Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/115

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INCIDENTAL MOTIONS
93

motions following include most of the incidental motions that may arise:

Questions of Order. It is the duty of the presiding officer to enforce the rules of the assembly without debate or delay. Any member who notices a breach of a rule may insist upon its enforcement by rising and saying, "Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order," If the breach of order occurs while one is speaking, the speaker immediately takes his seat and the chairman requests the objector to state his point of order, which he does and resumes his seat. The chair decides the point and then, if no appeal is taken and the speaker has not been guilty of any serious breach of decorum, the chair permits him to resume his speech. If his remarks are decided to be improper and any one objects to his continuing his speech, the chairman immediately puts the question, "Shall Mr. ——— be permitted to continue speaking?" The question of order must be raised at the time of the breach of order, excepting in case of a violation of the by-laws or standing rules of the organization. Raising a point of order does not require a second.

Appeal. An appeal may be made from any decision of the chair (except when another appeal is pending) but it can be made only at the time the ruling is made. It is in order while another member has the floor. An answer to a parliamentary inquiry is not a decision and therefore cannot be appealed from. An appeal cannot be amended. It cannot be debated