Chapter 2 of 5 · 521 words · ~3 min read

Part I.—Rules of Order.

Art. I.—How Business is Conducted in Deliberative Assemblies.

§ 1. Introduction of Business 25

2. What Precedes Debate 26

3. Obtaining the Floor 27

4. Motions and Resolutions 33

5. Seconding Motions 36

6. Stating the Question 38

7. Debate 38

8. Secondary Motions 40

9. Putting the Question and Announcing the Vote 40

10. Proper Motions to Use to Accomplish Certain Objects 43

Art. II.—General Classification of Motions.

§ 11. Main or Principal Motions 51

12. Subsidiary Motions 54

13. Incidental Motions 56

14. Privileged Motions 57

15. Some Main and Unclassified Motions 58

Art. III.—Privileged Motions.

§ 16. Fix the Time to which the Assembly shall Adjourn 59

17. Adjourn 60

18. Take a Recess 64

19. Questions of Privilege 66

20. General and Special Orders and a Call for the Orders of the Day 68

Art. IV.—Incidental Motions.

§ 21. Questions of Order and Appeal 78

22. Suspension of the Rules 83

23. Objection to the Consideration of a Question 87

24. Division of a Question, and Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim 89

25. Division of the Assembly, and Motions relating to Methods of Voting, or to Closing or Reopening the Polls 95

26. Motions relating to Methods of Making, or to Closing or to Reopening Nominations 96

27. Requests growing out of Business Pending or that has just been pending, as, a Parliamentary Inquiry, a Request for Information, for Leave to Withdraw a. Motion, to Read Papers, to be Excused from a Duty, or for any other Privilege 97

Art. V.—Subsidiary Motions.

§ 28. Lay on the Table 104

29. The Previous Question 111

30. Limit or Extend Limits of Debate 118

31. Postpone Definitely, or to a Certain Time 121

32. Commit or Refer, or Recommit 125

33. Amend 134

34. Postpone Indefinitely 152

Art. VI.—Some Main and Unclassified Motions.

§ 35. Take from the Table 154

36. Reconsider 156

37. Rescind 169

38. Renewal of a Motion 171

39. Ratify 173

40. Dilatory, Absurd, or Frivolous Motions 174

41. Call of the House 175

Art. VII.—Debate.

§ 42. Debate 178

43. Decorum in Debate 180

44. Closing and Preventing Debate 182

45. Principles of Debate and Undebatable Motions 184

Art. VIII.—Vote.

§ 46. Voting 188

47. Votes that are Null and Void even if Unanimous 201

48. Motions requiring more than a Majority Vote 202

Art. IX.—Committees and Boards.

§ 49. Committees Classified 206

50. Boards of Managers, etc., and Executive Committees 207

51. Ex-Officio Members of Boards and Committees 210

52. Committees, Special and Standing 211

53. Reception of Reports 220

54. Adoption or Acceptance of Reports 223

55. Committee of the Whole 229

56. As if in Committee of the Whole 233

57. Informal Consideration 234

Art. X.—The Officers and the Minutes.

§ 58. Chairman or President 236

59. Secretary or Clerk 244

60. The Minutes 247

61. Executive Secretary 250

62. Treasurer 251

Art. XI.—Miscellaneous.

§ 63. Session 253

64. Quorum 257

65. Order of Business 261

66. Nominations and Elections 263

67. Constitutions, By-laws, Rules of Order, and Standing Rules 264

68. Amendments of Constitutions, By-laws, and Rules of Order 269