'OMAN'S 
 
 ALETTE K. OHATTUC^ 
 
 rx 
 
 J5 
 
GIFT OF 
 A. F. Morrison 
 
 
THE WOMAN'S MANUAL 
 
 OF 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY LAW 
 
 WITH PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS ESPECIALLY 
 ADAPTED TO WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 ,' ' o , BY '/' i. 3-0 o > * 
 
 HARRIETTE R. SHATTUCK 
 
 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON POLITICAL CLASS 
 
 FO UR TH EDITION 
 
 BOSTON 
 LEE AND SHEPARD 
 
 10 MILK STREET 
 1894 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1891, BY HARRIETTS R. SHATTUCK 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 THE WOMAN'S MANUAL 
 
 GIFT Off- 
 (2. 3. ~~ 
 
PREFACE 
 
 THIS manual is not intended to take the place of 
 any of the other manuals of parliamentary practice 
 now in use, but to supplement them by filling a want 
 which the author believes has long existed. 
 
 There are at present a great many women, per- 
 fectly well fitted, so far as intelligence and interest 
 go, to share in the deliberations of any assembly, but 
 who, through lack of knowing the technique of par- 
 liamentary law, are kept from taking active part in 
 the many meetings that they constantly attend. 
 Eager as listeners, wishing they dared to speak, 
 reproaching themselves afterward for not speaking, 
 they need only the confidence which comes from 
 " knowing how," in order to become active, vital 
 forces. They want to know when to rise and when 
 to sit, how to begin to speak and how to close, how 
 to frame a motion or a remark, how to open and 
 close a meeting, how to meet an adverse motion, 
 
 #* 
 
 M94396 
 
iv PREFACE 
 
 all the minute details of presiding, of debating, of 
 making motions, of conducting meetings. 
 
 Unlike the men, who almost from childhood have 
 practised these little details till they have become 
 second nature, the majority of women spring full- 
 grown into the arena of public debate, and must 
 offset the lack of an early and natural training by 
 the more laborious, but by no means impracticable, 
 effort of middle life or even of old age. The hon- 
 orable exceptions of women who do know how, as 
 well as or better than most men, only prove the 
 rule. 
 
 This book, therefore, is written for women ; for 
 use in their clubs, unions, societies, any organiza- 
 tions where it is important to know how to conduct 
 a formal meeting. If it is also of any use to the 
 learners among men, either in their youth or in their 
 maturity, the author will feel doubly repaid. 
 
 In order to explain the elementary forms so that 
 any one, however inexperienced, can understand and 
 apply them, I have made the text as simple and rudi- 
 mentary as possible. Illustrations are given of all the 
 forms, so that the reader may know " how " as well 
 as " why " a certain thing is done. The book is not 
 rudimentary, however, in the sense that anything 
 
PREFACE V 
 
 important is omitted, for it will be found to cover all 
 that is necessary for ordinary clubs and societies. 
 Any one who wishes to study further is referred to 
 the various manuals of parliamentary law which 
 have been written as guides for legislators and 
 advanced students, the most helpful of which are 
 Cushing's manual, Warrington's manual, and Crock- 
 er's " Parliamentary Procedure." Fish's " Guide to 
 the Conduct of Meetings " (not Fish's manual) is 
 
 also helpful to beginners. 
 
 H. R. S. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PART I 
 ORGANIZATION 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. How TO ORGANIZE A TEMPORARY MEETING . 3 
 
 II. How TO FORM A PERMANENT SOCIETY . . 12 
 
 III. THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND THE QUORUM . 29 
 
 IV. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS .... 38 
 
 PART II 
 
 MOTIONS 
 
 V. THE MAKING, STATING, PUTTING, AND SEC- 
 ONDING OF MOTIONS 47 
 
 VI. THE WITHDRAWAL AND DIVISION OF MO- 
 TIONS 55 
 
 VII. DEBATE 59 
 
 VIII. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, OR THE CLOSING 
 
 OF DEBATE 75 
 
 IX. VOTING 88 
 
 X. RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 99 
 
 vii 
 
vill CONTENTS 
 
 PART III 
 AMENDMENT 
 
 CHARTER PAGE 
 
 XI. NATURE AND EFFECT OF AMENDMENT ... 113 
 XII. WAYS TO AMEND A PROPOSITION .... 127 
 
 XIII. EXCEPTIONS REGARDING AMENDMENT . . . 142 
 
 PART IV 
 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 XIV. THE RANK OF DEPENDENT MOTIONS ... 153 
 XV. THE MOTIONS TO ADJOURN AND TO LAY 
 
 UPON THE TABLE . . 162 
 
 XVI. THE MOTIONS TO POSTPONE 171 
 
 XVII. THE MOTION TO COMMIT ....... 177 
 
 XVIII. THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT .... 185 
 
 PART V 
 QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE AND ORDER 
 
 XIX. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 201 
 
 XX. QUESTIONS OF ORDER . 208 
 
 CONCLUSION 223 
 
 APPENDIX. MODEL OF A CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 229 
 INDEX 237 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 IN a democratic community, where all the people 
 are responsible for good government, some knowl- 
 edge of the proper conduct of public meetings is 
 especially essential. It is not necessary, of course, 
 for every one to become an expert parliamentarian, 
 but certain fundamentals of parliamentary procedure 
 should be familiar to every one who is liable to take 
 part in a public meeting. It is particularly impor- 
 tant that women, who are now entering public life in 
 large numbers, shall, in order to command respect, 
 conduct their meetings with a certain regard for 
 forms. 
 
 Parliamentary law maybe defined as those usages 
 of legislative and deliberative bodies which, by long 
 practice and experience, have become generally 
 approved. Parliamentary law is not fixed and arbi- 
 trary, but, like the English common law, is in con- 
 tinual process of development, being changed and 
 
X INTRODUCTION 
 
 enlarged from time to time by such new usages as 
 gain general acceptance ; and no one authority is 
 absolute. 
 
 As, in the common law, certain principles, from 
 long custom, have become firmly fixed, while certain 
 others are in process, so in parliamentary law, cer- 
 tain principles (chiefly fundamental) have become 
 established, while many others are not yet settled. 
 A new usage or interpretation may arise at any 
 time, and, if it is generally recognized as good, it 
 takes its place as a part of the body of the law. 
 
 Besides the general body of parliamentary law, 
 there are, for use in the conduct of meetings, special 
 rules which may be adopted by any society. As the 
 written law, or statutes, of a State govern that State 
 in preference to the common law, wherever they 
 conflict, so the special rule of any assembly governs 
 that assembly instead of the general parliamentary 
 law. 
 
 Care should be taken, therefore, not to confound 
 parliamentary usages with special rules, which (be- 
 cause they have not been generally adopted) are 
 not yet embodied in parliamentary law. Every 
 deliberative body, from a small club to the Congress 
 of the United States, may make its own rules of 
 
INTRODUCTION XI 
 
 procedure, and these are then binding upon itself ; 
 but such special rules are not authority for any other 
 body. When any such special rule, having received 
 the approval of many other assemblies and the sanc- 
 tion of time, becomes generally adopted, it is a part 
 of parliamentary law. 
 
 When there is a special rule on any particular 
 subject, this rule supersedes (for the assembly which 
 has adopted it) the general usage on that subject. 
 When there is no such rule, general usage governs ; 
 and the question, What is usage ? is to be answered 
 by deciding what is best, for the kind of assembly 
 in question, in the light of the best precedents and 
 authorities. 
 
 An illustration of the distinction between a spe- 
 cial rule and a parliamentary usage may be helpful. 
 In the United States Senate, there is a special rule 
 that an appeal from the decision of the chair upon 
 a question of order, may be laid upon the table. 
 The general parliamentary usage is that an appeal 
 cannot be tabled without at the same time tabling 
 the whole subject to which the appeal and the ques- 
 tion of order relate. The latter, and not the former, 
 practice is parliamentary, notwithstanding the fact 
 that so high an authority as the United States Senate 
 has a special rule to the contrary. 
 
xil INTRODUCTION 
 
 Justice and Equality are the principles on which 
 parliamentary law is founded ; upon these, the con- 
 duct of all meetings is based, and only by special 
 rule can any method be practised which contradicts 
 them. 
 
 The object of parliamentary law is the fair, 
 orderly, and speedy transaction of business, or, as 
 Jefferson says, " accuracy in business, economy of 
 time, order, uniformity, and impartiality." The will 
 of the majority is to be carried out, with due regard 
 for the rights of the minority the minority being 
 protected from the arbitrary power of the majority. 
 Every assembly should be governed in the demo- 
 cratic spirit, and any practice which allows any 
 special privilege to one member over any other, or 
 which limits in any way the right of full and fair 
 consideration, should be discountenanced. 
 
 In deciding between authorities, these funda- 
 mental principles, justice and equality, are to be 
 borne in mind, and no usage or rule of any body, 
 however eminent, which conflicts therewith, is com- 
 petent authority. The English House of Commons 
 and the United States Congress have their own 
 special rules (the United States House of Repre- 
 sentatives has " tied itself up with rules," War- 
 
INTRODUCTION xiu 
 
 rington says in his manual), but these rules are not 
 often suitable for ordinary assemblies or societies. 
 
 It is important to bear in mind, as Warrington 
 also says, " that it is possible that some deliberative 
 bodies have adopted rules incompatible with sound 
 parliamentary principles,' 5 and Mr. Crocker, the 
 latest authority, confirms this in the following words : 
 " In the heterogeneous mass of rulings, none are 
 entitled to be considered a part of a general system 
 of parliamentary or assembly practice, except those 
 founded on reason and justice." 
 
 It follows that the spirit of justice and equality, 
 tempered by individual judgment and common- 
 sense, is of more importance in a parliamentarian 
 than knowledge of methods. The technique is 
 necessary, but is secondary to the spirit. One can 
 know so much of parliamentary forms as to prac- 
 tically deny parliamentary principles. A knowl- 
 edge of the usual forms necessary for conducting a 
 simple meeting is, however, essential, in order that 
 inexperienced persons may not be outwitted by 
 unscrupulous ones, and that all may have an equal 
 opportunity to express their convictions. 
 
PART I 
 
 OR GANIZA TION 
 
4 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 recognized chairman ; they all talk whenever they 
 please, and jto' 6nfe another; they do not address 
 the chair, -make' -motions, or take votes; one mem- 
 ber, S'termtfirg the '.tide- occasionally, will say "Well, 
 Uieri, '!' suppose; t'lla'-t is settled ; " or, " Mrs. B., will 
 you attend to that ? " and so the disorderly ses- 
 sion goes on. Such a meeting may accomplish its 
 object, but how much better than this chaotic fashion 
 is the method of those other societies of women that 
 carry on their meetings " decently and in order," 
 and who, at the same time, learn how to conduct 
 those larger assemblies into which they are now 
 rapidly entering ! 
 
 2. The Three Kinds of Organization. There 
 are three sorts of organizations that need to be 
 considered : the temporary meeting, for a special 
 purpose ; the committee meeting, appointed by a 
 superior body to decide or perfect matters for that 
 body ; and the permanent organization, formed for 
 a definite object. The difference between these 
 three is that the first and second are temporary, and 
 the third is permanent ; also, that the first and third 
 are independent, while the committee is a dependent 
 body. 
 
 The only essential difference in organizing the 
 
HO W TO ORGANIZE A MEETING 5 
 
 three is, that in the committee meeting a secretary, 
 although useful, is not absolutely necessary, the 
 chairman having authority to act in that capacity. 
 The permanent organization is subject to the same 
 forms as the other two, and, in addition, must have 
 permanent officers, duly elected, a plan of work in 
 the form of a constitution and by-laws, a regular 
 time and place of meeting, and a stated purpose. 
 
 3. The Call. A meeting is called by any per- 
 son or persons interested, by means of verbal or 
 written invitations, or by a public call in the news- 
 papers. 
 
 Let us suppose that Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Burns, and 
 Miss Sawyer have caused a notice to be printed in 
 the Mendon Telegraph, over their signatures, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 All women who are interested in helping the sufferers by the 
 great flood in Johnstown, are invited to meet at the house of 
 Mrs. Alice M. Rice, 174 Blank Street, on Tuesday, October 14, 
 at 2.30 P M., to consult as to the best means of accomplishing 
 
 this object. 
 
 (Signed) LUCY B. ALLEN. 
 
 DEBORAH BURNS. 
 IDA F. SAWYER. 
 
 4. Calling to Order. The day has arrived, and 
 nineteen ladies are present. Mrs. Rice has arranged 
 
6 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 the chairs in lines across the room, as they would be 
 in a hall, and, facing them, a small table and chair 
 for the presiding officer. They wait a while for the 
 tardy ones, and then Mrs. Allen, whose name stands 
 first on the call, rises in the place where she happens 
 to be, if necessary she raps to secure attention, and 
 says : " Friends, the time to which our meeting was 
 called has more than arrived. Will you please come 
 to order and nominate some one as chairman of the 
 meeting ? " She remains standing, and waits for 
 nominations. 
 
 If Mrs. Allen is absent, or does not wish to call 
 to order, any one else may do it, preference being 
 given to those who signed the call. If the meeting 
 has been called by private invitations, any one pres- 
 ent may call to order. The "lady of the house" has 
 no special privileges, and, indeed, it is better for her 
 not to call to order, or to preside, since she is usu- 
 ally occupied with her duties as hostess. 
 
 5. Election of Chairman. Miss Lovell, rising 
 and looking at Mrs. Allen, says : " I nominate Mrs. 
 Burns as chairman." She does not address Mrs. 
 Allen as " Mrs. Chairman," because she is not regu- 
 larly a chairman, but only a self-constituted one. 
 Miss Lovell sits, and Mrs. Sanders rises and says : 
 
HOW TO ORGANIZE A MEETING 7 
 
 " I second the nomination " [sits]. Mrs. Allen then 
 says : " Mrs. Burns is nominated as our chairman, 
 and the nomination is seconded. Are there any 
 other nominations ? [she waits.'] Or any remarks ? 
 [waits.'] If not, those in favor of Mrs. Burns serving 
 us as chairman will say ' Aye.' [All those present 
 who are in favor then respond * Aye. J ] Those op- 
 posed, ' No.' [Those opposed, respond ' No.'} It is a 
 vote, and Mrs. Burns is elected chairman of this 
 meeting " [sits]. 
 
 In this illustration, it is supposed that Mrs. Allen 
 believes that the majority have answered " Aye." If, 
 on the contrary, it seems to Mrs. Allen that there 
 are more " Noes " than " Ayes," she says : " It is not 
 a vote, and another nomination is in order." Some 
 one will then nominate another person in the same 
 way. 
 
 6. More than One Nominee. It is always 
 well, before putting a name to vote, to ask, " Are 
 there any other nominations ? " thus saving the 
 meeting from hasty action, or from having a chair- 
 man forced upon it by " cut and dried " proceed- 
 ings. In the illustration, if some one had desired 
 another than Mrs. Burns for chairman, that person 
 would rise and say, " I nominate Mrs. Robbins ; " 
 
8 ORGANIZA TION 
 
 and still another could say, " I nominate Miss 
 Sawyer," and so on, Mrs. Allen meanwhile wait- 
 ing till all had nominated who wished. Then she 
 would put the names to vote, one by one, beginning 
 with Mrs. Burns as the one first mentioned, and if 
 she were defeated, going on with the other names, in 
 the order nominated, till one of them was elected. 
 The merits of the candidates may be discussed 
 until the voting begins, though this is rarely done. 
 If Mrs. Allen is herself nominated, she puts the 
 question upon her own name as if it were that of 
 some one else. She is, for the time being, not " Mrs. 
 Allen," but the agent of the meeting for securing a 
 chairman, and so she receives and presents her own 
 name, impersonally, with the rest. 
 
 7. Seconding the Nomination. It is well for 
 nominations to be seconded, as this shows that 
 more than one person is in favor of the nominee. 
 But the seconding is not imperative, and the name 
 may be put to vote without a second, if the acting 
 chairman chooses. 
 
 8. Election of Secretary, etc. Mrs. Burns, 
 having been elected chairman, rises, goes to the 
 table facing the audience, stands behind it, raps if 
 necessary, and says : " The first business is the elec- 
 
HOW TO ORGANIZE A MEETING 9 
 
 lion of a secretary. Will you please nominate ? " 
 She remains standing, and waits. Mrs. Robbins 
 rises and says, " Mrs. Chairman " \this is called 
 "addressing the chair "]. The chair responds, " Mrs. 
 Robbins " \this is called " recognition" and entitles the 
 one recognized to the floor\. Mrs. Robbins then " has 
 the floor," and proceeds to say, " I nominate Miss 
 Lovell for secretary." She sits. Mrs. Preston 
 rises and says, " I second the nomination, Mrs. 
 Chairman." 1 The chair waits, or asks for further 
 nominations, and then proceeds in the way already 
 given for the election of chairman. 2 Miss Lovell, 
 being elected, takes her seat at the table beside the 
 chairman, is provided with writing materials, and 
 proceeds to write down, correctly and exactly, the 
 proceedings which have already taken place and all 
 that follow. She need not record what is said, but 
 makes a full record of what is done, or decided by 
 vote. She should make no personal comments. 
 
 The chairman then states the object for which the 
 ladies were called together, making an address of 
 
 1 The title " Madam " (chairman or president) may be used instead of 
 " Mrs.," but it is rather fastidious to insist upon it. " Mrs." means simply 
 " Mistress," and applies to all women, whether they are " Mrs. "or " Miss." 
 
 2 When the regular chairman or secretary of a permanent organization is 
 absent, a temporary officer is ehcted in this same way. 
 
10 ORGANIZATION 
 
 any reasonable length, or saying briefly something 
 like this : " Our meeting is now ready to consider 
 the matter for which we have been called together. 
 As you know, our object is to consider in what way 
 (if in any way) we women of Mendon can help the 
 sufferers by the terrible flood in Johnstown. Any 
 suggestions or remarks are now in order, and the 
 chair hopes that all present will freely express their 
 opinions so that we may arrive at some action as 
 speedily as possible." She then sits, rising again 
 whenever any person " addresses the chair," and 
 sitting during remarks. She also rises to state and 
 to put motions, to state facts, or whenever it is 
 necessary for the order and dignity of the meeting. 
 The temporary meeting is now " organized " and 
 ready for work. 
 
 9. The Committee Meeting. A committee 
 meeting is organized in the same way, except that a 
 secretary may be omitted. If the body by which 
 the committee is appointed has definitely elected a 
 certain person as its chairman, that one is the chair- 
 man ; otherwise, a chairman is elected by the com- 
 mittee at its first meeting. The mere fact of a 
 person having been appointed first, or nominated 
 first, on a committee, does not constitute her its 
 
HOW TO ORGANIZE A MEETING II 
 
 chairman, except for the purpose of summoning the 
 others to the first committee meeting. The rules 
 for proceedings in committees are considered in 
 chapter eighteen. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A temporary meeting is organized by the choice 
 of a chairman and a secretary ; a committee meeting 
 by the choice of a chairman ; and a permanent 
 society by the election of permanent officers and by 
 the adoption of a constitution and by-laws. 
 
 Any person present may call a temporary meeting 
 to order, preference being given to those who issued 
 the call for it. 
 
 Temporary officers are elected by nomination 
 from the floor, the chair giving opportunity for as 
 many nominees as are desired. 
 
 Names given in nomination are voted upon in 
 the order nominated. Nominations may well be 
 seconded. 
 
 The temporary chairman, when elected, takes her 
 place, and receives and puts to vote nominations for 
 secretary. 
 
 The secretary records what is done, but need not 
 record what is said. She makes no comments. 
 
1 2 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 A committee is organized in the same manner as 
 a temporary meeting, electing its chairman unless 
 one has been specified when it was appointed. Its 
 chairman may act as secretary also. - 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 HOW TO FORM A PERMANENT SOCIETY 
 
 FORMING A CLUB ; CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS ; 
 THE OFFICERS; ROTATION IN OFFICE; ELECTION 
 OF OFFICERS ; OTHER METHODS OF ELECTING; 
 " No CHOICE ; " MAJORITY vs. PLURALITY ; CON- 
 CLUSION OF ORGANIZATION. 
 
 10. Forming a Club. The first meeting of any 
 proposed permanent society is organized in the 
 same way as a temporary meeting. It is then 
 necessary to adopt a plan of organization, in the 
 form of a constitution, or by-laws, or both; and to 
 elect permanent officers. 
 
 Illustration : Let us suppose that the same 
 women of Mendon, having enjoyed meeting to- 
 gether while helping the Johnstown sufferers, decide 
 that it will be profitable to form a permanent society 
 
HO IV TO FORM A SOCIETY 13 
 
 or club, for social, literary, or philanthropic purposes. 
 They call their friends together and organize their 
 temporary meeting as already described. 
 
 Mrs. Burns and Miss Lovell having been elected 
 temporary chairman and secretary, and the chairman 
 having stated the object of the meeting, informal 
 remarks are made by those present, favoring or dis- 
 approving the project. Mrs. Allen then rises, " ad- 
 dresses the chair," is " recognized," and says : " I 
 move that a woman's club be formed, and that we 
 take the necessary action at this meeting." The 
 chair repeats the motion, it is regularly debated, and 
 when all have spoken who wish, the motion is " put 
 to vote," 1 and if the majority vote in favor, the 
 motion is carried and the chair says, " The motion 
 to form a club is decided in the affirmative." Tech- 
 nically speaking, the ladies have voted to turn the 
 present temporary meeting into a permanent organi- 
 zation, it being understood that all present, after 
 fulfilling the requirements to be agreed upon, are 
 entitled to membership in the club. 
 
 The chair, having declared the result of the vote, 
 asks : " What further action will the club take 
 toward perfecting its organization ? " Mrs. Sanders, 
 
 1 See chapter V. for forms for making and putting motions. 
 
1 4 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 having properly obtained the floor, moves " that a 
 committee of three be formed to frame a constitu- 
 tion and by-laws." This motion is stated, discussed, 
 and put to vote ; if carried, the chair asks, " In what 
 way shall that committee be appointed, by nomina- 
 tions or by the chair ? " Mrs. Rice moves " that it be 
 appointed by the chair," 1 or, " that it be nominated 
 from the floor." If the former motion is made, it is 
 put to vote, and, if carried, the chair names three 
 persons present, saying, "The chair will appoint as 
 this committee, Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Rice and Miss 
 Lovell." If the other motion is made, that is put to 
 vote instead, and, if carried, the chair asks for and 
 receives nominations for the members of the com- 
 mittee and puts them to vote, one by one, as already 
 explained in the election of chairman. 
 
 In the same way, a motion is made and put " that 
 a committee be formed to prepare a list of perma- 
 nent officers for the club," or, " that permanent 
 officers for the club be now elected by nomination." 
 
 1 The custom of calling out " By the chair" or " From the floor" is incor- 
 rect, though by general consent it may be allowed. A chairman may dis- 
 regard such irregular calls, and insist upon a motion regularly made. In case 
 she allows them, she should not assume such calls to be the sense of the 
 meeting and act upon them without a vote, but should consider them as a 
 motion, and put such motion regularly to vote. It is better to insist upon 
 a proper motion. 
 
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 15 
 
 If a committee is appointed, that committee may 
 retire at once, deliberate, and report a list of officers 
 (other business being done in the mean time), or it 
 may report at a subsequent meeting ; it may also be 
 instructed to prepare written or printed copies of its 
 report, to be used as ballots. 
 
 The committee on the constitution and by-laws 
 necessarily reports at a later meeting. 
 
 This is all the business absolutely necessary to be 
 done at this initial meeting. Having thus organized 
 temporarily, and taken steps toward permanent 
 organization, the first meeting decides upon the 
 time and place for its next session and adjourns. 
 
 ii. Constitution and By-Laws. The com- 
 mittee appointed at the first meeting " to frame a 
 constitution and by-laws " meets and prepares its 
 report in writing. At the next meeting of the club, 
 the first business, after the approval of the records, 
 is the report of this committee. The report is 
 called for by the presiding officer, and read by the 
 chairman of the committee. The whole is read 
 first, in order to give the club a general idea of 
 its scope. Then the constitution is taken up and 
 read section by section, each one being discussed, 
 amended if necessary, and voted upon separately. 
 
1 6 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 After each section is considered sufficiently, the 
 chair will say, " Those in favor of this section will say 
 
 * Aye ; ' those opposed ' No.' It is a vote, and the 
 section is adopted." When all have been adopted, 
 she will say, " The question now is upon the adop- 
 tion of the constitution as a whole. Those in favor 
 
 # * # " l The same is done with the by-laws. See 
 section //j. 
 
 A model is given in the Appendix which will serve 
 as a basis in preparing the plan of organization for 
 any society. It should include the name and object 
 of the society, the number and the duties of its 
 officers and standing committees, its conditions of 
 membership, time of meeting, authority in parlia- 
 mentary law, and any other matters essential to an 
 understanding of its purpose and methods. 
 
 12. The Officers. The essential officers are a 
 president, a vice-president, and a recording secretary. 
 If there are to be fees, a treasurer and an auditor are 
 added ; there may also be a corresponding and an 
 assistant secretary. If the business is such that it can- 
 not be done in business sessions consisting of the mem- 
 bers, directors are elected to do the business for them. 
 
 1 Where these * * * are used, it is supposed that the reader will supply 
 the forms necessary to complete the motion. 
 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS I/ 
 
 In societies, or clubs whose object is chiefly mutual 
 improvement rather than systematic outside work, 
 this object is best attained by having all the im- 
 portant business presented, discussed, and finally 
 decided in open business meetings of the whole 
 society, leaving necessary details to be carried out 
 afterward by special or standing committees, when 
 ordered so to do by the whole body. Every mem- 
 ber thus has a voice in the management of the 
 society of which she is a part, the feeling of unity 
 and esprit de corps becomes strengthened, and the 
 spirit of justice and equality subserved. 
 
 13. Rotation in Office. In societies for mutual 
 Improvement, it is well to provide in the by-laws for 
 iotation in office, that is, to prescribe the term of 
 office beyond which certain officers may not be re- 
 elected. The club will thus avoid getting into a rut, 
 ind its members will mutually share the opportunity 
 of learning how to conduct the meeting. This is not 
 equally true of societies exclusively for outside work, 
 because, in such organizations, there may not be 
 more than one or two who are sufficiently interested 
 to do active work, the rest simply belonging in order 
 to help by their fees and by the influence of their 
 names. In women's clubs especially, where the 
 
1 8 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 chief motive is to learn and to grow, rotation in 
 office is one of the best helps, because, without it, 
 there is danger that one or two efficient women will 
 come to believe that they alone know what is best, 
 and can alone manage the club. This may be true, 
 but it is death to the growth of the rest, who, given 
 the chance, will develop the talent that is in them, 
 bring in new ideas and methods, and, in short, help 
 to secure the attainment of that " mutual improve> 
 ment " for which the club is seeking. Two, three, 
 or at most four years, are long enough for any one 
 woman to act as president, vice-president, auditor, 
 director, or member of any standing committee. 
 The secretaries, being distinctively working officers, 
 rather than executive ones, may be allowed a longer 
 or even an indefinite term, and the treasurer, being 
 such an important office, so hard to fill, and at the 
 same time one that will not be sought for on account 
 of the honors attendant upon it, may well be exempt 
 from the rule. It may be said in general, that such 
 offices of a given society as are distinctively honor- 
 ary and self-educative, should be subjected rigidly to 
 the rotation rule. Justice and equality demand that 
 as many members as possible shall have a chance 
 to show and to use the talent they possess. 
 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 19 
 
 14. Election of Officers. The committee ap- 
 pointed at the first meeting to nominate a list of 
 officers, meets and prepares its report in writing. 
 
 At some subsequent meeting (the constitution and 
 by-laws having been adopted) the presiding officer 
 calls for the report of the nominating committee, 
 and its chairman rises and says : " Mrs. Chairman, 
 your nominating committee reports as follows : For 
 President, Mrs. Alice Mayo Rice ; for Vice-president, 
 Miss Ida F. Sawyer; for Recording Secretary, Miss 
 Ruth H. Lovell ; for Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. 
 Mary L. P. Robbins ; for Treasurer, Mrs. Deborah 
 Burns; for Auditor, Mrs. Frances Hall Allen" and 
 so on to whatever other elective officers are made 
 necessary by the constitution. She then hands the 
 list to the chairman and takes her seat. 
 
 It will have been provided in the by-laws, whether 
 election shall be at the same, or at a subsequent, 
 meeting to the one at which the nominating com- 
 mittee reports. 
 
 If it is to be at a subsequent meeting, the chair, 
 receiving the committee's report, says : " You have, 
 heard the report of your committee. The election 
 
 of officers will take place next , and these 
 
 names are before you as candidates." Then is the 
 
20 ORGA N1ZA TION 
 
 time to present another list, if members are dissat- 
 isfied, it being understood that the regular nominees 
 do not exclude other nominees, though they take 
 precedence of others. 
 
 If election is to be at once, the chair says : " You 
 hear the report of your committee. What is your 
 pleasure ? " It is not necessary to move to receive 
 or adopt the report. 1 Other nominations are then 
 in order. See the next section. 
 
 When the time for the election comes, copies of the 
 report are distributed (if it has been so voted) to be 
 used as ballots ; or, blank slips of paper, upon which 
 to write out their choice, will do as well, if there is 
 plenty of time. In either case, the members will 
 now consider this report as before them for action. 
 The chairman having said, " What is your pleas- 
 ure ? " Mrs. Preston obtains the floor, and moves 
 "that a committee of two be appointed by the chair 
 to receive, sort, and count the votes." This is put 
 to vote and carried, and the chair appoints Miss 
 Anna Long and Miss Nellie Faxon as this commit- 
 tee. Each member then prepares her ballot, scratch- 
 ing out any name she does not like and substituting 
 one she prefers ; the committee collect the slips in a 
 
 1 See section 143. 
 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 21 
 
 box or other receptacle, retire, count the votes, and 
 note down the result. When they are ready, the 
 chair, interrupting other business if necessary, says : 
 " Your committee on election of officers is ready to 
 report." Miss Long then reads the result of the 
 votes, giving the whole number of votes cast, the 
 number necessary for a choice (which is a majority 
 of the votes cast), and the number each one has 
 received for each office, as follows : 
 
 Whole number of votes cast 21 
 
 Necessary for a choice n 
 
 For President : Mrs. Preston has i 
 Mrs. Rice has 20 
 
 and appears to be elected. 
 
 For Vice-President : Miss Faxon i 
 
 Mrs. Sanders i 
 Miss Sawyer 19 
 
 and appears to be elected ; and so on, to all the 
 offices. She then hands the list to the presiding 
 officer, who says : " The following persons, having 
 received a majority vote, are elected as the officers of 
 this club." She then re-reads the list of offices and 
 those who are elected to fill them. This declaration 
 
22 ORGANIZATION 
 
 of the chairman decides the matter, and the secre- 
 tary records the result. It cannot be reconsidered. 
 
 15. Other Methods of Electing. In case the 
 nominating committee reports at the same meeting 
 at which it was appointed, there will be no time to pre- 
 pare full ballots. Each officer will then be voted for 
 separately, on slips of paper, each member writing the 
 name thereon, the slips being collected and counted 
 one by one. An informal ballot may be taken first, 
 to test the sense of the meeting. This method gives 
 more opportunity for freedom of choice, but takes 
 much more time. Still another way is for the secre- 
 tary to cast one ballot for the whole membership, 
 using the nominating committee's report as the bal- 
 lot. The one ballot is then handed to the chairman> 
 who reads the list, declaring the nominees to be 
 duly elected. This method is not recommended, 
 and is never to be used, except in cases where it is 
 certain that all are agreed upon the candidates. A 
 motion is made " that the secretary be empowered 
 to cast the ballot of the society." This motion is 
 regularly put to vote, and if there is even one dis- 
 senting voice, it cannot be done. Such a vote must 
 be unanimous. 
 
 A fourth method is by nomination from the floor, 
 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 23 
 
 either at the first or at a subsequent meeting. This 
 takes a great deal of time, but secures freedom of 
 choice, and is a good way to adopt when there is 
 danger that a nominating committee will not select 
 persons agreeable to the majority, or to any consid- 
 erable number of the members. If this method is 
 desired, a motion is made " that we proceed to elect 
 the officers of the club by nomination from the 
 floor." The motion is stated and debated and put 
 to vote. If carried, the chair says : " It is a vote, 
 and the chair awaits nominations for president." 
 Mrs. Sanders obtains the floor and nominates Mrs. 
 Burns, Miss Sawyer nominates Mrs. Allen, Mrs. 
 Robbins nominates Miss Lovell. When all have 
 nominated who wish, the chair says : " Mrs. BuTns, 
 Mrs. Allen, and Miss Lovell have been nominated 
 for president. The members will write upon the 
 slips of paper the name they prefer." She then 
 appoints a committee of two or three who distribute 
 slips to all, and then collect, sort, and count them, 
 the result being declared by the chair, as in the first 
 method. The vice-president, secretaries, etc., are 
 then nominated and elected in the same way, one 
 by one. 
 
 Still another method is to allow members of the 
 
24 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 club, in open session, at the time the nominating 
 committee is appointed, to rise and propose candi- 
 dates for any office. These names would be merely 
 suggestions, and the committee would be bound only 
 to consider them, not to nominate them. It would 
 be well, also (in cases where there is a nominat- 
 ing committee), to provide that an independent list 
 of nominees may be made by any three, five, or 
 more persons, and that these nominees be placed 
 upon the same written or printed list with the regu- 
 lar nominees. In voting, the members could then 
 erase the name they did not want, or, as in the Aus- 
 tralian ballot system, make a cross against the name 
 they did want. This would secure as great freedom 
 and fairness as, and would take less time than, the 
 method by nomination from the floor. It should be 
 decided upon by vote and incorporated in the by- 
 laws which of these various methods shall be used 
 by a given society. 
 
 In all cases, permanent officers should be elected 
 by ballot, unless it is the unanimous wish to elect by 
 acclamation. When this is desired, a motion is 
 made " to elect by acclamation ; " this is put to 
 vote, and if there is no dissenting voice, it is done. 
 The names of candidates for each office are read by 
 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 2$ 
 
 the chair, one by one, the chair saying, " Those in 
 favor of Mrs. - - for president of the club will say 
 aye," as in any motion. By motion and unanimous 
 vote, also, the names may be all voted upon at once, 
 or portions of them together, instead of one by 
 one. 
 
 In their choice of methods, different societies will 
 be governed by what seems suited to their needs 
 and by what is fairest. With certain societies, elec- 
 tion may be by a nominating committee and a 
 printed ballot ; with most, acclamation would be too 
 summary; with all, the method of nomination from 
 the floor, or that of a committee and a written 
 ballot, could hardly fail to be impartial. 1 
 
 16. " Nc Choice.'* If, in the case of any office, 
 no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, 
 there is " no choice," and that officer must be voted 
 for again, as many times as are necessary, until some 
 one is elected. For instance, in electing the presi- 
 dent, if nineteen votes had been cast, and Mrs. Rice 
 had received ten, Miss Sawyer seven, and Mrs. 
 Burns two, Mrs. Rice, having a majority, would be 
 elected ; but if Mrs. Rice received fewer than ten, 
 she would not be elected, and a new vote would be 
 taken. The chair would say : " None of the candi- 
 
 1 See Addenda, page 228. 
 
26 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 dates for president has received a majority vote. 
 The club will please ballot again/' 
 
 17. " Majority" and " Plurality." A major- 
 ity is more than half, a plurality is the largest of two 
 or more numbers. When there are only two num- 
 bers, or two candidates, a majority and a plurality 
 are, of course, the same, but where there are more 
 than two, there is a distinction. In the case in 
 question, if there had been nineteen votes cast, Mrs. 
 Rice receiving nine, Miss Sawyer seven, and Mrs. 
 Burns three, Mrs. Rice would have a plurality, but 
 not a majority, because ten, and not nine, is a ma- 
 jority of nineteen. 
 
 A plurality, however, may elect, if it is so desired, 
 and, if so, this should be decided by vote before the 
 balloting begins. Otherwise, a majority elects. In 
 all societies, it would seem that officers ought to 
 gain at least one more than half the votes cast, in 
 order to entitle them to serve, so that it is better 
 to observe the general rule of a majority vote. In 
 elections by the people for public office, the opposite 
 is true, the majority method having proved of great 
 inconvenience in the States where it is used. 
 
 An election to office, once decided, is final, and 
 cannot be reconsidered. 
 
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 27 
 
 18. Conclusion of Organization. The per- 
 manent officers, having been elected, assume their 
 offices at the meeting following, the temporary 
 officials retaining their places until the close of the 
 meeting in question. 
 
 The president, on assuming the chair, may thank 
 the club for its confidence in her, and promise to try 
 to carry on the business properly, and to see that 
 the rights and privileges of the members are equally 
 recognized and respected. She is now addressed 
 as " Mrs. President." 
 
 The officers having been elected, and the constitu- 
 tion arid by-laws adopted, the society is organized 'and 
 ready for work. It is now the duty of the officers to be 
 present and perform their several functions. But in 
 case at any time the proper officers happen to be all 
 absent, and the time has arrived for the meeting 
 to be called to order, any member may call it to 
 order, and cause a chairman and secretary "pro 
 tempore " to be elected, and thus proceed to busi- 
 ness. This is better than to keep a meeting and a 
 speaker waiting. 
 
 The remaining chapters of the book apply equally 
 to temporary meetings and to permanent societies. 
 
28 ORGANIZATION 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A permanent society is at first organized tem- 
 porarily ; and then permanently, by election of offi- 
 cers and adoption of a constitution and by-laws. 
 
 The constitution and by-laws include the name, 
 object, and methods of the society, with the number 
 and duties of its officers. They are prepared by a 
 committee, and adopted, after discussion, by the 
 whole body. 
 
 The necessary officers of a permanent organiza- 
 tion are a president, a vice-president, and a record- 
 ing secretary. Other officers may be added. 
 
 Business may be done by directors, but, in socie- 
 ties for mutual improvement, it is better to have 
 business meetings of the whole membership. 
 
 A compulsory change of certain officers every few 
 years is advisable in societies for mutual improve- 
 ment. 
 
 Election of officers may be by means of a nomi- 
 nating committee, or by nominations from the floor. 
 All permanent officers should usually be voted for 
 by ballot. In giving the result of a vote, the num- 
 ber of votes against a candidate as well as the 
 number for, should be stated. 
 
THE ORDER OF BUSINESS 29 
 
 A majority elects, unless it is provided by vote 
 that a plurality shall elect. 
 
 A majority is more than half ; a plurality is the 
 largest of several. 
 
 An election cannot be reconsidered. 
 
 In case of the absence of permanent officers, a 
 chairman and secretary /r0 tempore are elected. 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND THE 
 QUORUM 
 
 ROUTINE BUSINESS ; THE FORMAL ORDER OF BUSI- 
 NESS ; " QUORUM " DEFINED ; A QUORUM NECES- 
 SARY BEFORE BEGINNING ; EFFECT OF " No 
 QUORUM" DURING PROCEEDINGS; METHOD OF 
 COUNTING THE QUORUM. 
 
 19. Routine Business. The three formalities 
 necessary in. the conduct of meetings are the calling 
 to order, the reading and approval of the records, 
 and the adjournment. These constitute what is 
 sometimes called the " routine business." Reports 
 of standing committees may also be included under 
 
30 ORGANIZA 77ON 
 
 this title. The routine business, by general consent/ 
 may be carried on without formal motion and vote, 
 but care should be taken not to use this method 
 with any except routine business, that is, with any 
 except business that is merely formal, and does not 
 call for discussion. Objection may be made by any 
 one to its use, even in routine business. 
 
 The presiding officer of a permanent organization, 
 when the time arrives for the session to begin, rises 
 from the chairman's seat, stands silently a moment, 
 raps with a gavel if necessary, and says : " The hour 
 having arrived, the meeting will please come to 
 order, and listen to the reading of the records of the 
 last meeting." The secretary rises, addresses the 
 chair \who now sits~\, reads the records, and seats 
 herself. The chair rises and says : " You have 
 heard the records of the last meeting. Does any one 
 notice any errors or omissions ? [she waits.'] If not, 
 the records will stand approved. The next business 
 is, etc." 
 
 If any one has noticed any error, she will rise and 
 make the correction, saying something like this: "As 
 I remember, Mrs. President, the action taken upon 
 (so and so) was as follows : " (giving it as she 
 
 1 See section 53. 
 
THE ORDER OF BUSINESS 31 
 
 remembers it.) If the chair and the secretary think 
 the correction is valid, and no one objects, it will be 
 made by the secretary, and the chair will say: "The 
 records, with the necessary correction, will stand ap- 
 proved." Or, some one may move " to amend the 
 records in accordance with the suggestion ; " or, " to 
 amend by striking out (certain words) and inserting 
 (others)," l and this motion is put to vote, and the 
 records amended or not, according as the majority 
 vote is affirmative or negative. The chair will then 
 say : " The records, as amended, will stand approved." 
 20. Formal Order of Business. It is well for 
 a society, or its president, to adopt an order of busi- 
 ness by which the chair shall guide its meetings. 
 The form is not arbitrary, but may be something liks 
 the following : 
 
 1. Calling to Order. 
 
 2. Reading and Approval of the Records. 
 
 3. Announcements. 
 
 4. Reports of Special Committees. 
 
 5. Reports of Standing Committees. 
 
 6. Special Assignments. 
 
 7. Unfinished Business. 
 
 8. Elections to Membership. 
 
 9. New Business. 
 
 10. Programme for the Day. 
 
 11. Adjournment. 
 
 1 See section 105. 
 
32 ORGANIZATION 
 
 Any society will modify this order, in accordance 
 with its own convenience and methods. The presi- 
 dent arranges a list for each day, itemizing under 
 each of these heads the special business to be 
 brought up, and calls up each item in order. When 
 she comes to " new business " she asks : " Is there 
 any new business ? " If there is, it is presented, 
 disposed of, temporarily at least, and then the lec- 
 ture, or other programme for the day, follows. If a 
 special time is set for the programme to begin, all 
 business which is not reached when this time arrives, 
 is postponed by tacit consent till the next business 
 meeting, unless a vote is taken "to continue the 
 business session longer." The order of business, 
 after the approval of the records, may be interrupted 
 or changed at any point, by a motion and vote to 
 consider any special topic. 
 
 21. The Quorum Defined. The quorum is 
 that number of persons whose presence is necessary 
 for the transaction of business. In a temporary 
 meeting, the question of a quorum does not arise, 
 those present, however few, constituting the meeting. 
 In a committee, a majority of those appointed con- 
 stitutes the quorum. In a permanent organization, 
 it is necessary to provide, by rule or in the by-laws, 
 
THE QUORUM 33 
 
 what number shall constitute the quorum. If it is not 
 so provided, the quorum is a majority of the whole 
 membership ; and, since business cannot be done 
 without a quorum, a majority would have to be 
 present before a meeting could even be called to 
 order. 
 
 In legislatures, where the business is of a public 
 nature, where it is the duty of all the members to be 
 present, and where there is power to compel their 
 attendance, a large quorum is expedient and just. 
 In ordinary societies, the contrary is true. The 
 object being to get the business done, the quo- 
 rum should be fixed at a number small enough to 
 ensure that a meeting is actually held when it has 
 been called. For a society numbering from fifty to 
 one hundred, the quorum may well be fixed at seven ; 
 for a small society five ; and for one of several hun- 
 dred, eleven or fifteen is sufficient. In fixing the 
 quorum, the kind of society may also be taken into 
 account, and if its membership, though large, is not 
 a working membership, the quorum may be still 
 smaller. The principle is, that all having the right 
 and the opportunity of attendance, those who actu- 
 ally do attend, rain or shine, have the right to do 
 the work for which they have taken the trouble to 
 
34 ORGA NIZA 77 ON 
 
 come. Absent and tardy members must take the 
 consequences. Only as a matter of courtesy, can 
 they expect business which has been regularly as- 
 signed, to be put off because they are not present. 
 Of course, if the members present choose, they can 
 postpone any or all items of business and adjourn ; 
 but they need not, nor is it best to do so. If the 
 bare quorum is present, they may go on as if there 
 were a large meeting. 
 
 22. Quorum Necessary before Beginning. 
 Whatever number is fixed upon as the quorum of any 
 body, the presence of that number of members is 
 necessary before any business can be done. When 
 the time for the meeting arrives, the president counts 
 those present, including herself, to see if the requi- 
 site number are there ; even if but one is lacking, 
 she does not call to order, but waits until others 
 arrive. After a reasonable time (from a half-hour 
 to an hour), if there is still no quorum, she adjourns 
 the meeting, saying : " There being no quorum, 
 the meeting stands adjourned to" (naming the 
 time for the next meeting). Those present may 
 talk over matters, but no motion, vote, or business 
 of any kind, is in order. It is as if the meeting had 
 not been held. Members may be sent for to make 
 
THE QUORUM 35 
 
 a quorum, but they cannot be required to come. 
 The same is true of committee meetings. 
 
 23. Effect of " No Quorum" During Pro- 
 ceedings. A different practice prevails where 
 there has been a quorum, and where, during the 
 meeting, the members have gradually departed until 
 less than the proper number remain. In this case, 
 business may still go on unless some one "raises the 
 point of no quorum," the supposition being that, a 
 quorum having been present, it is still present. 
 Business clone under those circumstances is regular, 
 and may continue to an adjournment at the regular 
 time. The chair is not obliged to note the absence 
 of a quorum, but may continue to conduct the 
 exercises. 
 
 If, however, any one, the chair or a member, so 
 wishes, the question of " no quorum " can be raised 
 and the proceedings stayed. The chair may say : 
 "The chair calls the attention of the members to 
 the fact that there is ' no quorum/ The meeting is 
 therefore adjourned," and thus dissolve the session. 
 Or, a member may rise and say : " Mrs. President, I 
 raise the question of * no quorum.'". Business is 
 then suspended until the number present is counted, 
 and if it is deficient, the meeting is perforce ad- 
 journed. 
 
36 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 24. Method of Counting the Quorum. If 
 
 the quorum is small, its presence or absence is easily 
 ascertained by a simple count, by the president and 
 secretary, which is verifiable by all. If it is large, 
 the parliamentary practice is to ascertain it by the 
 roll-call, 1 those answering to their names (and thus 
 recorded as present) deciding the question of the 
 presence of a quorum. 
 
 It would be beyond the province of this book to 
 consider the controversy which has lately arisen in 
 the United States House of Representatives as to 
 whether the presiding officer of a legislative assembly 
 (whose quorum is a majority, or some very large 
 number) may decide the question of a quorum, by 
 himself counting those present. It may be said, 
 however, that precedent and safe and fair practice 
 indicate the roll-call as the most just way of ascer- 
 taining the presence or absence of members. Mis- 
 takes and misunderstandings arose from the at- 
 tempted reversal of this time-honored practice in the 
 winter of 1889-90, under the speakership of Mr. 
 Reed of Maine. 
 
 In any given case where the opportunity arises, 
 
 1 For the way to call the Roll see section 72. 
 
THE QUORUM 37 
 
 the natural tendency of all presiding officers toward 
 the assumption of autocratic power should be re- 
 stricted rather than encouraged. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Routine business, by general consent, may be 
 carried on without regular motions and votes. 
 
 Meetings of permanent societies should be guided 
 by a formal order of business, including, under 
 suitable heads, all that will be likely to arise. 
 
 The quorum is that number of persons whose 
 presence is necessary for the transaction of business. 
 If the number is not stated, it is a majority of the 
 membership. It is better to have it definitely fixed. 
 
 The quorum should be small enough to ensure a 
 meeting being held when one is called, those taking 
 the trouble to come being entitled to do the business. 
 
 A meeting is not called to order till a quorum is 
 present ; but once in progress, it may go on without 
 a quorum until some one raises the question of " no 
 quorum." 
 
 The presence of a small quorum is ascertained by 
 a count ; of a very large one, by the roll-call. 
 
38 ORGANISATION 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS 
 
 DUTIES OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER ; RIGHTS OF 
 THE PRESIDING OFFICER; RIGHTS AND DUTIES 
 OF MEMBERS; THE VICE-PRESIDENT; THE RE- 
 CORDING SECRETARY. 
 
 25. Duties of the Presiding Officer. The 
 
 presiding officer is the servant of the whole body, 
 not the servant of any party or individual ; above 
 all, not the master of the assembly over which she 
 presides. She directs, by means of her order of 
 business, seeing that all is conducted in accordance 
 with justice and equality. She ic preserves order 
 and decorum " by calling to order when necessary, 
 and correcting parliamentary errors, holding the 
 reins, so to speak (but not too tightly), and guiding, 
 not driving, the session, through its by-ways to its 
 destination. It is her duty to be strictly non-par- 
 tisan while in the chair ; to see that while the will 
 of the majority is carried out, the rights of the 
 minority are also respected ; to secure the speedy 
 and fair transaction of business, and freedom and 
 impartiality in debate. 
 
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS 39 
 
 A good presiding officer will have three character- 
 istics, force of will, sincerity of purpose, and con- 
 sideration for others. 
 
 As to matters of detail, the chair will do that 
 which best preserves order and secures the proper 
 transaction of business. She will stand during all 
 business or voting, especially while stating and put- 
 ting motions, but may sit during debate. She will 
 not speak of herself as " I," but as " the chair" or 
 " the president." She will recognize the member 
 to whom the floor rightfully belongs, will state every 
 motion that is in order, and give a chance for its dis- 
 cussion ; she will wait for a quorum before beginning, 
 and will open and close the meeting at the proper 
 time ; she will know when committees are to report, 
 and see that their reports are called for; she. will 
 see that special assignments are called up at the 
 proper time, and that all necessary business is 
 either done, or else properly postponed before the 
 meeting dissolves. 
 
 26. Rights of the Presiding Officer. The 
 presiding officer is a member of the society or meet- 
 ing, and as such may always vote and speak. These 
 rights are usually waived, however, except in cases 
 of necessity. The chairman may make explanations 
 
40 ORGANIZATION 
 
 or state facts, but if she wishes to debate, she leaves 
 
 the chair (saying, " Will Mrs. please assume 
 
 the chair? "), and becomes merely a member for the 
 time being. She need not actually vacate the real 
 chair, though this is best in large assemblies ; she 
 simply assumes that another person is the chairman, 
 and then " addresses the chair " as a member, and 
 goes on with her remarks, resuming her chairman- 
 ship at their close. 
 
 The chair has the right to decide who is entitled 
 to the floor, and to decide points of order, both of 
 these being subject to appeal. She may call up 
 regular business without waiting for motions, may 
 declare certain routine business " approved " with- 
 out a vote, and may adjourn a meeting if it is time, 
 or if a quorum is not present. She may require 
 motions to be put in writing, and may refuse to put 
 those that are not in order. 
 
 A president has no right to meet with a commit- 
 tee, unless she has been specially appointed upon it, 
 and she need not be consulted by members of it. 
 She has no so-called ex qfficio rights, unless these are 
 specifically granted, and it is not well to grant them. 
 Her rights consist, not in managing the society, but 
 in directing it so that it may manage itself. 
 
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS 41 
 
 27. Rights and Duties of Members. The 
 
 members will best do their duty in assisting the 
 president to preserve order, by preserving order 
 themselves. They will refrain from whispering, 
 from " asides," from walking about, from doing any- 
 thing which may distract the meeting and prevent 
 others from speaking and listening. They will make 
 motions properly, debate courteously, and abide by 
 the voice of the majority. Every member is upon 
 an equality with every other. It is the right of 
 members to vote, and also their duty, when clear as 
 to their convictions. The rights and duties of mem- 
 bers in debate are considered in chapter seven. 
 
 28. The Vice-President. The vice-president 
 is the substitute for the president in case of her 
 absence or disability. Her duties are the same 
 therefore, and she should inform herself upon 
 the objects and methods of the society, and upon 
 parliamentary practice. It is well for a president to 
 call often upon her vice-president to aid her in 
 different ways, so that the latter office shall not 
 degenerate into a sinecure. 
 
 29. The Recording Secretary. This officer 
 records at the time, and afterward writes out in per- 
 manent form, all that is done. She may also, but 
 
42 ORGA NIZA TION 
 
 need not, record what is said in debate. Votes are 
 to be transcribed in the exact form in which they 
 are taken. The record is the authority ; whatever 
 that says, stands as the legal acts of the society. It 
 is necessary, therefore, that the records of a meeting 
 be read at the meeting subsequent and be then 
 " approved " by motion and vote of the society, or 
 by tacit consent. They are thus sanctioned as cor- 
 rect ; and it is these records, and not the memory 
 or assertion of any individuals, which decide what 
 the action has been. 
 
 The duties of any other officers will be specified 
 in the by-laws of the society which elects them, and 
 will be determined by the needs of that society. 
 See the Appendix. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The presiding officer is the servant of the whole 
 body ; it is her duty to be strictly non-partisan, to 
 preserve order, to see that justice and equality are 
 subserved, and to guide the meetings by the rules 
 of parliamentary law, and by an order of busi- 
 ness. 
 
 It is the right of the presiding officer to vote and 
 to speak, leaving the chair for debate. These rights 
 
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS 43 
 
 are not often assumed. She has no ex qfficio rights 
 not specifically granted. 
 
 The duty of the members is to help to preserve 
 order and to observe the rules of procedure. They 
 are all upon an equality. 
 
 The vice-president assists the president when 
 called upon, taking her place in case of her absence 
 or disability. 
 
 The recording secretary keeps a correct record of 
 all that is decided by vote. The records are the 
 legal authority of what has been done, and must con- 
 sequently be " approved " at the meeting following 
 the one recorded. 
 
PART II 
 
 MOTIONS 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE MAKING, STATING, PUTTING, AND 
 SECONDING OF MOTIONS 
 
 " MOTION " vs. " TALK ; " THE PROCESS OF DECID- 
 ING A MATTER BY MOTION AND VOTE ; WORDS 
 TO BE USED ; WHEN A MOTION MAY BE MADE ; 
 ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROCESS ; SECONDING THE 
 MOTION ; FORM FOR SECONDING ; EXTREMES TO 
 BE AVOIDED. 
 
 30. " Motion " vs. "Talk." In order to bring 
 a matter properly before a meeting, it is necessary 
 to make a formal motion. Desultory talk or sug- 
 gestion followed by general agreement, is of no 
 binding value. A motion, regularly made and put to 
 vote, is the basis of business ; and only when this 
 is done, can one who is instructed to do a certain 
 thing be held to its performance. This is not say- 
 ing that a matter may not be informally talked over 
 previous to the making of the motion. This is 
 often profitable and necessary ; but such informal 
 47 
 
48 MOTIONS 
 
 talk is merely preliminary to the regular motion : it 
 does not take its place. The motion alone is the 
 basis of action. 
 
 31. The Process of Deciding a Matter by 
 Motion and Vote. In deciding a matter by 
 motion and vote, six steps are essential. These are 
 as follows : 
 
 1. The member rises and addresses the chair. 
 
 2. The chairman rises and recognizes the 
 member. 
 
 3. The member makes her motion and sits. 
 
 4. The chairman states the motion. 
 
 5. The chairman gives opportunity for debate, 
 and then asks, Are you ready for the question ? 
 
 6. The motion is put to vote, and the result 
 declared. 
 
 If the motion is seconded, the seconding follows 
 the third step. This is not included, because it is 
 not absolutely essential, while the other steps are. 
 
 32. 'Words to be Used. In making motions, 
 any words may be used which express the speaker's 
 meaning. A motion should be as concise as possible, 
 and should relate to one subject. The motions given 
 in illustration throughout the text of this book are 
 not arbitrary, but are simply indicatory of how a 
 
THE MAKING OF MOTIONS 49 
 
 motion should be framed. The speaker should 
 begin by saying, " I move," not " I motion," or " I 
 move you." 
 
 33. When a Motion may be Made. Any 
 motion may be made at any time when there is no 
 other motion pending. There are also certain tech- 
 nical motions which may be made while others are 
 pending, and these are considered in chapter fourteen. 
 No motion can be made during voting, or while a 
 member has the floor for debate. When a motion 
 is defeated, the matter remains where it was before 
 the motion was made. 
 
 34. Illustration of the Process. Let us sup- 
 pose that a business meeting of the Mendon Women's 
 Club is in progress. The president has called the 
 meeting to order, the records have been read and 
 approved, and, in the "order of business," the item 
 " new business " is reached. 
 
 Mrs. Preston wishes to bring before the club a 
 proposition for a public lecture. She rises and says, 
 " Mrs. President," then waits for "recognition ; " the 
 chair, rising, " recognizes " her by saying, " Mrs. Pres- 
 ton." Mrs. Preston then " has the floor." She pro- 
 ceeds as follows : " I move that our club hold a public 
 meeting." She then sits, and the president says, 
 
50 MOTIONS 
 
 il You have heard the motion of Mrs. Preston, that 
 our club hold a public meeting ; the matter is be- 
 fore you for discussion." Still standing, the chair 
 waits for, invites, if necessary urges, discussion ; and 
 when the matter has been debated l (during debate 
 the chair may sit), and it seems to her that all 
 have spoken who wish, she rises and says, " Are you 
 ready for the question ? " If no one rises to speak, 
 she then puts the motion to vote as follows : " The 
 motion is that our club hold a public meeting. All 
 those who are in favor of the motion will say l Aye.' 
 \Those who favor the project, answer i Aye.'] Those 
 opposed, * No.' [Those opposed answer i No.'} It is a 
 vote " (or, " The motion is carried "). If the " Noes " 
 are in the majority, she declares the result by say- 
 ing, " It is not a vote," or, " The motion is lost." 
 This declaration of the chair decides the matter, 
 unless the vote is doubted or reconsidered. The 
 secretary records the result, and it stands as the 
 vote of the club, to be in future acted upon. Fur- 
 ther motions as to when and where the public meet- 
 ing shall be held, who shall be the speakers, etc., 
 are made and decided by the same forms. In short, 
 all motions whatsoever follow this same process, with 
 
 1 For rules regarding the limit of debate, see section 47. 
 
THE SECONDING OF MOTIONS 51 
 
 the exception that, with certain technical motions, 
 debate is omitted or limited. 1 
 
 35. Seconding the Motion. The practice of 
 seconding the motion has become a kind of shibbo- 
 leth. Persons who cannot make a motion properly, 
 will often cling with amusing tenacity to the neces- 
 sity of seconding all motions, presiding officers some- 
 "times even going so far as to refuse to state a motion, 
 or to allow it to be discussed, until it is seconded. 
 The principle of equality dictates that every member 
 has an equal right with every other, and that one 
 person has the same right as have two persons, to 
 bring up any matter which is in order and to have it 
 fairly discussed. 
 
 Although some good authorities make the second- 
 ing of all motions a necessary part of the procedure, 
 the actual practice of certain legislatures 2 and large 
 bodies in not seconding motions would seem to 
 indicate that this practice is gradually ceasing to be 
 considered an essential, and to sustain the opinion 
 that a second, while always permissible, should not 
 
 1 See Addenda, page 228. 
 
 8 Motions are not seconded in either house of Congress or in the Legisla- 
 ture of Massachusetts. The same is probably true of most of the other States. 
 The author has the authority of a United States Senator for saying that " in 
 most bodies of dignity and importance a second to a motion is not required 
 by parliamentary rule." 
 
52 MOTIONS* 
 
 be made obligatory, except as a means of protection 
 against irregular or factious motions. The second 
 has come to be simply a sign of approval, and it is 
 therefore of the nature of debate, a person "sec- 
 onding " where she has nothing else to say. Some- 
 times, too, a motion is seconded as an opening for 
 debate. To make of it a necessary factor in the mak- 
 ing of a motion is to give it too much importance. 
 
 It is undeniable that a presiding officer, if -she 
 wishes to be so arbitrary, may refuse to state a 
 motion that is not seconded, and there is no help 
 for it, because the practice of omitting the second 
 has not yet become so firmly established as to be 
 authoritative. But if she understands that a motion 
 need not be seconded, and if she wishes to be fair 
 to all, she will not insist upon it, but will allow 
 every proper motion to take its regular course, to 
 be debated, and then to be defeated fairly by a vote, 
 rather than to defeat it beforehand, by refusing to 
 place it before the meeting unseconded. 
 
 It is proper also for the presiding officer herself 
 to tacitly second any motion, thus doing away with 
 the necessity for waiting, or asking for a verbal 
 second. In this case, in stating the motion, she 
 says, " The motion is made and seconded that," etc. 
 
THE SECONDING OF MOTIONS S3 
 
 36. Form for Seconding. When a motion is 
 seconded, it must be done formally. The custom 
 of calling out " Second the motion " by any one 
 seated, and not addressing the chair, is disorderly, 
 and such calls need not be heeded. The fact that 
 this careless method is quite common shows that 
 the practice of seconding is beginning to pass into 
 disuse. When motions are seconded, the seconding 
 follows the making of the motion. The mover hav- 
 ing seated herself, another person rises, addresses 
 the chair, is recognized, and says, " I second the 
 motion, " She then sits, and the chair says, "The 
 motion is made by Mrs. Preston and seconded by 
 Mrs. Paine that," etc. She then continues as in the 
 illustration. 
 
 37. Extremes to be Avoided. There are two 
 extremes which a fair-minded chairman will avoid : 
 first, suppressing a motion because it is not seconded ; 
 and second, hastily putting one to vote without giving 
 a chance for discussion. 
 
 As was said in chapter one, nominations for office 
 would better be seconded. The reason for this is 
 that nominations are almost never discussed. In- 
 deed, a good rule to be established in regard to 
 seconding would be this : a second should not 
 
54 MOTIONS 
 
 ordinarily be insisted upon ; but it may be, in the 
 case of nominations, of undebatable motions, a.nd of 
 appeals. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A formal motion, regularly made and put to vote, 
 is the only proper basis for business. Informal talk 
 determines nothing. 
 
 There are six steps in deciding a matter by motion 
 and vote : addressing the chair, recognition, making 
 the motion, stating the motion, debate, putting the 
 question to vote. 
 
 Any words may be used which express the speak- 
 er's meaning. 
 
 A motion begins with the words, " I move." 
 
 A motion may be made at any time when no other 
 is pending. 
 
 Seconding the motion is permissible, but should 
 not be made obligatory; the chair may tacitly second 
 a motion. 
 
 Calling out " Second the motion/' without rising 
 and addressing the chair, is out of order. 
 
 A motion should not be suppressed because it is 
 not seconded ; neither should one be put to vote 
 hastily without opportunity for debate. 
 
THE WITHDRAWAL OF MOTIONS 55 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE WITHDRAWAL AND DIVISION OF 
 MOTIONS 
 
 RULE FOR WITHDRAWAL ; WITHDRAWAL ILLUS- 
 TRATED ; EXCEPTION ; DIVISION OF MOTIONS ; 
 EQUIVALENT MOTIONS. 
 
 38 Rule for Withdrawal. A motion, having 
 been made and stated, is in the possession of the as- 
 sembly and not of the mover, who may " withdraw " 
 it only under certain restrictions. The rule for with- 
 drawal may be stated as follows : The member who 
 makes a motion may withdraw it, by unanimous con- 
 sent, before it is put to vote, unless it has been 
 amended or put into a different form from that first 
 moved. The reason why it cannot be withdrawn 
 without unanimous consent is because after it has 
 been put before the assembly it u belongs/' so to 
 speak, to the whole body, and no longer to the 
 mover. Furthermore, unanimous consent is the 
 shortest way of determining the wish of the meet- 
 ing ; any person could at once renew the motion if 
 it were allowed to be withdrawn by a majority vote, 
 
5 6 MOTIONS 
 
 and time would thereby be lost. Even by unani- 
 mous consent, it cannot be withdrawn if it has been 
 amended, for it has now become involved in other 
 processes which require their own course of action. 
 If it has been seconded, the second must also be 
 withdrawn. A motion that is withdrawn need not be 
 recorded, for it is as if it had not been made at all. 
 
 39. Withdrawal Illustrated. Matters may 
 come up in the course of debate which lead the 
 mover to see that her motion is unnecessary or unde- 
 sirable, and she wishes she had not made it. She 
 may in that case withdraw it. That is, she may rise, 
 address the chair, and, being recognized, may say, 
 " I desire to withdraw my motion." The chair will 
 then say, " Mrs. desires to withdraw the mo- 
 tion. Is there any objection ? " She waits for 
 objections, and if there are none, she says, " The 
 motion is withdrawn." If any one, wishing it to be 
 further considered, does object to its withdrawal, 
 that person rises and says, " Mrs. President, I 
 object." The chair will then say, " There being 
 objection, the motion cannot be withdrawn, and is 
 still before you," and the debate upon it proceeds. 
 
 40. Exception. A motion may be withdrawn 
 before it is stated by the chair, without unanimous 
 
THE DIVISION OF MOTIONS 57 
 
 consent, and solely at the will of the mover. Not 
 having been stated by the chair, it " belongs " to the 
 mover. This may happen when, after a motion is 
 made, the chair, or some one through the chair, 
 knowing of facts or circumstances unknown to the 
 mover, suggests to her its undesirability or untimeli- 
 ness ; and she in consequence withdraws it, if she 
 wishes. 
 
 41. Division of Motions. A motion which has 
 two or more distinct parts may be divided into as 
 many motions as there are parts, and each one put 
 to vote separately. This division may be made by 
 the chair without a vote, if there is no objection ; 
 or, a member may move " that the motion be 
 divided," and this is put to vote like any other 
 motion. For instance, a motion is made " that a 
 committee of three be appointed by the chair to 
 consider the question of holding a public meeting, 
 and be given full powers." This may be divided 
 into four parts, as follows: i. That a committee be 
 appointed to consider the question of a public meet- 
 ing ; 2. That it consist of three ; 3. That it be ap- 
 pointed by the chair ; 4. That it be given full powers. 
 
 This gives opportunity for debating and amending 
 each proposition separately, and secures a quicker 
 
$8 MOTIONS 
 
 and fairer result than if the whole complex motion 
 were under consideration at once. It also simplifies 
 the process of amendment. 
 
 If the chair decides upon the division without a 
 motion, she separates the motion into its obviously 
 distinct parts, putting each to vote. The motion to 
 divide is simply, " I move that the motion be 
 divided," without specifying the manner of division. 
 If this is carried, the chair proceeds to divide the 
 motion, as in the other case. 
 
 42. Equivalent Motions. When the negative 
 of one motion amounts to the affirmative of another 
 and leaves no alternative, the decision of one decides 
 the other. For an example, see section 50. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The mover may withdraw her motion, by unani- 
 mous consent, unless it has been amended or mod- 
 ified. 
 
 A motion may be withdrawn before it is stated, at 
 the will of the mover. 
 
 A motion which has two or more distinct parts 
 may be divided, each part being put to vote sepa- 
 rately. 
 
 The chair decides upon the manner of division ; 
 
DEB A TE 59 
 
 she may divide without a motion u that the motion 
 be divided," or one may be made to that effect. 
 
 A motion which is another's equivalent is decided 
 when that other is decided. 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 DEBATE 
 
 THE RIGHT OF DEBATE ; DEBATE DEFINED ; WHEN 
 DEBATE is IN ORDER ; METHOD OF DEBATE 
 ILLUSTRATED ; RULES FOR LIMITING DEBATE ; 
 ILLUSTRATION ; THE ARGUMENTS ; CONTESTING 
 THE FLOOR ; YIELDING THE FLOOR ; COURTESIES 
 IN DEBATE ; GENERAL CONSENT. 
 
 43. The Right of Debate. After a motion has 
 been made, and stated by the chair, it is before the 
 assembly for consideration. It is now the duty of 
 the chairman to see that it is fully and fairly consid- 
 ered, and to secure the right of the members equally 
 to take part in its discussion. On the other hand, 
 provision is often needed to protect an assembly 
 from the tendency of members to " talk against time." 
 To preserve the happy medium between a tedious or 
 
60 MOTIONS 
 
 factious debate on the one hand, and a summary 
 disposal of all debate on the other, it is well for a 
 society to adopt a few simple rules to guide and 
 guard its discussions. 
 
 44. Debate Defined. Strictly speaking, " de- 
 bate " means remarks made on opposite sides of a 
 question ; it presupposes difference of opinion and 
 conflict of votes. But in its more general sense, it 
 includes all remarks made in relation to a motion, 
 even if all on one side. Debate may therefore be 
 defined as original remarks, spoken, not read from 
 manuscript, by a member of the assembly who has 
 obtained the floor, which remarks should be imper- 
 sonal and to the point. The speaker may have 
 notes jotted down to aid her ; she may recite her 
 speech from memory, or it may be extempore, but, as 
 Mr. Crocker says, " debate is not reading a speech." 
 
 45. When Debate is in Order. Debate is in 
 order only when a motion is regularly before the 
 meeting. Informal discussion, without a motion to 
 speak to, is not debate. This is allowable as pre- 
 liminary to a motion, but regular discussion is dis- 
 cussion of a motion. The motion being made and 
 stated, " debate " follows. Conversely, debate 
 ceases as soon as the motion is put to vote. The 
 
DEBATE 6 1 
 
 chair having asked, " Are you ready for the ques- 
 tion ? " and no one rising to speak, the motion passes 
 from the debatable stage, and is put to vote, when 
 debate cannot be resumed. By general consent, 
 however (that is, if no one objects), debate may be 
 allowed after the affirmative vote is taken, but if any 
 one does object, it cannot be continued. In case it 
 is resumed, the vote, when finally taken, is taken 
 again on both sides. If both sides have been taken, 
 debate cannot be resumed in any case, and any talk 
 or discussion that may follow the declaration of a 
 vote is of no value ; the matter is decided. If there 
 are special rules, these govern the debate ; and if 
 the previous question has been ordered, there can 
 be no more debate, even by unanimous consent. 
 
 46. Method of Debate Illustrated. Let us 
 suppose that at a meeting of the Mendon Women's 
 Club, a motion " that a public meeting be held" has 
 been made and placed before the meeting. Debate 
 is now in order, and the chair invites discussion, 
 saying : " The motion is now before you for discus- 
 sion, and the chair hopes the members will all 
 express their views freely." Mrs. Paine rises, 
 " addresses the chair," is " recognized," and thus 
 " has the floor." She proceeds to speak in favor of 
 
62 MOTIONS 
 
 the public meeting, speaking strictly upon that sub- 
 ject alone, and giving such reasons as appear to her 
 to be good. She avoids saying " It seems to me " if 
 possible, guards against repetition and prolixity, and 
 is careful not to indulge in any anti-climax. If an 
 inexperienced speaker, she will be encouraged by 
 the chair to go on, even if she does not express her- 
 self so well as might be the way of speaking 
 being secondary to the speaking. If she is wise, she 
 will not apologize for her words, either in beginning 
 or closing, but let them stand for what they are. If 
 she has occasion during her speech to allude to any 
 other member, she will not do so by name, but will 
 say instead, " the member on my right," or " our 
 secretary," or u another speaker," or " one of my 
 opponents," or any impersonal term which shall indi- 
 cate the one meant. Directly addressing one another 
 by name is unparliamentary. Having said all she 
 has to say, she stops and sits down. 
 
 If no one rises immediately to continue the discus- 
 sion, the chair will invite others, saying, " There 
 must be others who have some opinion in this matter. 
 Do not wait for one another, friends ; this question 
 should be fully discussed." It is not well for the 
 chair to call upon members by name, except in rare 
 
DEBATE 63 
 
 cases, as when some particular person is specially 
 well-informed on a subject ; for, where this practice 
 is followed, those who are not called upon, never dare 
 to speak, and those who are, wait for an invitation ; 
 the consequence being that the freedom and spon- 
 taneity of debate, which make its chief value, are 
 prevented. It is better for the chair to wait, m the 
 midst of an oppressive silence (hard though this is), 
 for the spirit to move, than to attempt to coerce 
 debate by indicating who shall speak. After a 
 time (which will grow shorter as the members gain 
 courage by practice) some other member rises and 
 gives her reasons, as well as she can, for or against 
 the project. Others follow, until all have spoken 
 who wish. No one having the floor, or rising to 
 speak, the chair then says, " Are you ready for the 
 question ? " and, no one rising to speak, she puts 
 the motion to vote. 
 
 47. Rules for Limiting Debate. In the illus- 
 tration given above, it is assumed that there are no 
 rules limiting debate, but that all speak when and as 
 long as they wish ; and this is the best and general 
 practice when the discussion relates solely to business 
 to be done, and also in societies where it is difficult 
 to persuade members to speak at all on any subject. 
 
64 MOTIONS 
 
 A judicious and kindly president will draw out all 
 the discussion possible from those present who can 
 overcome their natural timidity, and rules limiting 
 debate will be undesirable. 
 
 But, in societies where the object is to learn to 
 debate, especially when the members are expe- 
 rienced, or on special occasions where there is a 
 limited time and general interest upon some desig- 
 nated topic, it is well to guard against the monopoly 
 of debate by one or two persons, by adopting certain 
 rules, either for temporary or for permanent use. 
 These rules will restrict the speakers as to the time 
 and as to the order of their speaking. The simple 
 rules for an ordinary debate are the following: 
 
 No one shall speak more than once until all have 
 spoken who wish. 
 
 No one shall speak longer than five minutes at one 
 time. 
 
 The leaders shall each have ten miuutes to open the 
 debate and five minutes to close. 
 
 The prescribed time may be longer or shorter of 
 course, and it is not necessary that the leaders close ; 
 it will be found not desirable to have them, when 
 the time is limited. 
 
 These few rules are all that will be necessary in 
 
DEB A TE 65 
 
 ordinary societies. They should be quite strictly 
 observed, the chair seeing that they are carried out, 
 by rising and rapping with the gavel, adding, if 
 necessary, "The speaker's time has expired," or, 
 61 You have already spoken. Are there others who 
 wish to speak ? " 
 
 The practice of extending a speaker's time is 
 correct, but, as it defeats the purpose of the rubles, the 
 extension should not often be made. If it be de- 
 sired to extend the time, some one obtains the floor 
 and makes a motion " that the speaker's time be ex- 
 tended minutes," and if this is carried, she goes 
 
 on. It may be said in general, upon this point, that, 
 having rules, it is better to adhere to them, except 
 in extreme cases. It might be well to adopt this 
 additional rule : 
 
 Only by a unanimous vote shall a speaker's time be 
 extended. 
 
 48. Illustration. The Mendon Women's Club, 
 having progressed so far as to discuss papers infor- 
 mally, decides to go a step farther, and to have a 
 formal debate. A resolution is prepared, in proper 
 form, by a member or members appointed to do it, on 
 some subject of interest, such as the tariff-law, the 
 single-tax theory, or a local topic. This resolution 
 
66 MOTIONS 
 
 should be affirmative and not negative, that is, it 
 should read, " Resolved, that the present tariff is of 
 benefit ;" and not "is not of benefit/' This is to 
 prevent confusion in the minds of the debaters and 
 hearers as to which side they are considering. Two 
 or four members are then selected, either by nom- 
 ination from the floor, or by appointment of the 
 chair (as is voted), to be the leaders in the debate. 
 It is best to appoint them one by one, in the follow- 
 ing order ; and care should be taken that each 
 understands which. side she is on : First affirmative, 
 first negative, second affirmative, second negative. 
 It is then voted to guide the debate by the rules 
 given in the preceding section. 
 
 When the time arrives, the chair says, "The 
 programme for this afternoon is a debate upon 
 the following subject : ' Resolved, that the present 
 tariff-law is of benefit to the business interests of 
 our country/ Mrs. Paine, being first upon the 
 affirmative, will open the debate." Mrs. Paine 
 rises, addresses the chair, is recognized, and proceeds 
 with her remarks until the chair indicates to her 
 that her time is up. The chair then says, " Mrs. 
 Robbins, the first in the negative, will continue the 
 debate," and Mrs. Robbins follows Mrs. Paine's 
 
DEB A TE 67 
 
 example. She is followed by Mrs. Preston as 
 " second on the affirmative," and she in her turn by 
 Mrs. Burns, as " second on the negative." The 
 leaders having finished, the chair says, " The debate 
 is now open to all present, each being allowed not 
 more than five minutes ; " and all then speak who 
 wish. If the leaders are to close, time is taken for 
 that purpose from the other speakers. If not, the 
 debate is over when all have spoken who wish, or 
 when the time has come for adjournment, or when 
 the previous question is ordered. Debate having 
 closed, the chair puts the resolution to vote, as 
 follows : "Those in favor of the resolution, 'that the 
 present tariff-law is of benefit to the business inter- 
 ests of the country/ will rise and stand until counted. 
 [T/ie affirmatives rise, the secretary counts them and 
 notes the result^ Those opposed to the resolution 
 will rise and stand until counted. \The negatives rise 
 and are counted. Then the president, to whom the 
 secretary hands the result, goes on :] Twenty-five 
 have voted in the affirmative, and thirty in the nega- 
 tive, and the resolution is lost." 
 
 49. The Arguments. Sometimes a vote is 
 taken upon the merits of the arguments, as well as, 
 or instead of, the merits of the question, the mem- 
 
68 MOTIONS 
 
 bers voting upon the side which they consider to 
 have been best presented, whether or not they con- 
 cur in the views expressed. This is not specially 
 commendable, since it tends to encourage oratory 
 rather than sincerity. 
 
 It should be the aim of all debaters to inform 
 themselves as thoroughly as possible ; to be truthful, 
 correct, and concise ; and at the same time to press 
 the merits of their own side emphatically, and to use 
 any fair means to show the fallacy, inexpediency, or 
 injustice of the opposing side. 
 
 50. Contesting the Floor. As already stated, 
 the member who is recognized by the chair, " has che 
 floor ; " and she is entitled to speak, without inter- 
 ruption, for her allotted time, provided she speaks 
 in order. It may happen, however, that two persons 
 rise and address the chair at the same moment. In 
 this case, unless one of them yields [saying, " I 
 yield to Miss , Mrs. President "] and seats her- 
 self, the chair decides between the two. This she 
 does by calling the name of the one she first saw or 
 heard. If she is in doubt, she will recognize the 
 one farthest from her, or the one who has not spoken, 
 or who speaks seldom, rather than the other; if one 
 has risen and addressed the chair, and the other has 
 
DEB A TE 69 
 
 risen only, or spoken only, the one properly proceed- 
 ing has the preference. 
 
 If a president is unfair, and intentionally gives the 
 floor to one not entitled to it, the rightful one may 
 insist upon her privilege, remaining standing, and 
 saying : " Mrs. President, I believe I addressed the 
 chair first," or words to that effect. The chair then 
 (unless the other member yields) puts the question 
 to vote, saying : " The question is : which of these 
 members was first up ? Those in favor of giving the 
 floor to " [mentioning the one she has recognized] 
 " will say i Aye. 7 ): If the ayes prevail, the other 
 person sits down ; if the noes prevail, she has the 
 floor, and the one recognized sits down. It is not 
 necessary to take the vote upon the other name, 
 since the decision of the vote upon one name neces- 
 sarily decides that upon the other, leaving no alter- 
 native. This is an example of "equivalent motions." 
 
 If there are more than two contestants, however, 
 as many votes must be taken as are necessary to 
 come to a decision. Such action is called " con- 
 testing the floor," and it rarely occurs except in 
 legislatures. The members of ordinary societies will 
 generally acquiesce in the chair's decision, or ami- 
 cably yield one to another. But this provision is 
 
70 MOTIONS 
 
 useful in case of unfairness on the part of the chair, 
 or urgency on the part of the speaker's cause. 
 
 51. Yielding the Floor. It often happens, dur- 
 ing an interesting debate, that some member will 
 wish to interrupt another, to "ask a question," either 
 in good faith or, as often happens, to point out a 
 fallacy. In this case, the member speaking may or 
 may not allow the question to be interjected. If she 
 does " yield the floor" for that purpose, she loses the 
 floor, in case the one interrupting shall choose to 
 continue her remarks further, and can only resume it 
 provided she again succeeds in obtaining it in the 
 regular way. For example : Mrs. Paine is speaking 
 concerning the public meeting of the woman's club, 
 and Mrs. Granger wishes to ask her a question. She 
 rises and says, " Mrs. President, will the speaker allow 
 a question ? " The chair rises and says, " Will Mrs. 
 Paine yield the floor for a question ? " Mrs. Paine 
 may say, " Certainly," remain standing, listen to the 
 question, reply to it or not, and go on after Mrs. 
 Granger has seated herself. Or, not wishing to have 
 her train of argument interrupted, Mrs. Paine may 
 say, " After I have finished, Mrs. President, I shall 
 be glad to answer any question, if I am able," and 
 proceed with her remarks, Mrs. Granger sitting 
 
DEBATE 71 
 
 down. If she allows the question, she runs the risk 
 of losing the floor, and, in deciding the matter, she 
 will be guided by her knowledge of Mrs. Granger's 
 views, which, if unfavorable to her own, would better 
 not be allowed at that time. 
 
 In asking her question, Mrs. Granger would use 
 this form : " I would like to ask the speaker, through 
 you, Mrs. President, whether " etc. She may then 
 go on to answer it herself, and to make an argument, 
 in spite of the fact that Mrs. Paine is still standing. 
 Finally, if Mrs. Granger still goes on, Mrs. Paine 
 will perforce sit down. She has " lost the floor " by 
 voluntarily yielding it when she had it, and only 
 after Mrs. Granger has finished, can she resume. 
 This is sharp practice, it is true, but since it is par- 
 liamentary, it may well be guarded against. Inter- 
 ruptions are disturbing, both to the speaker and the 
 hearers, and should be discouraged. Warrington 
 says : 
 
 "An experienced debater will seldom lose any- 
 thing by interruption ; an inexperienced one ought 
 not to be subjected to loss or discomfiture by any 
 such event." 
 
 When the floor, instead of being voluntarily 
 yielded, is taken from a member by a question of 
 
/2 MOTIONS 
 
 privilege or order, it is not thereby lost, but still 
 belongs to that member who has the first right to it 
 after the prior question is settled. The rule is that 
 if one voluntarily yields, she loses the right to the 
 floor, while if she yields of necessity, she retains that 
 right. See sections 149 and 153. 
 
 52. Courtesies in Debate. While courtesy is 
 always to be regarded, it is not to be carried so far 
 as to endanger one's cause. It is not discourtesy to 
 refuse to yield the floor, provided one declines in a 
 courteous manner. Neither is it discourteous to hold 
 the floor, having gained it, provided it is gained fairly. 
 
 A custom has grown up in Congress of allowing 
 certain members precedence over other members in 
 debate. The chairman of a committee, or the origin- 
 ator of a measure, for instance, is given opportunity 
 and time to the exclusion of the general membership. 
 This may be necessary in Congress, but any tendency 
 toward such " courtesies " (as they are called), in 
 ordinary societies, should be discountenanced. To 
 give special privileges to any member over any 
 other is to endanger that freedom which is the soul 
 of debate as well as its safety. 
 
 53. " General Consent." A number of pro- 
 cedures, otherwise irregular, may be admitted by 
 
DEB A TE 73 
 
 "general consent," and "general consent" means 
 unanimous consent. Routine business is carried on, 
 debate is allowed when really out of order, and 
 certain informalities, instances of which will be cited 
 here and there in this book, are admitted. In any 
 of these cases, if one person objects, the presiding 
 officer must put the question in the regular form. 
 Business may frequently be facilitated in this way, 
 but the practice must be carefully guarded against 
 misuse. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Debate consists of spoken remarks, made by one 
 who has properly obtained the floor. They should 
 be impersonal and to the point. 
 
 After a motion is placed before the meeting, 
 debate is in order. Any remarks that precede the 
 making or follow the putting to vote of a motion are 
 not debate, and have no influence upon action. 
 
 By unanimous consent, debate may be re-opened 
 after the affirmative vote is taken. 
 
 Members should address the chair in opening, 
 wait for recognition, speak to the motion, and sit 
 down when they have finished. 
 
 The chair should not invite members to speak by 
 calling upon them by name. 
 
74 MOTIONS 
 
 On ordinary occasions, debate is most successful 
 when unrestricted by any rules, each one speaking 
 when and as long as she wishes. 
 
 When the time is limited, or when leaders are ap- 
 pointed for a formal debate, rules restricting to a 
 certain time, and prescribing the order of speaking, 
 are useful. 
 
 A speaker's time may be extended, but it is better 
 to adhere to the rules. 
 
 It is better to take the vote upon the merits of 
 the question, rather than upon the merits of the 
 arguments. 
 
 The member recognized is entitled to the floor, 
 but another, who thinks herself entitled to it, may 
 claim it, and the matter is decided by vote. 
 
 A member who yields the floor loses the right to 
 it. It is not discourteous to refuse to yield. 
 
 When the floor is taken from a speaker, she does 
 not lose the right to it, but resumes it when the 
 matter which interrupted her is settled. 
 
 Special privileges, given to certain members over 
 others, endanger the freedom of debate. 
 
 " General consent," means unanimous consent. 
 By general consent, certain formalities may be dis- 
 pensed with. 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ?$ 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, OR THE 
 CLOSING OF DEBATE 
 
 PREVIOUS QUESTION DEFINED ; USE OF THE PRE- 
 VIOUS QUESTION ; ITS EFFECT ; DEBATE UPON 
 IT ; ILLUSTRATION ; PREVIOUS QUESTION vs. 
 MAIN QUESTION ; ITS EFFECT UPON OTHER 
 MOTIONS ; ITS EFFECT UPON A PART OF THE 
 MAIN QUESTION ; " QUESTION ! QUESTION ! " 
 CLOSING DEBATE AT A STATED TIME. 
 
 54. Previous Question Defined. The term 
 "previous question' 7 is a technicality that has come 
 down to us from the English Parliament, but the use 
 of which is very different here. With us, the mo- 
 tion for the previous question is a motion " that the 
 vote upon the main question be taken at once, with- 
 out further debate." It is therefore equivalent to a 
 motion "to close debate," and the two motions: 
 "I move the previous question," and "I move 
 that debate be now closed," are synonymous. Mr. 
 Fish and Mr. Crocker recommend the simple form 
 "that debate be now closed." But at present the 
 
76 MOTIONS 
 
 form " previous question " is in general use. So- 
 cieties may use either form they choose. 
 
 55. The Use of the Previous Question. It 
 is not universally agreed that a motion to close 
 debate should be allowed as a part of the regular 
 procedure, the question whether debate ought 
 ever to be closed, until all who wish have spoken, 
 being a mooted one. In large assemblies, this 
 motion would seem to be necessary, in order to pre- 
 vent interminable debates, and it can always be 
 voted down by the majority. In smaller assemblies, 
 it may well be used sparingly, and should be pro- 
 hibited by rule wherever there is danger of its con- 
 stant use in choking discussion or preventing the 
 expression of the views of the minority. When it 
 is not prohibited by special rule, it is parliamentary 
 to employ it. It might be well for societies to 
 make a rule that it shall require a two-thirds vote. 
 This would guard against the choking of debate 
 by the vote of a bare majority. The motion to 
 close debate, in either of its forms, is not allowed 
 in the Senate of the United States, or in the State 
 Senates of Massachusetts and New York ; it is 
 used in the other branch of these bodies. Any 
 society which does not favor its use may make a 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 77 
 
 special rule to the effect that "the motion for the 
 previous question shall be prohibited in our club." 
 56. Its Effect. It has been already stated that 
 when there are no rules limiting debate, debate is 
 unrestricted; it continues till all have spoken who 
 wish, or until time for adjournment, when the chair, 
 after asking, "Are you ready for the question? " puts 
 the motion to vote. Debate thus ceases of its own 
 accord, so to speak. When it is desired to termi- 
 nate debate and come to a decision, the call for the 
 previous question is the method employed. The 
 effect of this call is to close debate immediately 
 upon the subject before the meeting. That is, the 
 mere making and stating of the motion for the pre- 
 vious question, before it is decided, closes the debate, 
 until that motion is put to vote. If, when put to 
 vote, 1 the motion for the previous question is de- 
 feated, the debate upon the subject is resumed. If 
 the motion prevails, that debate is silenced for good, 
 and the subject is at once put to vote. The points 
 to be remembered in regard to this motion are,yrr/, 
 that it is simply a motion to close debate and noth- 
 
 1 The form for putting the question is : " Shall the main question be now 
 put?" This means: Shall further debate be omitted and a vote taken at 
 once? 
 
78 MOTIONS 
 
 ing more; and, second, that when it is moved there 
 come before the meeting for immediate vote, two 
 motions, the primary motion (the main question 
 then under discussion), and the secondary motion 
 (to close debate). A vote is to be regularly taken 
 upon both these motions ; first, upon the secondary, 
 and then, if this prevails, upon the primary, debate 
 upon the primary being meanwhile suspended. Of 
 necessity, the previous question applies only to 
 debatable motions, and it would seem proper to 
 assume, as a general rule, that any debatable motion 
 is open to the call for the previous question. 
 
 57. Debate of the Motion for the Previous 
 - Question. The motion to close debate may itself 
 
 be debated for a limited time, usually fixed at ten 
 minutes at most; or, it may be decided by rule 
 to be undebatable. There is nothing to be said, 
 except to give some reason why the main ques- 
 tion should not then be voted upon, and this can 
 be said very quickly. If a speaker, in debating 
 this motion, branches off into a discussion of the 
 main question, she is out of order, and the chair 
 will stop her. 
 
 58. Illustration of the Previous Question. 
 The Mendon Women's Club is debating the ques- 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 79 
 
 tion of holding a public meeting. Miss Lovell 
 thinks it has been debated long enough, and wishes 
 it to come to a vote. Mrs. Paine having finished 
 her remarks and taken her seat, Miss Lovell rises, 
 obtains the floor in the usual way, and says : " I ' 
 move the previous question." The chair says: 
 "The previous question is moved. Shall the main 
 question be now put? " If there is no debate (of the 
 motion for the previous question), she goes on at 
 once, saying: "Those in favor * * * " If there is 
 debate, this is limited, and is strictly confined to 
 giving reasons why the main question should or 
 should not then be voted upon. When the ten 
 minutes are up (or before, if debate ceases), the 
 chair says: "The limit of debate having expired, 
 the vote will now be taken. Those in favor of the 
 motion for the previous question will say 'Aye, ' 
 those opposed, ' No.' * * It is a vote, and the pre- 
 vious question is ordered." She then goes on with- 
 out pause, and puts to vote the main question, say- 
 ing: "Those in favor of the motion that the club 
 hold a public meeting will say 'Aye ' * * * The 
 matter is thus ended. If any one attempts to 
 debate after the previous question is ordered, she 
 is ruled out of order. The club having voted to 
 
80 MOTIONS 
 
 come to a vote upon the main question, nothing 
 may interpose to prevent the taking of such vote. 
 
 If the motion is lost, instead of carried, the chair 
 will say: "It is not a vote; the motion for the pre- 
 vious question being lost, debate will continue." 
 The discussion is then resumed, to go on until 
 the previous question is moved again (which may be 
 done any time), or until it closes by mutual consent, 
 or by adjournment, or by some other motion which 
 disposes temporarily of the main question. 
 
 If the other form of the motion is used, Miss 
 Lovell will say, instead: "I move that the debate 
 do now close." The chair will state it in the same 
 form, saying : " It is moved that the debate do now 
 close. Are you ready? Those in favor * * * It is 
 a vote, and the debate is closed." She then pro- 
 ceeds as above. This latter form is simpler, but 
 not in such general use, as yet. If the form " pre- 
 vious question " is used, it will be well, in socie- 
 ties unfamiliar with its meaning, for the chair to 
 explain its effect. She may say: "The previous 
 question is moved. The effect of this motion is to 
 suspend debate until it is voted that debate shall, or 
 shall not now close ; if it prevails, all debate upon 
 the main question closes, and an immediate vote 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 8* 
 
 upon it follows. Shall the main question be now 
 put ? " and so on, as above. 
 
 59. " Previous Question " vs. Main Ques- 
 tion. The word "previous," is a little confusing, 
 and care should be taken that the members under- 
 stand that when they are voting upon the motion for 
 the previous question, they are not voting upon the 
 main question itself, but simply upon the motion 
 to dose debate upon the main question. Two votes 
 are taken, the vote upon the previous question, and 
 then, in case the vote for the previous question pre- 
 vails, the vote upon the main question, the two 
 votes following each other, with no business inter- 
 vening. 
 
 60. Effect of the Previous Question upon 
 Other Motions. After the previous question is 
 moved and stated, and before it is put to vote, 
 the following action can be taken: the raising of a 
 question of privilege, or of a question of order, pro- 
 vided it strictly relates to the subject (namely, the call 
 for the previous question) ; a motion to adjourn, a 
 motion to lay upon the table, and also, in brief, any 
 motion relating to the verbal perfecting of the main 
 question, or to the manner of taking the vote upon 
 it. Everything must be decided without debate. 
 
82 MOTIONS 
 
 New amendments are not admissible, but a motion 
 or an amendment may be withdrawn under the usual 
 conditions. 
 
 The motion for the previous question cannot be 
 amended, nor can the vote upon it be reconsidered. 
 
 If the motion to close debate is carried while a 
 motion "to postpone " or a motion "to commit " is 
 pending, each of these is "cut off" or negatived, 
 thereby. The reason for this is that when the 
 assembly votes to close debate, it is a sign that they 
 wish to come to an immediate vote, and an immedi- 
 ate vote would be invalidated by postponement or 
 commitment. Pending amendments are not cut off, 
 because they tend to perfect the main question, but 
 debate upon them is closed, and no new ones can be 
 admitted. The previous question, therefore, cuts 
 off debate upon everything, and also cuts off the 
 existence itself of the two motions to commit and to 
 postpone. Its effect upon reconsideration is con- 
 sidered in sections 77 and 82. 
 
 61. Its Effect when Moved upon a Part of the 
 Main Question. There is a conflict of authorities 
 as to whether the previous question can be moved 
 upon a partoi the main question, one opinion being 
 that whenever moved, it closes debate upon the whole 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 83 
 
 subject, and that therefore it cannot be moved upon 
 a part of it. In reply, it might be said (in general) 
 that, of necessity, the only motions upon which the 
 previous question can be moved are debatable ones, 
 and since the only important debatable motions that 
 are a part of other motions are those to postpone, to 
 commit, to amend, and to postpone indefinitely, 
 it is chiefly in regard to those that the doubt arises. 
 Can one move the previous question upon an amend- 
 ment, or upon a motion to commit, to. postpone, or 
 to postpone indefinitely, and have it apply simply 
 to that ? That is, can a member say : " I move the 
 previous question upon the motion to commit," for 
 instance, and not have that motion apply to the 
 main question also? 
 
 There seems to be no good reason why debate 
 cannot be closed upon a motion to commit or to 
 postpone, or (especially) upon a much-debated 
 amendment, distinct from the main question. 
 There is certainly necessity for it, if the motion is 
 long discussed; and there is no hardship attendant 
 upon it. For these reasons, the following practice 
 is recommended: the previous question may be 
 moved upon the motions to postpone, to commit, 
 and to postpone indefinitely, and upon an amend- 
 
84 MOTIONS 
 
 ment or its secondary ; also upon appeals. If, after 
 it is moved on the part, it is also moved upon the 
 main question, the two motions being pending at 
 once, the motion to close debate on the main 
 question is put first. If a motion to close debate on 
 the main question were made first, one to close 
 debate on a part could not then be made. 
 
 When the motion to close debate on a part of a 
 question is made, it must be definitely stated. It 
 will then be, " I move the previous question upon 
 the amendment," etc., instead of simply, "I move 
 the previous question." If made and carried, the 
 part affected is put to vote at once, and then debate 
 goes on upon the rest of the subject. 
 
 62. "Question! Question!" The calling 
 out of " question " from members while seated, is not 
 equivalent to the motion for the previous question. 
 Like the calls " By the chair," and " From the floor," 
 in nominating officers, it is irregular and disorderly, 
 and need not be heeded by the chair. The chair 
 may, however, by general consent, consider such a 
 call as an indication that the assembly is ready to 
 vote, and say: "Are you ready for the question?" 
 and then put it to vote. But she is not obliged to 
 do so, and may allow debate to continue in spite of 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 85 
 
 it. One who wishes to have the debate close would 
 better properly obtain the floor and make the regular 
 motion for the previous question. 
 
 63. Closing Debate at a Stated Time. 
 Besides the motion for the previous question (which 
 is a motion to close debate at once), there is the 
 motion to close debate at some stated future time. 
 This is the same as any other motion, except that it 
 maybe made when another is pending. It is better 
 to make it, if possible, before the debate begins, but 
 it may be made during the debate. Its use is to 
 prevent an undue, and at the same time to secure 
 a sufficient, debate. The form of this motion is as 
 follows : " I move that debate upon this motion shall 
 close at four o'clock." This is debated for a lim- 
 ited time, amended as to the hour perhaps, and put 
 to vote. If carried, when the time comes, debate 
 ceases, and the subject is voted upon. If more debate 
 is desired by the majority, it may be reconsidered, 
 in common with most other motions, and debate 
 be continued. 
 
 Those who wish to study the previous question 
 further are recommended to read Cushing's manual, 
 paragraphs 63-66 and 170; Warrington's manual, 
 sections 53-60; Crocker's Parliamentary Procedure, 
 
86 MOTIONS 
 
 sections 55-58; and Fish's Guide to the Conduct of 
 Meetings, pp. 87-90. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The motion "for the previous question" and the 
 motion "to close debate," are synonymous. 
 
 The previous question is moved when it is desired 
 by the mover to close debate at once upon the sub- 
 ject before the meeting. 
 
 When it is not prohibited by special rule, it is 
 parliamentary to use the previous question in order 
 to shut off debate. 
 
 The effect of the motion for the previous question 
 is to suspend debate upon the main question until 
 the vote upon the previous question is taken. 
 
 If the motion for the previous question prevails, 
 the main question is brought to an immediate vote, 
 without further debate. 
 
 If it is lost, debate upon the main question is 
 resumed. 
 
 As a general rule, motions that are debatable 
 may have the previous question moved upon them. 
 
 The moving of the previous question cuts Qff 
 debate upon the main question, but may itself be 
 debated for a limited time. 
 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 87 
 
 When the motion to close debate is made, two 
 motions are brought before the meeting : one upon 
 the previous question (or motion to close debate) , 
 and one upon the main question (or subject under 
 discussion). 
 
 After the previous question is called for, and 
 before it is put to vote, any of the few motions that 
 may supervene must be decided without debate. 
 New amendments are cut off, also pending motions 
 to postpone and to commit. Motions to adjourn 
 an.d to table, questions of privilege and of order, 
 and motions regarding the verbal perfecting of the 
 measure and the manner of voting, are the only 
 things admissible. 
 
 If the previous question is moved upon an amend- 
 ment or upon any debatable dependent motion, the 
 vote is taken upon the dependent question and 
 not upon the main question. The mover of such a 
 motion must distinctly state upon what she wishes 
 debate to close. The simple motion "for the pre- 
 vious question " closes debate upon, and brings to 
 a vote the main question itself. 
 
 The calling of "Question, question" is not the 
 motion for the previous question, and need have no 
 effect in closing debate or compelling a vote. 
 
88 MOTIONS 
 
 A motion to close debate at some stated future 
 time, is a useful means for limiting debate within 
 fair limits. It is better to make it before the debat- 
 ing begins. 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 VOTING 
 
 FORM FOR PUTTING A MOTION TO VOTE; RAISING 
 OF HANDS AND RISING; "THE USUAL MANNER;" 
 BOTH SIDES TO BE PUT; DOUBTING THE VOTE; 
 TIES; THE CHAIR'S PREROGATIVE IN CASE OF 
 TIES; RIGHT OF THE CHAIR TO VOTE AT ALL 
 TIMES; THE ROLL-CALL; VOTING BY BALLOT; 
 DECISION BY LESS OR MORE THAN A MAJORITY. 
 
 64. Form for Putting a Motion to Vote. The 
 
 formula for voting has already been given in chapter 
 five, it being inseparable from the motion itself; 
 but it may well be repeated. After discussion has 
 closed, the chair, rising, repeats the motion, and 
 puts it to vote as follows: "The motion is that our 
 club hold a public meeting. All those in favor will 
 say 'Aye' [the ayes respond] ; those opposed, 'No' [the 
 
VOTING 89 
 
 noes respond'}. It is a vote." Instead of "It is a 
 vote, " she may say : " The motion is carried. " If the 
 noes are in the majority, she will say: "It is not a 
 vote," or "the motion is lost." This last utterance 
 of the chair is called "declaring the vote," and this 
 " declaration " decides the matter. This method is 
 called the viva voce vote. 
 
 If no one responds at all, on either side, by 
 general consent the motion is presumed to be car- 
 ried, the supposition being that all who do not 
 take the trouble to oppose are in favor. It is 
 better to insist upon an expression in such a case, 
 and to take another vote, the chair having the power 
 to order the ayes and noes to be taken again. 1 
 
 65. Raising of Hands and Rising. A vote 
 may also be taken by a raising of the right hand or 
 by standing. The viva voce vote is shortest and 
 simplest, and therefore the best for ordinary occa- 
 sions. When a count is desirable, one of these other 
 methods is employed. The chair will then say: 
 "Those in favor will raise the right hand, " or, "rise 
 and stand until counted." The affirmatives will 
 then respond in the manner indicated ; the secretary 
 (or two "tellers " appointed by the chair) will count 
 them, and give the result to the chair. The negative 
 
 1 See Addenda, page 228. 
 
90 MOTIONS 
 
 side will then be put in the same way, the chair 
 finally declaring the vote as follows : " Fifteen have 
 voted in the affirmative, and twenty-five in the nega- 
 tive. The motion is lost.' 7 
 
 66. "The Usual Manner." Whichever of 
 these methods of voting is used, it is the place of 
 the chair to indicate it, in asking for the vote. That 
 is, she will say: " Those in favor will say ' Aye ' 
 (or "will rise," etc.) and not say: " All those in favor 
 will manifest it in the usual manner." There is no 
 "usual manner," and when this phrase is used, an 
 assembly will not know definitely what to do. Some 
 say "Aye " (that being their "usual manner"), while 
 others raise the hand (that being their "usual 
 manner"), and uncertainty ensues. Even in a per- 
 manent society, where the members attend regularly 
 and have one way of responding, it is better for the 
 president to indicate the manner for each vote to be 
 taken ; and in a temporary or a mixed assembly, it 
 is absolutely necessary so to do. 
 
 67. Both Sides to be Put. The vote is not 
 decided until both sides have been put and the 
 chair has declared the result. If only the affirma- 
 tive is put, or if, both sides having been^put, the 
 vote is not declared, it is not properly finished, nor 
 
DOUBTING THE VOTE Ql 
 
 legally binding. An inexperienced chairman is 
 quite apt to forget this, and to put the vote thus: 
 "Those in favor will say 'Aye; ' it is a vote;" or 
 again : " Those in favor will say ( Aye ; ' those 
 opposed, li No; ' " leaving out the declaration. The 
 motion is correctly put when the following order is 
 observed: i. The chair asks for the affirmative 
 vote; 2. The affirmatives respond; 3. The chair 
 asks for the negative vote; 4. The negatives re- 
 spond; 5. The chair declares the result. 
 
 68. Doubting the Vote. When those in favor 
 and those opposed are nearly or quite equal in num- 
 ber, there is apt to be a doubt as to the result of a 
 viva voce vote. After both sides have responded, 
 if the chair cannot tell which is in the majority, she 
 says : " The chair is in doubt. Will those in favor 
 of the motion rise and stand until counted ? " The 
 proceedings then follow the course described in 
 section 65. 
 
 Furthermore, in case a member does not agree 
 with the chair's declaration, that member may 
 " doubt the vote." Illustration: a motion having 
 been put to vote, and the chair (believing that 
 there are more ayes than noes) having declared " It 
 is a vote," Mrs. Robbins, who thinks there are, or 
 
92 MOTIONS 
 
 may be, more noes than ayes, rises, and, without 
 waiting for recognition, says : u Mrs. President, I 
 doubt the vote." She then sits, and the chair says: 
 "The vote is doubted; those in favor will rise and 
 stand until counted," and so on, as in section 65. 
 
 Instead of asking the members to stand, the presi- 
 dent may ask for a show of hands, but the rising 
 vote is less liable to mistake. In a very large 
 audience, the voters may be asked to divide into 
 two parties, one going to the right, and the other to 
 the left side of the hall. It is obvious that this 
 clumsy method is not desirable except in extreme 
 cases, and in temporary meetings. In large, perma- 
 nent organizations, with a list of members, when a 
 vote is doubted, the roll-call, or what is called in 
 legislatures, "the yeas and nays," is the proper 
 method to employ, unless the simple rising vote 
 prove sufficient. 
 
 If a viva voce vote is not doubted, it stands as 
 declared by the chair, even if it be afterward ascer- 
 tained to be wrong, the supposition being that, if 
 they do not at once doubt it, the members acquiesce 
 in the chair's decision. 
 
 69. Ties. When those who have voted in the 
 affirmative and those who have voted in the nega- 
 
TIE VOTES 93 
 
 tive are exactly equal in number, there is said to be 
 "a tie." In this case, one side exactly neutralizes 
 the other, and the motion is therefore defeated. 
 The reason why a tie defeats is because a majority 
 is necessary to carry a motion, and a tie is one less 
 than a majority. 1 It defeats simply because it does 
 not carry. 
 
 70. The Chair's Prerogative. When there is 
 a tie vote, it becomes the prerogative of the presid- 
 ing officer (if she has not voted already) to vote, and 
 thus determine the result. This she is not obliged 
 to do, however, and if she does not, the tie remains 
 and the measure is lost. If she is in favor of the 
 motion she will, in declaring the vote, announce as 
 follows: " Twenty have voted in the affirmative, and 
 twenty in the negative; the chair is to be counted 
 in the affirmative, and the motion is carried." If 
 she is opposed, she will say: "Twenty have voted 
 in the affirmative, and twenty in the negative. 
 The measure is lost." Or, she may say: "The chair 
 is to be counted in the negative, and the measure is 
 lost," using her own option as to whether she will 
 vote and make a majority, or allow the motion to 
 
 1 There is one apparent exception. In appeals from the decision of the 
 chair upon points of order, a tie vote sustains the chair. See section 155. 
 
94 MOTIONS 
 
 fail by a tie alone, the result being the same in 
 either case. The only advantage in the latter 
 method is that she shows the courage of her convic- 
 tions. 
 
 The chair may also vote to make a tie, and thus 
 defeat a motion. If twenty have voted in favor, 
 and nineteen against, and the chair wishes to defeat 
 the motion, she will say, in declaring the vote: 
 "Twenty have voted in the affirmative and nineteen 
 in the negative ; the chair votes with the negative, 
 and the motion is lost." 
 
 71. Right of the Chair to Vote. The presi- 
 dent, being a member of the assembly, has the same 
 right to express her choice and to be counted, as 
 has every other member. This right is seldom 
 exercised except in case of a tie, but it exists, the 
 only exception being when the presiding officer is 
 not a member, as in the case of the Vice-President 
 of the United States, who, as President of the 
 Senate, has no vote unless the Senate be equally 
 divided. The President pro tempore of the U. S. 
 Senate is a member, and entitled to vote. 
 
 Where the roll-call is used, the presiding officer's 
 name is called in turn, with those of the other mem- 
 bers, and she responds or not. If she does respond, 
 
THE ROLL-CALL 9$ 
 
 and the vote is a tie, she cannot vote again, for no 
 one is entitled to two votes. If she does not re- 
 spond and there is a tie, she will, in declaring the 
 vote, declare her own vote in the manner already 
 shown. 
 
 72. The Roll-Call. The viva voce and the 
 rising vote, the show of hands and the division into 
 two groups, have already been explained. The roll- 
 call, unlike these others, is not employed at the 
 option of the chair, but by a motion and vote. In 
 cases where it is desirable to secure a record of 
 votes in order to know where persons stand upon 
 a certain measure, the yeas and nays are useful 
 and necessary. And since it might be difficult to 
 secure a majority vote in favor of having the roll 
 called, it is usually provided by rule that a small 
 proportion of the members present (say one-fifth) 
 shall have a right to demand it. This provision 
 is almost universal in deliberative bodies, and is 
 recommended for all permanent societies. 
 
 When the time comes for the vote to be taken, or 
 at any time previous, any member who wishes a 
 record of votes, obtains the floor in the usual way, 
 and moves : " That when the vote is taken, it be taken 
 by yeas and nays." This motion is put to vote 
 
96 MOTIONS 
 
 without debate, and if one-fifth of those present vote 
 in the affirmative, the chair declares: "One-fifth 
 having voted in the affirmative, the yeas and nays 
 are ordered." The secretary, or clerk, then rises, 
 takes the alphabetical list, and calls off each name, 
 slowly and clearly, speaking it a second time (but 
 not a third) if the person does not respond at first 
 Each member, as her name is called, answers 
 "Yes 991 or "IVo" (not "Yea" and "Nay"), the 
 clerk marking each name with a cross or other sym- 
 bol, and indicating in some way which are yeas and 
 which nays. A good way is to mark the yeas on 
 the right of the name, and the nays on the left, and 
 then they will be all ready to count in columns. 
 The votes are then counted by the secretary, 2 and the 
 result announced by the chair in the same way as in 
 declaring the rising vote. This is called " taking the 
 yeas and nays," not "the ayes and noes." 
 
 73. Voting by Ballot. When secrecy is 
 desired, a vote is taken by ballot. This method 
 has already been explained in section 14. It is a 
 long and slow process, desirable chiefly in elections 
 
 1 In distinction from -viva voce voting, wher. the response is " Aye." 
 
 2 An experienced clerk will sometimes count as she goes along, marking 
 j, 2, 3, 4, against the names on each side, as they respond. 
 
VOTING BY BALLOT 97 
 
 to membership and to office, and in securing an ex- 
 pression of opinion upon questions where members 
 are prevented, for personal reasons, from debating 
 and voting openly. A motion for a ballot is made 
 and put to vote like any ordinary motion, and is 
 decided by the majority. 
 
 74. Deciding by Less or More than a 
 Majority. It is the general rule that a majority, 
 for or against, decides a vote ; and this is true in 
 all except a few cases. Only a one-fifth vote is 
 required for the calling of the yeas and nays, as has 
 been said, and in certain matters, such as amending 
 a constitution, expulsion of members, or suspension 
 of rules, a two-thirds, a three-fourths, or even a unan- 
 imous vote may be required. Any special matter, 
 the carrying of which by a bare majority would work 
 hardship, should be protected by a rule requiring a 
 larger vote, and such rule should be inserted in the 
 by-laws of the society in question. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The three ordinary ways of voting are by respond- 
 ing "Aye" and "No" (called a viva voce vote), by 
 raising the right hand, and by rising. If no one 
 
98 MOTIONS 
 
 responds on either side, the motion is presumed to 
 be carried. 
 
 Whichever method is employed, the chair should 
 indicate it in putting the motion to vote. She 
 should not say: " Manifest it in the usual manner." 
 
 In putting to vote, both the affirmative and the 
 negative sides must be put, and the result must be 
 declared by the chair. 
 
 Any viva voce vote may be doubted, either by the 
 chair or by a member. When doubted, the sense of 
 the meeting is taken over again by a rising vote, or 
 by some other method which secures a count. 
 
 A tie vote is one in which both sides are equal 
 in number. A tie defeats the motion. 
 
 In case of a tie, the chair may vote in the affirm- 
 ative, thus carrying the motion ; or she may vote in 
 the negative or not vote at all, thus refusing to break 
 the tie and defeating the motion. She may also vote 
 so as to make a tie. 
 
 The chairman, when a member, may always vote, 
 but usually will not, except in case of a tie. 
 
 If one-fifth of those present desire it, a vote may 
 be taken by the roll-call of members. They then 
 respond "Yes" or "No." 
 
 Where secrecy is desired, voting by written or 
 printed ballot is employed. 
 
RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 99 
 
 Motions are usually decided by the majority. 
 More or less than a majority may decide certain 
 questions, and each society will adopt its own special 
 rules on these matters. 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 
 
 RECONSIDERATION DEFINED; NATURE OF THE 
 MOTION TO RECONSIDER; ITS EFFECT; TECHNI- 
 CAL RECONSIDERATION; WHEN THE MOTION TO 
 RECONSIDER is MADE; WHO MAY MAKE IT; A 
 POSSIBLE COMPROMISE OF CONFLICTING OPINIONS; 
 DEBATE UPON RECONSIDERATION; THE "PRE- 
 VAILING SIDE" ; ILLUSTRATION; VOTES THAT 
 CANNOT BE RECONSIDERED; THIS MOTION TO BE 
 SPARINGLY EMPLOYED. 
 
 75. Reconsideration Defined. After the vote 
 has been taken upon a motion, and that motion is 
 carried, or lost, the general rule is that the matter 
 is ended. It is supposable, however, that members 
 may change their minds, and wish to change their 
 votes, and, in order to provide for this, parliamen- 
 
100 MOTIONS 
 
 tary practice admits of what is called "the motion 
 to reconsider.' 7 As its name implies, this is a motion 
 to consider again, and its legitimate use is to pre- 
 vent or reverse hasty or ill-considered action. 
 
 76. Nature of the Motion to Reconsider. 
 The motion to reconsider is a motion to reconsider 
 a vote, and not to reconsider a motion. It is applied 
 to a question after the vote upon it is has been 
 taken, and its object is to "reconsider," or take 
 again, such vote. . 
 
 77. Its Effect. The effect of this motion, if it 
 prevails, is to place again before the meeting the sub- 
 ject, (the vote upon which has been reconsidered,) 
 in precisely the same condition as if the vote had 
 never been passed. It cancels the vote, and re-opens 
 the topic for discussion. Debate is resumed (this 
 is true whether the previous question had been 
 moved upon the vote or not), the question is re- 
 opened for any and all action, and is finally voted 
 on again. 
 
 The effect of this motion, if it is lost, is to deny 
 the re-opening of the subject, and to clinch or re-af- 
 firm the vote upon it ; it closes the matter, in short, 
 finally and for good; for it is a parliamentary prin- 
 ciple that no vote can be twice reconsidered, This 
 
RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES JO I 
 
 means that only one motion to reconsider can be 
 made in reference to any one vote. Whether the 
 motion prevails or not, it cannot be repeated; 
 having been once reconsidered, the vote stands. 
 The measure' can then come up again only at 
 some time far enough distant, and in some form 
 sufficiently different, to make of it a substantially 
 new proposition. 
 
 78. Technical Reconsideration. In conse- 
 quence of the effect of the motion to reconsider when 
 defeated, there has grown into use another kind of 
 reconsideration, the object of which is directly op- 
 posite to that of genuine reconsideration, though its 
 effect is the same. While a genuine motion to 
 reconsider is made in good faith, for the purpose of 
 gaining fresh discussion and another vote, the tech- 
 nical or disingenuous motion to reconsider is made 
 for the purpose of preventing fresh discussion, by 
 closing the matter at once. 
 
 In other words, it checkmates a possible genuine 
 reconsideration by clinching the vote, and thus 
 closing the matter for good. Unlike the genuine 
 motion, which, in common with other motions, is 
 made by a person who wishes it to pass, this 
 motion is made by one who wishes it to be defeated, 
 
102 MOTIONS 
 
 and desires the' matter not to be really reconsidered, 
 but to-be ended. A member of the party which 
 has carried or defeated a measure will make a 
 motion to reconsider immediately after the vote 
 has passed; her constituents will then join with her 
 to defeat it, and thus, by denying the reconsidera- 
 tion, clinch the vote and secure at once their object, 
 safe from reversal. 
 
 79. When the Motion to Reconsider is 
 Made. This motion is made only at the same ses- 
 sion, or at the session following the one, at which 
 the vote it relates to was taken. If made at the 
 same session, it may be considered at once, or put 
 in the order of business for the succeeding session ; 
 if made at the second session, it is considered at 
 once. It does not follow, however, in either case, 
 that the measure shall be at once decided. If the 
 motion prevails, and the matter is re-opened, it is 
 subject to postponement, as well as to any and all 
 other action. If the motion is lost, that decides the 
 measure finally. 
 
 80. Who May Move to Reconsider. In one 
 important respect, the motion to reconsider differs 
 from other motions. Other motions may be made 
 by any member of the meeting, while this particular 
 
RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 103 
 
 motion may be made only by a member who voted with 
 the prevailing side. The chief reason for this restric- 
 tion is that after a matter is decided, it is not fair 
 to the party which has decided it, that they should 
 be made liable to the danger of a reconsideration 
 when they may be deficient in numbers. A member 
 of the defeated side would naturally wish to get 
 another vote, and be ready to move a reconsidera- 
 tion when the prevailing side was weak. It seems 
 fair, therefore, that only a member of the successful 
 party shall have this privilege. Furthermore, if 
 there is some good reason for re-opening a ques- 
 tion, it will be easy for the minority to persuade a 
 member of the prevailing party to move to recon- 
 sider, for the sake of fairness. The rule is there- 
 fore a good one, because it works fairly. for both 
 sides. 
 
 The general supposition is that every question 
 is fully discussed and fairly voted upon in the first 
 place, and that only for some excellent reason 
 should it be re-opened. Restrictions are for pro 
 tection, and to guard against surprises. This re- 
 striction prevails generally in legislatures and large 
 assemblies; it seems to the writer to be a correct 
 principle, supported by reason and justice, and it 
 
104 MOTIONS 
 
 is therefore recommended. If thought undesirable 
 by any society, however, a special rule may be 
 adopted to the effect that the motion to reconsider 
 may be made by any member. It should be added 
 also, that certain authorities teach that in absence of 
 a special rule, any member may move to recon- 
 sider, whether of the prevailing side or not. Like 
 all other parliamentary rules which are not yet so 
 firmly established as to become absolutely binding, 
 this rule may be adopted or not, and any society, 
 in deciding the matter, will follow the authority it 
 adopts as its guide; or it may make special rules 
 for itself. 
 
 81. A Possible Compromise of Conflicting 
 Opinions. A compromise between these two 
 methods seems to the writer to be desirable ; and in 
 the hope that some such compromise may ultimately 
 be adopted to take their place, the following is sug- 
 gested as a good rule : a motion to reconsider, when 
 made at the same meeting, at which the vote is taken, 
 may be moved by any member; when made at the suc- 
 ceeding meeting, it may be made only by a member of 
 the prevailing side. This would guard against sur- 
 prise at the succeeding meeting, and, at the same 
 time, make possible the introduction of new argu- 
 
RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 105 
 
 ments at the time. The necessity for these could 
 be shown in the debate upon the motion to recon- 
 sider, and thus an affirmative vote might possibly 
 be secured, and the question be re-opened. 
 
 82. Debate upon Reconsideration. The de- 
 bate upon this motion, like the debate upon the 
 previous question, is limited as to time, say to ten 
 minutes or less, the obvious reason being that there 
 will be little to say except to give reasons why more 
 debate is needed, and these can be given very 
 quickly. If the debate encroaches upon the main 
 question, the speaker is called to order. It is also 
 true that the previous question may be ordered upon 
 the motion to reconsider, as upon all other inde- 
 pendent motions, thus cutting off all debate what- 
 ever. If this is done, it is a pretty sure indication 
 that the majority do not wish to hear any more, and 
 have made up their minds not to reconsider. 
 
 83. The " Prevailing Side." The "prevailing 
 side " is not necessarily the affirmative side or the 
 majority. If the motion or proposition is defeated, 
 it is one of the negative voters who is of the pre- 
 vailing side, and who may move the reconsideration. 
 In the case of a two-thirds vote being necessary to 
 carry a measure, if the measure is defeated, it is 
 
106 MOTIONS 
 
 one of the one-third who is of the prevailing side. 
 In case of a tie vote, one of those who voted " No " is 
 of the prevailing side, and where a unanimous vote 
 is necessary, and is not secured, some one who pre- 
 vented unanimity is of the prevailing side; even if 
 it be but one person, she alone can move the recon- 
 sideration. 
 
 84. Illustration of Reconsideration. In this 
 illustration it is assumed that the making of this 
 motion is restricted to a member of the prevailing 
 side. 
 
 The Mendon Women's Club has passed the 
 motion "that the club hold a public meeting.' 7 The 
 vote has been regularly taken and recorded, and 
 presumably the matter is ended. But Mrs. Allen, 
 coming in late and not getting a chance to speak, 
 wishes to give some reasons why the project is not 
 feasible at that time. Either at the same meeting 
 or at the following one, she obtains the floor, and 
 says: "Mrs. President, I move a reconsideration of 
 the vote by which our club has voted to hold a 
 public meeting." She then sits, and the president 
 says: "A reconsideration can be moved only by a 
 member of the prevailing side. If Mrs. Allen voted 
 for this measure, the motion is in order; otherwise 
 
RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 1 07 
 
 not." Then, if a yea and nay vote had been taken, 
 the record is scanned to see if Mrs. Allen was on 
 the prevailing side. If there is no recorded vote 
 by names, Mrs. Allen will reply.: " I voted with the 
 prevailing side," or, "I did not vote with the pre- 
 vailing side," as the case may be. If she did not, 
 her motion is not in order, and unless some mem- 
 ber of the prevailing side, out of courtesy for her, 
 renews the motion for her, it is not stated by the 
 chair. 
 
 If Mrs. Allen voted with the prevailing side, the 
 chair says: "A motion is made to reconsider the 
 vote whereby the club decided to hold a public 
 meeting. Are you ready? \A limited debate may fol- 
 low, confined strictly to giving reasons why the question 
 should or should not be re-opened for debate, ,] Those 
 in favor of reconsideration will say 'Aye; ' * * those 
 opposed, ' No. ' * * It is a vote. The vote is re- 
 considered and the subject is again before you for 
 discussion." If the noes are in the majority, the 
 chair will say instead : "It is not a vote. The 
 motion to reconsider is lost, and the vote to hold a 
 public meeting stands." 
 
 85. Votes that Cannot Be Reconsidered. 
 Votes upon the following motions, whether decided 
 
108 MOTIONS 
 
 affirmatively or negatively, cannot be reconsidered 
 at all: to adjourn, to lay upon the table, for the 
 previous question, to commit (after the committee 
 has gone to work), to reconsider; also, appeals, 
 elections, and ballots. Of course, no vote can be 
 reconsidered which has been acted upon. 
 
 86. Reconsideration to be Sparingly Em- 
 ployed. Mr. Fish, in his " Guide to the Conduct 
 of Meetings," says: "The motion to reconsider is of 
 American origin, and is properly used only when the 
 object cannot be attained in any other way." It is 
 best, in other words, to do all the debating that is 
 necessary before the vote is taken, and to consider 
 every question fully and fairly, so that there will 
 be no excuse for reconsideration. If this is done, 
 there will be little need for reconsideration; it 
 will then be employed only in emergencies, and 
 therefore, as has been said, the motion may well be 
 restricted to the prevailing side. 
 
 Enough has been said of this matter to suffice for 
 ordinary use. Those who may wish to study it 
 further are referred to chapter fourteen of Cushing's 
 manual, sections 71-80 of Warrington's manual, and 
 chapter twenty of Crocker's Parliamentary Proce- 
 dure. 
 
RECONSIDERATION OF VOTES 109 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A vote, having been taken and declared, is settled, 
 unless, at the same or the next succeeding session, 
 it is, by vote, considered again. 
 
 The effect of the motion to reconsider, if carried, 
 is to cancel the vote and re -open the question for 
 discussion. Its effect, if lost, is to close the ques- 
 tion for good. 
 
 No vote can be twice reconsidered. 
 
 The motion to reconsider may be made only by a 
 member who voted with the prevailing party. Some 
 authorities say it may be made by any member. A 
 good rule for assemblies to make would be a com- 
 promise between these positions, allowing any mem- 
 ber to make the motion when made the same day, 
 and only a member of the prevailing side to make it 
 when it is made at the succeeding session. 
 
 The motion to reconsider may be debated for a 
 limited time. 
 
 The "prevailing party" may be the affirmative 
 or the negative side; it is the side that prevails, or 
 by which the matter is decided. 
 
 A vote cannot be reconsidered after it has influ- 
 enced subsequent action. Certain technical motions 
 are not open to reconsideration. 
 
110 MOTIONS 
 
 Reconsideration is to be used only as a last re- 
 sort. 
 
 Propositions would better be fully discussed 
 before they are decided, than to be re-opened by 
 reconsideration. 
 
PART III 
 
 AMENDMENT 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 NATURE AND EFFECT OF AMENDMENT 
 
 NATURE OF AMENDMENT; AMENDMENTS MUST BE 
 GERMANE; EFFECT OF A MOTION TO AMEND; 
 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AMENDMENT; ILLUS- 
 TRATION; MORE THAN ONE AMENDMENT AT 
 ONCE; GIVING NOTICE; ACCEPTING THE AMEND- 
 MENT. 
 
 87. Nature of Amendment. Thus far, we 
 have considered the simple motion, one not altered 
 in any way, but voted upon in its original form. 
 With the complex motion, the mode of procedure 
 is the same. It is made, stated, put, withdrawn, 
 debated, and reconsidered in the same way as the 
 simple one. A motion, however, may be altered, 
 enlarged, or changed into an entirely different one, 
 and the process of altering the form and sense of a 
 motion is called "amendment." The legitimate use 
 of amendment, as its name implies, is "to make 
 better" the matter under consideration; but, since 
 
1 1 4 AMENDMENT 
 
 minds differ as to what is better, the real practice 
 of amending is to alter in any way, even if thereby 
 the purpose of the measure or the intent of the 
 mover is contradicted. 
 
 88. Amendments Must be Germane. There 
 is one restriction upon amendment. Any proposed 
 change must be "germane," or relevant, to the origi- 
 nal measure. No matter how hostile it may be ; if 
 it is germane, it is permissible. But if it is on a 
 different subject, it is ruled out of order, either by the 
 chair or by a point of order, as " not germane." An 
 amendment also must not be "obviously trivial," or 
 foolish. Illustrations : The Mendon Women's Club 
 has under consideration a motion " That the treasurer 
 be instructed to ascertain the price of the several 
 halls in town, with a view to securing a permanent 
 place of meeting for the club." Mrs. Burns moves 
 to amend by striking out the words " the treasurer " 
 and inserting the words " the president ; " or, to 
 amend by adding, after the word "halls," the words 
 "and vestries;" or, to amend by striking out all 
 after the word " instructed " and inserting instead, 
 the words "to hire a hall for a permanent place of 
 meeting." All these are relevant amendments, 
 though, as will be seen, they change the intent of 
 
NATURE OF AMENDMENT US 
 
 the original motion. But suppose Mrs. Burns should 
 move to amend by striking out the words: "a per- 
 manent place of meeting for the club/' and inserting 
 the words: "a place for a public entertainment; " 
 this would be irrelevant and would be ruled out of 
 order as "not germane," because it is an entirely 
 different question. The chair would say: "The 
 motion of Mrs. Burns to amend by inserting the 
 words "a place for a public entertainment" instead 
 of the words " a permanent place of meeting " is out 
 of order, the proposed amendment not being germane 
 to the subject under consideration, which is the 
 finding of a place for our regular meetings and not 
 the holding of an entertainment." 
 
 Again, if Mrs. Burns had moved that the word 
 "Vermont " be inserted in place of the word "town," 
 this would be ruled out of order as "obviously 
 trivial." The general practice in regard to this 
 matter is thus concisely stated in the rule of the 
 United States House of Representatives: "No 
 motion or proposition on a subject different from 
 that under consideration shall be admitted under 
 color of amendment," and Warrington adds: "A 
 member who offers a proposition in good faith is 
 entitled to a vote upon it unembarrassed by other 
 
1 16 AMENDMENT 
 
 subjects, though he must submit to hostile amend- 
 ments on the same general subject/' There is 
 no hardship in admitting amendments which change 
 the intent of the motion, for "the assembly is sup- 
 posed to know what it wants, and will reject them 
 if it desires to do so. " 1 
 
 89. Effect of a Motion to Amend. The effect 
 of an offered amendment is to place two motions 
 before the assembly, the motion to amend and the 
 main question. And, since a question must be per- 
 fected before it is put to vote, the amendment is first 
 considered and voted upon ; and then, when that is 
 decided, the main question, "as amended," is dis- 
 cussed and voted upon. 
 
 Illustration : The motion " that the treasurer be 
 instructed to ascertain the prices of the several halls 
 in town," etc., being under consideration, Mrs. Paine 
 obtains the floor and says: "I move to amend by 
 inserting, after the word * halls, ' the words ' and ves- 
 tries. '" The chair says: "You hear the motion of 
 Mrs. Paine to insert the words ' and vestries, ' after 
 the word ' halls. ' Are you ready for the question ? " 
 Debate follows, upon the amendment only, and it is 
 then put to vote, like any other motion. If it is 
 
 1 Warrington's manual, sections 89 and 121. 
 
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT II 7 
 
 adopted, the words " and vestries " become a part 
 of the main question, and when the vote is finally 
 taken upon that, the chair will say: "The question 
 is upon the original motion as amended. The mo- 
 tion is as follows. [She repeats it in its present form, 
 with whatever amendments have been incorporated 
 in it, and then puts it to voteJ\ 
 
 90. Primary and Secondary Amendment. 
 Besides the one amendment, there may also be 
 offered an amendment to an amendment ; that is, a 
 modification of the amendment may be proposed, 
 which bears the same relation to it, as it in turn, bears 
 to the main question. In this case, the former may be 
 called the " primary," and the latter the " second- 
 ary " amendment. The former is an amendment to 
 the original motion; the latter is an amendment 
 to the amendment, and, through it, to the original 
 motion. The secondary amendment is first decided 
 (because the primary amendment, before being 
 voted upon, is to be perfected), and the vote is 
 then taken upon "the amendment as amended." 
 There are thus three motions to be put to vote : i. 
 The vote on the secondary; 2. The vote on the 
 primary ; 3. The vote on the perfected main question. 
 
 This is as far as the amending can go ; there can be 
 
1 1 8 AMENDMENT 
 
 no amendment to an amendment to an amendment, 
 because confusion would result. 
 
 After one amendment is decided upon, -whether it 
 be adopted or defeated, another may be offered, then 
 another, and another, and so on. This is true of 
 both the primary and the secondary amendment. 
 The reason for this is because after the amendment 
 is voted upon, there remains only the one question 
 (or the two in case of the secondary) before the 
 meeting, and the restriction in regard to amending 
 extends only to forbidding more than three motions at 
 a time: i. The original; 2. The primary amendment; 
 3. The secondary amendment. Therefore, as soon 
 as one secondary is disposed of, the way is left open 
 for another, and so on. The principle is that an 
 amendment, if adopted, becomes an integral part of the 
 motion to which it relates, which motion then takes 
 on the new form, and is considered in the new form 
 as if it were that originally; one amendment with 
 its secondaries being disposed of, another may be 
 moved and then another, until the original motion 
 is in the form desired by the majority; and then it 
 is put to vote. 
 
 91. Illustration of Primary and Secondary 
 Amendment, The Mendon Women's Club has 
 
ILLUSTRATION OF AMENDMENT 1 19 
 
 under consideration the motion "that the club estab- 
 lish a library of books and magazines for the use of 
 the members." The chair has placed the motion 
 before the club, and it has been discussed. Mrs. 
 Robbins wishes to offer an amendment, and the 
 following process is followed : 
 
 Mrs. Robbins (rising). Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair (rising). Mrs. Robbins. 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. I move to amend this motion by 
 inserting the word " newspapers" after the word 
 " magazines " * (sits). 
 
 The Chair. You hear the motion of Mrs. Robbins ; 
 to insert the word " newspapers " after the word 
 "magazines," so that the motion shall read "a 
 library of books, magazines, and newspapers." Are 
 you ready for the question ? 
 
 Mrs. Paine. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Paine. 
 
 Mrs. Paine. I move to amend this amendment 
 by inserting the word "weekly" before the word 
 "'newspapers." 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Paine moves to insert the word 
 "weekly" before the word "newspapers." Are you 
 
 1 It is to be noted that she says " the word newspapers," and not 
 simply "newspapers." 
 
1 2O A MENDMENT 
 
 ready ? [Debate follows upon the insertion of the word 
 "weekly."] 
 
 The Chair. The first question is upon the motion 
 to amend the amendment, by inserting the word 
 " weekly.''" Those in favor will say "Aye;" * * 
 those opposed, "No." * * It is a vote. The ques- 
 tion now comes upon the amendment as amended, 
 namely, the insertion of the words "and weekly 
 newspapers " after the word " magazines." Are you 
 ready to vote? [Debate upon the amendment as 
 amended.] Those in favor will say "Aye; * * those 
 opposed, " No." * * It is carried, and the words are 
 inserted. The question now comes upon the origi- 
 nal motion as amended; namely, "that the club 
 establish a library of books, magazines, and weekly 
 newspapers for the use of the members." Are there 
 any further amendments? \If there are, they are 
 moved in the same way, ,] If not, those in favor of 
 the motion in its present amended form will say 
 "Ave " * * * l 
 
 1 " If the amendment to the amendment is agreed to, it becomes a part of 
 the amendment first moved, and the last named is then susceptible of a new 
 attempt to amend; and so if the amendment to the amendment is negatived. 
 And this process may be repeated, unless the will of the assembly intervene* 
 by the previous question, or in some other way." Harrington's manual, 
 section 120. 
 
MORE THAN ONE AMENDMENT 121 
 
 It will be noted that the debate is restricted to 
 the question directly before the meeting. This is an 
 elastic rule, however, and when an amendment, or its 
 secondary, is closely related to the main question, 
 the debate will necessarily extend to the whole 
 question, and a presiding officer will seldom enforce 
 the restriction, though she may do so, and should, 
 when in her judgment the two propositions are suf- 
 ficiently distinct. 
 
 92. More than One Amendment at Once. 
 It is the practice in experienced bodies, sometimes 
 to admit, at the same time, more than one primary 
 amendment, each one being related to a different 
 part of the main question. But in inexperienced 
 societies, it is better to observe the general practice 
 of admitting only one at a time, acting upon that, 
 and then admitting others, one by one. Mr. Crocker 
 well expresses this practice in the following words: 
 "When an amendment is pending, another amend- 
 ment cannot be entertained unless such subsequent 
 amendment is an amendment to the pending amend- 
 ment." 
 
 Illustration : In the motion quoted above, in 
 section 91, Mrs. Robbins, having moved to amend 
 by inserting the word "newspapers," and that 
 
122 AMENDMENT 
 
 motion being before the meeting, Miss Lovell moves 
 to amend by striking out the word "members," and 
 inserting the word "public." The chair will say, 
 in this case: "Only one amendment can be consid- 
 ered at a time. Miss Lovell's motion is not now 
 in order, the question being upon Mrs. Robbins's 
 motion, which must first be decided." Miss Lovell's 
 motion introduced a new proposition, which, not 
 being "an amendment to the pending amendment/' 
 is not then in order. 
 
 93. Giving Notice. When one wishes to offer 
 an amendment which is not then in order, she may 
 "give notice" that she intends so to do when 
 there is opportunity. This will prepare the way for 
 her motion; and the assembly, thus notified, may 
 vote differently upon the matter before them. 
 
 Illustration : Miss Lovell having made the 
 motion, as in section 92, and the chair having ruled 
 it out of the order, Miss Lovell may proceed to say: 
 " I desire to give notice, then, that at the proper 
 time I shall move to insert the word ' public ' in 
 place of the word 'members. J? She then sits, the 
 consideration of Mrs. Robbins's motion proceeds, 
 and when that is decided, Miss Lovell obtains the 
 floor and offers her amendment, the way being now 
 clear. 
 
ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENT I2J 
 
 This method of giving notice is specially valuable 
 when one secondary amendment has been offered, 
 and some one wishes to offer another. The latter, 
 being out of order till the former is voted upon, 
 notice of it will often change the vote upon the 
 former. For example, suppose Miss Lovell wishes 
 to have the word "daily" inserted, instead of the 
 word " weekly, " before the word " newspapers. " (See 
 section 91.) She cannot make that as a motion, 
 because already a primary and a secondary amend- 
 ment are under consideration. But she may give 
 notice, saying: "I desire to give notice that if the 
 motion to insert the word 'weekly' is rejected, I 
 shall move to insert the word 'daily,' " thus giving 
 a hint to any others who may also favor her pro- 
 posal. 
 
 94. Accepting the Amendment. The simplest 
 way of disposing of an amendment is for the mover 
 of the original proposition to "accept" any amend- 
 ment proposed by another person. When this is 
 done, the amendment becomes a part of the motion, 
 as if the mover had originally included it, and is 
 not separately voted upon. A secondary amend- 
 ment may also be accepted by the mover of a 
 primary amendment. Of course the mover will 
 
1 24 A MENDMENT 
 
 accept an amendment only when she favors it. If 
 she disapproves of it, she simply remains silent, 
 and the amendment takes its proper course as a 
 separate proposition, succeeding or failing on its 
 own merits. It is better for the chair not to ask if 
 the amendment is accepted, but to leave the mover 
 free. 
 
 Illustration: The motion in regard to the library 
 of books and magazines (see section 91) being before 
 the club, Mrs. Burns moves " to amend by inserting 
 the word ' newspapers ' after the word ' magazines. ' ' 
 During the discussion Mrs. Packard moves "to 
 amend the amendment by inserting the word 'weekly ' 
 before the word ' newspapers. ' ' Mrs. Burns, if she 
 favors this, may rise and say: " Mrs. President, I 
 accept the amendment." The motion then before 
 the meeting becomes: "to amend by inserting the 
 words 'weekly newspapers, ' " and as such it is stated 
 by the chair and voted upon. The same is true of a 
 primary amendment, as well as of a secondary, the 
 only restriction being that a motion, or an amend- 
 ment to it, does not "belong" to the mover for this 
 purpose, after it has been changed in any way. If, 
 for instance, Mrs. Burns's motion to amend by in- 
 serting " newspapers " had been further amended by 
 
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT 12$ 
 
 adding "pamphlets," it would no longer be in her 
 power to accept Mrs. Packard's motion to insert 
 "weekly," the motion having passed out of Mrs. 
 Burns's hands and being solely in the hands of the 
 assembly itself. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 An amendment is a change proposed to the ques- 
 tion under discussion. 
 
 It may alter the proposition in any way, provided 
 it is "germane," or relevant, to it. 
 
 The effect of a motion to amend is to place two 
 motions before the meeting, the motion to amend 
 and the motion to be amended. 
 
 The amendment is considered and voted upon 
 first; the vote is then taken on the "motion as 
 amended." 
 
 Besides the amendment to the motion, there may 
 be also an amendment to the amendment. These 
 are then called the "primary" and the "secondary" 
 amendment. 
 
 The secondary amendment is decided first; the 
 vote is then taken upon the "amendment as 
 amended," and lastly, upon the original motion. 
 
 There can be no tertiary amendment 
 
126 A MENDMENT 
 
 After one amendment, either primary or second- 
 ary, is decided, another may be offered, and so on. 
 
 An amendment, whei adopted, becomes an inte- 
 gral part of the motion. 
 
 One amendment, with its secondaries, is disposed 
 of before another is entertained. 
 
 " Notice " of other amendments may be given 
 while one is pending. 
 
 The mover of the original motion may " accept " 
 an amendment ; it then becomes a part of her mo- 
 tion. The same is true of a secondary amendment. 
 
WAYS TO AMEND A PROPOSITION I2/ 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 WAYS TO AMEND A PROPOSITION 
 
 THE THREE WAYS OF AMENDING; FORMS FOR 
 STATING THE QUESTION; THE METHOD BY 
 INSERTING; EFFECT OF A NEGATIVE VOTE ON 
 INSERTION; A CHANGE IN MEANING NECES- 
 SARY; THE METHOD BY STRIKING OUT; EFFECT 
 OF A NEGATIVE VOTE ON STRIKING OUT; FORM 
 FOR PUTTING TO VOTE; REJECTED WORDS IN A 
 DIFFERENT PLACE; THE WORD "NOT"; THE 
 METHOD BY STRIKING OUT AND INSERTING; 
 EFFECT OF A NEGATIVE VOTE ON STRIKING OUT 
 AND INSERTING; SUBSTITUTION. 
 
 95. The Three Ways of Amending. A 
 motion may be made to amend a motion, or proposi- 
 tion, in three ways: i. By inserting words; 2. By 
 striking out words; 3. By striking out words and 
 inserting other words in their place. 
 
 Illustrations: i. Inserting. The motion "that 
 the club establish a library of bcoks and magazines 
 for the use of the members " being under discussion, 
 
128 AMENDMENT 
 
 Mrs. Ellis moves "to amend by inserting the word 
 'circulating ' before the word 'library';" or, "to 
 amend by inserting the words 'and their friends ' 
 after the word 'members' ; " or, "to amend by insert- 
 ing the word 'newspapers ' after the word 'maga- 
 zines." 2. Striking Out. In the same matter, 
 Miss Sawyer moves "to amend the motion by strik- 
 ing out the words 'and magazines,' " or, "to amend 
 by striking out the words 'for the use of the mem- 
 bers.'' 3. Striking Out and Inserting. Mrs. Paine 
 moves "to amend by striking out the words 'the 
 members' and inserting the words 'the public;" 
 or, " to amend by striking out the words ' books 
 and magazines,' and inserting the words 'periodi- 
 cals and newspapers. ' ? Each of these is a primary 
 amendment, and each may be amended secondarily, 
 one at a time. 
 
 96. Forms for Stating the Question. The 
 chair, in putting an amendment to vote, not only 
 repeats the amendment, but also states how the 
 question will stand if amended. The three forms 
 are as follows: i. " It is moved to amend by insert- 
 ing the words after the words , so that the 
 
 motion will read as follows:" 2. "It is moved to 
 strike out after the word - - the words , so 
 
TO AMEND BY INSERTING 1 29 
 
 that the motion will read:" 3. "It is moved 
 
 to strike out the words , and insert in their 
 
 place the words , so that the motion will read 
 
 as follows: " 
 
 97. The Method by Inserting. Any words 
 relevant to the subject maybe inserted by a majority 
 vote. Once inserted, the same identical words, or 
 a part of them, cannot afterward be stricken out, 
 except by a reconsideration, the rule being, that 
 the same matter cannot twice be acted upon. But, cer- 
 tain words having been once inserted, other words 
 may be added to them by another amendment ; and 
 then the whole can be stricken out by still another 
 motion to amend. 
 
 Illustration: The motion "that the club estab- 
 lish a library of books and magazines for the use of 
 the members " being under consideration, the fol- 
 lowing action takes place : 
 
 Mrs. Paine (after obtaining the floor). I move 
 to insert the word "circulating" before the word 
 4 'library/' 
 
 I^he Chair. You hear the motion of Mrs. Paine, 
 to insert the word "circulating," before the word 
 "library," so that the motion will read: "that the 
 club establish a circulating library," etc. Are you 
 
130 AMENDMENT 
 
 ready for the question ? * * * Those in favor will 
 say "Aye." * * * Those opposed, "No."' * * * It 
 is a vote. Are there any further amendments ? 
 
 Mrs. Robbins (after obtaining the floor) . I move 
 to insert the word "free" before the word "circu- 
 lating," so that it will read: "free circulating 
 library for the use of the members." 
 
 The Chair. You hear the motion : to amend by 
 inserting the word "free," so that the motion before 
 you will read as follows: [she repeats //.] Those in 
 favor * * * It is carried. 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. I now move to strike out the 
 words "free circulating" before the word "library." 
 \_The chair repeats and puts this motion to voteJ\ 
 
 The object of Mrs. Robbins in making her first 
 motion was to get another vote upon Mrs. Paine's 
 amendment to insert the word "circulating," to 
 which she was presumably opposed. The amend- 
 ment was carried, however, and could not be voted 
 upon again, except by a reconsideration ; and the re- 
 sult of this might be uncertain. Mrs. Robbins there- 
 fore secured another vote, and so another chance 
 of defeating it, by moving to add the word "free," 
 and then, this being adopted, by moving to strike 
 out the whole. She thus secured two opportuni- 
 
TO AMEND BY INSERTING 131 
 
 ties for debate and two votes, and doubled the chance 
 of defeating the motion she objected to. Mrs. 
 Paine's motion, of course, was made with no ulterior 
 motive in view. 
 
 The reason why this double action is permissi- 
 ble is because the new word "free, " added to the 
 adopted amendment, made of it a different ques- 
 tion. It could then be acted upon regardless of 
 the fact that it had already been once acted upon 
 the restriction being only that the same matter, or 
 a part of it, cannot be stricken out by amendment when 
 once inserted. , 
 
 98. Effect of a Negative Vote for Inserting. 
 Conversely, if certain words are proposed to be 
 inserted, and the motion to amend in this way is 
 rejected, those same words, or a part of them, cannot 
 be afterward added. But a motion can be made to 
 add the same words, or a part of them, with other 
 words ; this being a different proposition. In the mo- 
 tion under consideration, if Mrs. Paine had moved to 
 insert the word "newspapers," and her motion had 
 been rejected, she could afterward move to insert the 
 words " religious newspapers" or " periodicals bear- 
 ing upon women's work," this being a new question, 
 which, while embodying her defeated amendment, 
 
132 A MENDMENT 
 
 also includes other matter, and thus makes a differ- 
 ent proposition. 
 
 99. A Change in Meaning Necessary. It is 
 important to note that mere verbal changes are not 
 enough to make of the rejected motion a " new prop- 
 osition." The added words must change the mean- 
 ing, or scope, of the rejected amendment, else it will 
 be the same matter, and as such cannot twice be 
 acted upon. Mrs. Paine could not have moved to 
 insert "daily newspapers," because these words are 
 in meaning (though not verbally) the same as the 
 word "newspapers," and that had already been re- 
 jected; but "periodicals bearing upon women's 
 work" or "religious newspapers" is a different 
 matter from " newspapers ; " and the club might be 
 willing to vote for such a limited proposition, while 
 opposed to the more general one. 
 
 100. The Method by Striking Out. The 
 motion to amend by striking out, is so closely allied 
 to the motion to amend by inserting, that the con- 
 sideration of the one almost necessarily involves 
 that of the other. The same rules apply. Any 
 words may be stricken out ; but the same matter, or 
 a part of it, having been once stricken out, cannot 
 be added again except by reconsideration. The 
 
TO AMEND BY STRIKING OUT 133 
 
 words stricken out, or a part of them, can after- 
 ward be added provided other material is com- 
 bined with them so as to make a different propo- 
 sition. 
 
 Illustration : The same motion being under 
 consideration, Miss Sawyer moves "to amend by 
 striking out the words c and magazines. ' ' The 
 chair states the motion, puts it to vote, and it is 
 carried. These identical words ("and magazines") 
 are now stricken out for good, unless there is a 
 reconsideration. But it may happen that Miss 
 Lovell is opposed to their being stricken out, and 
 wishes to get them in again. She may move "to 
 amend by inserting the words 'pamphlets and peri- 
 odicals bearing upon our work. ' ' This will include 
 certain magazines, but is not a motion to insert the 
 word "magazines" alone, and is therefore a differ- 
 ent proposition from the one already acted upon. 
 
 loi. Effect of a Negative Vote on Striking 
 Out. Conversely, if a motion to strike out certain 
 words is lost, those identical words stand as an 
 integral part of the motion, and cannot again be 
 acted upon without reconsideration. But a motion 
 can be made to strike out these words, or a part of 
 them, with others, this being a new proposition. In 
 
134 A MENDMENT 
 
 the illustration in section 100, if Miss Sawyer's mo- 
 tion to amend by striking out " magazines " had been 
 lost, she could afterward move "to strike out the 
 words ( books and magazines ' " because this, while 
 it includes the rejected motion, is really a different 
 one. To repeat, in the words of Mr. Crocker: "A 
 proposition which has once been acted upon, can- 
 not be renewed as an amendment." 
 
 102. Form for Putting to Vote the Motion 
 to Strike Out. Motions are usually put to vote 
 in the form in which they are made, the chair ex- 
 actly repeating the motion. According to Gush- 
 ing, 1 the motion to strike out differs in this particu- 
 lar from others. The chair, in putting the motion 
 to vote says: "The motion is to strike out after the 
 word ' books ' the words ' and magazines.' Shall 
 the words ' and magazines ' stand as a part of 
 the motion ? " This gives the advantage of the 
 affirmative vote to the opponents of the measure, 
 reversing the usual effect of a vote, which is to 
 give the affirmative advantage to the affirmative 
 side. 
 
 It is not easy to see any good reason for this ex- 
 
 1 Also Robert, in his " Rules of Order," a manual which is not so good 
 a guide as the others mentioned, on account of its being based too strictly 
 upon the procedure of the U. S. House of Representatives. 
 
THE WORD "NOT" 135 
 
 ception, and it is not sanctioned by Warrington, 
 Fish, or Crocker. It is also somewhat confusing to 
 beginners. For these reasons, it is not recom- 
 mended here. The form recommended is as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 The Chair. The motion is made to strike out, 
 after the word "library," the words " books and 
 magazines." Shall these words be stricken out? 
 Those in favor * * * It is a vote." 
 
 103. Rejected Words in a Different Place. 
 Words once rejected (either by an affirmative vote 
 on a motion to strike out, or by a negative vote on a 
 motion to insert) may .sometimes be inserted into 
 the main proposition in a different place. This 
 can happen only when the main question has been 
 materially altered by amendment, so that new con- 
 siderations have become involved, and the meaning 
 of the text has been changed. 
 
 104. The Word " Not." An amendment to 
 insert or to strike out the word "not," so as to make 
 the motion its exact opposite, is not admissible, 
 and is to be ruled out of order. The same is 
 true of any other words which simply negative 
 the words under discussion, like " impossible " for 
 "possible," etc. When it is desired to negative a 
 
136 AMENDMENT 
 
 motion, the proper way is to vote against it when it 
 is acted upon. 
 
 105. The Method by Striking Out and In- 
 serting. Any words may be stricken out of a 
 proposition, and any others, relevant thereto, may 
 be inserted in their place. Having been inserted, 
 they can be stricken out only under the conditions 
 explained in section 100. The motion a to strike out 
 and insert " is one motion ; it is a combination, so to 
 speak, of the motion "to strike out" and the motion 
 "to insert," and is a motion "to strike out A, and 
 insert B. " It cannot be divided into two motions 
 (one to strike out A, and another to insert B), either 
 by the chair or by a vote ; but, having been made 
 as one motion, is put as one motion. The reason 
 for this is because the mover has a right to have a 
 vote upon the words she wishes to take the place of 
 the words she wishes- stricken out. 
 
 If the motion could be divided (words being 
 stricken out and the place left blank), other words 
 than those she desires might then get inserted in- 
 stead, thus thwarting her intention. Therefore, the 
 motion to strike out and insert is indivisible. 
 
 Illustration: The motion "to establish a library 
 of books and magazines for the use of the members," 
 
STRIKING OUT AND INSERTING 137 
 
 being under consideration, Miss Faxon obtains the 
 floor and says : " I move to strike out the word 
 ' members ' and insert the word 'public. ' ' 
 
 The Chair. You hear the motion of Miss Faxon, 
 to strike out the word "members" and insert the 
 word " public," so that the motion will read "a 
 library, etc., for the use of the public." Are you 
 ready for the question ? * * * Those in favor of 
 striking out the word " members " and inserting in 
 its place the word "public," will say "Aye." * * * 
 If the motion prevails, the word "public" becomes 
 a part of the original motion, instead of the word 
 "members." Any one who wishes to get the word 
 "public" out, must either move a reconsideration, 
 or proceed as described in section 100. 
 
 106. Effect of a Negative Vote for Striking 
 Out and Inserting. If the motion to strike out 
 certain words and insert others is defeated, the 
 original words stand, and must continue to stand, 
 unless the motion is reconsidered. But, by incor- 
 porating other matter with the original words, and 
 thus making a different; proposition, the same words 
 may again, indirectly, be acted upon by amend- 
 ment. 
 
 In order to get a second vote on words already 
 
138 AMENDMENT 
 
 acted upon (by this motion to strike out and insert) 
 certain motions may be made ; and these are formu- 
 lated by Gushing somewhat as follows : 
 
 1. To strike out (without inserting). 
 
 2. To strike out the same words and insert differ- 
 ent ones from those before proposed. 
 
 3. To strike out the same words and insert the 
 proposed words, with others. 
 
 4. To strike out the same words and insert part 
 of the proposed words, with others. 
 
 5. To strike out the same words with others and 
 insert the proposed words. 
 
 6. To strike out part of the same words with 
 others and insert the proposed words. 
 
 7. To strike out other words and insert the pro- 
 posed words. 
 
 8. To insert the desired words (without striking 
 out). 
 
 It would be difficult to illustrate all these methods 
 by one motion, and probably in no single motion 
 could all of them be used. They are expedients, 
 some one of which may often be employed, in an 
 attempt to reverse the decision upon a rejected 
 motion to strike out and insert, and thus to get rid 
 of words which, by vote, have been retained. 
 
SUBSTITUTION 139 
 
 Mr. Crocker says : " The motion to strike out and 
 insert can be amended both as to the words to be 
 stricken out and as to the words to be inserted." 
 
 107. Substitution. A whole new motion may 
 be substituted for another already before the meet- 
 ing, provided the subject of it be germane to that 
 other. This, being simply a motion to strike out 
 and insert, is put as one motion.. 
 
 Illustration : The motion in regard to a library 
 being under discussion, Mrs. Ellis says : " I move to 
 amend by substituting for the pending motion the 
 following: "That during the summer the president 
 ascertain the probable expense of a library suitable 
 to our needs; and that contributions for that pur- 
 pose be solicited." The chair says : " It is moved to 
 substitute for the motion now before us (which is, 
 4 To establish a library of books and magazines for 
 the use of the members ') the following motion : 
 ' That during the summer the president ascertain 
 the probable expense of a library suitable to our 
 needs; and that contributions be solicited.'" 
 
 The question now is upon substituting one for the 
 other. The proposed substitute, being simply an 
 amendment, may be amended before the vote is 
 taken upon substitution; .it may also be divided, 
 
140 AMENDMENT 
 
 since it contains two distinct propositions. It is 
 debated, like any other amendment, and finally 
 voted upon (in its original form, or as further 
 amended), and if the vote is in the affirmative, the 
 substitute takes the place of the original motion. 
 This vote is the vote upon it as the amendment. 
 Another vote is then taken upon it as the motion as 
 amended. 
 
 These two votes are put in the following form: 
 
 1. " Those in favor of substituting this motion for 
 the pending one will say 'Aye. ' * * It is carried, 
 and the motion is substituted. 2. Those now in 
 favor of the motion as amended ('that the president 
 ascertain, etc/) will say ' Aye' * * * it is carried." 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A proposition may be amended: i. By inserting; 
 
 2. By striking out; 3. By striking out and insert- 
 ing. 
 
 In stating the motion to amend, the chair (i) 
 repeats the words proposed ; (2) indicates the place 
 in the motion where they are proposed to be in- 
 serted, or omitted; and (3) reads the motion in the 
 form it will stand if amended. 
 
 Any words relevant to the subject may be in- 
 
WAYS TO AMEND A PROPOSITION 141 
 
 serted. Once inserted, the same words, or a part of 
 them, cannot be stricken out; but other words may be 
 added to them, and then the whole be stricken out. 
 
 If a motion to amend by inserting is negatived, 
 the same words or a part of them cannot afterward 
 be added. But the same words, or a part of them, 
 with others, may be added. 
 
 The added words must change the meaning, and 
 not produce a mere verbal change. 
 
 Any words may be stricken out. Once out, they 
 cannot afterward be inserted, unless other words are 
 added to them. 
 
 If a motion to amend by striking out is negatived, 
 the words stand, and cannot afterward be acted upon 
 unless combined with others. 
 
 The motion to strike out is put: Shall the words 
 be stricken out? and not "Shall the words stand? " 
 
 Rejected words may sometimes be inserted in a 
 different place. 
 
 The word "not," or any other word which simply 
 negatives the meaning of a motion, cannot be offered 
 in amendment. 
 
 A motion may be made to strike out any words 
 and to insert any others, relevant thereto, in their 
 place. This is one motion. 
 
142 AMENDMENT 
 
 The motion to strike out and insert is indivisible. 
 
 When the motion to strike out and insert is nega- 
 tived, the original words stand, but they may after- 
 ward be stricken out, by a motion which changes 
 either the words to be stricken out, or the words to 
 be inserted. 
 
 A whole new motion may be substituted for an- 
 other, provided it is relevant thereto. 
 
 Rule : The same proposition cannot twice be acted 
 upon. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 EXCEPTIONS REGARDING AMENDMENT 
 
 SUMS AND TIMES, OR FILLING BLANKS ; NAMES; 
 MOTIONS NOT SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT ; 
 EFFECT OF THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ; RECON- 
 SIDERATION; THE ORDER IN AMENDING. 
 
 108. Sums and Times, or Filling Blanks. 
 
 There is one apparent exception to the rule that a 
 proposition cannot be amended beyond the second 
 degree (that is, that there can be no amendment to 
 an amendment to an amendment.) In case a number 
 is in question, and it is proposed to change it to 
 
SUMS AND TIMES 143 
 
 some other number, as many suggestions are re- 
 ceived as the members wish to offer, and then these 
 suggestions are voted upon, one by one, in a certain 
 order, the rule that the second takes precedence of 
 the first not applying here. 
 
 The number to be supplied is usually a sum (of 
 money) or a time (of day), and when a motion is 
 made, or a proposition offered, which contains refer- 
 ence to a sum or a time, and there is any motion to 
 change that sum or time, such a motion is not re- 
 garded as an amendment, but the space containing 
 the number is considered to be blank or empty, and 
 suggestions are then received for filling it. These 
 suggestions are noted down by the chairman or sec- 
 retary, and then the vote is taken upon each, one 
 by one, beginning with the largest sum, or the longest 
 time, and continuing down until an affirmative vote 
 is reached on some one of the numbers proposed. 
 This same process is also followed whenever there 
 is before a meeting any proposition containing a 
 blank space to be filled by a sum or a time. 
 
 Illustration : A motion is made " that the time 
 for the club to assemble be fixed at two o'clock." 
 
 The chair having placed the motion before the 
 meeting, Mrs. Paine obtains the floor and moves 
 
144 AMENDMENT 
 
 "that the hour be three o'clock;" (not "to amend 
 by striking out 'two ' and inserting 'three. ') " 
 
 2'he Chair. We will proceed as in filling blanks, 
 and the chair will receive other suggestions. 
 
 Mrs. Packard. I move that the hour be half-past 
 two. 
 
 Mrs. Burns. I move that it be half-past three. 
 
 Miss Long. I move that it be four, Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. The motion is in regard to the hour 
 of meeting of our club. Motions have been made 
 that the hour be two, three, half-past two, half-past 
 three and four o'clock. These motions are before 
 you for discussion. (The suggestions are debated^) 
 
 The Chair. Are you ready for the question? 
 Those in favor of four o'clock will say "Aye." * * * 
 It is lost. Those in favor of half-past three will 
 say "Aye." * * * It is lost. Those in favor of 
 three o'clock will say "Aye." It is lost. 
 
 Those in favor of half-past two o'clock will say 
 "Aye." * * * It is carried, and the blank is filled 
 by the insertion of the words "half-past two." 
 Those now in favor of the motion "that the time 
 for the club to assemble be fixed at half -past two 
 o'clock" will say "Aye;" those opposed, "No." It 
 is a vote. The hour of assembling is half -past two. 
 
SUMS AND TIMES 145 
 
 At first thought, the taking of two votes upon the 
 words " half-past two " seems unnecessary, but the 
 first vote (on inserting) is a vote upon an amend- 
 ment, as explained in section 107, and it does not 
 necessarily follow that all those who vote for "half- 
 past two," are also in favor of the main question. 
 There might be members who object to fixing any 
 time for assembling. 
 
 There are cases where this would be still more 
 apparent, especially where a question of appropriat- 
 ing money is under consideration. Members might 
 favor one sum rather than another, but be opposed 
 to any appropriation. For example: a motion "to 
 subscribe ten dollars toward the fresh-air fund " 
 being offered, motions are offered to make the sum 
 twenty, fifteen, and five dollars. The chair will put 
 these to vote, beginning with the largest, and then 
 say: "The blank is filled by the word 'fifteen/ 
 Those now in favor of the original motion, as 
 amended, to subscribe fifteen dollars for the fresh- 
 air fund will say 'Aye ' * * * " Members opposed 
 to any subscription would now have a chance to 
 vote against the main question. Rule. A vote /> 
 first taken upon filling the blank, this being a form of 
 amendment, and then a vote is taken upon the motion 
 itself. 
 
146 AMENDMENT 
 
 In rare cases, the shortest number precedes the 
 longest, in putting to vote; but the general rule is 
 the other way, the reason being that usually the 
 greater number is the more inclusive, leading up, 
 so to speak, to the others, and bringing the question 
 more readily to a conclusion. 
 
 109. Names. Where the names of several 
 persons are put in nomination for one office, these 
 are not treated as amendments, but the same pro- 
 cess is followed as that described in the preceding 
 section in regard to sums and times. The names 
 are put to vote in the order nominated, beginning 
 with the one mentioned in the original motion or 
 report. For an illustration see chapter one. 
 
 no. Motions Not Subject to Amendment. 
 There are certain motions that cannot be amended. 
 The principal ones are: to adjourn; to lay upon, 
 and to take from, the table ; for the previous ques- 
 tion; to reconsider; to postpone indefinitely; also, 
 questions of privilege and of order, and appeals. 
 Rule. Any motion may be amended that can be 
 amended without changing it into a distinctly different 
 motion. 
 
 in. Effect of the Previous Question. It 
 may be well to repeat, that after the debate is 
 
THE ORDER IN AMENDING 147 
 
 closed, no new amendments, except verbal ones, are 
 admissible. Changes in meaning cannot then be 
 offered, because they cannot be discussed. Also, 
 when an amendment is before the meeting, the 
 debate is confined to the amendment, except in cases 
 where such amendment necessarily opens the whole 
 question. 
 
 112. Reconsideration. If, after a motion has 
 been adopted, it is desired to reconsider the vote 
 upon an amendment to that motion, the vote upon 
 the whole question must first be reconsidered, in 
 order to open the way for action upon the amend- 
 ment. 
 
 113. The Order in Amending. As already 
 explained, when several primary amendments to one 
 proposition are before a meeting, they are considered 
 in the order moved ; when there is a primary and a 
 secondary, the latter is voted upon and then the 
 former. When there is a series of propositions 
 combined in one, like the by-laws of a society for 
 instance (see section 77), it is best to consider these 
 section by section, amending them in their order. 
 It is not well, however, to " adopt " them one by 
 one, as this prevents the assembly from going back 
 and considering them over again. This is often 
 
148 AMENDMENT 
 
 necessary, and, if they are simply amended and left, 
 it can be done at any time before the by-laws are 
 "adopted as a whole." When all the amending is 
 done and the meeting is ready, a motion is made (or 
 the chair may put to vote without a motion) " to adopt 
 the by-laws as a whole." If this is carried, the 
 matter is closed, not to be re-opened, except by 
 reconsideration. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Numbers and names are not treated as amend- 
 ments. Blanks are presumed to exist, and these 
 ' are filled by voting upon the proposed numbers or 
 names, one by one. 
 
 The largest sum or the longest time is put to 
 vote first, and so on down, till one is adopted. 
 
 One vote is to be taken upon filling the blank in 
 the motion and another vote upon the motion as 
 amended, (the blank being filled.) 
 
 Names are put to vote in their order, beginning 
 with the one first named. 
 
 Any motions may be amended, except such as 
 cannot be changed without destroying their nature. 
 
 After the previous question is ordered, none 
 except verbal amendments are admissible. 
 
SUMMARY OF EXCEPTIONS 149 
 
 When an amendment is under consideration, 
 debate is confined to that amendment, unless it 
 necessarily involves the main question. 
 
 In order to reconsider an amendment, the main 
 question must first be reconsidered. 
 
 When there is a series of propositions combined 
 into one, these are amended section by section and 
 finally adopted "as a whole." 
 
PART IV 
 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 THE RANK OF DEPENDENT MOTIONS 
 
 "PRECEDENCE" DEFINED; "INDEPENDENT " vs. 
 "DEPENDENT" MOTIONS; THE SEVEN DEPEND- 
 ENT MOTIONS AND THEIR RANK; ILLUSTRATION 
 OF THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS; OBJECT OF 
 THE SEVEN MOTIONS; REASONS FOR THE PRE- 
 SCRIBED ORDER. 
 
 114. " Precedence " Defined. The word "pre- 
 cedence " in this connection, refers to the order in 
 which motions are to be considered. The general 
 rule is that motions take precedence in the order 
 moved, the one first made being first considered and 
 decided. There are exceptions to this rule in the 
 case of certain motions which, from their nature, 
 take precedence of the motion pending, and which 
 also have a precedence, or rank, among them- 
 selves. 
 
 115. "Independent vs. "Dependent Mo- 
 tions." A motion which stands for itself, unre- 
 
 '53 
 
154 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 lated to any other, and the effect of which is to 
 place before the meeting a new question, is an " in- 
 dependent " motion. With all independent motions, 
 the general rule of precedence prevails, namely, an 
 independent motion may be made when no other 
 motion is pending, and one independent motion is 
 decided before another is in order. 
 
 A " dependent " motion is one which may be made 
 while another motion is pending. It is related to, 
 or dependent upon, an independent motion, and 
 tends in some way to modify or to dispose of it. The 
 motions to close debate and to amend are examples 
 of dependent motions. A dependent motion is 
 necessarily acted upon before the independent 
 motion to which it relates. The dependent motions 
 have a prescribed order among themselves, certain 
 ones taking precedence of certain others and ruling . 
 out those others even when the latter are first made. 
 
 116. The Seven Dependent Motions and 
 their Rank. There are seven dependent motions 
 which are in constant use in the conduct of meet- 
 ings; and among all the motions of this nature 
 which are possible in practice, these are the only 
 ones necessary to be mastered by the ordinary par- 
 liamentarian. Two of these have been considered 
 
RANK OF DEPENDENT MOTIONS 155 
 
 already in the connections where they belong: the 
 motion to amend, which, being the most important 
 and most common, is considered in Part III., by 
 itself; and the motion for the previous question, 
 which is considered in chapter eight, in connection 
 with debate. The other five are: the motions to 
 adjourn, to lay upon the table, to postpone to a 
 definite time, to commit or to refer to a committee, 
 and to postpone indefinitely or to repress. The rank 
 of these motions is as follows : 
 
 1. To adjourn. 
 
 2. To lay upon the table. 
 
 3. For the previous question. 
 
 4. To postpone. 
 
 5. To commit. 
 
 6. To amend. 
 
 7. To postpone indefinitely. 
 
 Each of these dependent motions takes precedence 
 of the main question ; in other words, when a propo- 
 sition is pending, and one of these motions is made, 
 that motion is considered and put to vote before the 
 main proposition, which is interrupted in its course 
 by the dependent motion and variously modified 
 thereby. 
 
 When a proposition is under consideration and 
 
IS6 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 one of these seven motions is made, if another of 
 the seven is made afterward, it can be considered if 
 it stands above the first one in this list. If it stands 
 below, it is not admissible. For example: suppose 
 an independent motion to be under discussion, 
 and that a motion has been made "to postpone." 
 While this is under consideration, the motions 
 which can now be made are: to adjourn, to lay on 
 the table, and for the previous question, while those 
 which cannot be made are : to commit, to amend, 
 and to postpone indefinitely. The motions which 
 stand above the dependent motion pending are said 
 to "have precedence over it; " those below, are said 
 to be "preceded by" it. If the independent motion 
 (or main question) with a number of amendments, 
 were pending, any of the dependent motions is 
 admissible except the seventh, that only being 
 "preceded by" motions to amend. If they all are 
 made, in proper order, they are voted upon, one by 
 one, in their order of precedence, the main question 
 being held in abeyance till they are settled. 
 
 117. Illustration of the Precedence of 
 Motions. A motion having been made "that the 
 Mendon Women's Club take steps to become incor- 
 porated," the following action ensues: 
 
RANK OF DEPENDENT MOTIONS I $7 
 
 Mrs. Robbins} I move to amend by inserting, 
 after the word "steps," the words "during the 
 summer vacation." 
 
 The Chair. You hear the motion, to amend by 
 inserting certain words so that the motion shall 
 
 rea d : " take steps during the summer vacation 
 
 to become incorporated." Are you ready? [This 
 may be debated] 
 
 Miss Long. I move to commit. 
 
 The Chair. It is moved to refer the matter to 
 a committee. This motion takes precedence of the 
 motion to amend. Are you ready to vote upon the 
 motion to commit? [Debatable.'] 
 
 Mrs. Paine. I move to postpone the matter for 
 one week. 
 
 The Chair. A motion is made to postpone. 
 [Debatable.] 
 
 Mrs. Burns. I move the previous question. 
 
 The Chair. The previous question is moved. 
 Shall the main question be now put? {Limited 
 debate] 
 
 Mrs. Allen. I move to lay upon the table. [Not 
 debatable.] 
 
 1 In this illustration, the form of obtaining the floor is omitted for sake of 
 brevity. The reader must supply it. 
 
I $8 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 The Chair. It is moved to lay on the table. 
 Those in favor 
 
 Mrs. Packard (interrupting). Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. The motion to table is not debatable. 
 
 Mrs. Packard. I was not intending to debate, 
 Mrs. Chairman, but to move that we adjourn. 
 
 The Chair. The Chair stands corrected. A 
 motion to adjourn is now in order, that taking 
 precedence of all other motions. The vote comes 
 first upon the motion to adjourn. Those in favor 
 of adjournment will say "Aye" * * * It is lost. 
 Those in favor of laying the question upon the 
 table * * * It is lost. The next motion is for the 
 previous question. Shall the main question be now 
 put? (If this prevails, it will cut off the motions to 
 postpone and to commit, and bring us to an imme- 
 diate vote on the main question and its amend- 
 ments. 1 ) Those in favor * * * It is lost. Are you 
 ready for the question upon the motion to postpone 
 for one week? Those in favor * * * It is lost. 
 
 Miss Lovell. I move to postpone indefinitely. 
 
 The Chair. Motions to commit and to amend 
 being before the meeting, the motion to postpone 
 
 1 This explanation of the president is desirable, to prevent inexperienced 
 members from misunderstanding the effect of their vote. It is well for the 
 chairman to explain other difficult motions. 
 
RANK OF DEPENDENT MOTIONS 159 
 
 indefinitely is not in order. Are you ready to vote 
 upon commitment? Those in favor * * * It is 
 lost. The question now recurs upon t Mrs. Robbins' 
 motion to amend by inserting the words " during the 
 summer vacation." Are you ready? Those in 
 favor * * * It is carried. Those now in favor of 
 the motion as amended 
 
 Miss Lovell (interrupting). I now move to post- 
 pone indefinitely. 
 
 The Chair. That motion is now in order. Those 
 in favor of repressing the motion will say "Aye" 
 
 * * * It is lost. Those in favor of the motion as 
 amended, namely [she repeats //], will say "Aye" 
 
 * * * It is carried. 
 
 This illustration shows the effect of the dependent 
 motions, when each one (except that to amend) is 
 lost. Illustrations of the effect when each one is 
 carried are given in the three following chapters. 
 When any one of them is moved and is not in order 
 because of the precedence of others, it is treated as 
 shown in Miss Lo veil's motion to postpone indefi- 
 nitely. 
 
 Any of these motions, having once been defeated, 
 may again be made at a later stage in the pro- 
 ceedings, provided "substantial business "has in- 
 
100 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 tervened in the meantime. For example, another 
 motion to table might have been made at the close ; 
 or between the consideration of any other two 
 motions. So with the other dependent motions, 
 subject always to the rule of precedence. Only the 
 dependent motion distinctively under consideration 
 may be debated, unless it necessarily involves the 
 main question. 
 
 When a motion is made which takes precedence of 
 others, these others are simply suspended, or held in 
 abeyance, till the one that outranks them is decided. 
 If it is decided in the negative, they follow in their 
 order, as shown in the illustration. 
 
 118. Object of the Seven Motions. The 
 object of three of these motions (to adjourn, to table, 
 and to postpone) is to delay action ; of one (to close 
 debate), to hasten action; of two (to commit and to 
 amend), to perfect or change; and of one, the last, 
 to finally dispose of. For the effect of the previous 
 question upon the other dependent motions, see 
 sections 60 and 61. 
 
 119. Reasons for the Prescribed Order. 
 This order has been found, by experience, to be 
 well suited to secure both the fair and the speedy 
 transaction of business. The undebatable motions 
 
RANK OF DEPENDENT MOTIONS l6l 
 
 precede the debatable ones, in order to prevent 
 delays; and opportunity is given to secure, first, 
 the temporary disposition of the subject, then the 
 suspension of tiresome debate, then the perfecting 
 in form and the securing of more time, and lastly, 
 repression. The order is varied by some authorities 
 and disregarded by others ; any society may there- 
 fore vote not to adopt it as their guide, if they 
 wish; but it will be found simple and helpful, and 
 is therefore recommended. Presiding officers would 
 do well to commit this order to memory, or to have 
 it by them for reference when presiding. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The general rule regarding precedence is that 
 motions take precedence in the order moved. There 
 are exceptions regarding certain technical motions. 
 
 An independent motion is one that is unrelated to 
 any other; a dependent motion is one that exists 
 because of an independent one. The former is 
 made when no other motion is pending; the latter, 
 when another is pending. The seven dependent 
 motions in general use are : i. To adjourn; 2. To 
 lay on the table; 3. For the previous question; 4. 
 To postpone; 5. To commit; 6. To amend; 7. To 
 
1 62 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 postpone indefinitely. These take precedence of 
 one another in the order given. 
 
 When one of these is made, it takes precedence 
 of the main question ; when one is made, and then 
 another, that other is admissible if its place in the 
 list is above the one first made. 
 
 When one of these has been defeated, it may be 
 renewed after substantial business has intervened. 
 
 Undebatable motions take precedence of debat- 
 able motions. This order has been proved by 
 experience to facilitate both full and speedy action. 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE MOTIONS TO ADJOURN AND TO LAY 
 UPON THE TABLE 
 
 THE MOTION TO ADJOURN; THE INDEPENDENT 
 MOTION TO ADJOURN; LIMITATIONS; EFFECT OF 
 ADJOURNMENT; FIXING THE TIME; THE MO- 
 TION TO LAY UPON THE TABLE; ITS EFFECT; 
 TAKING FROM THE TABLE. 
 
 120. The Motion to Adjourn. The depend- 
 ent motion first in order is the motion to adjourn. 
 
THE A1OTION TO ADJOURN 163 
 
 This takes precedence of all other motions. The 
 reason for its high rank is that the assembly has the 
 right, at any time, to terminate its session at the 
 will of the majority. It is considered at once, and 
 decided without debate. It cannot be amended, 
 tabled, committed, postponed, repressed, or recon- 
 sidered ; all that can be done to it is simply to vote 
 upon it. 
 
 121. The Independent Motion to Adjourn. 
 Besides being dependent, the motion to adjourn is 
 also, at times, an independent motion. It is such 
 when made after all business is done, or while 
 no motion is pending. It is still subject to the 
 same restrictions. By unanimous consent, however, 
 it can be briefly debated, reasons being given why 
 the assembly ought not to adjourn at once. Usually, 
 an independent motion to adjourn is made as a for- 
 mality, at the close of a session, and will be readily 
 withdrawn by the mover, if any one indicates that 
 there is business which ought to be considered. 
 
 122. Limitations. It is commonly said that " a 
 motion to adjourn is always in order." This is not 
 strictly true. A motion to adjourn cannot be made: 
 
 1. when a member has possession of the floor; 
 
 2. during the progress of voting; 3. when the 
 
1 64 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 previous question has been ordered; 4. when a 
 previous motion to adjourn has been the next pre- 
 ceding motion, and no substantial business has 
 intervened. By "substantial business" is meant 
 further debate, another motion and its considera- 
 tion, or any action which changes the environment 
 of the renewed motion so that it is really a new one 
 and not the same one. This provision is needful, to 
 guard against factious manoeuvres on the part of the 
 minority. It has been decided also that a defeated 
 motion to table is not "substantial business." 
 Whether, in addition to these limitations, there can 
 also intervene, to delay the putting of a motion to 
 adjourn, a question of privilege or of order, is not 
 certain. It would seem, however, in view of the 
 urgent nature of these questions, that they would 
 be in order even when a motion to adjourn was 
 pending. 1 
 
 With these few limitations, the motion to adjourn 
 is always first in order. 
 
 123. Effect of Adjournment. A member 
 obtains the floor, in the usual way, and says: "I 
 move that we adjourn," or "that the assembly do 
 now adjourn." The chair says: "A motion to 
 
 1 See Sections 147 and 158 for the further consideration of this poinU 
 
THE MOTION TO ADJOURN 165 
 
 adjourn is made. Those in favor of adjourning 
 will say "Aye" * * * It is carried, and the club 
 stands adjourned to Tuesday next." The vote can 
 be doubted, like any other. 
 
 If the motion to adjourn is lost, the business 
 interrupted is resumed. If it is carried, the busi- 
 ness interrupted is taken up again at the next ses- 
 sion, at the point where it was left, unless there is no . 
 further session, in which case an adjournment kills 
 the measure under discussion. If there is a regular 
 order of business, and a regular adjournment, any 
 measure interrupted by adjournment, takes its turn 
 at the next session as "unfinished business," and 
 when it comes up, consideration upon it is resumed 
 at the point interrupted. 
 
 124. Fixing the Time. In organizations 
 which have a stated time for adjourning, when that 
 time arrives, the chair, interrupting business, says: 
 "The time for adjournment has arrived; " then, after 
 waiting a moment (to give a chance for a motion 
 "that the time be extended" or for a motion to 
 adjourn) she adds: "the club stands adjourned." 
 If it is desired to continue the session, an independ- 
 ent motion to extend the time (either indefinitely or 
 definitely) is made, put to vote, and acted upon 
 accordingly. 
 
1 66 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 Where there is no fixed time, a motion may be 
 
 made "that the club adjourn at o'clock," and 
 
 this takes its place with other independent motions, 
 having no right of precedence. 
 
 Associated also with the motion to adjourn, is the 
 motion to fix the time to which to adjourn, or for 
 re-assembling. In societies with a stated time, this 
 is not needed; it is of use only in temporary assem- 
 blies, adjourning from day to day. It is debatable, 
 amendable, and has no right of precedence. It is 
 sometimes said to be entitled to precedence over the 
 motion to adjourn, but, being debatable, it is not so 
 entitled. When a motion to adjourn has been made and 
 the time for the next meeting has not been fixed, the 
 chair, whose duty it is to see that matters are properly 
 conducted, will remind the mover that no time has 
 been fixed for the next session, and she will with- 
 draw her motion to make way for one fixing the time 
 for re-assembling, she retaining the right to renew 
 the motion to adjourn afterward. If she refuses to 
 withdraw the motion to adjourn, it must be put to 
 /ote, and the assembly, which " is supposed to know 
 what it wants," as Warrington says, will vote it 
 down, unless they desire no further sessions. 
 
 The form of this motion is : " I move that when 
 
TO LAY UPON THE TABLE 167 
 
 we adjourn, we adjourn to meet on Tuesday next at 
 three o'clock." 
 
 125. The Motion to Lay upon the Table. 
 Second in rank comes the motion to lay upon the 
 table. Its use is to delay final action, or to give time 
 for further investigation. It cannot be debated, 
 amended, committed, postponed, repressed, or re- 
 considered. It yields only to the motion to adjourn 
 and to questions of privilege and order; once de- 
 feated, it can be renewed only under the same con- 
 ditions as the motion to adjourn : a defeated motion 
 to adjourn not being "substantial business." 
 
 126. Its Effect. A motion to lay upon the 
 table, lays upon the table both the measure under 
 consideration and all the questions dependent upon 
 it. It cannot be applied to a part of a question, 
 but, whenever made in reference to a part, applies to 
 the whole. If the motion prevails, the whole mat- 
 ter, with its pending amendments and dependent 
 motions, goes to the table, that is, it is laid aside, 
 suspended ; and some other business is taken up. 
 
 127. Taking from the Table. Immediately 
 afterward or at any later time, either at the same or 
 at a future session, the subject may be taken from 
 the table. The motion to take from the table, how- 
 
1 68 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 ever, is not a dependent motion. It has no right of 
 precedence, and takes its chance with other inde- 
 pendent motions. Its effect, if carried, is to resume 
 the subject at the point interrupted. If a question 
 is tabled, and no motion is afterward made to take 
 it from the table, it is killed. Thus, a motion 
 to table, temporarily or permanently disposes of 
 the whole subject under consideration. 
 
 Illustration. (See Section 117.) The independent 
 motion with its various amendments being under 
 consideration, the dependent motions to commit 
 and to postpone are made; finally Mrs. Allen says: 
 "I move to lay upon the table." The chair says: 
 " It is moved to lay the question upon the table. 
 Those in favor * * * It is carried, and the ques- 
 tion of the club becoming incorporated goes to the 
 table. What is now the pleasure of the meeting? " 
 [Other business is doneJ\ Mrs. Allen later, there 
 being no business before the meeting, obtains the 
 floor and says : " I move to take from the table the 
 motion 'that the club take steps to become incorpo- 
 rated. ' ? The chair states the motion, and, if it is 
 carried, says : " The motion is again before us, and 
 the first question is upon the pending motion to 
 postpone." She then proceeds to put to vote that 
 
TO LAY UPON THE TABLE 169 
 
 motion, and, if it is lost, the other dependent 
 motions, to commit and to amend, and finally, 
 unless otherwise disposed of, the main question. 
 
 It is advisable for the chair, in putting to vote a 
 motion to lay upon the table, to warn the members 
 that this motion carries to the table, not only the 
 main question, but also all its attachments. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The motion to adjourn takes precedence of all 
 other motions. When an independent motion, it 
 may be briefly debated ; when dependent, no action 
 can be taken except to vote upon it. 
 
 A motion to adjourn is always first in order, 
 but it cannot be made, i. When a member 
 has possession of the floor; 2. During voting; 3. 
 After the previous question is moved; 4. When a 
 previous motion to adjourn immediately precedes 
 it, with no substantial business intervening. Ques- 
 tions of privilege and of order may delay the putting 
 of the motion to adjourn. 
 
 A rejected motion to table is not "substantial 
 business." 
 
 If a dependent motion to adjourn is carried, 
 
1/0 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 at the next session business is resumed at the 
 point interrupted. 
 
 If a meeting adjourns at its regular time, any 
 unfinished business takes its place in the order of 
 business for the next session. 
 
 When the time for adjournment is fixed, the 
 chair adjourns the meeting at that time, unless a 
 motion is made to extend the session. 
 
 A motion may be made to fix the time to adjourn. 
 This, with the motion to fix the time for re-assem- 
 bling, is an independent motion, having no right of 
 precedence. 
 
 The motion to lay upon the table yields only to 
 the motion to adjourn. It is subject to the same 
 limitations as that motion. 
 
 A motion to lay upon the table carries to the table 
 the whole subject, with all its dependent motions. 
 If made upon a part, it applies to the whole. 
 
 The subject may be taken up again at any future 
 time by an independent motion to take from the 
 table, the question being resumed at the point 
 interrupted. 
 
THE MOTIONS TO POSTPONE 1 7 1 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 THE MOTIONS TO POSTPONE 
 
 To POSTPONE TO A STATED TIME; ITS EFFECT; 
 LIMITATION; To POSTPONE INDEFINITELY; ITS 
 EFFECT. 
 
 128. To Postpone to a Stated Time. This 
 motion is fourth in the list, being preceded by the 
 motions to adjourn, to table, and for the previous 
 question. When a motion to postpone is pending, 
 if the previous question is ordered upon the main 
 question, such motion to postpone is "cut off," and 
 not simply deferred. On the contrary, if the motion 
 to adjourn or to table prevails while the motion to 
 postpone is pending, it is then simply suspended or 
 laid aside, coming up again in company with the 
 main question to which it is attached whenever that 
 is resumed. The motion to postpone may be debated 
 and amended (as to the hour), but cannot be com- 
 mitted, tabled, repressed, or, of course, postponed. 
 It cannot be reconsidered, unless this is done 
 immediately. Its object is to assign the subject to 
 
t; '2 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 some specified time, in order to gain fuller consid- 
 eration. The effect upon it of the previous question 
 is considered in section 61. 
 
 129. Its Effect. Like the motion to table, this 
 motion suspends action upon the question; but, 
 while that suspends indefinitely, this assigns defi- 
 nitely. When the subject which was postponed 
 comes up again, it is called a "special assignment." 
 A motion to postpone, postpones the whole subject. 
 If the motion to postpone is lost, it can be renewed 
 after substantial business intervenes. 
 
 If the motion to postpone is carried, the subject 
 postponed is laid aside, being taken charge of by 
 the secretary, until the time comes to which it was 
 postponed. Then, whatever may be doing, it is in 
 order. The chair interrupts other business and 
 calls it up, or, she failing, the secretary or any 
 member may call for it. 
 
 Illustration. The same motion being under dis- 
 cussion as in section 117, and motions having been 
 made to amend, and to commit, Mrs. Paine obtains 
 the floor, as in that section, and says : " I move to 
 postpone the consideration of this question for one 
 week," or, " I move to postpone for one week." She 
 may make the time more definite still, as, "one 
 
TO POSTPONE TO A STATED TIME 173 
 
 week from to-day at three o'clock," but she must 
 assign some time, and not move simply "to post- 
 pone." The chair then says: "It is moved to post- 
 pone this question to one week from to-day at three 
 o'clock. Are you ready for the question upon post- 
 ponement?" This may be discussed, may be 
 amended by altering the day or hour, and is finally 
 put to vote in the usual way. If it is carried (instead 
 of lost, as in section 117), the chair says: "It is a 
 vote, and the consideration of the motion regarding 
 the incorporation of our club is postponed till next 
 Tuesday at three o'clock." When next Tuesday 
 arrives, other business is done until three o'clock, 
 and then the president says : " The time has arrived 
 to which was assigned the consideration of the 
 question of incorporation. That matter is now 
 properly before us." 
 
 If it be desired to finish some other business, a 
 motion maybe made "to lay the special assignment 
 upon the table ; " and if this prevails, it is laid aside, 
 to be taken up again later. But, if the special 
 assignment is not laid aside (or, when it is again 
 taken up), the president continues: "The first ques- 
 tion is on the motion to commit " (this having been 
 pending when t-he main question was postponed) ; 
 
174 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 she then proceeds to put the motion to commit 
 to vote, and then whatever other motions are neces- 
 sary for the disposal of the whole measure. 
 
 If the chair fails to call up the question at the 
 specified hour, any one may rise and say: "Mrs. 
 President, has not the time arrived for the special 
 assignment? " She may specify it by name also. 
 
 If there is no hour assigned, but simply a day, it 
 comes up under the head of unfinished business. 
 
 The interrupted business is laid aside without any 
 motion to do so. It is simply held in abeyance till 
 the special assignment is disposed of, to be resumed, 
 either after that is settled or at the next meeting, as 
 unfinished business. 
 
 130. Limitation. The motion to postpone can be 
 amended only as to the time. It cannot be changed 
 into the motion to postpone indefinitely. Neither 
 can a motion be made to postpone to a day when 
 the association will not be in session, since this 
 is equivalent to a motion to postpone indefinitely. 
 
 131. To Postpone Indefinitely. This is not, 
 properly speaking, a motion to postpone, but a 
 motion to reject or repress; it postpones or adjourns 
 a question sine die. It is used when there is a de- 
 sire to summarily dispose of the main question. It 
 
TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY 175 
 
 stands lowest in the order of precedence, being allow- 
 able only when no other dependent motion is pend- 
 ing. It may be debated, but it cannot be amended, 
 postponed, committed, tabled, or reconsidered, and 
 if defeated it cannot be renewed upon the same 
 subject. The effect upon it of the previous ques- 
 tion is considered in section 61. 
 
 132. Its Effect, When this motion prevails, 
 it simply kills the question to which it applies. Its 
 effect is the same as that of a vote taken upon the 
 question itself, and decided in the negative. It is 
 as if the question were put to vote in the opposite 
 from the regular way, as follows: " Those not in 
 favor will say 'Aye.' ' This gives the advantage of 
 the affirmative vote to the opponents of the measure, 
 instead of to its advocates. This advantage is not 
 great, however, except when members are indifferent 
 to the result. The motion is chiefly useful as a 
 trial of the strength of the opposition. When the 
 opponents are sure of a majority, it is a quick way 
 of killing a measure. Another name for it, and one 
 that defines its effect, is the motion to repress. 
 
 Illustration. The illustration in section 117 
 shows the form of making this motion. If Miss 
 Lovell's motion had been carried instead of lost, 
 
176 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 the chair would have said : " It is a vote, and the 
 question of the incorporation of the club is indefi- 
 nitely postponed." This ends the matter. In 
 order to bring it again before the club a new 
 motion must be made at some future time. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The motion to postpone is fourth in the order of 
 precedence. 
 
 It may be debated, and amended (as to the time). 
 
 It is "cut off" by the previous question. 
 
 Its effect is to assign to some definite future time 
 the main question with its attachments, which is 
 then called a "special assignment." 
 
 The motion to postpone indefinitely is last in 
 the list. 
 
 Its effect is to postpone sine die, or repress, the 
 main question; it may be debated. 
 
 Its use is to try the strength of the opposition, and 
 to kill a measure without waiting for the regular 
 vote. 
 
THE MOTION TO COMMIT 1 77 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 THE MOTION TO COMMIT 
 
 COMMITMENT; EFFECT OF THE MOTION TO COM- 
 MIT; To COMMIT WITH INSTRUCTIONS; PART OF 
 A QUESTION; COURTESIES IN APPOINTMENT; THE 
 INDEPENDENT MOTION. 
 
 133. Commitment. "To commit " means 
 "to refer to a committee." This motion is used 
 when it is desirable to have a measure put in better 
 shape, or to gain more information concerning it. 
 It stands fifth in the order of precedence, being 
 superior only to the motions to amend and to 
 repress. The effect upon it when the superior 
 dependent motions are moved is the same as that 
 given in section 128 in regard to the kindred motion 
 to postpone, namely, it is cut off by the previous 
 question and deferred by the others. The motion 
 itself may be debated, but can be neither post- 
 poned, repressed, tabled, nor, of course, committed. 
 The simple motion " to commit " cannot be amended ; 
 but a motion to commit with instructions, or a 
 motion indicating the size of the committee, or the 
 
178 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 manner of its appointment, can be amended. It 
 may be reconsidered, if it is done at once ; but after 
 the committee has been formed, and has, even in 
 the slightest degree, taken up its work, the motion 
 to commit is not open to reconsideration. If lost, 
 it can be renewed after substantial business has 
 intervened. The effect upon it of the previous 
 question is considered in section 61. 
 
 Allied to the motion to commit is the motion "to 
 go into committee of the whole." This means that 
 the whole assembly resolve itself into a committee, 
 for a less formal discussion of the subject in hand. 
 When it is desired to go into committee of the whole, 
 a motion is made " that the assembly do now resolve 
 itself into a committee of the whole." If this 
 motion is carried, the presiding officer calls some 
 other member to the chair, and takes her place on 
 the floor of the house; the new chairman calls the 
 committee to order, and consideration of the ques- 
 tion committed follows. There is seldom any 
 occasion for committee of the whole in ordinary 
 assemblies. See Section rjg. 
 
 134. Effect of the Motion to Commit. 
 When a measure is pending, and a motion is made 
 "to commit," the effect of this motion, if carried, 
 
THE MOTION TO COMMIT 179 
 
 is to refer to some committee, the whole measure 
 under consideration. For the time being, it is 
 removed from the assembly and placed in the hands 
 of a committee. It becomes necessary, therefore, 
 to form that committee at once, and to instruct 
 them. They then take the matter in charge, do as 
 they are instructed, and report back to the assembly, 
 at some future time, the measure as revised by 
 them, adding whatever recommendations they may 
 see fit. It follows that if any amendments are 
 pending when the motion to commit is carried, 
 these are considered by the committee and reported 
 upon also, being incorporated in the main question 
 if favored by them, and omitted if not. A pending 
 motion to repress would be cut off by commitment* 
 there could be no other dependent motions pending, 
 since the other four, if made, would have been 
 decided before the motion to commit. 
 
 Illustration. The motion regarding incorporation 
 being under consideration [see section 117], Mis? 
 ^Long obtains the floor and says : " I move to com- 
 mit," or, " to refer the matter to a committee." The 
 chair says: "It is moved to commit. Are you ready 
 for the question ? * * * Those in favor * * * It is 
 carried, and the question whether the club shall be- 
 
l8o THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 come incorporated is referred to a committee. Of 
 how many shall that committee consist? " 
 
 Mrs. Robbins says: "I move that it consist of 
 five." This is discussed, if other numbers are 
 suggested the number is decided upon as shown in 
 section 108, and is settled by vote. The chair then 
 says : " How shall that committee be appointed, - 
 by the chair, or from the floor? " A motion is made 
 "that it be appointed by the chair" or "that it be 
 nominated from the floor; " and this is put to vote. 
 If it is the former, the chair appoints, either at once, 
 or before the close of the session, five members to 
 serve as this committee, the one first named acting 
 as chairman until the committee meets and elects its 
 chairman ; or, the chair may appoint one as the chair- 
 man. If the motion to nominate from the floor pre- 
 vails, the process is that described in sections 6 and 
 15. The committee may then be instructed in any 
 way, or it may be given "full powers." A motion 
 is made, i. "That the committee be instructed to 
 consult a lawyer in regard to incorporation, and 
 report at the next meeting;" or, 2. "That the 
 committee be given full powers upon the question 
 of incorporation." See Section 14.0. 
 
 If a question is referred to a standing commit- 
 
THE MOTION TO COMMIT l8l 
 
 tee, instead of to a special one, the proper motion 
 is, " that the question be referred to the committee 
 
 on ." If this is carried, the matter goes to that 
 
 committee at once. 
 
 Instead of the simple motion "to commit," a 
 more definite motion maybe made, as: "that the 
 subject be referred to a committee of five, to be 
 appointed by the chair." This can be put as one 
 motion, but it is better to " divide " it [see section 
 4i\ into its three distinct parts, putting each one 
 separately. The form of putting this motion and 
 its effect, are the same as in the simple motion to 
 commit, and it is subject to the same rules; it may 
 be debated and amended at each stage. 
 
 135. The Motion to Commit with Instruc- 
 tions. If a motion to commit is made, including 
 certain instructions to the committee, these in- 
 structions cannot be divided from the rest of the 
 motion, but must be put to vote with the motion 
 to commit. If it is desired to get rid of the 
 instructions, or to commit without instructions, 
 a motion is made "to amend by striking out the 
 instructions." For example, a motion "to refer 
 the subject to a committee of five, to be appointed 
 by the chair, and to instruct the committee to 
 
182 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 consult a lawyer," cannot be divided into its four 
 parts, but can be divided into: i. A motion to 
 refer to a committee, and instruct them to consult a 
 lawyer; 2. That the number be five; 3. That it 
 be appointed by the chair. The first motion can then 
 be amended by a motion " that the instructions be 
 stricken out," and it will then be the simple motion 
 to commit. Other instructions may or may not 
 be inserted afterward. Rule. The motion to commit 
 with instructions is not divisible. 
 
 136. Part of a Question. Any intrinsic part 
 of a subject can be committed, the other portions 
 continuing to be acted upon while this is in 
 committee, final action on the whole being 
 deferred till the part referred is reported back. 
 This will usually happen when mere verbal 
 improvement is wished for. 
 
 137. Courtesies in Appointment. An im- 
 pression prevails that the mover of the motion to 
 form a committee, must necessarily be appointed its 
 chairman. This is one of the courtesies "more 
 honored in the breach than the observance," and 
 one which, since it endangers freedom and equality, 
 should fall into disuse. The chair should appoint, 
 or the assembly nominate, those members who, from 
 
THE MOTION TO COMMIT 183 
 
 interest in the matter, or from general ability, are 
 best fitted to serve, appointing, as often as suitable, 
 one or more new members to serve with the more 
 experienced ones. If the mover is one of those best 
 fitted, she will naturally be chosen on the commit- 
 tee, though not necessarily as its chairman. It has 
 already been said that the one nominated first is 
 not necessarily the chairman, except for the purpose 
 of calling the first meeting. It is well to have a 
 committee consist of an uneven number, in order to 
 avoid ties. If persons not present are appointed, 
 they are notified of their appointment by the secre- 
 tary of the society, and of the first meeting by the 
 acting chairman of the committee. 
 
 Having been committed, the subject is closed for 
 the time being, so far as the society is concerned, 
 and other business is taken up. The mode of pro- 
 cedure when the committee makes its report is con- 
 sidered in the next chapter. 
 
 138. The Independent Motion. Besides the 
 dependent motion, relating to the main question, 
 there may be made, at any time when no motion is 
 pending, .a motion to form a committee for any pur- 
 pose. This is an independent motion, entitled to no 
 precedence, and subject to any action by means of 
 
1 84 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 any of the dependent motions. It is itself the main 
 question. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The motion to commit. is a motion to refer to a 
 committee, or to go into committee of the whole, 
 for conference on a stated matter. 
 
 It stands fifth in the order of precedence. It is 
 subject to the same restrictions as the motion to 
 postpone. 
 
 Its effect is to refer to some committee, standing 
 or special, the whole subject under consideration, 
 for revision or investigation, the committee to re- 
 port back to the association. 
 
 The motion to commit may designate also the 
 number of members and their manner of appoint- 
 ment; in this case it would better be "divided." 
 
 If instructions are included in the motion to 
 commit, they cannot be divided from that motion 
 and put separately to vote ; but they may be stricken 
 out by amendment. 
 
 Part of a measure may be committed. 
 
 It is not necessary to appoint or nominate on 
 a committee the one who makes the motion to 
 commit. Persons not present when appointed are 
 notified by the secretary. 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 185 
 
 A motion to form a committee for a specified 
 purpose may also be made; this is an independent 
 motion, unrelated to another, and is made when no 
 other is pending. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 
 
 NATURE OF THE COMMITTEE; ITS POWERS; THE 
 REPORT; PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT; ITS 
 RECEPTION; THE MINORITY REPORT; ILLUSTRA- 
 TION OF REPORTING; RECOMMITMENT. 
 
 139. Nature of the Committee. A committee 
 is a dependent body, accountable only for what it 
 is instructed to do, and subject to the society which 
 appoints it. Having been appointed, it meets and 
 organizes as described in sections 4, 5, and 9. 
 
 A committee meeting is conducted according to 
 general parliamentary usages, but it may dispense 
 with such formalities as rising to speak and sitting 
 in regular order. Matters may be talked over in a 
 conversational manner; but all action is decided by 
 means of motions and votes in the formal way. A 
 
1 86 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 correct record is kept by the secretary, or, if there is 
 no secretary, the chairman notes down all the votes 
 taken. Only those persons chosen to serve upon 
 a committee are competent to take part in its delib- 
 erations. No officer, not even the president, is a 
 member of any committee unless she is explicitly 
 put upon it. She is not a member ex qfficio, and any 
 attempt on her part to manipulate or advise com- 
 mittees should be resisted. 
 
 The committee of the whole is simply a committee 
 meeting of the whole body. The rules binding upon 
 the assembly when in formal session are suspended, 
 debate is unrestricted, the previous question is not 
 allowed, and the informalities common to all com- 
 mittees are permissible. When the conference is 
 over, the committee of the whole "rises," instead 
 of adjourning, the regular presiding officer resumes 
 the chair, and again calls the assembly to order, 
 the chairman of the committee formally reports its 
 action to the assembly, and this is then acted upon 
 as if it were the report of a small committee. 
 
 140. Its Powers. When a committee is 
 instructed, its powers extend only to what it is 
 instructed to do; when a measure is committed 
 without instructions, the committee revises the 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 187 
 
 measure as to its form, incorporates in it whatever 
 amendments have been passed, and makes some 
 recommendation in regard to it, in a form suitable 
 to be discussed and voted upon by the association. 
 A committee should be careful not to exceed its 
 powers. 
 
 When a committee is given "full powers," it is 
 empowered to act as if it were an independent body. 
 A committee is given full powers when something 
 is to be accomplished, which the society has voted 
 to do, and can trust to the committee to finish, or, 
 when the decision of a mooted question can be left 
 to such committee. Its action is final. 
 
 Illustrations. The motion "that the club take 
 steps to become incorporated," being under discus- 
 sion, a simple motion "to commit" is carried. A 
 committee is appointed forthwith, and the motion is 
 referred to it. The committee considers the feasi- 
 bility of incorporation, and ascertains what is 
 necessary to be done. At the proper time, it reports, 
 through its chairman, "that the club ought (or 
 ought not) to become incorporated," giving the 
 reasons, and the process necessary. 
 
 If, instead, a motion had been made "to refer to 
 a committee with instructions to consult a lawyer," 
 
1 88 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 the committee simply consults a lawyer and reports 
 what he says, making no recommendation. 
 
 If the motion had been "to refer the matter of 
 incorporation to a committee with l full powers,' ' 
 this would mean that the committee should proceed 
 to get the club incorporated, and, after it had been 
 done, to report to that effect; or, if after investi- 
 gation, it disapprove of incorporation, to report 
 "that incorporation of the club is inexpedient." If 
 the club prefers, it can first vote to become incor- 
 porated, and then form a committee with "full 
 powers." Such a committee would then proceed to 
 get the club incorporated. 
 
 141. The Report. When the work of the 
 committee is done, its chairman (or some member 
 instructed to do it) prepares a report which covers 
 all the points referred, with the committee's conclu- 
 sions concerning them. If the members disagree, 
 the minority may prepare another report (called a 
 "minority report"), embodying their conclusions. 
 Reports are couched in simple, concise language, 
 and if necessary close with some recommendation. 
 For example : a committee instructed " to ascertain 
 the price and desirability of the halls and vestries 
 in town," will prepare its report somewhat as 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 1 89 
 
 follows: "Your committee find the prices of the 
 various halls and vestries to be as follows : Univer- 
 sal ist vestry, $2.00 for an afternoon; Methodist 
 vestry, $3.00; Pythian Hall, $1.50 " and so on; then 
 continuing: "we respectfully suggest that the two 
 places first named seem, for the price, the most 
 desirable. Respectfully submitted, Julia E. Carter, 
 for the Committee" 
 
 Again, a committee to whom was referred a prop- 
 osition without instructions, would report: "Your 
 committee recommend the passage of the measure in 
 the following form" etc., or, "recommend that the 
 measure ought not to be adopted " (giving the 
 reasons), and close in the same way as above. 
 
 When given full powers it will report: "Your 
 committee has done the duty assigned to it, and the 
 Methodist vestry is secured as our place of meeting." 
 
 142. Presentation of the Report. A com- 
 mittee may, or may not, be instructed to report on a 
 specified day. If it is so instructed, when the day 
 comes, the chair will call for the report, when she 
 comes, in the order of business, to "reports of com- 
 mittees." If not so instructed, when the committee 
 is ready, the one appointed to report will obtain 
 the floor, at some time when no other business is 
 
1 90 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 pending, or when reports of committees are called 
 for, and say: "Mrs. President, your committee 
 upon is ready to report." The chair will then 
 
 say: "Shall the report of the committee on be 
 
 now received? Those in favor * If decided 
 
 in the negative, the committee must wait till some 
 later time, when the floor must be again obtained 
 and the same procedure followed. If decided in 
 the affirmative, as it usually will be, the committee's 
 representative says : " The committee to whom was 
 referred the question of - respectfully reports as 
 -follows." She will then read her report. 
 
 After the report is read, the committee's work is 
 done. There need be no vote to discharge the com- 
 mittee ; it expires with the presentation of its report, 
 and its members have in future no more to do with 
 the matter than any other members, unless they are 
 again instructed to do something further, in which 
 case they are virtually another committee. 
 
 143. Reception of the Report. The com- 
 mittee having made its report, that report, which 
 should be in writing, is handed to the presiding 
 officer, and the matter in its new form is then 
 before the meeting for action. 
 
 If a motion is then made that the "report be 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT IQI 
 
 accepted," and this motion is carried, the report, 
 with its recommendations, whatever these may be, 
 becomes thereby adopted, and the matter finally 
 closed, such a vote being equivalent to a vote by 
 the assembly itself, upon the whole measure re- 
 ported, and being decisive of that measure. A 
 motion, therefore, that the report be "accepted" or 
 "adopted " (the terms are synonymous), should not 
 be made except when no discussion and no other 
 action is desired upon the subject, except a simple 
 vote approving the committee's acts and adopting 
 the same as the acts of the assembly. The only 
 times when this is the correct motion to make are 
 when a committee has been given full powers, or 
 when a committee has been appointed to do a cer- 
 tain thing (to audit accounts, for instance), and has 
 done it, leaving nothing further which can be done 
 by the assembly, and containing no recommendation. 
 When the report is simply a report upon some 
 measure, revising it for fresh discussion or present- 
 ing new facts for the consideration of the assembly, 
 when it is not final, in other words, a motion 
 " that the report be accepted " is not correct, since 
 such a motion will, if carried, cut off all further 
 consideration. Being in order, the report comes 
 
I9 2 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 before the meeting without any vote " to accept " or 
 " to adopt " it. 
 
 A motion may be made "to receive" a report 
 simply as a formality, but this is not necessary; the 
 reports having been made, and being in order, is 
 perforce "received, 77 and the only time when this 
 motion is proper is in such cases as the one cited in 
 section 142. A motion "that the report be accepted 
 and adopted 77 is tautological, either term being 
 sufficient alone, and meaning : that the assembly 
 adopt, without further discussion, the recommendations 
 or acts of the committee. 
 
 If the time has come for the presentation of a 
 report, and the chair or the committee fails to 
 present it, a member may move " that the report of 
 
 the committee on be now received, 77 or "that 
 
 it be called for. 77 If this prevails, the committee 
 must report, or explain why they do not. If they 
 are not ready, they may ask for further time, and a 
 motion may be made "that the committee be 
 granted further time and instructed to report on 
 (naming some day)" If they wish to be discharged, 
 a vote is taken upon a motion "that the committee 
 be discharged from the consideration of the ques- 
 tion of ." It then comes before the assembly 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 193 
 
 in its original form, and any action may be taken 
 upon it. 
 
 144. The Minority Report. This report, 
 being simply the dissent of the minority, is not a 
 report, properly speaking. It is read, after the 
 report, as a matter of courtesy, but no action need 
 be taken upon it. It is not before the meeting for 
 consideration. The only thing that can be done 
 with the minority report is to substitute it for the 
 report of the majority. This is the same as an 
 amendment to the report, and it is entitled to no 
 precedence over other amendments. 
 
 145. Illustration of Reporting. The question 
 of the incorporation of the club having been 
 referred to a special committee, that committee 
 meets and prepares its report. The club being in 
 session, and the item " reports of committees " 
 having been reached, the chair says : " Are there 
 any committees to report to-day?" 
 
 Mrs. Carter. Mrs. President, your committee on 
 incorporation is ready to report. 
 
 The Chair. If there is no objection, the report 
 will be now received. Or: We will listen to the 
 report of the committee on incorporation, instructed 
 to report at this time. 
 
194 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 Mrs. Carter (reading). Your committee to whom 
 was referred the question of the incorporation of 
 our club, respectfully reports that the proceed- 
 ings necessary, although a little complicated, can 
 easily be undertaken under the guidance of a 
 friendly gentleman who understands the matter; we 
 therefore recommend, in view of the advantages of 
 incorporation (which have been forcibly stated by 
 the members, and therefore need not be repeated), 
 that the club take steps at once to become a corpo- 
 rate body. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 JULIA E. CARTER, for the Committee. 
 
 The Chair (receiving the report from Mrs. Carter). 
 You hear the report of your committee and its 
 recommendation. The matter is now before you, 
 the question recurring upon the motion, now 
 favorably recommended by the committee, "that 
 the club take steps to become incorporated," 
 What is your pleasure ? l Debate is then in 
 order upon the question whether the club shall 
 
 1 The chair may say instead: "You have heard the report of your com- 
 mittee. The matter of incorporation is now betore you, and the chair awaits 
 any motion." A motion could then be made "that the club become incor- 
 porated," and this would be the basis for action 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 1 95 
 
 become incorporated, and any other action may 
 follow. 
 
 It is better for the chair not to say : " You have 
 heard the report; what will you do with it?" 
 Having been made, the report is properly before the 
 meeting, and the question is open for debate. 
 
 146. Recommitment. If the report of a com- 
 mittee is not satisfactory to the assembly, or if, 
 after fresh discussion, new questions arise, the 
 measure may be recommitted, either to the same 
 or to another committee. The motion " to recom- 
 mit" is subject to the same rules as the motion to 
 commit. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A committee is a dependent body, whose acts are 
 not final; it may dispense with certain formalities, 
 but must decide matters by motion and vote; its 
 members are those who are appointed by the chair, 
 or nominated from the floor, to serve upon it, and 
 none others. 
 
 The committee of the whole, being an informal 
 conference of the assembly as a whole, is released 
 from the formalities of the assembly, and subject to 
 the same rules as any committee. 
 
196 THE PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 
 
 The powers of the committee extend (i) to what 
 it is instructed to do ; (2) to revision of the form 
 of the measure and investigation of facts concern- 
 ing it; or (3) (in case it is given "full powers"), 
 to carry out the work assigned to it as if it were an 
 independent body, and to report results which are 
 final. 
 
 A written report of what has been done, made as 
 concise as may be, is prepared by some member so 
 instructed in committee. This is usually followed 
 by some recommendation. 
 
 The report is presented when, in the order of 
 business, the item " reports of committees" is 
 reached, or, at any time when ready, it may report 
 by obtaining the floor for that purpose. It may 
 also be instructed to report at a specified time. 
 
 Having reported, the committee's work is done, 
 and it is tacitly discharged, no vote to discharge it 
 being necessary. 
 
 A motion " that the report be accepted " is in 
 order only when such report is one which is final 
 and is not to be considered by the association. 
 A vote "to accept," adopts all the recommendations 
 of the committee without further discussion, and 
 closes the matter. 
 
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS REPORT 197 
 
 A motion "to receive" the re-port is not neces- 
 sary (except when leave is asked to report out of 
 the proper time), because, having reported, the 
 report is necessarily "received," and is before the 
 assembly for consideration without the formality of 
 a vote to receive. 
 
 In case of a report by the minority, this is not 
 properly before the meeting, and can be brought 
 before it only by a motion to amend by substitution. 
 
 A measure once committed may be recommitted, 
 either to the same or to a new committee. 
 
 Reports of committees, and any other official 
 papers, belong to the society and are to be pre- 
 served by it. But a paper or lecture read before a 
 society, either by a member 01 a non-member, belongs 
 to the writer, unless she gives to the society the 
 right to hold, print, or otherwise dispose of it. 
 
PART V 
 
 QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE AND 
 ORDER 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 
 
 NATURE OF THESE QUESTIONS ; QUESTION OF PRIV- 
 ILEGE DEFINED; ITS EFFECT; ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 147. Nature of these Questions. It has been 
 pointed out in chapter five, that the regular action 
 of an assembly is properly carried on by means of 
 motions. It will sometimes happen, however, that 
 something occurs requiring immediate action, and 
 which cannot wait until a new motion would be in 
 order. A rule is broken, a mistake is made, or an 
 urgency arises. These must be met; and the means 
 for meeting them are called questions of privilege 
 and questions of order. These are not motions ; they 
 take precedence of all motions, are always in order, 
 may interrupt any business (even to taking the floor 
 from a member), and are decided, temporarily at 
 least, before the pending business is resumed. 
 When they are settled, the business is taken up 
 again at the point interrupted. A question of 
 
202 QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 
 
 privilege is superior to a question of order, in the 
 line of precedence. 
 
 In section 122, it was queried whether among the 
 limitations to the rule that "a motion to adjourn 
 is always first in order, " might not also be reckoned 
 the raising of a question of privilege or of order, the 
 claim being that their urgency gives them the right 
 of precedence over even this imperative motion. 
 
 Since these questions, if not raised immediately, 
 are not admissible at all, it would seem only right 
 to admit them when a motion to adjourn is pending, 
 as well as when any other motion is pending. A 
 question of privilege, if not really urgent, could be 
 ruled inadmissible by the chair after it was stated 
 by the member, and this would dispose of the diffi- 
 culty so far as that is concerned; while in regard to 
 the question of order, inasmuch as, to be admissible, 
 // must relate to the matter pending (see sections 151 
 and 153), it could never interrupt a motion to adjourn 
 except in a case where the mover of that motion, in 
 making it broke one of the four rules given in sec- 
 tion 122, and the question of order were raised to 
 correct her error. The further provision, that if a 
 motion to adjourn be interrupted, the question interrupt- 
 ing it must be decided without debate or appeal, would 
 
QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 203 
 
 seem to guard sufficiently the "right of the assem- 
 bly to terminate its sitting at anytime," which rule 
 is the reason for the high rank of the motion to ad- 
 journ. The conclusion is therefore, that, in spite of 
 the rigidity of the rule that the "motion to adjourn 
 is always first in order," a question of privilege or of 
 order, in the rare cases where they could occur, 
 would interrupt such motion, taking precedence of 
 the motion to adjourn as well as of all other mo- 
 tions. See page 220 for an illustration. 
 
 148. Questions of Privilege Defined. Ques- 
 tions of privilege are questions relating to some 
 matter foreign to the business in hand ; they usually 
 raise some query regarding the rights and privi- 
 leges of the assembly itself, or of some individual 
 member thereof. They rarely occur, and they can 
 be easily settled. A good example arose some two 
 years ago in the United States Senate, when it was 
 suspected that newspaper reporters were secreted 
 in the Senate galleries during the secret sessions. 
 They had no right there, these sessions not being 
 open to the public, and by their presence the privi- 
 lege of the Senate to hold sessions closed to the 
 public was abridged. A senator raised a question 
 of privilege, and means were taken to expel the 
 
204 QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 
 
 intruders. Other examples would be: the sudden 
 extinction of the lights; the need of ventilation; 
 the disturbance of a meeting by a disorderly mem- 
 ber or outsider; the desire of a member to make an 
 immediate statement or report, rendered obligatory 
 because of his sudden and necessary departure; an 
 injustice done to a member; charges against official 
 character in a misreported speech ; in short, any exi- 
 gency which imperatively requires attention. Rising 
 to make an explanation is not necessarily a question 
 of privilege. A member is usually allowed, as a 
 matter of courtesy, to take the floor for an explana- 
 tion, but has no right to it; if there is objection, 
 the question of granting time to make an explana- 
 tion is put to vote and decided by the majority. It 
 cannot interrupt other business. 
 
 149. Its Effect. It is the prerogative of the 
 chair to decide whether a question thus interjected 
 is, or is not, properly a question of privilege. The 
 member who wishes to raise it, does not obtain the 
 floor as in making a motion, but rises, interrupts 
 business, if necessary, and says : " Mrs. President, 
 I rise to a question of privilege." She is asked by 
 the chair to state it, does so, the chair decides 
 whether it is a proper question of privilege, 
 
QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 205 
 
 and if she says it is not, the member may appeal. 
 If it is allowed, a motion l is then made, in order 
 to bring the matter before the assembly for discus- 
 sion ; and this motion is considered at once, though 
 not of necessity decided at once, since it may be 
 tabled, postponed, in short, treated like any other 
 motion. All proceedings are stayed till it is 
 decided; then they are resumed, a member inter- 
 rupted retaining her right to the floor. 
 
 150. Illustrations. A certain measure is under 
 discussion, and Mrs. Paine is speaking. 
 
 Mrs. Friend (interrupting). Mrs. President, I 
 rise to a question of privilege. 
 
 The Chair (rising). The member will state her 
 question of privilege. [Mrs. Paine sits.'] 
 
 Mrs. Friend. I am very sorry to say it, Mrs. 
 President, but it is impossible for those of us who 
 are seated in the rear of the hall to hear what is 
 said, on account of the whispering of certain mem- 
 bers. (Sits.} 
 
 The Chair. This must certainly be regarded as 
 a proper question of privilege, the first right of the 
 club being its right to hear what is said. If we all 
 
 1 Or, in certain cases, by the chair's request the matter is adjusted with- 
 out action. 
 
206 QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 
 
 would speak freely what we have to say, on our 
 feet, this trouble need never occur. The chair will 
 ask the members to preserve order and quiet. Mrs. 
 Paine will proceed. 
 
 (Mrs. Paine rises and goes on with her remarks?) 
 
 Mrs. Allen. Mrs. President, I rise to a question 
 of privilege. 
 
 The Chair. You will state it, please. 
 
 Mrs. Allen. There is a very violent knocking 
 somewhere (almost as distracting as the knocking 
 in Macbeth). Cannot the doorkeeper, or some one, 
 be asked to investigate ? 
 
 The Chair. The chair will entertain any motion 
 upon this question of privilege. 
 
 Mrs. Allen. I move that the doorkeeper be 
 invited to ascertain the cause of this disturbance. 
 
 \This is put to vote ; the doorkeeper does as she is 
 instructed, returns and reports the trouble (unless she 
 has adjusted it herself}, and whatever action is neces- 
 sary follows, business being suspended meanwhile J\ 
 * # * # # =* 
 
 Miss Long. Mrs. President, I rise to a question 
 of privilege. 
 
 The Chair. Miss Long will state her question. 
 
 Miss Long. I am obliged to go now, and have 
 
QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE 2O/ 
 
 been waiting in vain for a chance to ask for some 
 instruction in regard to the work of our committee 
 on the library. The matter cannot very well wait. 
 
 The Chair. The question is properly raised. 
 What is the pleasure of the meeting? 
 
 Miss Lovell. I move that Miss Long have time 
 to make her statement. 
 
 [This is put to vote, and action follows accordingly, 
 the business in hand being interrupted, and then 
 resumed after this question is decided. ] 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Questions of privilege and of order are not 
 motions ; they take precedence of all motions, may 
 interrupt any business, and are always in order. 
 
 A question of privilege takes precedence of a 
 question of order. 
 
 It relates to something foreign to the business in 
 hand, and raises some question regarding the rights 
 or privileges of the assembly or of its members. 
 
 Its effect is to stay all proceedings till it is 
 decided. The chair decides whether the question 
 is a proper question of privilege; a motion and 
 vote follow, unless the matter can be adjusted by 
 request of the chair. 
 
208 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 DEFINITION; DUTY OF THE CHAIR; EFFECT OF 
 THIS QUESTION; THE APPEAL; TIE VOTE ON 
 THE APPEAL; LIMITATIONS; PRECEDENCE; ILLUS- 
 TRATIONS. 
 
 151. Definition. A question of order differs 
 from a question of privilege in being directly related 
 to the matter in hand, and in tending to correct or 
 perfect the proceedings regarding it. Speaking 
 not to the question ; making a motion when it is not 
 in order of precedence ; indulging in personalities; 
 breaking any parliamentary rule, are examples; the 
 chair may be out of order (for entertaining a motion 
 not admissible, or for refusing to put one that is, for 
 instance) and all these breaches are occasions 
 for raising a " question of order," which is also 
 often called a "point of order." It takes precedence 
 of everything except a question of privilege. 
 
 152. Duty of the Chair. It is the first duty 
 of the chairman to preserve order and decorum; 
 and this means, to preserve not only an orderly 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 209 
 
 demeanor of the assembly as a whole, but also to 
 call to order any member who commits a breach of 
 order or a parliamentary error. If the chair fails 
 to notice any such occurrence, a question of order 
 is raised by any member. 
 
 153. Effect of a Question of Order. When 
 the question of order is raised, all business pending 
 is interrupted, is suspended till the point is settled, 
 and then is resumed. If a member is speaking, 
 she retains the right to the floor, after the question 
 of order is settled, unless she herself is decided to 
 have been out of order. In this case, if objection 
 is made, she cannot proceed, even if in order, with- 
 out a vote allowing her so to do. 
 
 The course of proceeding is similar to that of the 
 question of privilege. When the occasion arises, 
 the member, without regularly obtaining the floor, 
 rises and says : " Mrs. President, I rise to a ques- 
 tion of order." She is asked by the chair to state 
 it; she does so, and the chair then decides whether 
 it is "well taken," saying: "The chair decides the 
 question of order to be well taken," or "to be not 
 well taken." This declaration of the chair, which 
 is called a "ruling," decides the question (subject 
 to appeal), and matters proceed in accordance with 
 
210 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 her ruling. There is no vote taken, and no sub- 
 mission of the question to the assembly for dis- 
 cussion. It is thus seen to be very different from 
 a motion. 1 
 
 Since it must relate directly to the business in 
 hand, it follows that a point of order must be raised 
 immediately upon the occasion for it ; if it is de- 
 layed, and other business intervenes, it cannot be 
 raised at all. If it relates to- words spoken in 
 debate, these words are taken down by the secretary 
 when the objection to them is raised. 
 
 154. The Appeal, If any member is dissat- 
 isfied with the ruling of the chair, she may 
 "appeal," by rising and saying: "I appeal from 
 the decision of the chair." The chair may, but 
 need not, insist upon a second to an appeal, which 
 is made by some other member rising and saying: 
 "I second the appeal." The question is now re- 
 moved from the control. of the chair, and is decided 
 by the assembly, which by vote overrules or sustains 
 the chair's ruling, the majority deciding it. The 
 form for putting this question is : " Shall the 
 decision of the chair stand as the judgment (or 
 
 1 The chair may allow remarks before giving her ruling, but she is not 
 obliged to, and she may stop them and give her decision at any time. 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 211 
 
 decision) of the meeting?" Debate follows, in 
 which the chair may take precedence over other 
 members, giving her reasons for her ruling, without 
 leaving the chair, and then the question is put to 
 vote, and declared as follows : " The decision of the 
 chair is sustained," or " overruled," as the case 
 may be. This vote decides the matter finally; 
 it cannot be reconsidered. It is thus seen, that in 
 this, as in all other matters, final authority rests 
 with the whole body, and not with the chairman. 
 As Warrington says : " The right of appeal is indis- 
 pensable to the free action of all assemblies, the 
 presiding officer not being the master, but the 
 servant. " 
 
 155. Tie Vote on an Appeal. A tie vote on a 
 motion defeats the motion, as has been shown. A 
 tie vote upon an appeal has the opposite effect; it 
 affirms, instead of defeating. The decision of the 
 chair is sustained thereby. The reason for this is 
 that the ruling of the chair is assumed to stand, 
 unless it is overthrown; and since a tie vote "ac- 
 complishes nothing," it cannot overrule a decision. 
 The chair will then not need (as she would not 
 wish) to vote to sustain her own decision. Rule: 
 The effect of a tie vote on an appeal is to decide affirma- 
 
212 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 tively the question: "Shall the decision of the chair 
 stand!" 
 
 156. Limitations. A question of order cannot 
 be committed, amended, or reconsidered. It can- 
 not be tabled or postponed without at the same time 
 tabling or postponing the whole matter out of which 
 the question of order arose. The same is true of the 
 appeal. It cannot be acted upon by any of these 
 motions separately from the proceedings out of 
 which the question of order arose. If any dependent 
 motion is made while an appeal is pending, it applies 
 to the whole matter under discussion, which is post- 
 poned, committed (or, as the case may be), appeal, 
 question of order, and all. A motion to lay upon 
 the table, therefore, lays upon the table the whole 
 subject under consideration. 1 As an appeal is usu- 
 ally debatable, it would seem that, when debatable, 
 the previous question can be applied to it, when 
 expressly moved upon the appeal. See section 61. 
 
 If a point of order upon a point of order is raised, 
 the second is decided first, .but, to avoid complica- 
 tions, is not debatable, nor open to appeal. If the 
 question under discussion when the point of order 
 
 1 See the Introduction, for the practice of the United States House of 
 Representatives, which, by special rule, is tha opposite of this. 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 21$ 
 
 is raised, is undebatable, the appeal is undebatable. 
 If a question of order interrupts a motion to 
 adjourn, it must be decided without debate or 
 appeal. See section 147. 
 
 157. Precedence. It may be well to repeat here 
 the rule regarding the rank of dependent questions. 
 When a motion or a proposition is under debate, the 
 following matters can be considered, and they take 
 precedence of one another in the order given. 
 
 1. Question of privilege. 
 
 2. Question of order. 
 
 3. Motion to adjourn. 
 
 4. Motion to lay on the table. 
 
 5. Call for the previous question,, 
 
 6. Motion to postpone. 
 
 7. Motion to commit. 
 
 8. Motion to amend. 
 
 9. Motion to postpone indefinitely. 
 
 158. Illustrations. Questions of Order and 
 Appeals. Th Mendon Women's Club being in 
 session, and the item " new business " being 
 reached, the following action follows: 
 
 Mrs. Burns. Mrs. President. 
 The Chair. Mrs. Burns. 
 
214 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 Mrs. Burns. I move that at the close of the 
 season, our club have a luncheon. It will be help- 
 ful to sociability, and I am sure we should all 
 enjoy it. 
 
 The Chair. You hear the motion, that the club 
 have a luncheon to close its season. The question 
 is before you for discussion. 
 
 Miss Lovell. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Miss Lovell. 
 
 Miss Lovell. Why could we not call it a break- 
 fast instead? I move to amend by striking out the 
 word "luncheon," and inserting the word "break- 
 fast" 
 
 The Chair. You have heard 
 
 Mrs. Burns. Mrs. President, I accept the sug- 
 gestion. It makes no difference what we call it, so 
 that we have it. 
 
 The Chair. The amendment is accepted if there 
 is no objection, and the question is upon having a 
 breakfast. 
 
 Mrs. Allen. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Allen. 
 
 Mrs. Allen. I object to this motion. There 
 will be a great deal of expense attendant upon it, 
 and I am sure many of us could not afford it. Do 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 21$ 
 
 let us have one society in town that leaves eating 
 out of its programme! There is the Young 
 Women's Club, and the J. R. S. and the K. C. L. ! 
 They are always having suppers; and I' m sure 
 why they wish 
 
 The Chair (rising). The member will kindly 
 proceed in order. She is at present speaking off the 
 question. Criticism of other clubs is not in order. 
 
 Mrs. Allen. Very well; I will endeavor to 
 proceed in order, Mrs. President. I am decidedly 
 opposed to this idea! 
 
 Miss Sawyer. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Miss Sawyer. 
 
 Miss Sawyer. I am as decidedly in favor of it. 
 We need something of a social nature in order to 
 cement our club friendship and make us a little 
 family, as it were. Breaking bread together always 
 helps the spirit of good fellowship without which 
 no club can be a success. 
 
 Mrs. Preston. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Preston. 
 
 Mrs. Preston. I move to lay this question upon 
 the table. I, for one, think 
 
 The Chair. The motion to table is undebatable, 
 and the member is therefore out of order. Are you 
 ready for the question 1 
 
2l6 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 Mrs. Paine. Mrs. President, I rise to a question 
 of order. 
 
 The Chair. You will please state it. 
 
 Mrs. Paine. The chair, after stating that the 
 motion to table is undebatable, asks us if we are 
 ready for the question, thereby implying that debate 
 is invited. 
 
 The Chair. The point shows that our member is 
 wide-awake, but it is not well taken nevertheless. 
 The chair asked: "Are you ready? " to give oppor- 
 tunity for a possible motion to adjourn or for a new 
 point of order those taking precedence of the 
 motion to table. Are you ready? Those in favor 
 jf the motion to lay this motion on the table will 
 say "Aye" * * * It is lost. 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Robbins. 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. I move to postpone its consider- 
 ation for one week. 
 
 The Chair. It is moved to postpone for one 
 week. Are you ready ? 
 
 Miss Long. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Miss Long. 
 
 Miss Long. I move to refer the matter to a 
 committee consisting o* 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 2 17 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. Mrs. President, I rise to a 
 question of order. The motion to commit is not 
 now in order, a motion to postpone being pending. 
 
 The Chair. The point is well taken. The 
 motion to commit is not now in order, the motion 
 to postpone taking precedence. Are you ready to 
 vote on the motion to postpone ? Those in favor 
 * * * It is lost. 
 
 Miss Long. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Miss Long. 
 
 Miss Long. I now renew my motion to refer it 
 to a committee consisting of the president, trea- 
 surer, and recording secretary. 
 
 The Chair. You hear the motion. The chair 
 will divide the motion, putting first the motion to 
 commit. Are you ready? 
 
 Miss Faxon (remaining seated), /think we ought 
 to dispose of this matter in the club itself. 
 
 Mrs. Young. Mrs. President, I rise to a ques- 
 tion of order. 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Young will please state her 
 question. 
 
 Mrs. Young. The last speaker did not rise and 
 address the chair. 
 
 The Chair. The chair decides that point to be 
 
2l8 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 well taken. All debate must be regularly pro- 
 ceeded with. 
 
 Miss Faxon (rising). I stand corrected, Mrs. 
 Chairman, and am opposed to the committee, 
 because it gives too much power to a few. 
 
 The Chair. The assembly could of course 
 instruct its committee after appointment. Are you 
 ready ? 
 
 Mrs. Robbins^) . 
 
 ,.. > (rising at once). Mrs. President. 
 
 Mrs. Paine ) ^ 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Robbins. 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. I move 
 
 Mrs. Carter. I rise to a point of order. 
 
 The Chair. State your point of order, please. 
 
 Mrs. Carter. Mrs. Paine rose before Mrs. 
 Robbins, Mrs. President. She is seated so far 
 from the chair, that probably the chair overlooked 
 her. Is she not entitled to the floor rather than 
 Mrs. Robbins? 
 
 The Chair. The chair must decide that point to 
 be not well taken. She saw both members rise, 
 and gives the floor to Mrs. Robbins ; unless Mrs. 
 Robbins yields (?). 
 
 Mrs. Robbins. Since I am entitled to the floor, 
 I think I'll keep it, Mrs. President. I move 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 219 
 
 Mrs. Carter. I appeal from the decision of the 
 chair. 
 
 The Chair. Mrs. Carter appeals from the chair's 
 decision. The question is, Shall the decision of 
 the chair stand as the judgment of the club? [De- 
 bate may follow.'] Those in favor of sustaining 
 the chair will say " Aye" * * * It is a vote; the 
 decision of the chair is affirmed, and Mrs. Robbins 
 will resume, the question being upon the motion 
 to commit. 
 
 Mrs. bobbins. I move the club do now ad- 
 journ. 
 
 The Chair. A motion to adjourn is made. 
 Those in favor * * * It is lost. Those in favor of 
 the motion to commit * * * It is lost. What is 
 the further pleasure of the club ? 
 
 Mrs. Ellis. It looks to me, Mrs. President, as 
 if certain members of this club think more of defeat- 
 ing a motion they don't like, than of getting a fair 
 debate upon it. One speaker here has left no 
 stone unturned to secure her object! 
 
 Mrs. James. I rise to a question of order. 
 
 The Chair. Please state it. 
 
 Mrs. James. The last speaker is indulging in 
 decided personalities. 
 
22O QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 The Chair. The point of order is well taken. 
 Mrs. Ellis will confine herself to the question. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis. I appeal from your ruling, Mrs. 
 President. I have been careful to use no names, 
 and I think I am strictly in order. 
 
 The Chair. An appeal is taken. Shall the 
 decision of the chair stand? Those in favor * * * 
 It is lost. Mrs. Ellis is decided to be in order, 
 and may proceed. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis. I only desire a fair discussion of a 
 very important question, and I think 
 
 Miss Willis. Mrs. President. 
 
 The Chair. Miss Willis. 
 
 Miss Willis. I move we adjourn. 
 
 The Chair. A motion is made to 
 
 Mrs. Paine. Mrs. President, I rise to a question 
 of order. 
 
 The Chair. Please state it. 
 
 Mrs. Paine. The floor cannot be taken from a 
 member for the making of a motion to adjourn. 
 
 The Chair. The chair decides the point to be 
 well taken, and the motion to adjourn to be out of 
 order. Mrs. Ellis wiU'resume. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis. I therefore move to postpone the 
 whole matter to two weeks from to-day. 
 
QUESTIONS OF ORDER 221 
 
 Mrs. Granger. Mrs. President, I rise to a 
 question of order. Have we not already voted not 
 to postpone? Is a second motion in order? 
 
 The Chair. New business having intervened, a 
 second motion to postpone is in order. Are you 
 ready? Those in favor * * * It is carried, and 
 the question of holding a breakfast is postponed, 
 and will be made a special assignment for two 
 weeks from to-day. The chair hopes the members 
 will take special pains to be present on that occa- 
 sion, so that there may be no lack of due consider- 
 ation. The time has now come to adjourn 
 
 Mrs. Friend. I move we adjourn. 
 
 The Chair. Those in favor will say "Aye " 
 #. # * The c i u b stands adjourned to one week from 
 to-day at 2.30 o'clock. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 A question (or point) of order relates to the 
 matter in hand, and tends to perfect or correct it. 
 
 It is the duty of the chair to preserve order and 
 correct parliamentary errors. If she fails, a 
 member " raises a question of order.' 7 
 
 The effect of this question is to suspend proceed- 
 ings till it is decided. 
 
222 QUESTIONS OF ORDER 
 
 The member raising it does not "obtain the 
 floor," but interrupts business anywhere and at any 
 time. 
 
 It must be raised immediately upon the occasion 
 for it; if business intervenes, it is inadmissible. 
 
 The chair decides whether the point is, or is not, 
 "well taken;' 7 and this settles the matter, subject 
 to appeal. 
 
 Any one dissatisfied with the ruling may appeal. 
 The question whether the ruling shall stand is then 
 decided by a majority vote. 
 
 A tie vote upon an appeal affirms the chair's 
 decision. 
 
 Neither a question of order, nor an appeal from 
 the decision upon it, can be committed, amended, 
 or reconsidered; the question and also the appeal 
 can neither be tabled nor postponed, without at the 
 same time tabling or postponing the whole subject 
 to which they relate. When the appeal is debat- 
 able, as it usually is, the previous question may be 
 moved upon it. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
 THE principles and forms given in the foregoing 
 chapters are to be used as a guide in conducting 
 meetings. Reading, or even study, however, is 
 not enough to fit one to become a good parliamen- 
 tarian. For this, practice is necessary; and societies 
 that wish to conduct their sessions properly are 
 recommended to hold occasional or regular execu- 
 tive sessions, at which parliamentary law may be 
 practised. These sessions can be mock sessions 
 simply for practice; but it is more helpful to adopt 
 the custom of doing the regular business of the 
 society in periodical executive sessions of the whole 
 membership, thereby practising and accomplishing 
 something besides. A club whose business is done 
 by a small directors' board, or committee, has no 
 opportunity for this general practice. By holding a 
 monthly executive meeting (taking one of the regu- 
 lar club days for it), by bringing up before it all 
 matters of business, and by discussing, modifying, 
 and taking final action upon them, the members will 
 
 223 
 
224 CONCLUSION 
 
 learn more in one year than they could in five by 
 mere study and play-practice. The text-book can be 
 used for study at home and for reference at the club. 
 In addition to this, those members specially inter- 
 ested could meet occasionally and read and practise 
 together. These methods have been pursued with 
 great profit in several associations known to the 
 writer; and those societies in which opportunity is 
 given for all to have a voice and a vote in the busi- 
 ness, are conspicuously progressive, wide-awake, 
 and harmonious. 
 
 An organized society wishing -to adopt this 
 manual as its authority, will insert in its by-laws 
 a section similar to this: The meetings of this club 
 shall be conducted by the rules of parliamentary 
 procedure, the "Woman's Manual of Parliamentary 
 Law " being the authority. 
 
 Whenever a society may wish to dissent from 
 any of the principles herein recommended, a special 
 rule can be made, setting forth the procedure the 
 society prefers, and such special rule will govern that 
 society instead of the principle laid down in this 
 book. This special rule need not be included in 
 the by-laws; a recorded motion is equally binding. 
 For example, a certain society may deem it advis- 
 
CONCLUSION 225 
 
 able that all motions shall be seconded, or, that the 
 making of the motion to reconsider shall not be 
 restricted. A motion may then be made "that in 
 this club every motion shall be seconded before it is 
 stated, 7 ' or, "that in this club the motion to recon- 
 sider maybe made by any member." Of course, 
 no society will make a special rule offsetting those 
 usages which are universally recognized, if they 
 desire to be parliamentary at all; but, where there 
 is a conflict of authorities, a society may choose its 
 own procedure, and it will then make a special rule 
 authorizing such procedure in case it is not author- 
 ized by the manual adopted as its guide. 
 
 FINAL SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES 
 
 Parliamentary Law is not fixed nor arbitrary, but 
 is in process of development. 
 
 Such usages as have become generally adopted 
 are properly a part of parliamentary law. 
 
 No one manual, or authority, is final. 
 Each society votes to adopt that authority which 
 it likes best. Having adopted an authority, it must 
 follow the rules which such authority lays down. 
 Provided, that any society may make any special 
 rule, offsetting any procedure recommended by its 
 
226 CONCLUSION 
 
 accepted authority, this special rule of its own then 
 governing instead of the book. 
 
 Where there is a conflict of authorities, that one 
 which seems best fitted to the needs of the society 
 in question should be accepted and indorsed. 
 
 Justice, equality, and reasonableness are the 
 basic principles by which to test the expediency 
 of a given procedure. 
 
ADDENDA AND APPENDIX 
 
 MODEL OF A CONSTITUTION AND 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 \ To be varied to suit the needs of the Society in question) 
 
ADDENDA. 
 
 To Section 15. 'In choosing a method of electing officers, 
 the end should be to secure both fairness and secrecy ; i.e., a 
 secret ballot and an equal chance for all. Perhaps no method 
 is better for this purpose than that of receiving nominations 
 for each office by informal ballot. Each member would write 
 upon a paper the name she prefers ; every name offered would 
 then be considered a nominee (as in open nominations from 
 the floor) and the formal ballot would then be taken, the 
 society balloting till some one received a majority of the 
 votes. When a nominating committee is deemed inexpedient, 
 this method is recommended. 
 
 To Section 34. If the chairman does not know the name 
 of the person who rises and " addresses the chair," she says : 
 "What name?" The name is given, and the chairman then 
 " recognizes" her by repeating it, and she then "has the 
 floor." 
 
 To Section 64. In putting a motion to vote in large assem- 
 blies, it is well for the chair before " declaring " the vote, to 
 say, " It appears to be [or not to be] a vote." Then, after a 
 short pause, to declare the vote, saying, " It is [or is not] a 
 vote." The declaration may be enforced by a blow of the 
 gavel. 
 
CONSTITUTION 1 
 
 ARTICLE I. Name. This club shall be known 
 as the (Mendon Women's Literary Club). 
 
 ARTICLE II. Object. Its object shall be (the 
 mutual improvement of its members in literature, 
 art, science, and the vital interests of the day). 
 
 ARTICLE III. Officers. Its officers shall be a 
 president, a vice-president, a recording and a corre- 
 sponding secretary, a treasurer and an auditor. [If 
 a Board of Directors is desired, that is provided for 
 here; viz., "and a board of (seven) directors.' 7 ] 
 There shall also be (three) lecture committees of 
 (three) members each. These officers and com- 
 mittees shall be elected by the club at each annual 
 meeting, as provided for in the by-laws. The busi- 
 ness of the club shall be transacted by its members, 
 in executive meetings held once a month. \If 
 there are directors, this last sentence will be omitted.} 
 
 1 If a club is incorporated, its charter may take the place of its Constitu- 
 tion. The By-laws will then include the matter here given in both instru- 
 ments. 
 
 229 
 
230 APPENDIX 
 
 ARTICLE IV. Meetings. The club shall hold an 
 annual business meeting on the (fourth Tuesday in 
 March) and an afternoon meeting every (Tuesday) 
 from (October) to (March) inclusive. The (third 
 Tuesday) of every month from (October) to (Febru- 
 ary) inclusive shall be a business meeting of mem- 
 bers, and all important business shall be finally 
 voted upon at these business meetings only. None 
 but members shall be present, except as provided 
 in the by-laws. (Seven) members shall constitute a 
 quorum. Members shall be notified of regular 
 meetings by an (announcement in the Mendon 
 Telegraph). Special meetings may be called by 
 the president, upon the written application of any 
 (five) members, all members to be specially noti- 
 fied of the proposed meeting. 
 
 ARTICLE V. Financial Year. The financial 
 year shall begin on the (first Tuesday in October), 
 and the fee then payable from each .member shall 
 be (two dollars). If the fee is not paid before the 
 expiration of one (month) from the time of election, 
 or from the beginning of the financial year, the 
 person from whom it is due, having been notified, 
 shall cease to be a member. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. Membership. Any (two) members 
 
BY-LAWS 231 
 
 (of one year's standing) may present, in writing, at 
 any regular meeting, the name of any woman wish- 
 ing to become a member. The name shall then lie 
 upon the table till the meeting (one) week later, 
 announcement being made of such application. [If 
 it is desired to restrict membership in any way, such 
 restriction is added here, ,] Each name shall be voted 
 on separately, by ballot [white and black balls may 
 be used, or blank slips of paper on which are written 
 " Yes " or "No "], and the applicant declared elected 
 unless (three) negative votes be cast. A candidate 
 failing of election shall not be eligible again that 
 club year. The membership shall be limited to 
 (100). 
 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 ARTICLE I. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. SECTION i. 
 President and Vice- President. The president shall 
 preside at all meetings, and conduct them by a 
 formal order of business, shall deliver an annual 
 address, and shall perform the other duties usually 
 belonging to this office. In case of her absence or 
 disability, these duties shall be performed by the 
 vice-president, or by the chairmen of the lecture 
 committees, in their order. The vice-president shall 
 
232 APPENDIX 
 
 hold herself ready to assist the president in any 
 way. 
 
 SECT. 2. Secretaries. The recording secretary 
 shall keep a correct record of all meetings. The 
 corresponding secretary shall receive, read to the 
 club, and answer, all letters relating to club affairs, 
 and preserve all club papers. She shall notify 
 members of their election, and of the limit of 
 time when their fees are due in order to continue 
 members; shall sign and deliver all tickets of 
 membership, keep a correct list of members with 
 their addresses, and attend to all other business of 
 the club relating to its membership and its docu- 
 ments. She shall make a written report of the 
 year's transactions and present outlook of the club 
 at the annual meeting. \This duty may be given to 
 the recording secretary instead J\ The records and 
 correspondence shall be open at all times to the 
 inspection of the club. [In dubs where there is a 
 great deal of correspondence with other dubs, especially 
 where a club belongs to the 1 1 General Federation of 
 Women's Clubs," another secretary may be added, 
 called a Federation Secretary, whose duty will be 
 strictly to attend to the correspondence with other clubs 
 and with the Federation.] 
 
BY-LAWS 233 
 
 SECT. 3. Treasurer. - - The treasurer shall re- 
 ceive, collect, hold, and pay out all club moneys, 
 subject to the order of the club. She shall keep a 
 correct account in detail of all moneys received 
 and expended by her, and shall render her report 
 in writing at the annual meeting. 
 
 SECT. 4. Auditor. The auditor shall audit all 
 bills and the accounts of the treasurer, and report, 
 in writing, at the annual meeting whether they are 
 correct. 
 
 \If there are directors, a section defining their duties 
 is added here. There will then be no " business meet- 
 ings" strictly speaking, as the business will be done 
 by the directors. See section 12.] 
 
 SECT. 5. Lecture Committees. The (three) 
 lecture committees shall be called: i. The Depart- 
 ment of (Art and Literature) ; 2. The Department 
 of (Science and Economics); 3. The Department 
 of (Ethics and History). The (first and second 
 Tuesdays of October and November) shall be in 
 charge of the first department; the (first and second 
 Tuesdays of December) in charge of the second 
 department; and the (first and second Tuesdays of 
 February and March) in charge of the third depart- 
 ment. The chairman of each of these committees 
 
234 APPENDIX 
 
 shall make a written report at the annual meeting 
 of the work done by her committee during the year. 
 The programme for all other meetings shall be ar- 
 ranged by the club at its monthly business meetings. 
 
 SECT. 6. Election. At the (business meeting in 
 February), the president shall appoint a committee 
 of three, no member of which shall be an officer 
 or a chairman of a lecture committee, to nominate 
 a list of officers and lecture committees for the 
 ensuing year. This nominating committee shall 
 notify their nominees, and, in case of any refusals, 
 shall supply their places. They shall then present 
 the perfected list to the members at the (third 
 regular meeting in March). At the annual busi- 
 ness meeting, the election shall take place, and 
 shall be by ballot ; if any person nominated be not 
 elected, the club may ballot till every position is 
 filled. [If ere may be added, if necessary, any other 
 provision to secure a fair election. See Election of Offi- 
 cers, sections 14/0 18.] (No one shall be eligible to 
 office who has been a member less than one year.) 
 
 SECT. 7. Term of Office. No person shall 
 hold more than one official position at any time, 
 nor (with the exception of the secretaries and the 
 treasurer) shall serve for a longer period than (two) 
 
BY-LAWS 235 
 
 successive years in the office to which she may 
 be elected; but any person shall be eligible for 
 re-election after the intervention of (one year) from 
 the time she last held the position. The term of 
 office shall expire with the annual meeting. 
 
 ARTICLE II. Members. Every one who is elected 
 a member, on signing the constitution and paying 
 the fee, shall be entitled to receive a membership 
 ticket, and shall be admitted to all the privileges 
 of the club to the close of the financial year, after 
 which her membership may be continued by the 
 payment of the annual fee. Members must be ready 
 to show their tickets at the door at every meeting. 
 
 Honorary members may be elected at the discre- 
 tion of the club. Members who apply for re-election 
 may, by unanimous consent, be re-elected by accla- 
 mation. Former members who live at a distance 
 may become "corresponding members," and, by 
 paying visitor's fees, attend the meetings when in 
 (Mendon). 
 
 Any member who desires to withdraw from the 
 club shall send a written notice of her intention to 
 the corresponding secretary 
 
 ARTICLE III. Visitors. Members may bring 
 friends to any meeting by the payment of (fifteen 
 
236 APPENDIX 
 
 cents) for each friend. No one visitor, however, 
 shall attend more than one meeting in the same club 
 year, except non-residents of (Mendon), and the 
 guests of members. Three complimentary tickets 
 shall be given to each lecturer before the club. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. Conduct of Meetings. All meetings 
 shall be conducted by the rules of parliamentary 
 law, (the " Woman's Manual of Parliamentary 
 Law ") being the authority. No person, except the 
 corresponding secretary, shall print, or cause to be 
 printed, any report of any meeting, unless authorized 
 by vote of the club. 
 
 ARTICLE V. Amendments. This constitution and 
 by-laws may be amended at any regular business 
 meeting of the club, by a (two-thirds vote) of the 
 members present, provided that a written notice of 
 the intended change has been given at the meeting 
 *.t least (one week) previous. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. Suspension of Rules. Any article of 
 this constitution and by-laws, by unanimous consent, 
 may be suspended for not more than one meeting, 
 except this article, which shall not be suspended. 1 
 
 1 Valuable suggestions will be found in Mrs. Olive Thome Miller's 
 little book entitled, " The Woman's Club. A Practical Guide and Hand 
 Book," published by the United States Book Company, New York. 
 
INDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 ACCLAMATION, voting by 15*64 
 
 ADDRESSING THE CHAIR 8, 34 
 
 ADJOURN, MOTION TO 120 
 
 rank of 116,120 
 
 object of 118 
 
 limitations upon . ....... 120,122 
 
 to a fixed time 124 
 
 may be made after previous question is moved ... 60 
 
 yields to a question of privilege or of order . . . 147 
 
 the independent motion . . . . . . . 121 
 
 ADJOURNMENT, effect of 123 
 
 motions relating to 124 
 
 re-assembling after . . . . . . . . 124 
 
 AMEND, MOTION TO, nature of 87 
 
 effect of 89 
 
 rank of 116 
 
 object of nS 
 
 primary and secondary 9> 9 1 
 
 giving notice of 93 
 
 forms for stating the question on 96 
 
 by inserting 97> 9 8 
 
 by inserting in a different place 103 
 
 by striking out 100, 101, 102 
 
 by the word " not " 104 
 
 by striking out and inserting 105, 1 06 
 
 237 
 
238 TNDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 AMEND, MOTION TO, continued, 
 
 by substitution . 107, 144 
 
 by inserting a sum or a time 108 
 
 by inserting a name ........ 109 
 
 effect of the previous question on 60, in 
 
 AMENDMENT, accepting the 94 
 
 the three ways of ........ 95 
 
 a change in meaning necessary 99 
 
 "germane" and not "germane" 88 
 
 to be considered before the main question .... 89 
 
 more than one at a time 92 
 
 reconsideration of an 112 
 
 the order in ......... 113 
 
 exceptions regarding 108,109,110 
 
 motions not subject to . . . . . . . no 
 
 of the motion to postpone 128 
 
 of the motion to commit 133 
 
 commitment of an . . . . . . , 134 
 
 APPEAL, from the decision of the chair 154 
 
 effect of a tie vote upon 155 
 
 debate upon ,,...... 154,156 
 
 limitations upon ........ 156 
 
 not open to reconsideration 85 
 
 illustration .......... 158 
 
 BALLOT, method of voting by 14,15,73 
 
 not open to reconsideration . . . . . 85 
 
 CALL, for a meeting ......... 3 
 
 CALL TO ORDER 4^9 
 
 See Order. 
 
 CHAIRMAN. See Presiding Officer. 
 CLOSE DEBATE, MOTION TO. See Previous Question. 
 
 at a stated time 63 
 
 CLUB, formation of 10 
 
INDEX 239 
 
 SECTION 
 
 COMMIT, MOTION TO, meaning of 133 
 
 rank of 116, 133 
 
 object of 133 
 
 limitations upon 133 
 
 amendment of 133 
 
 effect of 134 
 
 reconsideration of ........ 133 
 
 effect upon it of the previous question . . . .61, 133 
 
 effect upon it of the motions to adjourn, to table, and to 
 
 postpone 133 
 
 with instructions 135 
 
 part of a question 136 
 
 illustration 134 
 
 the independent motion ....... 138 
 
 recommitment ......... 146 
 
 COMMITTEE, organization of ....... 9 
 
 quorum of 21 
 
 chairman of 9 
 
 appointment of 10, 134, 137 
 
 duties of .......... 134 
 
 nature of ........... 139 
 
 conduct of 139 
 
 powers of 140 
 
 instructions to 134, 140 
 
 amendments referred to 134 
 
 the report of 141-145 
 
 presentation of the report . . . . . . . 142 
 
 reception of the report . . . . . . . 143 
 
 minority report 141, 144 
 
 discharge of . 142 
 
 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 133, 139 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS, framing of . . . .10,11 
 
 amendment of 113 
 
 model of, see the Appendix. 
 
 COURTESIES, in debate ........ 52 
 
 in appointment 137 
 
240 INDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 DEBATE, definition of 44 
 
 a\m of 43, 49 
 
 when in order 45 
 
 special rules for limiting 45> 47 
 
 the leaders in ......... 47, 48 
 
 the arguments in ........ 49 
 
 contesting the floor 50 
 
 yielding the floor . . . . . . . . 51 
 
 courtesies 52 
 
 when allowed by general consent . . . . . 45, 53 
 
 illustrations 46, 48, 56 
 
 closing of, see Previous Question. 
 
 closing of, at a stated time 63 
 
 of the previous question . . . ' . . . 57 
 
 upon reconsideration 82 
 
 of amendments ......... 89 
 
 of dependent motions 117 
 
 of the motions upon adjournment . . . 120, 121, 124 
 
 of the motion to postpone . . . . . . . 128 
 
 of the motion to commit . . . . . . . 133 
 
 on appeals 154, 156 
 
 DEPENDENT MOTIONS. See Motions. 
 
 previous question may be moved upon .... 61 
 
 DIVISION OF MOTIONS 41 
 
 when not permissible ...... 105, 135 
 
 DOUBTING THE VOTE 68 
 
 ELECTION of temporary chairman 5 
 
 of officers 10, 14-18 
 
 not open to reconsideration 85 
 
 See Voting. 
 
 EQUIVALENT MOTIONS 42, 50 
 
 FILLING BLANKS 108 
 
 FLOOR, getting the 8, 34 
 
 yielding the 50, 51 
 
INDEX 241 
 
 SECTION 
 
 FLOOR, continued, 
 
 contesting the 50 
 
 taken for question of privilege or of order . . . . 51 
 
 GENERAL CONSENT, meaning of 45, 53 
 
 instances of 19, 38, 45, 53, 62, 64 
 
 See Unanimous Consent. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS : call for a meeting 3 
 
 call to order 4, 19 
 
 nomination . . . . . . . . 5,6, 14, 15 
 
 election of temporary officers 5-8 
 
 permanent organization . . 10, n 
 
 election of permanent officers . . . . .10, 14-18 
 
 majority and plurality 17 
 
 the quorum 22-24 
 
 making, stating, and putting to vote a motion ... 34 
 
 seconding a motion ........ 36 
 
 withdrawal of a motion 39 
 
 division of a motion 41 
 
 debate 46, 48 
 
 form of a resolution 48 
 
 contesting the floor 50 
 
 yielding the floor 51 
 
 the previous question . .58,61 
 
 closing debate 63 
 
 noting 14, 15, 64, 65, 66, 67 
 
 doubting the vote . .' . . . . . . 68 
 
 reconsideration 84 
 
 amendments " germane " 88 
 
 effect of amendment ........ 89 
 
 primary and secondary amendment 91 
 
 more than one amendment at once 92 
 
 giving notice of amendment . . . . . . 93 
 
 accepting the amendment 94 
 
 the three ways of amending 95, 96 
 
242 INDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS, continued, 
 
 amendment by inserting ...... 97, 98, 99 
 
 amendment by striking out .... 100, 101, 102 
 
 amendment by striking out and inserting . . . . 105 
 
 amendment by substitution 107 
 
 filling blanks with a sum or time 108 
 
 the precedence of motions 116,117,158 
 
 adjournment . . . . . . . . . 12-? 
 
 laying upon and taking from the table . . . 117,127 
 
 postponement 117, 129 
 
 indefinite postponement 117, 132 
 
 '34 
 
 commitment 
 
 powers of the committee 140 
 
 form of a report 141, 145 
 
 presentation of a report . . . . . . . 142 
 
 reception of a report 143, 145 
 
 questions of privilege . . . . . . . 150 
 
 questions of order and appeals ...... 158 
 
 INDEPENDENT MOTIONS. See Motions. 
 
 LAY UPON THE TABLE, MOTION TO, rank of . . 116,125 
 
 object of 118 
 
 limitations upon 125 
 
 effect of 126, 156 
 
 may be made after previous question is moved ... 60 
 illustrations 117, 127 
 
 MAJORITY VOTE 74 
 
 MAJORITY AND PLURALITY, definition of .... 17 
 
 MEETINGS, call for 3 
 
 organization of 1-8 
 
 opening of 4, 19 
 
 MEMBERS, rights and duties of .... 27, 46, 49, 50, 153 
 
 MOTIONS, nature of .30 
 
 steps in making 31 
 
INDEX 243 
 
 MOTIONS, continued, 
 
 words to be used 32 
 
 when made 33 
 
 illustration 34 
 
 seconding of. See Seconding. 
 
 withdrawal of 38, 39, 40, 124 
 
 division of 41, 105, 135 
 
 equivalent . , 42, 50 
 
 which may be made after previous question is moved . 60 
 not subject to amendment . . . . . . . no 
 
 amendment of. See Amend, 
 debate of. See Debate. 
 
 independent versus dependent 115 
 
 the precedence of 114,119,157,158 
 
 dependent, rank of . . . . . . 114-119 
 
 dependent, effect of the previous question on . . . 60, 61 
 
 the seven dependent 116-117,118,157 
 
 distinguished from questions of order . . . . 153 
 
 See also under the respective titles, adjourn, lay on 
 the table, previous question, postpone, commit, amend, 
 and postpone indefinite'y. 
 
 NOMINATIONS, method of making . . 5, 6, 10, 14, 15, 109 
 
 seconding of . 7> 37 
 
 not to be treated as amendments 109 
 
 NOMINATING COMMITTEE, appointment of . . . 10, 14, 15 
 
 OFFICE, rotation in 13 
 
 OFFICERS 12 
 
 election of 5,10,14-18 
 
 pro tempore . . 8, 18 
 
 ORDER, calling to 4> J 9 
 
 calling a member to ....... I5 2 > I S^ 
 
 ORDER OF BUSINESS 19, 20 
 
 ORDER, QUESTION OF, nature, use, and rank of . . . 147 
 
 when to be raised *47> f 53 
 
244 INDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 ORDER, QUESTIONS OF, continued, 
 
 definition of 151 
 
 precedence over motion to adjourn 147 
 
 effect of 153 
 
 duty of chair regarding 152 
 
 distinguished from a motion 153 
 
 ruling of the chair upon . . . . . . . 153 
 
 appeal from the decision of the chair . . . . 154 
 
 effect of a tie vote upon appeal 155 
 
 limitations upon . . . . . . . . 156 
 
 question of order upon 156 
 
 in order after previous question is moved .... 60 
 
 illustrations . . . . . . . . . 158 
 
 ORGANIZATION, of meetings 1-8 
 
 the three kinds of 2 
 
 of societies 10 
 
 of committees 9 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY LAW, definition, object, and principles. See 
 the Introduction, pages ix and xii. See also the conclu- 
 sion. 
 
 PERSONALITIES, to be avoided 46, 158 
 
 POSTPONE, MOTION TO, rank of 116, 128 
 
 object of 118,128 
 
 effect of 129 
 
 limitations upon 128, 130 
 
 effect upon it of the previous question . . . . 61, 128 
 effect upon it of the motions to adjourn and to table . 128 
 illustration 129 
 
 POSTPONE INDEFINITELY, MOTION TO, definition of . . 131 
 
 rank of 116, 131 
 
 object of 118 
 
 effect of ; 131, 132 
 
 limitations on 131 
 
 illustration .......... 132 
 
INDEX 245 
 
 SECTION 
 
 PRECEDENCE, definition of . . . . . . 114,116 
 
 of motions 116-119 
 
 rank of the seven dependent motions . . . 116,157 
 reasons for .......... 119 
 
 illustrations 117, 158 
 
 PRESIDING OFFICER, election of temporary .... 5 
 
 election of permanent ....... 14-18 
 
 of a committee 9 
 
 pro tempore ......... 
 
 title of 8 
 
 duties of . . . 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 25, 46, 47, 50, 58, 66, 67 
 
 rights of 26, 35, 71 
 
 characteristics of .25 
 
 duty in regard to committees 139 
 
 duty in regard to questions of order 152 
 
 rights in regard to questions of order . . . 154, 155 
 
 PREVAILING SIDE, definition of 83 
 
 PREVIOUS QUESTION, MOTION FOR, definition of . . . 54, 56 
 
 use of 55 
 
 effect of 56 
 
 form for putting 56 
 
 applicable to debatable motions 56 
 
 debate of * . . 57 
 
 rank of 116 
 
 " question ! " " question ! " 62 
 
 versus main question 59 
 
 effect of, upon amendments ...... 60 
 
 effect of, upon part of a question 61 
 
 what may be done after it is moved . . . . 60 
 
 cannot be amended or reconsidered 60 
 
 illustration 58 
 
 PRIVILEGE, QUESTION OF, nature, use and rank of . . 147 
 
 definition of 148 
 
 example of 148 
 
 effect of 149 
 
246 INDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 PRIVILEGE, QUESTION OF, continued, 
 
 precedence over motion to adjourn . . . . 147 
 
 may be raised after previous question is moved . . 60 
 
 illustration 150 
 
 QUESTION OF ORDER. See Order. 
 QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. See Privilege. 
 
 QUORUM, definition of 21 
 
 number desirable for . . 21 
 
 necessary before beginning 22 
 
 effect of " no quorum " 22, 23 
 
 method of counting . ' . 24 
 
 of temporary meetings 21 
 
 of committee meetings 21 
 
 of permanent organizations 21 
 
 RAISING HANDS, method of voting by 65 
 
 RE-ASSEMBLE, fixing the time to 124 
 
 RECOGNITION, by the chair 8,34,50 
 
 RECOMMIT, motion to 146 
 
 RECONSIDERATION, definition of 75 
 
 nature of .......... 76 
 
 effect of 77 
 
 technical form of 78 
 
 when in order . 79 
 
 by whom may be moved ....... 80 
 
 the prevailing side 83 
 
 reasons for restriction regarding 80 
 
 rule recommended in regard to 81 
 
 debate upon 82 
 
 votes not subject to 85 
 
 to be sparingly employed 86 
 
 of elections 17 
 
 of the motion to commit 133 
 
 illustration 84 
 
INDEX 247 
 
 SECTION 
 
 RECORD, approval of 1 9>*9 
 
 amendment of *9 
 
 of words called to order 153 
 
 REPORT, of the committee'' . . . . . . 141-145 
 
 of the minority ........ I4 T > *44 
 
 REPRESS, MOTION TO. See Postpone indefinitely. 
 
 RESOLUTION, form for framing . 48 
 
 RISING, method of voting by 65 
 
 ROLL-CALL, method of voting by 7 J > 7 2 
 
 ROUTINE BUSINESS ......... 19? 53 
 
 SECONDING, of nominations 7> 37 
 
 of motions 3 1 ? 35 
 
 by the chair 35 
 
 form for 36 
 
 extremes to be avoided 37 
 
 rule recommended ........ 37 
 
 of appeals 154 
 
 SECRETARY, election of temporary 
 
 election of permanent 14-18 
 
 duties of 8, 19, 29, 153 
 
 SOCIETY, permanent, formation of 10 
 
 SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT 129 
 
 SPECIAL RULES, distinguished from general usages, see the 
 Introduction, pp. x. and xi. ; also the conclusion, 
 instances of, . . 37, 45, 47, 55> 57, 7 2 > 74. 8o > 8l > and P- 22 5 
 SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, definition and examples of, 117, 122, 125, 158 
 
 SUMS AND TIMES Io8 
 
 TABLE, MOTION TO. See Lay upon the table. 
 
 TAKE FROM THE TABLE, MOTION TO, nature and effect of . 127 
 
 TIE VOTE, definition of 69 
 
 effect of 69 
 
 exception in regard to 69 
 
 the chair's prerogative in case of 70 
 
 upon appeals . . . . . . 155 
 
 illustration 7 
 
248 INDEX 
 
 SECTION 
 
 UNANIMOUS CONSENT, definition of 53 
 
 in electing officers 15 
 
 in routine business 19 
 
 in withdrawal of motions ....... 38 
 
 in debate 45> 53 
 
 in calls from the floor 10, 36, 62 
 
 VICE-PRESIDENT, duties of 28 
 
 VIVA VOCE method of voting 64 
 
 VOTING, process of making a motion and . . . . 31, 34 
 
 form of putting the question ...... 34 
 
 by vivsi voce method 64 
 
 by raising hands or rising 65 
 
 the " usual manner " . . . . . . . 66 
 
 the five steps in . 67 
 
 doubting the vote 68 
 
 tie votes . . . . . . . . . 69, 70, 155 
 
 by roll-call, or yeas and nays 72 
 
 by division 68 
 
 by ballot . . . 14, 73 
 
 informal ballot . - 15 
 
 majority and plurality 17 
 
 decision by less or more than a majority .... 74 
 
 unanimous consent in 15 
 
 by silent vote 64 
 
 manner of, may be decided after the previous question is 
 
 moved * 60 
 
 reconsideration 75~86 
 
 See Debate. 
 
 WITHDRAWAL OF MOTIONS 38,39,40,60,124 
 
 YEAS AND NAYS, method of voting by 72 
 
f our Little Manual Contains the Cube Root of Par/la^ 
 mentary Law." ' Charles Sumner. 
 
 WARRINGTON'S MANUAL: 
 
 % JHanual 
 
 tOR THE INFORMATION OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OP 
 "LEGISLATURES, CONVEN^ ~ONS, SOCIETIES, CORPO- 
 RATIONS, ORDERS, ETC., IN THE PRACTICAL 
 GOVERNING AND MEMBERSHIP OF ALL 
 SUCH BODIES, ACCORDING TO THE 
 PARLIAMENTARY LAW AND 
 PRACTICE OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 BY WILLIAM S. ROBINSON,' 
 "Warrtngto*? 
 
 Clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 
 from 1862 to 1873. 
 
 Price, 50 Cents. 
 
 " It is a mixtui 1 rule, advice, and ' parliamentary ' principle, founded 
 on ihe experience and the obvious necessities of bodies governed by the 
 4 parliamentary law.* As everybody knows, an assembly may, if it 
 
 f _i _ .. _i ._ *-_ ?x_-ir j: *i _ lii i j._ ii.' i . *.:_i~ 
 
 ciples will be found here. But, for the largest part, this book seeks to 
 give the reasons for the ordinary and the best practice of the best ordered 
 bodies. Given the reasons, and the practice adjusts itself ; the assembly 
 transacts its work speedily and with proper regard to the rights of all ; and 
 officers are prepared to meet objections and to answer questions with little 
 or no hesitation. Without the reasons, members and officers have great 
 difficulty in interpreting the rules, and in coming to just results without 
 troublesome delays. " Preface, 
 
 " Mr. Robinson is perhaps better known than any other pseudonymous 
 writer in the Commonwealth as a man of clear, sharp, incisive intellect, 
 which, applied to rules of order, as it must necessarily have been in his 
 many years of clerkly experience, could not kaye failed to make him 
 master of the subject. The points are stated with great precision and 
 conciseness, and the indexing is so perfect that any question of parlia- 
 mentary law or practice may be settled by a rapid glance ; while the size 
 of the little volume fits it for the pocket, s'o that a person who apprehends 
 any occasion for its use need never go unarmed with its authority." 
 
" Thia book is the only history of the Political 
 A nti '-Slavery Struggle that haa yet been written. " 
 
 Rtv. William H. Channing of London, England. 
 
 "WARRINGTON" 
 
 PEN PORTRAITS 
 
 A COLLECTION OF 
 
 PERSONAL APOLITICAL REMINISCENCES 
 
 From 1848 to 1876. 
 
 FROM THE WRITINGS OF 
 
 s. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 MRS. W. S. ROBINSON 
 
 Containing an Introduction by F. B. SANBORN and 
 Memoir of " Warrington." 
 
 Cloth, S2.OO 
 
 LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers 
 
 BOSTON 
 
PRACTICAL HELPS IN NATURAL HISTORY 
 
 BY DR. W. P. MANTON 
 
 Price, 60 Cents each. Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. 
 
 I. TAXIDERMY WITHOUT A TEACHER 
 
 (Second Edition.) 
 
 Comprising a Complete Manual of Instruction for Prepar- 
 ing and Preserving Birds, Animals, and Fishes ; with a 
 Chapter on Bunting and Hygiene; together with In- 
 structions for t reserving Eggs and Making Skeletons, 
 and a Number of Valuable Recipes. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 II. INSECTS 
 
 How to Catch and How to Prepare them for the Cabinet. 
 Comprising a Manual of Instruction for the Field 
 Naturalist. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 III. FIELD BOTANY 
 
 A Handbook for the Collector. Containing Instructions 
 for Gathering and Preserving Plants, and the Forma- 
 tion of a Herbarium. Also, Complete Instructions in 
 Leaf Photography, Plant Printing, and the Skeleton^ 
 izing of Leaves. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 (Second Edition Ready Shortly.) 
 
 IV. BEGINNINGS WITH THE MICROSCOPE 
 
 A. Working Handbook. Containing Simple Instructions 
 in the Art and Method of Using the Microscope and 
 Preparing Objects for Examination. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 Y. PRIMARY METHODS IN ZOOLOGY TEACHING 
 
 For Teachers in Common Schools. 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers. Boston. 
 
THE FIRST TEACHER FOR LITTLE FOLKS. 
 
 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SENSES 
 
 FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. 
 
 By HORACE GRANT, 
 Author of " Arithmetic for Young Children.' 1 ' 
 
 Edited by Willard Small. 
 Cloth. Price, 50 cents. 
 
 For the purpose of producing instruction and amu/emeut 
 for young children, too young to read or write, this lithe w--i- 
 has been prepared. The special object is to excite little cnn 
 dren to examine surrounding objects correctly, so that valuable 
 knowledge may be acquired, while the attention, memory, 
 judgment, and invention are duly exercised. 
 
 In exercises such as those which compose this book, the most 
 favorable circumstances may be seized as they arise, and will 
 therefore produce an extraordinary effect. Wherever we are, 
 in a room, garden, field, or road, in the morning or evening, 
 winter or summer, action or rest, something interesting may 
 be extracted; for at the moment when the attention is warmly 
 excited, an event may be turned to the best account. The val 
 uable habits acquired by means of familiar objects and petty 
 events may gradually be extended to the most important 
 subjects. 
 
 ABITHMETIC FOB IBM CHILDREN 
 
 Being a series of Exercises exemplifying the manner in which 
 Arithmetic should be taught to young children 
 
 By HORACE GRANT. 
 
 Amen6n Edition, Edited by WILLARD SMALL. 
 Price 50 cents. 
 
 " Consists of a series of exercises illustrative of the mani^r 
 iin which the first steps in numbers should be taught to young 
 children. We pronounce it first-rate. The primary teacher 
 will find it a great aid in her work. It is rational and consis- 
 t nt. The variety of style and method used lend fresh inter- 
 est at every step." Educational Weekly. 
 
 " The forms of expression used and the copiousness of illus- 
 trations are very far in advance of the common style > 
 teaching this science to young children. 
 
 "It is thoroughly rational and prepares the way for a mwe 
 systematic study of numbers as the child becomes more ma- 
 ture, The young pupil is taught to think and speak in num- 
 bers ;-n the first stage and subsequently unites Mith it the an 
 of writing numbers. It is correct in theory and apt fot 
 practice." N. E. Journal of Education. 
 
THB BUG HUNTER'S HAHDBOOK," 
 
 INSECTS ; 
 
 flow to Catch, and How to Prepare Them for the Cabinet 
 Comprising a Manual of Instruction for 
 the Field Naturalist. 
 
 BY W^JL/TEJ-R I>. JVLAJNTTCXN", 
 
 Author of "Taxidermy Without a Master," * 4 Handbook of Field 
 Botany," etc. 
 
 Illustrated. 50 cents* 
 
 The Boston Post says: "Are you interested In bugs? Do you 
 like to capture the wild and untamed beetle, the insatiable potato 
 bug, and the festive grasshoy er, anti impaling them on pins, see 
 'em through a glass? Then you want to know just the correct 
 way to do it, and you want to purchase this little volume." 
 
 "In describing the outfit nothing essential is omitted, and 
 illustrations help to make plain this and the directions for pre- 
 paring. Useful instructions are added as to the construction of a 
 cabinet, time and places to hunt, and the method of * printing 
 butterflies.' Every boy who has any taste for natural history 
 should have this neat little manual. The many ' Agassiz Clubs' 
 which have sprung up among the youth of the country should add 
 it to their libraries." Chicago Advance. 
 
 OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO YOUNG BOTANISTS." 
 
 FIELD BOTANY: 
 
 A Hand-Book for the Collector. Containing Instructions for 
 
 Gathering and Preserving Plants, and the Formation of a 
 
 Herbarium; also, Complete Instructions in Leaf 
 
 Photography, Plant Printing, and the 
 
 Skeletonizing of Leaves. 
 
 BY "WALTER IP. 
 
 Illustrated. Cloth, 5O cents. 
 
 " A most valuable companion. The amount of information con- 
 veyed in the small compass is surmising." Demorest's Monthly, 
 York. 
 
 " It is just what the boys and girls iieed for the spring campaign 
 in Botany, and at the modest price of fifty cents is accessible tc 
 all." Christian Register, Boston. 
 
 *' It is entirely practical, and gives the collector just the know- 
 ledge required to render his work permanent and satisfactory, 
 Its smallness fits it to be carried in the pocket, which is a consist 
 oration." ^ '\ynalBafftist. N. F, 
 
FULL OF SERVICEABLE INFORMATION." 
 
 HANDBOOK OF CONVERSATION: 
 
 Its Faults and Its Graces. 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 1. Dr. Peabody's Lecture. 2. Mr. Trench's Lecture. 
 3. Mr. Parry Gwinn's "A Word to the Wise; or, 
 Hints on the Current Improprieties of Ex- 
 pression in Writing and Speaking." 
 4. Mistakes and Improprie- 
 ties in Speaking and 
 Writing Cor- 
 rected. 
 
 COMPILED BY 
 
 ANDREW P. PEABODY, D.D., L.L.D., 
 
 Late of Harvard University. 
 Cloth, 50 Centi, 
 
 ' A book which .vill be of incalculable value to the young man or 
 woman who will c;i. efully n -tc and follow out its numerous and valu- 
 able suggestions It is worth owning, and ought to be studied by 
 many who heedlessly misuse their mother tongue." Boston Beacon. 
 
 " This liitle manual contains a great variety of valuable matter for 
 the instruction of those who would improve their style in conversa- 
 tion. It is in fact one of the very best and clearest handbooks of its 
 kind that we have seen " The Day, Baltimore. 
 
 "It is a useful handbook on the proprieties and common errors of 
 English speech.' The Churchman. 
 
 ' The book is full of serviceable information and can be advanta- 
 g3ously read and kept for reference by every one who desires to cou- 
 verse and to write properly and gracefully "Paper World. 
 
 'Here is a neat pocket-vomme. which every person should nave 
 tor ready reference For the young it is of especial value, and to th* 
 Old it is of great interest." Vox Popuh. 
 
HandbooK of Punctuation. 
 
 Punctuation and Other Typographical Matters, 
 
 for the use of Printers, Authors, Teachers, and Scholars* 
 By MARSHALL T. BIGELO W, Corrector at the Uni- 
 versity Press* Cambridge. Small 4to. CLOTH, 50 
 
 CENTS. 
 
 Lenox Library, New York, Aug. 19, 1881. 
 
 DEAR MB. BiGiat-ow, I sent for your "Punctuation and other 
 Typographical Matters " (having long groaned over bad pointing ID 
 authors and printers), and was glad to find an excellent manual 
 which will contribute to the comfort of many. I cordially recom- 
 mend it to all authors, printers, and men of letters. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 Allibone's Dictionary of Authors. I. AUSTIN ALLIBONE. 
 
 " Mr. Bigelow's book is a practical treatment of the subject, and 
 enlarges the reading public's obi? Cations to him." Atlantic Monthly, 
 
 " It is intended for the use of authors and teachers, while business 
 men who have occasion to print circulars, advertisements, etc., cary 
 hardly afford to be without a copy of it for reference." Schenectady 
 Daily Union. 
 
 Mistakes in Writing English, and How to Avoid Them. 
 
 For the Use of all who Teach, Write, or Speak the Lan- 
 guage. By MARSHALL T. BIGELO W 9 author of 
 "Punctuation and other Typographical Matters.'* 
 CLOTH, SO CENTS. 
 
 " This is an admirable little work; the more admirable for the use 
 of busy people, because it is little, since it is also clear and Compre- 
 hensive. The errors pointed out are those to which nearly all writc-rs 
 are liable. . . . We commend it as the most convenient, little manual 
 of which we have knowledge." Christian Herald. 
 
 " This is a valuable little volume. It is not a grammar, with rules 
 and definitions ; but it takes up words and parts of speech, and shows, 
 generally by example, their correct use. It is arranged systemati* 
 catty, and is adapted to the use of the home and the school." Tfi' 
 Current. 
 
 " The matter is well arranged, and the points upon which instruc 
 tion is desired can be readily found." Christian Union. 
 
 " This is a useful book. A careful study of the several chapter* 
 Would be of great advantage to all who have to do much or litt** 
 <*Deafc*ig er writing. " Gospel Banner. 
 
THE FOBES ELOCUTIONARY HANDBOOKS. 
 
 FIVE-MINUTE DECLAMATIONS 
 
 FOR SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
 Cloth, 50 Cents. 
 
 FIVE-MINUTE DECLAMATIONS 
 
 Part Second. Cloth, 50 Cents. 
 
 FIVE-MINUTE RECITATIONS 
 
 FOB SCHOOL AND COLLEGiS 
 Cloth, 50 Cents. 
 
 FIVE-MINUTE READINGS 
 
 Cloth, 50 Cents. 
 
 Pupils in public schools on declamation days ate limited to hv-. 
 minutes each for the delivery of " pieces." There is a great com- 
 plaint of the scarcity of material for such ? purpose, while the 
 injudicious pruning of eloquent extracts has often marred the de- 
 sired effects To obv' .te these diffict." :ies, these books have been pre- 
 pared b* a competes c teacher. 
 
 ELOCUTION SIMPLIFIED 
 
 With an Introduction by George M. Baker. 
 CLOTH, 50 CENTS. 
 
 " The Manual is divided into four parts. Part First describes a 
 series of gymnastics to give strength and elasticity to the muscles 
 used in speaking. Part Second is a system of vocal exercises for 
 daily practice. Part Third, the application of the vocal exercises 
 to the reading of short extracts, showing the effect when thus applied. 
 Part Fourth is a chapter giving general hints on elocution, and show- 
 ing how easily defects in speech may be cured. 
 
 " With or without an instructor, this Manual is just what the student 
 is in great need of, and he can supply that need by a study of ' Elo- 
 cution Simplified.'" The Dartmouth, Hanoz>er, N.H. 
 
 Sold by all Booksellers, or sent by mail t repai<i> en receipt 
 of price, 
 
 LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers ...... . Bocwn. 
 
14 DAY USE 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWEI 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, 01 
 
 on the date to which renewed. 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
 MOV 13 1966 
 
 Wfll/ 
 
YC173932 
 
 M94396 
 
 Wl 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY