 #ch  ,classification of ,motions       
according to their object               

'''''''''''''''44 #ee    into           
,privileged1 ,incidental1 ,subsidiary1  
etc4 ''''''''''''''''''44 #f-i  ,clerk1 
duties of                               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #da1 #ea    additional duties  
of when receiving money                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #eb           
election of                             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #df;a  ,commit1 motion to
                                        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''4 #bb1 #ef;b  ,committees1         
appointment of                          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#bb1 #df;c    how they should be        
composed                                
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #bb1
 #ec    object of                       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''44 #bh1 #ec    manner of     
conducting business in                  
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #bh1 #ec 
,reports of1 their form                 

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #bi1 #ec      their reception          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #cj1 #df;c      their adoption     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #ca1 #df;c      their place in the
 order of business                      
'''''''''''''''''''''''' #dd1 #gb       
common errors in acting upon 7note7     
'''''''''''''''''''''''' #cj1 #df;c     
,minority ,reports of1 their form       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #bi1 #ec
      to be acted upon must be moved as 
a substitute        for the committee's 
report ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 
#bh1 #ec    of the whole                
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #cb    as if in committee
 of the whole                           
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #cc 
,congress1 rules of1 the basis of this  
work1 pp4 #aj-ab4  ,consideration of a  
question1 objection to                  
'''''''''''''''''''''4 #ae1 #ei;a       
,constitutions1 what they should contain

 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #di      
adoption of by a society                
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
4 #dh;b    amendment of                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #de1 #gc  ,convention1 manner
 of organizing and conducting a         
meeting of                              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''44 #dg  ,credentials of      
delegates                               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #dg  ,debate1 what precedes        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #c1 #ed    no member to speak but  
twice in same ''''''''''''''''''''''''44
 #cd1 #fe    no member to speak longer  
than ten minutes at one      time       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''44 #cd1 #fe    a majority 
can extend the number and length of     
speeches allowed                        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #cd1 #fe    number of speeches and  
time allowed in ,congress      7note7   

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #cd1 #fe    member       
introducing measure has right to close  
''''''''''''''''''''' #cd    list of    
undebatable questions                   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #ce1  
#ff    motions that open the main       
question to '''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #ce    principles regulating the extent
 of 7see note7 ''''''''''''''''''44 #ce 
decorum in                              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''4 #cf1 #fe    closing or     
limiting                                
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #cg1 #eh  ,decorum in debate        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''44 #cf1 #fe  ,definitions of       
various terms ,introduction1 p4 #ae4    
,delegates1 organization of a meeting of
 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #dg      
,division of the assembly               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #ch    of questions see ,amendment 
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #d1  

#ef;a  ,ecclesiastical ,tribunals1 legal
 rights of1 p4 #aei4  ,election of      
,officers                               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #df;a1 #dg  ,fix the time to which  
to ,adjourn1 motion to                  
''''''''''''''''''44 #aj1 #fc;a  ,floor1
 how to obtain                          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #b1 #ed  ,forms of making motions 
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
4 #df1 #ed    of stating and putting    
questions ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 #ch1 #fg    of announcing the result of
 a vote '''''''''''''''''''''''''''4    
#ch1 #ed    of reports of committees    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#bi1 #ec    of treasurers' reports      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #eb    of minutes of a meeting     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#da1 #ea    of conducting an occasional 
or mass meeting '''''''''''''''''''''44 
#df    of conducting a meeting of       
delegates ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

 #dg    of conduction a meeting to      
organize a society '''''''''''''''''''''
 #dh    of conducting an ordinary       
meeting of a society ''''''''''''''''''4
 #dh;b  ,incidental questions           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''4 #h  ,indefinite postponement  
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #bd1 #ei;b  ,informal consideration of 
a question                              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #cc    
,introduction of ,business              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#a-e1 #ed  ,journal1 or minutes         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #da1 #ea  ,legal ,rights4 ,see    
,assembly and ,ecclesiastical           
,tribunals4  ,lie on the table1 motion  
to ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #ai1 
#eg;b1 #ei;c  ,main question            
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''44 #f  ,majority4 ,see    
,two-thirds and ,quorum4  ,meeting1     
distinction between it and session      
''''''''''''''''''''' #db1 #gj      ,see

 also ,introduction1 page #ae4    how to
 conduct4 ,see ,forms4  ,members not to 
be present during a debate or vote      
concerning themselves                   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #cf    trial of1 p4 #afj4         
,minority ,report4 ,see ,committees4    
,minutes1 form and contents of          
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #da1
 #ea  ,moderator4 ,see ,chairman4       
,modification of a motion by the mover  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #e     
,motions1 list of4 ,for details1 see    
each motion in the ,index4    ,adjourn  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #aa1 #fc;b    ,adjourn1  
,fix the time to which to               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #aj1 #fc;a 
,amend                                  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''44 #bc1 #ef;a    ,adopt a 
report 7same as accept or agree to7     
'''''''''''''''''' #ca1 #df;c    ,appeal
                                        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

''''''''''''''4 #ad1 #fa;e    ,blanks1  
filling                                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''' #be    ,call to order       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #ad1 #fa;d    ,close debate    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #cg1 #eh    ,commit          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''4 #bb1 #ef;b              
,consideration of a question1 objection 
to ''''''''''''''''''4 #ae1 #ei;a       
,divide the question                    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#d1 #bc1 #ef;a    ,extend the limits of 
debate                                  
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #cd1
 #fe    ,fix the time to which to       
adjourn '''''''''''''''''''''''''''44   
#aj1 #fc;a    ,incidental motions or    
questions                               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #h 
,indefinitely postpone                  
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #bd1 #ei;b    ,informal consideration  

of a question                           
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #cc      
,leave to continue speech when guilty of
 indecorum '''''''''''''''44 #cf        
,leave to withdraw a motion             
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #ag1
 #fb;b    ,lie on the table             
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #ai1 #eg;b1 #ei;c    ,limit ,debate    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''4 #cg1 #eh;b    ,main motions or
 questions                              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'' #f    ,objection to the consideration
 of a question '''''''''''''''44 #ae1   
#ei;a    ,order1 questions of           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'' #ad1 #fa;d    ,orders of the day     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #ac1 #fa;a    ,orders1 special     
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #fa;b    ,postpone to a      
certain day                             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''    
#ba1 #eg;a    ,postpone indefinitely    

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #bd1 #ei;b    ,previous question       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #bj1 #eh;a    ,principal motions or
 questions                              
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #f
    ,priority of ,business1 questions   
relating to '''''''''''''''''''''44 #ce 
,privileged motions or questions        
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #i 
,privilege1 questions of                
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#ab1 #fb;c    ,reading papers           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #af1 #fb    ,reception of a    
report see ,committees                  
'''''''''''''''''''''44 #cj1 #df;c      
,recommit same as ,commit               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#bb1 #ef    ,reconsider                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''4 #bg1 #fj    ,refer same as 
,commit                                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#bb1 #ef;b    ,renewal of a motion      

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #bf1 #fj    ,rise in committee1     
equals adjourn                          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #aa1 #cb    
,shall the question be considered8 or   
discussed ''''''''''''4 #ae1 #ei;a      
,special ,order1 to make a              
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
4 #fa;b    ,strike out see ,amendment   
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #bc1
 #ef;a    ,subsidiary motions or        
questions                               
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #g 
,substitute 7same as ,amendment1 which  
see7 ''''''''''''''''''44 #bc1 #ef;a    
,suspension of the ,rules               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#ah1 #fa;c    ,take from the table see  
,lie on the table ''''''''''''''''''4   
#ai1 #eg;b    ,take up a question out of
 its proper order ''''''''''''''''''44  
#dd1 #gb    ,withdrawal of a motion     
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #ag1 #fb  ,motions1 tabular view of    
rules relating to1 page #aff4           

classified according to their object    
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #ee      
classified into ,privileged1            
,incidental1 ,subsidiary1 etc4 '''''''''
 #f-i    order of precedence of see each
 motion1  #aj-bg '''''''''''''''4 #fd   
how to be made                          
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'' #a1 #b1 #df1 #ed    a second required
 7with certain exceptions7              
''''''''''''''''''44 #c1 #fg    to be   
stated by chairman before being         
discussed '''''''''''''''4 #c1 #ed      
when to be in writing                   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'' #d1 #ed    how to be divided         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''44 #d    how to be modified by  
the mover '''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 
#c1 #e1 #ag    how to be stated and put 
to the question '''''''''''''''''''''4  
#ch1 #fg    that cannot be amended      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#bc1 #ef;a    that cannot be debated    
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4

 #ce1 #ff    that open main question to 
debate '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 #ce    that require two-thirds vote for
 their adoption ''''''''''''''' #ci1 #fh
  ,nominations1 how treated             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
#be1 #df;a  ,numbers of paragraphs to be
 corrected by clerk without    a vote   
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''' #bc  ,objection to 
the consideration 7discussion or        
introduction    of a question           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #ae1 #ei;a  ,officers of an    
assembly4 ,see ,chairman1 ,clerk1       
,treasurer    and ,vice-,presidents4    
,order1 questions of and a call to      
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #ad1     
#fa;d    of business                    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''' #dd1 #gb    of the day      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''' #ac1 #fa;a      distinction 
between1 and rules of the assembly      
7note7 '''''''''4 #fa;a    special      

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''4 #fa;b    of          
precedence of motions4 ,see ,precedence4
  ,organization of an occasional or mass
 meeting '''''''''''''''''''''4 #df;a   
of a convention or assembly of delegates
 ''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #dg    of a 
permanent society                       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #dh  ,papers and documents1 reading
 of ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44    
#af1 #fb    in custody of clerk         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #da1 #ea  ,parliamentary ,law1 its  
origin1 etc41 7,introduction4 p4 #i47   
,plan of the ,manual1 7,introduction1   
page #ab47    of ,part ,i1 ,rules of    
,order1 7,introduction1 page #ac47    of
 ,part ,,ii1 ,organization and ,conduct 
of ,business1      7,introduction1 page 
#ad47  ,postpone to a certain time      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#ba1 #eg;a   indefinitely               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''4 #bd1 #ei;b  ,preamble1        

considered after the rest of a paper    
'''''''''''''''''''''4 #dd  ,precedence 
of motions see each motion1  #aj-bg     
''''''''''''''''''4 #fd   meaning of1   
7,introduction1 page #ad47  ,presiding  
,officer4 ,see ,chairman4  ,previous    
,question                               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''4 #bj1 #eh;a  ,principal 7or main7 
question                                
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
4 #f  ,priority of ,business1 questions 
relating to are undebatable '''''''''   
#ce  ,privilege1 questions of           
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #ab1 #fb;c  ,privileged questions      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''4 #i  ,putting the question1    
form of                                 
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #ch1
 #fg  ,questions4 ,see ,forms1 ,motions1
 ,privilege and ,order4  ,quorum1 when  
there is no rule1 consists of a majority
 ''''''''''''''' #dc   committees and   
boards cannot decide upon               

''''''''''''''''''''''''44 #dc  ,reading
 of ,papers                             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''44 #af1 #fb  ,reception of a       
report4 ,see ,committees4  ,re-commit   
7same as ,commit7                       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#bb1 #ef;b  ,reconsider                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #bg1 #fj  ,record1 or    
minutes                                 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''4 #da1 #ea  ,recording officer4    
,see ,clerk4  ,refer same as ,commit    
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
4 #bb1 #ef;b  ,renewal of a motion      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #bf1 #fj  ,reports of committees4 
,see ,committees4  ,rights of           
assemblies4 ,see ,assembly4   of        
ecclesiastical tribunals1 p4 #aei4      
,rise1 motion to1 in committee1 equals  
adjourn ''''''''''''''''''4 #aa1 #cb    
,rules of debate4 ,see ,debate4   of    
,order1 amendment of                    

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #de1 #gc   of ,order1 what they should 
contain ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44
 #di   standing1 what they should       
contain ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44
 #di   suspension of                    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #ah1 #fa;c   relating to       
motions1 tabular view of p4 #aff4       
,seconding1 motions that do not require 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #c1 #fg     
,secretary4 ,see ,clerk4  ,session ,see 
also ,meeting                           
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#db1 #gj  ,shall the question be        
considered 7or discussed7               
'''''''''''''''4 #ae1 #ei;a  ,speaking1 
rules of1 ,see ,debate4  ,special ,order
                                        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #fa;b  ,standing ,rules  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''' #di  ,stating a question1
 form of                                
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   

#ch1 #fg  ,strike out 7see ,amendment7  
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#bc1 #ef;a  ,subsidiary motions or      
questions                               
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''44  
#g  ,substitute 7see ,amendment7        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4   
#bc1 #ef;a  ,sum1 largest1 first put    
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''' #be  ,suspension of the rules     
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''4
 #ah1 #fa;c  ,table of ,rules relating  
to motions1 p4 #aff4  ,take from the    
table1 motion to                        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' #ai1  
#eg;b  ,time1 longest1 first put        
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #be  ,treasurer1 duties of         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''' #eb  ,trial of ,members1 p4    
#afj4  ,two-thirds vote1 motions        
requiring ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 #ci1 #fh  ,undebatable ,questions      
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''4 #ce1 #ff  ,unfinished business1     

effect of adjournment upon              
'''''''''''''''44 #aa1 #fi    its place 
in the order of business                
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''4 #dd1 #gb   
,vice-,presidents                       
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''4 #df;d  ,vote1 form of      
announcing see also ,forms              
'''''''''''''''''''''44 #ch1 #ed        
motions requiring more than a majority  
'''''''''''''''''''''''' #ci1 #fh       
change of1 permitted before result is   
announced ''''''''''''''''''4 #ch       
,voting1 various methods of             
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'' #ch  ,withdrawal of a motion         
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'' #ag1 #fb  ,yeas and ,nays1 voting by 
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''44 #ch  ,yields1 meaning of1          
7,introduction1 page #ad47