Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure/Debate and Decorum

by Orson B. Felt

Layout 2

DEBATE AND DECORUM.

39. Debate is defined as a conflict or strife expressed in words for the purpose of making clear the point under discussion or of influencing action.

In all assemblies there is sure to be a difference of opinion among the members on the question before them, and said difference of opinion will lead to debate.

It is important for the welfare and orderly conduct of any assembly that its debates should be treated with liberality and that every member who has an opinion on the subject should be given the opportunity to freely express his views. It is the duty of the chairman to see that the question (if debatable) is fully and fairly discussed, and that such discussion is conducted with decorum. Experience, however, has shown the necessity of complying with certain rules governing debate, in order to confine the speakers within certain limits, and to protect the more timid members in their individual rights as members of the assembly.

After a question has been stated to the assembly by the presiding officer (if it is a debatable one), it is properly before the assembly for debate. If two or more rise to speak to it, and if the mover of the measure is one of them, the chair ought first, as a matter of courtesy, to recognize the mover of the proposition, for, since it is his proposition, it is fair to presume he can best explain it. (But this is understood to be purely a matter of courtesy, and not of right.) Then the chairman should recognize one opposed to the question, and so conduct the debate that both sides of the question may be fully and fairly discussed.

40. The subject of debate is always the last debatable question submitted to the assembly, whether it is the main question or any incidental or subsidiary question. So if a member has spoken to a main question, he may speak upon any dependent question if debatable. For example, if he has spoken to a question or resolution, and if it be moved to refer the subject to a committee, he may speak as to the propriety of referring it, and also on the question presented by the report of the committee. If the last question is an undebatable one (75), then all debate ceases until the undebatable question is disposed of. Sometimes the pending question is one that opens to debate the entire merits of the question (122, 135); in that case the subject of debate includes the whole range of pending propositions.

The presiding officer should not participate in debate while in the chair, or take part in the proceedings in any other capacity than as its presiding officer. He is, however, allowed to state matters of fact within his knowledge, state the parliamentary effect of proposed acts of the assembly, inform the assembly on points of order, and when an appeal (124) is taken from his decision he may state to the assembly his reasons for the decision before putting the appeal to vote.

41. When a member has the floor, the chairman or any other member cannot interrupt him as long as he keeps within the rules of the assembly. (See exceptions in section 78).

Each member in speaking should confine himself to the question before the assembly, and should bear in mind that all language must be decorous. He should not address himself to the assembly, or to any particular member, but to the presiding officer. This rule does not apply when some other member desires to interrupt the member speaking in order to made a personal inquiry, or to ask permission to move an adjournment, as the speaker is then master of the situation and courtesy demands that such inquiries shall be addressed to him. Such questions and answers should not be allowed to degenerate into a dialogue between the members, since an inexperienced debater, if subject to frequent questions, might lose his self-possession. The chair should not allows a speaker to be annoyed by unnecessary interruptions.

42 Instead of mentioning by name anyone then present, the member speaking should describe him by such phrase as the gentleman on the other side of the question; or, on my left; or, last but one, or by any respectful term which indicates the person meant. In fact, the speaker should not allow himself to indulge in personal reflections concerning any member. Any use of personalities should be promptly stopped by the presiding officer. If the presiding officer fails to do this, any member may interrupt the speaker by a call to order. The speaker should not arraign the motives of any member. He may, however, assail the argument in the strongest terms, or use any fair means to show the deception, injustice, or fallacy of the argument.

43. Debate on any debatable question (unless the previous question [97] is ordered) is not closed until the negative is put, it is in order for any member to ask the floor to speak for or against the question. If, after the chairman has announced the vote, it is found that a member who had not spoken to the question had risen for the purpose of speaking to the question before the negative was put, he is as much entitled to a hearing as if the vote had not been taken. In such cases the question is in the same condition as if it had not been put, and must be put over again, on the affirmative as well as the negative side; therefore, before putting a question to vote, the chairman should be careful to give every member who so desires an opportunity to be heard by saying, “Are you ready for the question?” and waiting a reasonable time before putting it to vote.

When the vote is by the Yeas and Nays (47) debate cannot be re-opened after the voting has commenced.

44. When a member is speaking he may yield the floor for a question addressed to himself without losing his right to continue, since if yielded for a question addressed common courtesy would assign him the floor for an answer; or he may yield for a motion to adjourn, or for a recess, without losing his right to continue if either of these motions is lost; on the other hand, if the motion is carried, he is entitled to resume at the next meeting. He has no right to yield to another member to speak for or against the question, or to another member to make an explanation, unless under the cognizance of the chair. If he yields to another member for any purpose—except as above noted—he yields for all purposes.