Speaker, whose election, on the following day, must be approved by the Lord Chancellor, (representing the crown) in the House of Lords. The presiding officer is figuratively denominated the chair in deliberative assemblies. The chairman of a town meeting, and of religious bodies, is frequently called the Moderator — Ed.]
5. The presiding officer is usually denominated the president, and the recording officer, the secretary; though, sometimes, these officers are designated, respectively, as the chairman and clerk. It is not unusual, besides a president, to have one or more vice-presidents; who take the chair, occasionally, in the absence of the president from the assembly, or when he withdraws from the chair to take part in the proceedings as a member; but who, at other times, though occupying seats with the president, act merely as members. It is frequently the case, also, that several persons are appointed secretaries, in which case, the first named is considered as the principal officer, All the officers are, ordinarily, members of the assembly[1]; and, as such, entitled to participate
- ↑ In legislative bodies, the clerk is seldom or never a member; and, in some, the presiding officer is not a member; as, for example, in the Senate of the United States, the Senate of New York, and in some other State senates.
