PART II.

ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.*

[The exact words used by the chairman or member, are in many cases in

quotations. It is not to be inferred that these are the only forms permitted,

but that these forms are proper and common. They are inserted for the benefit

of those unaccustomed to parliamentary forms, and are sufficiently numerous for

ordinary meetings.]

Art. IX. Organization and Meetings.

[§§ 46-49.]

46. An Occasional or Mass Meeting. (a)

Organization. When a meeting is held which is not one of an organized society,

shortly after the time appointed for the meeting, some member of the assembly

steps forward and says: “The meeting will please come to order; I move that Mr.

A. act as chairman of this meeting.” Some one else says, “I second the motion.”

The first member then puts the question to vote, by saying, “It has been moved

and seconded that Mr. A. act as chairman of this meeting; those in favor of the

motion will say aye,” and when the affirmative vote is taken, he says, “those

opposed will say no.” If the majority vote in the affirmative, he says, “The

motion is carried; Mr. A. will take the chair.” If the motion is lost, he

announces that fact, and calls for the nomination of some one else for

chairman, and proceeds with the new nomination as in the first case.*

[Sometimes a member nominates a chairman and no vote is taken, the assembly

signifying their approval by acclamation. The member who calls the meeting to

order, instead of making the motion himself, may act as temporary chairman, and

say: “The meeting will please come to order: will some one nominate a

chairman?” He puts the question to vote on the nomination as described above.

In large assemblies, the member who nominates, with one other member,

frequently conducts the presiding officer to the chair, and the chairman makes

a short speech, thanking the assembly for the honor conferred on him.]

When Mr. A. takes the chair, he says, “The first business in order is the

election of a secretary.” Some one then makes a motion as just described, or he

says “I nominate Mr. B,” when the chairman puts the question as before.

Sometimes several names are called out, and the chairman, as he hears them,

says, “Mr. B. is nominated; Mr. C. is nominated,” etc; he then takes a vote on

the first one he heard, putting the question thus: “As many as are in favor of

Mr. B. acting as secretary of this meeting, will say aye;—those opposed will

say no.” If the motion is lost the question is put on Mr. C., and so on, till

some one is elected. In large meetings the secretary takes his seat near the

chairman: he should in all cases keep a record of the proceedings as described

in § 51.

(b) Adoption of Resolutions. These two officers are all

that are usually necessary for a meeting; so, when the secretary is elected,

the chairman asks, “What is the further pleasure of the meeting?” If the

meeting is merely a public assembly called together to consider some special

subject, it is customary at this stage of the proceedings for some one to offer

a series of resolutions previously prepared, or else to move the appointment of

a committee to prepare resolutions upon the subject. In the first case he rises

and says, “Mr. Chairman;” the chairman responds, “Mr. C.” Mr. C., having thus

obtained the floor, then says, “I move the adoption of the following

resolutions,” which he then reads and hands to the chairman;* [The practice in

legislative bodies, is to send to the clerk’s desk all resolutions, bills,

etc., the title of the bill and the name of the member introducing it, being

endorsed on each. In such bodies, however, there are several clerks and only

one chairman. In many assemblies there is but one clerk or secretary, and, as

he has to keep the minutes, there is no reason for his being constantly

interrupted to read every resolution offered. In such assemblies, without there

is a rule or established custom to the contrary, it is allowable, and

frequently much better, to hand all resolutions, reports, etc., directly to the

chairman. If they were read by the member introducing them, and no one calls

for another reading, the chairman can omit reading them when be thinks they are

fully understood. In reference to the manner of reading and stating the

question, when the resolution contains several paragraphs, see Rules of Order,

§ 44.] some one else says, “I second the motion.” The chairman sometimes

directs the secretary to read the resolutions again, after which he says, “The

question is on the adoption of the resolutions just read,” and if no one rises

immediately, he adds, “Are you ready for the question?” If no one then rises,

he says, “As many as are in favor of the adoption of the resolutions just read,

will say aye;” after the ayes have voted, he says, “As many as are of a

contrary opinion will say no;” he then announces the result of the vote as

follows: “The motion is carried—the resolutions are adopted,” or, “The ayes

have it—the resolutions are adopted.”

(c) Committee to draft Resolutions. If it is preferred to

appoint a committee to draft resolutions, a member, after he has addressed the

Chair and been recognized, says, “I move that a committee be appointed to draft

resolutions expressive of the sense of this meeting on,” etc., adding the

subject for which the meeting was called. This motion being seconded, the

Chairman states the question [§ 67] and asks, “Are you ready for the question?”

If no one rises, he puts the question, announces the result, and, if it is

carried, he asks, “Of how many shall the committee consist?” If only one number

is suggested, he announces that the committee will consist of that number; if

several numbers are suggested, he states the different ones and then takes a

vote on each, beginning with the largest, until one number is selected.

He then inquires, “How shall the committee be appointed?” This is usually

decided without the formality of a vote. The committee may be “appointed” by

the Chair—in which case the chairman names the committee and no vote is taken;

or the committee may be “nominated” by the Chair, or the members of the

assembly (no member naming more than one, except by unanimous consent), and

then the assembly vote on their appointment. When the chairman nominates, after

stating the names he puts one question on the entire committee, thus: “As many

as are in favor of these gentlemen constituting the committee, will say aye.”

If nominations are made by members of the assembly, and more names mentioned

than the number of the committee, a separate vote should be taken on each name.

(In a mass meeting it is safer to have all committees appointed by the

chairman.)

When the committee are appointed they should at once retire and agree

upon a report, which should be written out as described in § 53. During

their absence other business may be attended to, or the time may be

occupied with hearing addresses. Upon their return the chairman of the

committee (who is the one first named on the committee, and who quite

commonly, though not necessarily, is the one who made the motion to

appoint the committee), avails himself of the first opportunity to

obtain the floor,* [See Rules of Order, § 2.] when he says, “The

committee appointed to draft resolutions, are prepared to report.” The

chairman tells him that the assembly will now hear the report, which is

then read by the chairman of the committee, and handed to the presiding

officer, upon which the committee is dissolved without any action of the

assembly.

A member then moves the “adoption” or “acceptance” of the report, or that “the

resolutions be agreed to,” which motions have the same effect if carried,

namely, to make the resolutions the resolutions of the assembly just as if the

committee had had nothing to do with them.* [A very common error is, after a

report has been read, to move that it be received; whereas, the fact that it

has been read, shows that it has been already received by the assembly. Another

mistake, less common but dangerous, is to vote that the report be accepted

which is equivalent to adopting it), when the intention is only to have the

report up for consideration and afterwards move its adoption.]

When one of these motions is made, the chairman acts as stated above

when the resolutions were offered by a member. If it is not desired to

immediately adopt the resolutions, they can be debated, modified, their

consideration postponed, etc., as explained in §§ 55-63.

When through with the business for which the assembly were convened, or

when from any other cause it is desirable to close the meeting, some one

moves “to adjourn;” if the motion is carried and no other time for

meeting has been appointed, the chairman says, “The motion is carried;

—this assembly stands adjourned without day.” [Another method by which

the meeting may be conducted is shown in § 48.]

(d) Additional Officers. If more officers are required

than a chairman and secretary, they can be appointed before introducing the

resolutions, in the manner described for those officers; or the assembly can

first form a temporary organization in the manner already described, only

adding “pro tem.” to the title of the officers, thus: “chairman pro tem.” In

this latter case, as soon as the secretary pro tem. is elected, a committee is

appointed to nominate the permanent officers, as in the case of a convention [§

47]. Frequently the presiding officer is called the President, and sometimes

there is a large number of Vice Presidents appointed for mere complimentary

purposes. The Vice Presidents in large formal meetings, sit on the platform

beside the President, and in his absence, or when he vacates the chair, the

first on the list that is present should take the chair.

47. Meeting of a Convention or Assembly of Delegates. If

the members of the assembly have been elected or appointed as members, it

becomes necessary to know who are properly members of the assembly and entitled

to vote, before the permanent organization is effected. In this case a

temporary organization is made, as already described, by the election of a

chairman and secretary “pro tem.,” when the chairman announces, “The next

business in order is the appointment of a committee on credentials.” A motion

may then be made covering the entire case, thus: “I move that a committee of

three on the credentials of members be appointed by the Chair, and that the

committee report as soon as practicable;” or they may include only one of these

details, thus: “I move that a committee be appointed on the credentials of

members.” In either case the Chair proceeds as already described in the cases

of committees on resolutions [§ 46, (c)].

On the motion to accept the report of the committee, none can vote

except those reported by the committee as having proper credentials.

The committee, beside reporting a list of members with proper

credentials, may report doubtful or contested cases, with

recommendations, which the assembly may adopt, or reject, or postpone,

etc. Only members whose right to their seats is undisputed, can vote.

The chairman, after the question of credentials is disposed of, at least for

the time, announces that “The next business in order is the election of

permanent officers of the assembly.” Some one then moves the appointment of a

committee to nominate the officers, in a form similar to this: “I move that a

committee of three be appointed by the Chair to nominate the permanent officers

of this convention.” This motion is treated as already explained. When the

committee make their report, some one moves “That the report of the committee

be accepted and that the officers nominated be declared the officers of this

convention.”* [Where there is any competition for the offices, it is better

that they be elected by ballot. In this case, when the nominating committee

report, a motion can be made as follows: “I move that the convention now

proceed to ballot for its permanent officers;” or “I move that we now proceed

to the election, by ballot, of the permanent officers of this convention.” [See

Rules of Order, § 38, for balloting, and other methods of voting.] The

constitutions of permanent societies usually provide that the officers shall be

elected by ballot.] This motion being carried, the chairman declares the

officers elected, and instantly calls the new presiding officer to the chair,

and the temporary secretary is at the same time replaced. The convention is now

organized for work.

48. A Permanent Society. (a) First

Meeting. When it is desired to form a permanent society, those interested in it

should see that only the proper persons are invited to be present, at a certain

time and place. It is not usual in mass meetings, or meetings called to

organize a society, to commence until fifteen or thirty minutes after the

appointed time, when some one steps forward and says, “The meeting will please

come to order; I move that Mr. A. act as chairman of this meeting;” some one

“seconds the motion,” when the one who made the motion puts it to vote (or, as

it is called, “puts the question”), as already described, under an “occasional

meeting” [§ 46, (a)]; and, as in that case, when the chairman is elected, he

announces as the first business in order the election of a secretary.

After the secretary is elected, the chairman calls on some member who is

most interested in getting up the society, to state the object of the

meeting. When this member rises he says, “Mr. Chairman;” the chairman

then announces his name, when the member proceeds to state the object of

the meeting. Having finished his remarks, the chairman may call on

other members to give their opinions upon the subject, and sometimes a

particular speaker is called out by members who wish to hear him. The

chairman should observe the wishes of the assembly, and while being

careful not to be too strict, he must not permit any one to occupy too

much time and weary the meeting.

When a sufficient time has been spent in this informal way, some one should

offer a resolution, so that definite action can be taken. Those interested in

getting up the meeting, if it is to be a large one, should have previously

agreed upon what is to be done, and be prepared at the proper time to offer a

suitable resolution, which may be in a form similar to this: “Resolved, That it

is the sense of this meeting that a society for [state the object of the

society] should now be formed in this city.” This resolution, when seconded,

and stated by the chairman, would be open to debate and be treated as already

described [§ 46, (b)]. This preliminary motion could have been offered at the

commencement of the meeting, and if the meeting is a very large one, this would

probably be better than to have the informal discussion.

After this preliminary motion has been voted on, or even without waiting

for such motion, one like this can be offered: “I move that a committee

of five be appointed by the Chair, to draft a Constitution and By-Laws

for a society for [here state the object], and that they report at an

adjourned meeting of this assembly.” This motion can be amended [§ 56]

by striking out and adding words, etc., and it is debatable.

When this committee is appointed, the chairman may inquire, “Is there

any other business to be attended to?” or, “What is the further pleasure

of the meeting?” When all business is finished, a motion can be made to

adjourn to meet at a certain place and time, which, when seconded, and

stated by the Chair, is open to debate and amendment. It is usually

better to fix the time of the next meeting [see § 63] at an earlier

stage of the meeting, and then, when it is desired to close the meeting,

move simply “to adjourn,” which cannot be amended or debated. When this

motion is carried, the chairman says, “This meeting stands adjourned to

meet at,” etc., specifying the time and place of the next meeting.

(b) Second Meeting.* [Ordinary meetings of a society are

conducted like this second meeting, the chairman, however, announcing the

business in the order prescribed by the rules of the society [§ 72]. For

example, after the minutes are read and approved, he would say, “The next

business in order is hearing reports from the standing committees.” He may then

call upon each committee in their order, for a report, thus: “Has the committee

on applications for membership any report to make?” In which case the committee

may report, as shown above, or some member of it reply that they have no report

to make. Or, when the chairman knows that there are but few if any reports to

make, it is better, after making the announcement of the business, for him to

ask, “Have these committees any reports to make?” After a short pause, if no

one rises to report, he states, “There being no reports from the standing

committees, the next business in order is hearing the reports of select

committees,” when he will act the same as in the case of the standing

committees. The chairman should always have a list of the committees, to enable

him to call upon them, as well as to guide him in the appointment of new

committees.] At the next meeting the officers of the previous meeting, if

present, serve until the permanent officers are elected. When the hour arrives

for the meeting, the chairman standing, says, “The meeting will please come to

order:” as soon as the assembly is seated, he adds, “The secretary will read

the minutes of the last meeting.” If any one notices an error in the minutes,

he can state the fact as soon as the secretary finishes reading them; if there

is no objection, without waiting for a motion, the chairman directs the

secretary to make the correction. The chairman then says, “If there is no

objection the minutes will stand approved as read” [or “corrected,” if any

corrections have been made].

He announces as the next business in order, “the hearing of the report of the

committee on the Constitution and By-Laws.” The chairman of the committee,

after addressing “Mr. Chairman” and being recognized, reads the committee’s

report and then hands it to the chairman.* [In large and formal bodies the

chairman, before inquiring what is to be done with the report, usually directs

the secretary to read it again. See note to § 46 (c), for a few common errors

in acting upon reports of committees. [See also note to § 46 (b).]] If no

motion is made, the chairman says, “You have heard the report read—what order

shall be taken upon it?” Or simply inquires, “What shall be done with the

report?” Some one moves its adoption, or still better, moves “the adoption of

the Constitution reported by the committee,” and when seconded, the chairman

says, “The question is on the adoption of the Constitution reported by the

committee.” He then reads the first article of the Constitution, and asks, “Are

there any amendments proposed to this article?” If none are offered, after a

pause, he reads the next article and asks the same question, and proceeds thus

until he reads the last article, when he says, “The whole Constitution having

been read, it is open to amendment.” Now any one can move amendments to any

part of the Constitution.

When the chairman thinks it has been modified to suit the wishes of the

assembly, he inquires, “Are you ready for the question?” If no one wishes to

speak, he puts the question, “As many as are in favor of adopting the

Constitution as amended, will say aye;” and then, “As many as are opposed, will

say no.” He distinctly announces the result of the vote, which should always be

done. If the articles of the Constitution are subdivided into sections or

paragraphs, then the amendments should be made by sections or paragraphs,

instead of by articles.

The chairman now states that the Constitution having been adopted, it

will be necessary for those wishing to become members to sign it (and

pay the initiation fee, if required by the Constitution), and suggests,

if the assembly is a large one, that a recess be taken for the purpose.

A motion is then made to take a recess for say ten minutes, or until the

Constitution is signed. The constitution being signed, no one is

permitted to vote excepting those who have signed it.

The recess having expired, the chairman calls the meeting to order and says,

“The next business in order is the adoption of By-Laws.” Some one moves the

adoption of the By-Laws reported by the committee, and they are treated just

like the Constitution. The chairman then asks, “What is the further pleasure of

the meeting?” or states that the next business in order is the election of the

permanent officers of the society. In either case some one moves the

appointment of a committee to nominate the permanent officers of the society,

which motion is treated as already described in § 47. As each officer is

elected he replaces the temporary one, and when they are all elected the

organization is completed.

If the society is one that expects to own real estate, it should be

incorporated according to the laws of the state in which it is situated,

and for this purpose, some one on the committee on the Constitution

should consult a lawyer before this second meeting, so that the laws may

be conformed to. In this case the trustees are usually instructed to

take the proper measures to have the society incorporated.

49. Constitutions, By-Laws, Rules of Order and Standing

Rules. In forming a Constitution and By-Laws, it is always best to procure

copies of those adopted by several similar societies, and for the committee,

after comparing them, to select one as the basis of their own, amending each

article just as their own report is amended by the Society. When they have

completed amending the Constitution, it is adopted by the committee. The

By-Laws are treated in the same way, and then, having finished the work

assigned them, some one moves, “That the committee rise, and that the chairman

(or some other member) report the Constitution and By-Laws to the assembly.” If

this is adopted, the Constitution and By-Laws are written out, and a brief

report made of this form: “Your committee, appointed to draft a Constitution

and By-Laws, would respectfully submit the following, with the recommendation

that they be adopted as the Constitution and By-Laws of this society;” which is

signed by all the members of the committee that concur in it. Sometimes the

report is only signed by the chairman of the committee.

In the organization just given, it is assumed that both a Constitution

and By-Laws are adopted. This is not always done; some societies adopt

only a Constitution, and others only By-Laws. Where both are adopted,

the constitution usually contains only the following:

(1) Name and object of the society.

(2) Qualification of members.

(3) Officers, their election and duties.

(4) Meetings of the society (only including what is essential, leaving details to the By-Laws).

(5) How to amend the Constitution.

These can be arranged in five articles, each article being subdivided into

sections. The Constitution containing nothing but what is fundamental, it

should be made very difficult to amend; usually previous notice of the

amendment is required, and also a two-thirds or three-fourths vote for its

adoption [§ 73]. It is better not to require a larger vote than two-thirds,

and, where the meetings are frequent, an amendment should not be allowed to be

made except at a quarterly or annual meeting, after having been proposed at the

previous quarterly meeting.

The By-Laws contain all the other standing rules of the society, of such

importance that they should be placed out of the power of any one

meeting to modify; or they may omit the rules relating to the conduct of

business in the meetings, which would then constitute the Rules of Order

of the society. Every society, in its By-Laws or Rules of Order, should

adopt a rule like this: “The rules contained in—(specifying the work

on parliamentary practice) shall govern the society in all cases to

which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with

the Rules of Order (or By-Laws) adopted by the society.” Without such a

rule, any one so disposed, could cause great trouble in a meeting.

In addition to the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order, in nearly

every society resolutions of a permanent nature are occasionally

adopted, which are binding on the society until they are rescinded or

modified. These are called Standing Rules, and can be adopted by a

majority vote at any meeting. After they have been adopted, they cannot

be modified at the same session except by a reconsideration [§ 60]. At

any future session they can be suspended, modified or rescinded by a

majority vote. The Standing Rules, then, comprise those rules of a

society which have been adopted like ordinary resolutions, without the

previous notice, etc., required for By-Laws, and consequently, future

sessions of the society are at liberty to terminate them whenever they

please. No Standing Rule (or other resolution) can be adopted which

conflicts with the Constitution, By-Laws or Rules of Order.* [In

practice these various classes of rules are frequently very much mixed.

The Standing Rules of some societies are really By-Laws, as the society

cannot suspend them, nor can they be amended until previous notice is

given. This produces confusion without any corresponding benefit.

Standing Rules should contain only such rules as are subject to the will

of the majority of any meeting, and which it may be expedient to change

at any time, without the delay incident to giving previous notice.

Rules of Order should contain only the rules relating to the orderly

transaction of the business in the meetings of the society. 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

change; provided that the most important of these can be placed in a

Constitution instead of in the By-Laws. These latter three should

provide for their amendment. The Rules of Order should provide for

their suspension. The By-Laws sometimes provide for the suspension of

certain articles. None of these three can be suspended without it is

expressly provided for.

Art. X. Officers and Committees.

50. Chairman or President. It is the duty of the chairman

to call the meeting to order at the appointed time, to preside at all the

meetings, to announce the business before the assembly in its proper order, to

state and put all questions properly brought before the assembly, to preserve

order and decorum, and to decide all questions of order (subject to an appeal).

When he “puts a question” to vote, and when speaking upon an appeal, he should

stand;* [In meetings of boards of managers, committees and other small bodies,

the chairman usually retains his seat, and even members in speaking do not

rise.] in all other cases he can sit. In all cases where his vote would affect

the result, or where the vote is by ballot, he can vote. When a member rises to

speak, he should say, “Mr. Chairman,” and the chairman should reply, “Mr. A;”

he should not interrupt a speaker as long as he is in order, but should listen

to his speech, which should be addressed to him and not to the assembly. The

chairman should be careful to abstain from the appearance of partizanship, but

he has the right to call another member to the chair while he addresses the

assembly on a question; when speaking to a question of order he does not leave

the chair.

51. The Clerk, Secretary or Recording Secretary, as he is

variously called, should keep a record of the proceedings, the character of

which depends upon the kind of meeting. In an occasional or mass meeting, the

record usually amounts to nothing, but he should always record every resolution

or motion that is adopted.

In a convention it is often desirable to keep a full record for publication,

and where it lasts for several days, it is usual, and generally best, to

appoint one or more assistant clerks. Frequently it is a tax on the judgment of

the clerk to decide what to enter on the record, or the “Minutes,” as it is

usually called. Sometimes the points of each speech should be entered, and at

other times only the remark that the question was discussed by Messrs. A., B.

and C. in the affirmative, and Messrs. D., E. and F. in the negative. Every

resolution that is adopted should be entered, which can be done in this form:

“On motion of Mr. D. it was resolved that, &c.”

Sometimes a convention does its work by having certain topics previously

assigned to certain speakers, who deliver formal addresses or essays,

the subjects of which are afterwards open for discussion in short

speeches, of five minutes, for instance. In such cases the minutes are

very brief, without they are to be published, when they should contain

either the entire addresses or carefully prepared abstracts of them, and

should show the drift of the discussion that followed each one. In

permanent societies, where the minutes are not published, they consist

of a record of what was done and not what was said, and should be kept

in a book.

The Form of the Minutes can be as follows:

“At a regular meeting of the M. L. Society, held in their hall, on Tuesday

evening, March 16, 1875, Mr. A. in the chair and Mr. B. acting as secretary,

the minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The committee on

Applications reported the names of Messrs. C. and D. as applicants for

membership; and on motion of Mr. F. they were admitted as members. The

committee on —— reported a series of resolutions, which were thoroughly

discussed and amended, and finally adopted as follows:

“Resolved, That * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *”

On motion of Mr. L. the society adjourned.

L- B-, Secretary.

If the proceedings are to be published, the secretary should always

examine the published proceedings of similar meetings, so as to conform

to the custom, excepting where it is manifestly improper.

The Constitution, By-Laws, Rules of Order and Standing Rules should all

be written in one book, leaving every other page blank; and whenever an

amendment is made to any of them, it should be immediately entered on

the page opposite to the article amended, with a reference to the date

and page of the minutes where is recorded the action of the society.

The secretary has the custody of all papers belonging to the society, not

specially under charge of any other officer. Sometimes his duties are also of a

financial kind, when he should make such reports as are prescribed in the next

section.

52. Treasurer. The duties of this officer vary in different

societies. In probably the majority of cases he acts as a banker, merely

holding the funds deposited with him, and paying them out on the order of the

society signed by the secretary. His annual report, which is always required,

in this case consists of merely a statement of the amount on hand at the

commencement of the year, the amount received during the year (stating from

what source received), the total amount paid out by order of the society, and

the balance on hand. When this report is presented it is referred to an

“auditing committee,” consisting of one or two persons, who examine the

treasurer’s books and vouchers, and certify on his report that they “have

examined his accounts and vouchers and find them correct, and the balance on

hand is,” etc., stating the amount on hand. The auditing committee’s report

being accepted is equivalent to a resolution of the society to the same effect,

namely, that the treasurer’s report is correct.

In the case here supposed, the real financial statement is made either by the

board of trustees, or by the secretary or some other officer, according to the

Constitution of the society. The principles involved, are, that every officer

who receives money is to account for it in a report to the society, and that

whatever officer is responsible for the disbursements, shall report them to the

society. If the secretary, as in many societies, is really responsible for the

expenses, the treasurer merely paying upon his order, then the secretary should

make a full report of these expenses, so classified as to enable the society to

readily see the amounts expended for various purposes.

It should always be remembered that the financial report is made for the

information of members. The details of dates and separate payments for

the same object, are a hinderance to its being understood, and are

useless, as it is the duty of the auditing committee to examine into the

details and see if the report is correct.

Every disbursing officer should be careful to get a receipt whenever he makes a

payment; these receipts should be preserved in regular order, as they are the

vouchers for the payments, which must be examined by the auditing committee.

Disbursing officers cannot be too careful in keeping their accounts, and they

should insist upon having their accounts audited every time they make a report,

as by this means any error is quickly detected and may be corrected. When the

society has accepted the auditing committee’s report that the financial report

is correct, the disbursing officer is relieved from the responsibility of the

past, and if his vouchers were lost afterwards, it would cause no trouble. The

best form for these financial reports depends upon the kind of society, and is

best determined by examining those made in similar societies.

The following form can be varied to suit most cases: (when the

statement of receipts and expenses is very long, it is often desirable

to specify the amounts received from one or two particular sources,

which can be done immediately after stating the total receipts; the same

course can be taken in regard to the expenditures):

Treasurer’s Report.

The undersigned, Treasurer of the M. L. Society, begs leave to submit

the following annual report:

The balance on hand at the commencement of the year was —— dollars and ——

cents. There was received from all sources during the year, —— dollars and ——

cents; during the same time the expenses amounted to —— dollars and —— cents,

leaving a balance on hand of —— dollars and —— cents. The annexed statement of

receipts and expenditures will show in detail the sources from which the

receipts were obtained, and the objects to which the expenditures have been

applied. All of which is respectfully submitted.

S— M—, Treasurer M. L. S.

The “Statement of receipts and expenditures” can be made, by simply

giving a list of receipts, followed by a list of expenses, and finishing

up with the balance on hand. The auditing committee’s certificate to

the correctness of the account should be written on the statement.

Often the statement is made out in the form of an account, as follows:

Dr. The M. L. S. in acct. with S. M., Treas. Cr.

———————————————————————————————————-

1874. 1874.

Dec. 31. To rent of hall .. $500 00 Jan. 1. By balance on hand

” Gas ……….. 80 00 from last year’s

” Stationery …. 26 50 account ………. $ 21 13

” Janitor ……. 360 00 Dec. 31. By initiation fees 95 00

” Balance on hand 24 63 ” members’ dues .. 875 00

———- ———-

$991 13 $991 13

We do hereby certify that we have examined the accounts and vouchers of

the treasurer, and find them correct; and that the balance in his hands

is twenty-four dollars and sixty-three cents. R. V., J. L., Audit Comm.

53. Committees. In small assemblies, especially in those

where but little business is done, there is not much need of committees. But in

large assemblies, or in those doing a great deal of business, committees are of

the utmost importance. When a committee is properly selected, in nine cases out

of ten its action decides that of the assembly. A committee for action should

be small and consist only of those heartily in favor of the proposed action. A

committee for deliberation or investigation, on the contrary, should be larger

and represent all parties in the assembly, so that its opinion will carry with

it as great weight as possible. The usefulness of the committee will be greatly

impaired, if any important faction of the assembly be unrepresented on the

committee. The appointment of a committee is fully explained in § 46 (c).

The first member named on a committee is their chairman, and it is his duty to

call together the committee, and preside at their meetings. If he is absent, or

from any cause fails or declines to call a meeting, it is the duty of the

committee to assemble on the call of any two of their members. The committee

are a miniature assembly, only being able to act when a quorum is present. If a

paper is referred to them they must not deface it in any way, but write their

amendments on a separate sheet. If they originate the paper, all amendments

must be incorporated in it. When they originate the paper, usually one member

has previously prepared a draft, which is read entirely through, and then read

by paragraphs, the chairman pausing after each paragraph and asking, “Are there

any amendments proposed to this paragraph?” No vote is taken on the adoption of

the separate paragraphs, but after the whole paper has been read in this way,

it is open to amendment, generally, by striking out any paragraph or inserting

new ones, or by substituting an entirely new paper for it. When it has been

amended to suit the committee, they should adopt it as their report, and direct

the chairman or some other member to report it to the assembly. It is then

written out, usually commencing in a style similar to this: “The committee to

which was referred [state the matter referred], beg leave to submit the

following report;” or, “Your committee appointed to [specify the object], would

respectfully report,” etc. It usually closes thus: “All of which is

respectfully submitted,” followed by the signatures of all the members

concurring in the report, or sometimes by only that of the chairman.

If the minority submit a report, it commences thus: “The undersigned, a

minority of the committee appointed,” etc., continuing as the regular

report of the committee. After the committee’s report has been read, it

is usual to allow the minority to present their report, but it cannot be

acted upon except by a motion to substitute it for the report of the

committee. When the committee’s report is read, they are discharged

without any motion. A motion to refer the paper back to the same

committee (or to re-commit), if adopted, revives the committee.

Art. XI. Introduction of Business.

54. Any member wishing to bring business before the

assembly, should, without it is very simple, write down in the form of a

motion, what he would like to have the assembly adopt, thus:

Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be tendered to the citizens

of this community for their hearty welcome and generous hospitality.

When there is no other business before the assembly, he rises and addresses the

chairman by his title, thus: “Mr. Chairman,” who immediately recognizes him by

announcing his name.* [If the chairman has any special title, as President, for

instance, he should be addressed by it, thus: “Mr. President.” Sometimes the

chairman recognizes the speaker by merely bowing to him, but the proper course

is to announce his name.] He, then having the floor, says that he “moves the

adoption of the following resolution,” which he reads and hands to the

chairman.** [Or, when he is recognized by the chair, he may say that he wishes

to offer the following resolutions, which he reads and then moves their

adoption.] Some one else seconds the motion, and the chairman says, “It has

been moved and seconded that the following resolution be adopted,” when he

reads the resolution; or he may read the resolution and then state the question

thus: “The question is on the adoption of the resolution just read.” The merits

of the resolution are then open to discussion, but before any member can

discuss the question or make any motion, he must first obtain the floor as just

described. After the chairman states the question, if no one rises to speak, or

when he thinks the debate closed, he asks, “Are you ready for the question?” If

no one then rises, he puts the question in a form similar to the following:

“The question is on the adoption of the resolution which you have heard; as

many as are in favor of its adoption will say aye.” When the ayes have voted,

he says, “As many as are of a contrary opinion will say no.”* [There are many

other ways of putting a question; see § 67, and Rules of Order, § 38. Other

illustrations of the ordinary practice in introducing business will be seen in

§§ 46-48.] He then announces the result, stating that the motion is carried, or

lost, as the case may be, in the following form: “The motion is carried—the

resolution is adopted;” or, “The ayes have it—the resolution is adopted.” A

majority of the votes cast is sufficient for the adoption of any motion,

excepting those mentioned in § 68.

Art. XII. Motions.

55. Motions Classified According to their Object. Instead

of immediately adopting or rejecting a resolution as originally submitted, it

may be desirable to dispose of it in some other way, and for this purpose

various motions have come into use, which can be made while a resolution is

being considered, and for the time being, supersede it. No one can make any of

these motions while another member has the floor, excepting as shown in § 64,

which see for the circumstances under which each motion can be made.

The following list comprises most of these motions, arranged in eight

classes, according to the object for which each motion is used. [The

names of the motions are printed in Italics; each class is treated

separately, as shown by the references.]

Motions Classified.

(1) To Amend or Modify ………………………………… [§ 56]

(a) Amend.

(b) Commit.

(2) To Defer action …………………………………… [§ 57]

(a) Postpone to a certain time.

(b) Lie on the Table.

(3) To Suppress Debate ………………………………… [§ 58]

(a) Previous Question.

(b) An Order limiting or closing Debate.

(4) To Suppress the question …………………………… [§ 59]

(a) Objection to its Consideration.

(b) Postpone Indefinitely.

(c) Lie on the Table.

(5) To Consider a question the second time ………………. [§ 60]

(a) Reconsider.

(6) Order and Rules …………………………………… [§ 61]

(a) Orders of the day.

(b) Special Orders.

(c) Suspension of the Rules.

(d) Questions of Order.

(e) Appeal.

(7) Miscellaneous …………………………………….. [§ 62]

(a) Reading of Papers.

(b) Withdrawal of a Motion.

(c) Questions of Privilege.

(8) To close a meeting ………………………………… [§ 63]

(a) Fix the time to which to Adjourn.

(b) Adjourn.

56. To Amend or Modify. (a) Amend. If

it is desired to modify the question in any way, the proper motion to make is

to “amend,” either by “adding” words, or by “striking out” words; or by

“striking out certain words and inserting others;” or by “substituting” a

different motion on the same subject for the one before the assembly; or by

“dividing the question” into two or more questions, as the mover specifies, so

as to get a separate vote on any particular point or points. Sometimes the

enemies of a measure seek to amend it in such a way as to divide its friends,

and thus defeat it.

When the amendment has been moved and seconded, the chairman should always

state the question distinctly, so that every one may know exactly what is

before them, reading first the paragraph which it is proposed to amend; then

the words to be struck out, if there are any; next, the words to be inserted,

if any; and finally, the paragraph as it will stand if the amendment is

adopted. He then states that the question is on the adoption of the amendment,

which is open to debate, the remarks being confined to the merits of the

amendment, only going into the main question so far as is necessary in order to

ascertain the propriety of adopting the amendment.

This amendment can be amended, but an “amendment of an amendment” cannot

be amended. None of the undebatable motions mentioned in § 66, except

to fix the time to which to adjourn, can be amended, nor can the motion

to postpone indefinitely.

(b) Commit. If the original question is not well digested,

or needs more amendment than can well be made in the assembly, it is usual to

move “to refer it to a committee.” This motion can be made while an amendment

is pending, and it opens the whole merits of the question to debate. This

motion can be amended by specifying the number of the committee, or how they

shall be appointed, or when they shall report, or by giving them any other

instructions. [See § 53 on committees, and § 46 (c) on their appointment.]

57. To Defer Action. (a) Postpone to a

certain time. If it is desired to defer action upon a question till a

particular time, the proper motion to make, is to “postpone it to that time.”

This motion allows of but limited debate, which must be confined to the

propriety of the postponement to that time; it can be amended by altering the

time, and this amendment allows of the same debate. The time specified must not

be beyond that session [§ 70] of the assembly, except it be the next session,

in which case it comes up with the unfinished business at the next session.

This motion can be made when a motion to amend, or to commit or to postpone

indefinitely, is pending.

(b) Lie on the table. Instead of postponing a question to

a particular time, it may be desired to lay it aside temporarily until some

other question is disposed of, retaining the privilege of resuming its

consideration at any time.* [In Congress this motion is commonly used to defeat

a measure, though it does not prevent a majority from taking it at any other

time. Some societies prohibit a question from being taken from the table,

except by a two-thirds vote. This rule deprives the society of the advantages

of the motion to “lie on the table.” because it would not be safe to lay a

question aside temporarily, if one-third of the assembly were opposed to the

measure, as that one-third could prevent its ever being taken from the table. A

bare majority should not have the power, in ordinary societies, to adopt or

reject a question, or prevent its consideration, without debate. [See note at

end of § 35, Rules of Order, on the principles involved in making questions

undebatable.] The only way to accomplish this, is to move that the question

“lie on the table.” This motion allowing of neither debate nor amendment, the

chairman immediately puts the question; if carried, the whole matter is laid

aside until the assembly vote to “take it from the table” (which latter motion

is undebatable and possesses no privilege). Sometimes this motion is used to

suppress a measure, as shown in § 59 (c).

58. To Suppress Debate. (a) Previous

Question. While as a general rule free debate is allowed upon every motion,*

[Except an “objection to the consideration of the question” [§ 59 (a)]. See

note to § 35, Rules of Order, for a full discussion of this subject of debate.]

which, if adopted, has the effect of adopting the original question or removing

it from before the assembly for the session,—yet, to prevent a minority from

making an improper use of this privilege, it is necessary to have methods by

which debate can be closed, and final action at once be taken upon a question.

To accomplish this, when any debatable question is before the assembly, it is

only necessary for some one to obtain the floor and “call for the previous

question;” this call being seconded, the chairman, as it allows of no debate,

instantly puts the question, thus: “Shall the main question be now put?” If

this is carried by a two-thirds vote [§ 68], all debate instantly ceases,

excepting that the member who offered the original resolution, or reported it

from a committee, is, as in all other cases, entitled to the floor to close the

debate; after which, the chairman immediately puts the questions to the

assembly, first, on the motion to commit, if it is pending; if this is carried,

of course the subject goes to the committee; if, however, it fails, the vote is

next taken on amendments, and finally on the resolution as amended.

If a motion to postpone, either definitely or indefinitely, or a motion

to reconsider, or an appeal is pending, the previous question is

exhausted by the vote on the postponement, reconsideration or appeal,

and does not cut off debate upon any other motions that may be pending.

If the call for the previous question fails, that is, the debate is not

cut off, the debate continues the same as if this motion had not been

made. The previous question can be called for simply on an amendment,

and after the amendment has been acted upon, the main question is again

open to debate.

(b) An order limiting or closing debate. Sometimes,

instead of cutting off debate entirely by ordering the previous question, it is

desirable to allow of but very limited debate. In this case, a motion is made

to limit the time allowed each speaker or the number of speeches on each side,

or to appoint a time at which debate shall close and the question be put. The

motion may be made to limit debate on an amendment, in which case the main

question would afterwards be open to debate and amendment; or it may be made

simply on an amendment to an amendment.

In ordinary societies, where harmony is so important, a two-thirds vote

should be required for the adoption of any of the above motions to cut

off or limit debate.* [In the House of Representatives, these motions

require only a majority vote for their adoption. In the Senate, to the

contrary, not even two-thirds of the members can force a measure to its

passage without allowing debate, the Senate rules not recognizing the

above motions.

59. To Suppress the Question. (a)

Objection to the consideration of a question. Sometimes a resolution is

introduced that the assembly do not wish to consider at all, because it is

profitless, or irrelevant to the objects of the assembly, or for other reasons.

The proper course to pursue in such case, is for some one, as soon as it is

introduced, to “object to the consideration of the question.” This objection

not requiring a second, the chairman immediately puts the question, “Will the

assembly consider this question?” If decided in the negative by a two-thirds

vote, the question is immediately dismissed, and cannot be again introduced

during that session. This objection must be made when the question is first

introduced, before it has been debated, and it can be made when another member

has the floor.

(b) Postpone indefinitely. After the question has been

debated, the proper motion to use in order to suppress the question for the

session, is to postpone indefinitely. It cannot be made while any motion except

the original or main question is pending, but it can be made after an amendment

has been acted upon, and the main question, as amended, is before the assembly.

It opens the merits of the main question to debate to as great an extent as if

the main question were before the assembly. On account of these two facts, in

assemblies with short sessions it is not very useful, as the same result can

usually be more easily attained by the next motion.

(c) Lie on the table. If there is no possibility during

the remainder of the session of obtaining a majority vote for taking up the

question, then the quickest way of suppressing it is to move “that the question

lie on the table;” which, allowing of no debate, enables the majority to

instantly lay the question on the table, from which it cannot be taken without

their consent.

From its high rank [§ 64] and undebatable character, this motion is very

commonly used to suppress a question, but, as shown in § 57 (b), its

effect is merely to lay the question aside till the assembly choose to

consider it, and it only suppresses the question so long as there is a

majority opposed to its consideration.

60. To Consider a question a second

time. Reconsider. When a question has been once adopted, rejected or

suppressed, it cannot be again considered during that session [§ 70], except by

a motion to “reconsider the vote” on that question. This motion can only be

made by one who voted on the prevailing side, and on the day the vote was taken

which it is proposed to reconsider.* [In Congress it can be made on the same or

succeeding day; and if the yeas and nays were not taken on the vote, any one

can move the reconsideration. The yeas and nays are however ordered on all

important votes in Congress, which is not the case in ordinary societies.] It

can be made and entered on the minutes in the midst of debate, even when

another member has the floor, but cannot be considered until there is no

question before the assembly, when, if called up, it takes precedence of every

motion except to adjourn and to fix the time to which the assembly shall

adjourn.

A motion to reconsider a vote on a debatable question, opens to debate

the entire merits of the original motion. If the question to be

reconsidered is undebatable, then the reconsideration is undebatable.

If the motion to reconsider is carried, the chairman announces that the

question now recurs on the adoption of the question the vote on which

has been just reconsidered: the original question is now in exactly the

same condition that it was in before the first vote was taken on its

adoption, and must be disposed of by a vote.

When a motion to reconsider is entered on the minutes, it need not be called up

by the mover till the next meeting, on a succeeding day.* [If the assembly has

not adopted these or similar rules, this paragraph would not apply, but this

motion to reconsider would, like any other motion, fall to the ground if not

acted upon before the close of the session at which the original vote was

adopted.] If he fails to call it up then, any one else can do so. But should

there be no succeeding meeting, either adjourned or regular, within a month,

then the effect of the motion to reconsider terminates with the adjournment of

the meeting at which it was made, and any one can call it up at that meeting.

In general no motion (except to adjourn) that has been once acted upon,

can again be considered during the same session, except by a motion to

reconsider. [The motion to adjourn can be renewed if there has been

progress in business or debate, and it cannot be reconsidered.] But this

rule does not prevent the renewal of any of the motions mentioned in §

64, provided the question before the assembly has in any way changed;

for in this case, while the motions are nominally the same, they are in

fact different.* [Thus to move to postpone a resolution is a different

question from moving to postpone it after it has been amended. A motion

to suspend the rules for a certain purpose cannot be renewed at the same

meeting, but can be at an adjourned meeting. A call for the orders of

the day that has been negatived, cannot be renewed while the question

then before the assembly is still under consideration. See Rules of

Order, § 27, for many peculiarities of this motion.]

61. Order and Rules. (a) Orders of the

Day. Sometimes an assembly decides that certain questions shall be considered

at a particular time, and when that time arrives those questions constitute

what is termed the “orders of the day,” and if any member “calls for the orders

of the day,” as it requires no second, the chairman immediately puts the

question, thus: “Will the assembly now proceed to the orders of the day?” If

carried, the subject under consideration is laid aside, and the questions

appointed for that time are taken up in their order. When the time arrives, the

chairman may state that fact, and put the above question without waiting for a

motion. If the motion fails, the call for the orders of the day cannot be

renewed till the subject then before the assembly is disposed of.* [In

Congress, a member entitled to the floor cannot be interrupted by a call for

the orders of the day. In an ordinary assembly, the most common case where

orders of the day are decided upon is where it is necessary to make a programme

for the session. When the hour arrives for the consideration of any subject on

the programme, these rules permit any member to call for the orders of the day

(as described in Rules of Order, § 2) even though another person has the floor.

If this were not permitted, it would often be impossible to carry out the

programme, though wished for by the majority. A majority could postpone the

orders of the day, when called for, so as to continue the discussion of the

question then before the assembly. An order as to the time when any subject

shall be considered, must not be confounded with the rules of the assembly; the

latter must be enforced by the chairman, without they are suspended by a

two-thirds vote; the former, in strictness, can only be carried out by the

order of a majority of the assembly then present and voting.]

(b) Special Order. 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 business, then a motion should be made to make

the question a “special order” for that particular time. This motion requires a

two-thirds vote for its adoption, because it is really a suspension of the

rules, and it is in order whenever a motion to suspend the rules is in order.

If a subject is a special order for a particular day, then on that day it

supersedes all business except the reading of the minutes. A special order can

be postponed by a majority vote. If two special orders are made for the same

day, the one first made takes precedence.

(c) Suspension of the Rules. It is necessary for every

assembly, if discussion is allowed, to have rules to prevent its time being

wasted, and to enable it to accomplish the object for which the assembly was

organized. And yet at times their best interests are subserved by suspending

their rules temporarily. In order to do this, some one makes a motion “to

suspend the rules that interfere with,” etc., stating the object of the

suspension. If this motion is carried by a two-thirds vote, then the particular

thing for which the rules were suspended can be done. By “general consent,”

that is, if no one objects, the rules can at any time be ignored without the

formality of a motion.

(d) Questions of Order. It is the duty of the chairman to

enforce the rules and preserve order, and when any member notices a breach of

order, he can call for the enforcement of the rules. In such cases, when he

rises he usually says, “Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order.” The chairman

then directs the speaker to take his seat, and having heard the point of order,

decides the question and permits the first speaker to resume his speech,

directing him to abstain from any conduct that was decided to be out of order.

When a speaker has transgressed the rules of decorum he cannot continue his

speech, if any one objects, without permission is granted him by a vote of the

assembly. Instead of the above method, when a member uses improper language,

some one says, “I call the gentleman to order;” when the chairman decides as

before whether the language is disorderly.

(e) Appeal. While on all questions of order, and of

interpretation of the rules and of priority of business, it is the duty of the

chairman to first decide the question, it is the privilege of any member to

“appeal from the decision.” If the appeal is seconded, the chairman states his

decision, and that it has been appealed from, and then states the question,

thus: “Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the assembly?”

[or society, convention, etc.]

The chairman can then, without leaving the chair, state the reasons for

his decision, after which it is open to debate (no member speaking but

once), excepting in the following cases, when it is undebatable: (1)

When it relates to transgressions of the rules of speaking, or to some

indecorum, or to the priority of business; and (2) when the previous

question was pending at the time the question of order was raised.

After the vote is taken, the chairman states that the decision of the

chair is sustained, or reversed, as the case may be.

62.

Miscellaneous. (a) Reading of papers and (b) Withdrawal of a motion. If a

speaker wishes to read a paper, or a member to withdraw his motion after it has

been stated by the chair, it is necessary, if any one objects, to make a motion

to grant the permission.

(c) Questions of Privilege. Should any disturbance occur

during the meeting, or anything affecting the rights of the assembly or any of

the members, any member may “rise to a question of privilege,” and state the

matter, which the chairman decides to be, or not to be, a matter of privilege:

(from the chairman’s decision of course an appeal can be taken). If the

question is one of privilege, it supersedes, for the time being, the business

before the assembly; its consideration can be postponed to another time, or the

previous question can be ordered on it so as to stop debate, or it can be laid

on the table, or referred to a committee to examine and report upon it. As soon

as the question of privilege is in some way disposed of, the debate which was

interrupted is resumed.

63. To Close the Meeting. (a) Fix the

time to which to adjourn. If it is desired to have an adjourned meeting of the

assembly, it is best some time before its close to move, “That when this

assembly adjourns, it adjourns to meet at such a time,” specifying the time.

This motion can be amended by altering the time, but if made when another

question is before the assembly, neither the motion nor the amendment can be

debated. If made when no other business is before the assembly, it stands as

any other main question, and can be debated. This motion can be made even while

the assembly is voting on the motion to adjourn, but not when another member

has the floor.

(b) Adjourn. In order to prevent an assembly from being

kept in session an unreasonably long time, it is necessary to have a rule

limiting the time that the floor can be occupied by any one member at one

time.* [Ten minutes is allowed by these rules.] When it is desired to close the

meeting, without the member who has the floor will yield it, the only resource

is to wait till his time expires, and then a member who gets the floor should

move “to adjourn.” The motion being seconded, the chairman instantly put the

question, as it allows of no amendment or debate; and if decided in the

affirmative, he says, “The motion is carried;—this assembly stands adjourned.”

If the assembly is one that will have no other meeting, instead of “adjourned,”

he says “adjourned without day,” or “sine die.” If previously it had been

decided when they adjourned to adjourn to a particular time, then he states

that the assembly stands adjourned to that time. If the motion to adjourn is

qualified by specifying the time, as, “to adjourn to to-morrow evening,” it

cannot be made when any other question is before the assembly; like any other

main motion, it can then be amended and debated.** [For the effect of an

adjournment upon unfinished business see § 69.]

64. Order of Precedence of Motions. The ordinary motions

rank as follows, and any of them (except to amend) can be made while one of a

lower order is pending, but none can supersede one of a higher order:

To Fix the Time to which to Adjourn.

To Adjourn (when unqualified).

For the Orders of the Day.

To Lie on the Table.

For the Previous Question.

To Postpone to a Certain Time.

To Commit.

To Amend.

To Postpone Indefinitely.

The motion to Reconsider can be made when any other question is before

the assembly, but cannot be acted upon until the business then before

the assembly is disposed of; when, if called up, it takes precedence of

all other motions except to adjourn and to fix the time to which to

adjourn. Questions incidental to those before the assembly take

precedence of them, and must be acted upon first.

A question of order, a call for the orders of the day, or an objection to the

consideration of a question, can be made while another member has the floor:

so, too, can a motion to reconsider, but it can only be entered on the minutes

at that time, as it cannot supersede the question then before the assembly.

Art. XIII. Debate.

65. Rules of Speaking in Debate. All remarks must be

addressed to the chairman, and must be confined to the question before the

assembly, avoiding all personalities and reflections upon any one’s motives. It

is usual for permanent assemblies to adopt rules limiting the number of times

any member can speak to the same question, and the time allowed for each

speech;* [In Congress the House of Representatives allows from each member only

one speech of one hour’s length; the Senate allows two speeches without limit

as to length.] as otherwise one member, while he could speak only once to the

same question, might defeat a measure by prolonging his speech and declining to

yield the floor except for a motion to adjourn. In ordinary assemblies two

speeches should be allowed each member (except upon an appeal), and these rules

also limit the time for each speech to ten minutes. A majority can permit a

member to speak oftener or longer whenever it is desired, and the motion

granting such permission cannot be debated.

However, if greater freedom is wanted, it is only necessary to consider

the question informally, or if the assembly is large, go into committee

of the whole.* [See Rules of Order, §§ 32, 33.] If on the other hand it

is desired to limit the debate more, or close it altogether, it can be

done by a two-thirds vote, as shown in § 58 (b).

66. Undebatable Questions and those Opening the Main

Question to Debate. [A full list of these will be found in § 35, to which the

reader is referred. To the undebatable motions in that list, should be added

the motion to close or limit debate.]

Art. XIV. Miscellaneous.

67. Forms of Stating and Putting Questions. Whenever a

motion has been made and seconded, it is the duty of the chairman, if the

motion is in order, to state the question so that the assembly may know what

question is before them. The seconding of a motion is required to prevent a

question being introduced when only one member is in favor of it, and

consequently but little attention is paid to it in mere routine motions, or

when it is evident that many are in favor of the motion; in such cases the

chairman assumes that the motion is seconded.

Often in routine work the chairman puts the question without waiting for

even a motion, as few persons like to make such formal motions, and much

time would be wasted by waiting for them: (but the chairman can only do

this as long as no one objects.) The following motions, however, do not

have to be seconded: (a) a call for the orders of the day; (b) a call

to order, or the raising of any question of order; and (c) an objection

to the consideration of a question.

One of the commonest forms of stating a question is to say that, “It is moved

and seconded that,” and then give the motion. When an amendment has been voted

on, the chairman announces the result, and then says, “The question now recurs

on the resolution,” or, “on the resolution as amended,” as the case may be. So

in all cases, as soon as a vote is taken, he should immediately state the

question then before the assembly, if there be any. If the motion is debatable

or can be amended, the chairman, usually after stating the question, and always

before finally putting it, inquires, “Are you ready for the question?” Some of

the common forms of stating and putting questions are shown in §§ 46-48. The

forms of putting the following questions, are, however, peculiar:

If a motion is made to Strike out certain words, the question is put in

this form: “Shall these words stand as a part of the resolution?” so

that on a tie vote they are struck out.

If the Previous Question is demanded, it is put thus: “Shall the main

question be now put?”

If an Appeal is made from the decision of the Chair, the question is

put thus: “Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the

assembly?” [convention, society, etc.] If the Orders of the Day are

called for, the question is put thus: “Will the assembly now proceed to

the Orders of the Day?”

When, upon the introduction of a question, some one objects to its

consideration, the chairman immediately puts the question thus: “Will

the assembly consider it?” or, “Shall the question be considered?” [or

discussed.]

If the vote has been ordered to be taken by yeas and nays, the question

is put in a form similar to the following: “As many as are in favor of

the adoption of these resolutions, will, when their names are called,

answer yes [or aye]—those opposed will answer no.”

68. Motions requiring a two-thirds vote.* [See Two-thirds

Vote, page 159, and § 39 of Rules of Order.]

All motions that have the effect to make a variation from the

established rules and customs, should require a two-thirds vote for

their adoption. Among these established customs should be regarded the

right of free debate upon the merits of any measure, before the assembly

can be forced to take final action upon it. The following motions would

come under this rule:

To amend or suspend the rules.

To make a special order.

To take up a question out of its proper order.

An objection to the consideration of a question.

The Previous Question, or a motion to limit or close debate.

69. Unfinished Business. When an assembly adjourns, the

unfinished business comes up at the adjourned meeting, if one is held, as the

first business after the reading of the minutes; if there is no adjourned

meeting, the unfinished business comes up immediately before new business at

the next regular meeting, provided the regular meetings are more frequent than

yearly.** [See Rules of Order, § 11, for a fuller explanation of the effect of

an adjournment upon unfinished business, and the Congressional practice.] If

the meetings are only once a year, the adjournment of the session puts an end

to all unfinished business.

70. Session. Each regular meeting of a society constitutes

a separate session. Any meeting which is not an adjournment of another meeting,

commences a new session; the session terminates as soon as the assembly

“adjourns without day.”* [In ordinary practice, a meeting is closed by moving

simply “to adjourn;” the society meet again at the time provided either by

their rules or by a resolution of the society. If they do not meet till the

time for the next regular meeting, as provided in the By-Laws, then the

adjournment closed the session, and was in effect an adjournment without day.

If, however, they had previously fixed the time for the next meeting, either by

a direct vote, or by adopting a programme of exercises covering several

meetings or even days, in either case the adjournment is in effect to a certain

day, and does not close the session.]

When an assembly has meetings for several days consecutively, they all

constitute one session. Each session of a society is independent of the

other sessions, excepting as expressly provided in their Constitution,

By-Laws, or Rules of Order, and excepting that resolutions adopted by

one session are in force during succeeding sessions until rescinded by a

majority vote [see note to § 49].

Where a society holds more than one regular session a year, these rules limit

the independence of each session as follows: (a) The Order of Business

prescribed in § 72 requires that the minutes of the previous meeting, the

reports of committees previously appointed, and the unfinished business of the

last session, shall all take precedence of new business, and that no subject

can be considered out of its proper order, except by a two-thirds vote; (b) it

is allowable to postpone a question to the next session, when it comes up with

unfinished business, but it is not allowable to postpone to a day beyond the

next session, and thus interfere with the right of the next session to consider

the question; (c) a motion to reconsider a vote can be made at one meeting and

called up at the next meeting even though it be another session, provided the

society holds its regular sessions as frequently as monthly.* [See Rules of

Order, § 42, for a full discussion of this subject.]

71. Quorum. [See § 43 for full information on this

subject.]

72. Order of Business. Every society should adopt an order of business

adapted to its special wants. The following is the usual order where no

special rule is adopted, and when more than one regular meeting is held

each year:

(1) Reading of the minutes of the last meeting.

(2) Reports of Boards of Trustees or Managers, and Standing Committees.

(3) Reports of Select Committees.

(4) Unfinished Business (including questions postponed to this meeting).

(5) New Business.

Business cannot be considered out of its order, except by a two-thirds

vote; but a majority can lay on the table the different questions as

they come up, and thus reach a subject they wish first to consider. If

a subject has been made a Special Order for this meeting, then it is to

be considered immediately after the minutes are read.

73. Amendments of Constitutions, By-Laws and Rules of

Order, should be permitted only when adopted by a two-thirds vote, at a regular

meeting of the society, after having been proposed at the previous regular

meeting. If the meetings are very frequent, weekly, for instance, amendments

should be adopted only at the quarterly meetings, after having been proposed at

the previous quarterly meeting.

Legal Rights of Assemblies and the Trial of their

Members.

The Right of Deliberative Assemblies to Punish their Members. A

deliberative assembly has the inherent right to make and enforce its own

laws and punish an offender—the extreme penalty, however, being

expulsion from its own body. When expelled, if the assembly is a

permanent society, it has a right, for its own protection, to give

public notice that the person has ceased to be a member of that society.

But it has no right to go beyond what is necessary for self protection

and publish the charges against the member. In a case where a member of

a society was expelled, and an officer of the society published, by

their order, a statement of the grave charges upon which he had been found

guilty, the expelled member recovered damages from the officer, in a

suit for libel—the court holding that the truth of the charges did

not affect the case.

The Right of an Assembly to Eject any one from its place of meeting.

Every deliberative assembly has the right to decide who may be present

during its session, and when the assembly, either by a rule or by a

vote, decides that a certain person shall not remain in the room, it is

the duty of the chairman to enforce the rule or order, using whatever

force is necessary to eject the party.

The chairman can detail members to remove the person, without calling

upon the police. If, however, in enforcing the order, any one uses

harsher treatment than is necessary to remove the person, the courts

have held that he, and he alone is liable to prosecution, just the same

as a policeman would be under similar circumstances. However badly the

man may be abused while being removed from the room, neither the

chairman nor the society are liable for damages, as, in ordering his

removal, they did not exceed their legal rights.

Rights of Ecclesiastical Tribunals. Many of our deliberative assemblies

are ecclesiastical bodies, and it is important to know how much respect

will be paid to their decisions by the civil courts.

A church became divided and each party claimed to be the church, and therefore

entitled to the church property. The case was taken into the civil courts, and

finally, on appeal, to the U. S. Supreme Court, which held the case under

advisement for one year, and then reversed the decision of the State Court,

because it conflicted with the decision of the highest ecclesiastical court

that had acted upon the case. The Supreme Court, in rendering its decision,

laid down the broad principle that, when a local church is but a part of a

larger and more general organization or denomination, it will accept the

decision of the highest ecclesiastical tribunal to which the case has been

carried within that general church organization, as final, and will not inquire

into the justice or injustice of its decree as between the parties before it.

The officers, the ministers, the members, or the church body which the highest

judiciary of the denomination recognizes, the court will recognize. Whom that

body expels or cuts off, the court will hold to be no longer members of that

church.

Trial of Members of Societies. Every deliberative assembly, having the

right to purify its own body, must therefore have the right to

investigate the character of its members.

It can require any of them to testify in the case, under pain of

expulsion if they refuse. In § 36 is shown the method of procedure when

a member is charged with violating the rules of decorum in debate. If

the disorderly words are of a personal nature, before the assembly

proceeds to deliberate upon the case, both parties to the personality

should retire. It is not necessary for the member objecting to the

words to retire, unless he is personally involved in the case.

When the charge is against the member’s character, it is usually

referred to a committee of investigation or discipline, or to some

standing committee to report upon. Some societies have standing

committees, whose duty it is to report cases for discipline whenever any

are known to them.

In either case the committee investigate the matter and report to the society.

This report need not go into details, but should contain their recommendations

as to what action the society should take, and should usually close with

resolutions covering the case, so that there is no need for any one to offer

any additional resolutions upon it. The ordinary resolutions, where the member

is recommended to be expelled, are (1) to fix the time to which the society

shall adjourn; and (2) 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

expelled, upon the following charges, which should then be given.

After charges are preferred against a member and the assembly has

ordered that he be cited to appear for trial, he is theoretically under

arrest, and is deprived of all the rights of membership until his case

is disposed of.

The clerk should send the accused a written notice to appear before the

society at the time appointed, and should at the same time furnish him

with a copy of the charges. A failure to obey the summons is generally

cause enough for summary expulsion.

At the appointed meeting, what may be called the trial, takes place.

Frequently the only evidence required against the member is the report

of the committee. After it has been read and any additional evidence

offered that the committee may see fit to introduce, the accused should

be allowed to make an explanation and introduce witnesses if he so

desires. Either party should be allowed to cross-examine the other’s

witnesses and introduce rebutting testimony.

When the evidence is all in, the accused should retire from the room,

and the society deliberate upon the question, and finally act by a vote

upon the question of expulsion or other punishment proposed.

In acting upon the case, 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

body. A notorious pickpocket could not even be arrested, much less

convicted, by a civil court, simply on the ground of being commonly

known as a pickpocket; while such evidence would convict and expel him

from any ordinary society.

The moral conviction of the truth of the charge is all that is necessary

in an ecclesiastical or other deliberative body, to find the accused

guilty of the charges.

If the trial is liable to be long and troublesome, or of a very delicate

nature, the member is frequently cited to appear before a committee,

instead of the society, for trial. In this case the committee report to

the society the result of their trial of the case, with resolutions

covering the punishment which they recommend the society to adopt.

TABLE OF RULES RELATING TO MOTIONS.

[This Table contains the answers to more than two hundred questions on

parliamentary law, and should always be consulted before referring to

the body of the Manual.]

Explanation of the Table. A Star shows that the rule heading the column

in which it stands, applies to the motion opposite to which it is

placed: a blank shows that the rule does not apply: a figure shows

that the rule only partially applies, the figure referring to the note

on the next page showing the limitations. Take, for example, “Lie on

the table:” the Table shows that § 19 of the Pocket Manual treats of

this motion; that it is “undebatable” and “cannot be amended;” and that

an affirmative vote on it (as shown in note 3) “cannot be reconsidered:”

— the four other columns being blank, show that this motion does not

“open the main question to debate,” that it does not “require a 2/3

vote,” that it does “require to be seconded,” and that it is not “in

order when another member has the floor.”

The column headed “Requires a two-thirds vote,” applies only where the

“Pocket Manual of Rules of Order,” or similar rules, have been adopted.

[See “Two-thirds Vote,” on next page, under Miscellaneous Rules.]

After the note to the Table is some additional information that a

chairman should always have at hand, such as the Order of Precedence of

Motions, the Forms Of Putting Certain Questions, etc.

In order when another has the floor [§ 2]——————-|

Requires no Second [§ 3]—————-| |

Requires a 2/3 vote [§ 39]—See Note 1.————-| | |

Cannot be Reconsidered [§ 27]———-| | | |

Cannot be Amended [§ 23]——-| | | | |

Opens Main Question to Debate [§ 35]—-| | | | | |

Undebatable [§ 35]-| | | | | | |

|- Section in Pocket Manual | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | |

11 Adjourn ……………………………………… x . x x . . .

10 Adjourn, Fix the Time to which to ………………. 2 . . . . . .

23 Amend ……………………………………….. . . . . . . .

23 Amend an Amendment ……………………………. . . x . . . .

43 Amend the Rules ………………………………. . . . . x . .

14 Appeal, relating to indecorum, etc., [6] ………… x . x . . . x

14 Appeal, all other cases ……………………….. . . x . . . x

14 Call to Order ………………………………… x . x . . x x

37 Close Debate, motion to ……………………….. x . . . x . .

22 Commit ………………………………………. . x . . . . .

31 Extend the limits of debate, motion to ………….. x . . . . . .

10 Fix the Time to which to Adjourn ……………….. 2 . . . . . .

15 Leave to continue speaking when guilty of indecorum x . x . . . .

19 Lie on the Table ……………………………… x . x 3 . . .

37 Limit Debate, motion to ……………………….. x . . . x . .

13 Objection to Consideration of a Question [7] …….. x . x . x x x

13 Orders of the Day, motion for the ………………. x . x . . x x

21 Postpone to a certain time …………………….. 4 . . . . . .

24 Postpone indefinitely …………………………. . x x . . . .

20 Previous Question …………………………….. x . x . x . .

44 Priority of Business, questions relating to ……… x . . . . . .

16 Reading Papers ……………………………….. x . x . . . .

27 Reconsider a debatable question ………………… . x x . . . 5

27 Reconsider an undebatable question ……………… x . x . . . 5

22 Refer (same as Commit) ………………………… . x . . . . .

11 Rise (in Committee equals Adjourn) ……………… x . x x . . .

11 Shall the question be discussed? [7] ……………. x . x . x x x

61 Special Order, to make a ………………………. . . . . x . .

23 Substitute (same as Amend) …………………….. . . . . . . .

18 Suspend the Rules …………………………….. x . x x x . .

59 Take from the table …………………………… x . x 3 . . .

44 Take up a question out of its proper order ………. x . x . x . .

17 Withdrawal of a motion ………………………… x . x . . . .

Notes To The Table.

(1) This column only applies to assemblies that have adopted these

Rules. If no rules are adopted, a majority vote is sufficient for the

adoption of any motion, except to “suspend the rules,” which requires a

unanimous vote. [See Two-thirds Vote, below.]

(2) Undebatable if made when another question is before the assembly.

(3) An affirmative vote on this motion cannot be reconsidered.

(4) Allows of but limited debate upon the propriety of the postponement.

(5) Can be moved and entered on the record when another has the floor,

but cannot interrupt the business then before the assembly; it must be

made on the day the original vote was taken, and by one who voted with

the prevailing side.

(6) An appeal is undebatable only when relating to indecorum, or to

transgressions of the rules of speaking, or to the priority of business,

or when made while the Previous Question is pending. When debatable,

only one speech from each member is permitted.

(7) The objection can only be made when the question is first

introduced, before debate.

MISCELLANEOUS RULES.

Order of Precedence of Motions.

The ordinary motions rank as follows, and any of them (except to amend)

can be made while one of a lower order is pending, but none can

supercede one of a higher order:

To Fix the Time to which to Adjourn.

To Adjourn (when unqualified).

For the Orders of the Day.

To Lie on the Table.

For the Previous Question.

To Postpone to a Certain Time.

To Commit.

To Amend.

To Postpone Indefinitely.

The motion to Reconsider can be made when any other question is before

the assembly, but cannot be acted upon until the business then before

the assembly is disposed of [see note 5 above], when, if called up, it

takes precedence of all other motions except to adjourn and to fix the

time to which to adjourn. Questions incidental to those before the

assembly, take precedence of them and must be acted upon first.

Two-thirds Vote.

In Congress the only motions requiring a two-thirds vote, are to suspend

or amend the Rules, to take up business out of its proper order, and to

make a special order. In ordinary societies harmony is so essential,

that a two-thirds vote should be required to force the assembly to a

final vote upon a resolution without allowing free debate. The Table

conforms to the Rules of Order, which are based upon this principle. If

an assembly has adopted no Rules of Order, then a majority vote is

sufficient for the adoption of any motion, except to “suspend the

rules,” which would require a unanimous vote.

Forms of Putting Certain Questions.

If a motion is made to Strike out certain words, the question is put in

this form: “Shall these words stand as a part of the resolution?” so

that on a tie vote they are struck out.

If the Previous Question is demanded, it is put thus: “Shall the main

question now be put?”

If an Appeal is made from the decision of the Chair, the question is put

thus: “Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgement of the

assembly?” [convention, society, etc.].

If the Orders of the Day are called for, the question is put thus:

“Will the assembly now proceed to the Orders of the Day?”

When, upon the introduction of a question, some one objects to its

consideration, the chairman immediately puts the question thus: “Will

the assembly consider it?” or “Shall the question be considered?” [or

discussed.]

If the vote has been ordered to be taken by yeas and nays, the question

is put in a form similar to the following: “As many as are in favor of

the adoption of these resolutions, will, when their names are called,

answer yes [or aye]—those opposed will answer no.”

Various Forms of Amendments.

An Amendment may be either (1) by “adding” or (2) by “striking out”

words or paragraphs; or (3) by “striking out certain words and inserting

others;” or (4) by “substituting” a different motion on the same

subject; or (5) by “dividing the question” into two or more questions,

so as to get a separate vote on any particular point or points.

Additions and Corrections.

[These corrections, though mostly contained in other parts of

the Manual, are also needed in the places here indicated.]

19th page, 7th line, after “§ 13” insert a star referring to this note: “See

note to § 61.”

50th ” 2d line of last note, omit all after “reconsideration.”

51st ” at end of 12th line, insert “upon another day.”

” ” 10th line, insert a star, referring to this note: “In Congress the

effect always terminates with the session, and it cannot be called up by any

one but the mover, until the expiration of the time during which it is in order

to move a reconsideration.”

69th ” 4th line, after “§ 34,” insert “or limiting or closing debate.”

72d ” 17th line, insert a star referring to this note: “If both are

personally interested. [See p. 161.]”

73d ” last line of note, insert “final” before “vote.”

80th ” add to the list in § 39 the motion “To make a special order.”

INDEX.

The figures from 1 to 45 refer to sections in Part I; those greater than

45, to sections in Part II. A complete list of motions will be found in

the Index, under the title Motions, list of. The arrangement of the

work can be most easily seen by examining the Table of Contents [pp.

5-8]; its plan is explained in the Introduction, pp. 12-15.

SECTION.

Adjourn, motion to ……………………………………… 11, 63b

when in order ………………………………………… 11, 64

effect upon unfinished business ………………………… 11, 69

motion to “fix the time to which to adjourn” ……………… 10, 63

Amendment, motion to “amend” ……………………………. 23, 56a

by “adding” or “striking out” ………………………….. 23, 56a

by “striking out and inserting” ………………………… 23, 56a

by “substituting” …………………………………….. 23, 56a

by “dividing the question” ………………………….. 4, 23, 56a

of an amendment ………………………………………. 23, 56a

in committee ………………………………………….. 28, 53

in committee of the whole …………………………………. 32

of reports or propositions with several paragraphs ……….. 44, 48b

of Rules of Order, By-Laws and Constitutions ……………… 45, 73

motions that cannot be amended …………………………. 23, 56a

Announcing the vote. See Forms.

Appeal from the decision of the chair …………………….. 14, 61e

Apply, meaning of (Introduction, page 14).

Assembly, how organized ………………………………. 46, 47, 48

the word to be replaced by Society, Convention, etc.,

when it occurs in forms of questions, p 16.

legal rights of, pp. 158-163.

right to punish members, p. 158.

right to eject persons from their room, p. 159.

trial of members, p. 160.

Ayes and Noes. See Yeas and Nays, § 38.

Ballot …………………………………………………….. 38

Blanks, filling of ………………………………………….. 25

in balloting, not to be counted …………………………….. 38

Boards of Trustees, Managers, etc., their reports in

order when reports of standing committees are made ………… 44, 72

(See Quorum.)

Business, introduction of ……………………………….. 1-5, 54

order of ……………………………………………… 44, 72

unfinished, effect of an adjournment upon ………………… 11, 69

[See Priority of Business.]

By-Laws, what they should contain …………………………….. 49

adoption of ……………………………………………… 46a

amendment of ………………………………………….. 45, 73

Chairman, duties of ……………………………………… 40, 50

election of ……………………………………………… 46a

temporary …………………………………………….. 40, 47

of a committee ………………………………………… 28, 53

of committee of the whole ……………………………………. 32

Change of Vote allowed before result is announced ………………. 38

Classification of Motions according to their object …………….. 55

into Privileged, Incidental, Subsidiary, etc. ……………….. 6-9

Clerk, duties of ………………………………………… 41, 51

additional duties of when receiving money ……………………. 52

election of ……………………………………………… 46a

Commit, motion to ………………………………………. 22, 56b

Committees, appointment of ………………………………. 22, 46c

how they should be composed …………………………….. 22, 53

object of …………………………………………….. 28, 53

manner of conducting business in ………………………… 28, 53

Reports of, their form …………………………………. 29, 53

their reception …………………………………….. 30, 46c

their adoption ……………………………………… 31, 46c

their place in the order of business …………………… 44, 72

common errors in acting upon (note) …………………… 30, 46c

Minority Reports of, their form …………………………. 29, 53

to be acted upon must be moved as a substitute

for the committee’s report ………………………….. 28, 53

of the whole ……………………………………………… 32

as if in committee of the whole …………………………….. 33

Congress, rules of, the basis of this work, pp. 10-12.

Consideration of a question, objection to …………………. 15, 59a

Constitutions, what they should contain ……………………….. 49

adoption of by a society ………………………………….. 48b

amendment of ………………………………………….. 45, 73

Convention, manner of organizing and conducting a

meeting of …………………………………………….. 47

Credentials of delegates …………………………………….. 47

Debate, what precedes …………………………………….. 3, 54

no member to speak but twice in same …………………….. 34, 65

no member to speak longer than ten minutes at one

time ……………………………………………….. 34, 65

a majority can extend the number and length of

speeches allowed ……………………………………. 34, 65

number of speeches and time allowed in Congress

(note) ……………………………………………… 34, 65

member introducing measure has right to close ………………… 34

list of undebatable questions …………………………… 35, 66

motions that open the main question to ………………………. 35

principles regulating the extent of (see note) ……………….. 35

decorum in ……………………………………………. 36, 65

closing or limiting ……………………………………. 37, 58

Decorum in debate ……………………………………….. 36, 65

Definitions of various terms [Introduction, p. 15].

Delegates, organization of a meeting of ……………………….. 47

Division of the assembly …………………………………….. 38

of questions [see Amendment] ……………………………. 4, 56a

Ecclesiastical Tribunals, legal rights of, p. 159.

Election of Officers ……………………………………. 46a, 47

Fix the time to which to Adjourn, motion to ……………….. 10, 63a

Floor, how to obtain ……………………………………… 2, 54

Forms of making motions ………………………………….. 46, 54

of stating and putting questions ………………………… 38, 67

of announcing the result of a vote ………………………. 38, 54

of reports of committees ……………………………….. 29, 53

of treasurers’ reports …………………………………….. 52

of minutes of a meeting ………………………………… 41, 51

of conducting an occasional or mass meeting ………………….. 46

of conducting a meeting of delegates ………………………… 47

of conduction a meeting to organize a society ………………… 48

of conducting an ordinary meeting of a society ………………. 48b

Incidental questions …………………………………………. 8

Indefinite postponement …………………………………. 24, 59b

Informal consideration of a question ………………………….. 33

Introduction of Business ………………………………… 1-5, 54

Journal, or minutes ……………………………………… 41, 51

Legal Rights. See Assembly and Ecclesiastical Tribunals.

Lie on the table, motion to …………………………. 19, 57b, 59c

Main question ……………………………………………….. 6

Majority. See Two-thirds and Quorum.

Meeting, distinction between it and session ………………… 42, 70

[See also Introduction, page 15.]

how to conduct. See Forms.

Members not to be present during a debate or vote

concerning themselves ……………………………………… 36

trial of, p. 160.

Minority Report. See Committees.

Minutes, form and contents of …………………………….. 41, 51

Moderator. See Chairman.

Modification of a motion by the mover ………………………….. 5

Motions, list of. [For details, see each motion in the Index.]

Adjourn ……………………………………………… 11, 63b

Adjourn, Fix the time to which to ………………………. 10, 63a

Amend ……………………………………………….. 23, 56a

Adopt a report (same as accept or agree to) ……………… 31, 46c

Appeal ………………………………………………. 14, 61e

Blanks, filling …………………………………………… 25

Call to order ………………………………………… 14, 61d

Close debate ………………………………………….. 37, 58

Commit ………………………………………………. 22, 56b

Consideration of a question, objection to ………………. 15, 59a

Divide the question ………………………………… 4, 23, 56a

Extend the limits of debate …………………………….. 34, 65

Fix the time to which to adjourn ……………………….. 10, 63a

Incidental motions or questions ……………………………… 8

Indefinitely postpone …………………………………. 24, 59b

Informal consideration of a question ………………………… 33

Leave to continue speech when guilty of indecorum …………….. 36

Leave to withdraw a motion …………………………….. 17, 62b

Lie on the table …………………………………. 19, 57b, 59c

Limit Debate …………………………………………. 37, 58b

Main motions or questions …………………………………… 6

Objection to the consideration of a question …………….. 15, 59a

Order, questions of …………………………………… 14, 61d

Orders of the day …………………………………….. 13, 61a

Orders, special ………………………………………….. 61b

Postpone to a certain day ……………………………… 21, 57a

Postpone indefinitely …………………………………. 24, 59b

Previous question …………………………………….. 20, 58a

Principal motions or questions ………………………………. 6

Priority of Business, questions relating to ………………….. 35

Privileged motions or questions ……………………………… 9

Privilege, questions of ……………………………….. 12, 62c

Reading papers ………………………………………… 16, 62

Reception of a report [see Committees] ………………….. 30, 46c

Recommit [same as Commit] ………………………………. 22, 56

Reconsider ……………………………………………. 27, 60

Refer [same as Commit] ………………………………… 22, 56b

Renewal of a motion ……………………………………. 26, 60

Rise [in committee, equals adjourn] ……………………… 11, 32

Shall the question be considered? [or discussed] …………. 15, 59a

Special Order, to make a ………………………………….. 61b

Strike out [see Amendment] …………………………….. 23, 56a

Subsidiary motions or questions ……………………………… 7

Substitute (same as Amendment, which see) ……………….. 23, 56a

Suspension of the Rules ……………………………….. 18, 61c

Take from the table [see Lie on the table] ………………. 19, 57b

Take up a question out of its proper order ……………….. 44, 72

Withdrawal of a motion …………………………………. 17, 62

Motions, tabular view of rules relating to, page 166.

classified according to their object ………………………… 55

classified into Privileged, Incidental, Subsidiary, etc. ……… 6-9

order of precedence of [see each motion, §§ 10-27] ……………. 64

how to be made …………………………………… 1, 2, 46, 54

a second required (with certain exceptions) ……………….. 3, 67

to be stated by chairman before being discussed ……………. 3, 54

when to be in writing …………………………………… 4, 54

how to be divided ………………………………………….. 4

how to be modified by the mover ……………………….. 3, 5, 17

how to be stated and put to the question …………………. 38, 67

that cannot be amended ………………………………… 23, 56a

that cannot be debated …………………………………. 35, 66

that open main question to debate …………………………… 35

that require two-thirds vote for their adoption …………… 39, 68

Nominations, how treated ………………………………… 25, 46a

Numbers of paragraphs to be corrected by clerk without

a vote …………………………………………………… 23

Objection to the consideration (discussion or introduction

of a question ………………………………………… 15, 59a

Officers of an assembly. See Chairman, Clerk, Treasurer

and Vice-Presidents.

Order, questions of and a call to ………………………… 14, 61d

of business …………………………………………… 44, 72

of the day …………………………………………… 13, 61a

distinction between, and rules of the assembly (note) ………. 61a

special …………………………………………………. 61b

of precedence of motions. See Precedence.

Organization of an occasional or mass meeting …………………. 46a

of a convention or assembly of delegates …………………….. 47

of a permanent society …………………………………….. 48

Papers and documents, reading of ………………………….. 16, 62

in custody of clerk ……………………………………. 41, 51

Parliamentary Law, its origin, etc., (Introduction. p. 9.)

Plan of the Manual, (Introduction, page 12.)

of Part I, Rules of Order, (Introduction, page 13.)

of Part II, Organization and Conduct of Business,

(Introduction, page 14.)

Postpone to a certain time ………………………………. 21, 57a

indefinitely …………………………………………. 24, 59b

Preamble, considered after the rest of a paper …………………. 44

Precedence of motions [see each motion, §§ 10-27] ………………. 64

meaning of, (Introduction, page 14.)

Presiding Officer. See Chairman.

Previous Question ………………………………………. 20, 58a

Principal (or main) question ………………………………….. 6

Priority of Business, questions relating to are undebatable ……… 35

Privilege, questions of …………………………………. 12, 62c

Privileged questions …………………………………………. 9

Putting the question, form of …………………………….. 38, 67

Questions. See Forms, Motions, Privilege and Order.

Quorum, when there is no rule, consists of a majority …………… 43

committees and boards cannot decide upon …………………….. 43

Reading of Papers ……………………………………….. 16, 62

Reception of a report. See Committees.

Re-commit (same as Commit) ………………………………. 22, 56b

Reconsider ……………………………………………… 27, 60

Record, or minutes ………………………………………. 41, 51

Recording officer. See Clerk.

Refer [same as Commit] ………………………………….. 22, 56b

Renewal of a motion ……………………………………… 26, 60

Reports of committees. See Committees.

Rights of assemblies. See Assembly.

of ecclesiastical tribunals, p. 159.

Rise, motion to, in committee, equals adjourn ………………. 11, 32

Rules of debate. See Debate.

of Order, amendment of …………………………………. 45, 73

of Order, what they should contain ………………………….. 49

standing, what they should contain ………………………….. 49

suspension of ………………………………………… 18, 61c

relating to motions, tabular view of p. 166.

Seconding, motions that do not require ……………………… 3, 67

Secretary. See Clerk.

Session [See also Meeting] ……………………………….. 42, 70

Shall the question be considered (or discussed) ……………. 15, 59a

Speaking, rules of, See Debate.

Special Order ……………………………………………… 61b

Standing Rules ……………………………………………… 49

Stating a question, form of ………………………………. 38, 67

Strike out (see Amendment) ………………………………. 23, 56a

Subsidiary motions or questions ……………………………….. 7

Substitute (see Amendment) ………………………………. 23, 56a

Sum, largest, first put ……………………………………… 25

Suspension of the rules …………………………………. 18, 61c

Table of Rules relating to motions, p. 166.

Take from the table, motion to …………………………… 19, 57b

Time, longest, first put …………………………………….. 25

Treasurer, duties of ………………………………………… 52

Trial of Members, p. 160.

Two-thirds vote, motions requiring ………………………… 39, 68

Undebatable Questions ……………………………………. 35, 66

Unfinished business, effect of adjournment upon …………….. 11, 69

its place in the order of business ………………………. 44, 72

Vice-Presidents ……………………………………………. 46d

Vote, form of announcing [see also Forms] ………………….. 38, 54

motions requiring more than a majority …………………… 39, 68

change of, permitted before result is announced ………………. 38

Voting, various methods of …………………………………… 38

Withdrawal of a motion …………………………………… 17, 62

Yeas and Nays, voting by …………………………………….. 38

Yields, meaning of, (Introduction, page 14.)