Robert's Parliamentary Practice/Chapter 3
CHAPTER III.
FIRST DRILL, ILLUSTRATING CHAPTERS I AND II.
Organization, Main Motions, and Postpone Indefinitely.
[In this drill the assembly is supposed to be a class in parliamentary law. The members are to be assigned special parts in the drill as described in "How to Study Parliamentary Law," page 182. Directions enclosed in brackets are sufficiently full to guide each member. When no directions are given for the chairman to stand or to be seated, it is optional with him which he does. In large assemblies it is better for him to stand whenever he speaks, but this is not advisable in small assemblies, except in putting the question and in speaking to a point of order. It is assumed that any member who has obtained the floor takes his seat when he has finished speaking.]
Mr. A [rising, advancing to the table and rapping, or gently striking the table once with the gavel, says]: The meeting will please come to order. I move "that Mr. X act as chairman of this meeting."
Any Member [without rising]. I second the motion.
Mr. A [still standing]. It has been moved and seconded, "that Mr. X act as chairman of this meeting." As many as are in favor of the motion say Aye. [After the ayes have responded:] Those opposed say No. [There being more ayes than noes he continues:] The ayes have it and Mr. X is elected chairman. He will please take the chair. [Mr. A resumes his seat.]
Chairman [standing by the presiding officer's table, says]: The next business in order is the election of a secretary.
Mr. B [rising]. Mr. Chairman.
Chairman [standing or sitting, recognizes Mr. B as having the floor by bowing to him or by announcing his name]: Mr. B.
Mr. B [having thus "obtained the floor," still standing, says]: I nominate Mr. T. [Resumes his seat.]
Chairman. Mr. T is nominated.
Mr. C [rising]. I nominate Mr. V.[1]
Chairman. Mr. V is nominated.
Mr. D [sitting]. I nominate Mr. W.
Chairman. Mr. W is nominated. Are there any more nominations? [There being none he stands and continues:] Mr. T, Mr. V, and Mr. W are nominated. As many as are in favor of Mr. T for secretary say Aye. [After the ayes have responded:] As many as are opposed say No. The noes have it and Mr. T is not elected. As many as are in favor of Mr. V for secretary say Aye. [Pause for response.] As many as are opposed say No. [Pause for response. The ayes being more numerous than the noes he continues:] The ayes have it and Mr. V is elected secretary and will please take his place at the secretary's desk. The meeting is now open for business. [Takes his seat.]
Mr. D [rising]. Mr. Chairman, I rise to a parliamentary inquiry.[2]
Chairman. The gentleman will state his inquiry.
Mr. D. Should not a vote have been taken on Mr. W for secretary? He was nominated as well as the others and might have received a larger vote than they.
Chairman. Those who were in favor of one candidate should have voted against the others, and thus if more numerous they would have prevented the election of either of the other candidates. There were more ayes than noes for Mr. V, so he is elected secretary.
Mr. E [rising and obtaining the floor]. I move the adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved, That Parliamentary Law should be taught in our public schools." [Hands the written resolution to the chairman and resumes his seat.]
Member [without rising]. I second the motion.[3]
Chairman [stating the question] . It is moved and seconded to adopt the following resolution [reads resolution and asks]: Are you ready for the question?[4] [No one claiming the floor he puts the question on the adoption of the resolution thus:] "As many as are in favor of the resolution [or motion] say Aye. Those opposed say No. The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted.[5]
Mr. F [obtaining the floor]. I move "that our next meeting be open to the public."
Member [from his seat]. I second the motion.
Chairman. It is moved and seconded "that our next meeting be open to the public." Are you ready for the question?
[Members engage in debate. When it has ceased the chairman proceeds as follows:]
Chairman. Are you ready for the question ? [No response. Chairman stands.] The question is on the adoption of the motion, "that our next meeting be open to the public." As many as are in favor of the motion say Aye. Those opposed say No. The noes have it and the motion is lost.
Mr. G [obtaining the floor]. I move the adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved, That no subsidiary motions except to postpone indefinitely be allowed in these meetings." [Hands the written resolution to the chairman.]
Member [from his seat]. I second the motion.
Chairman. It is moved and seconded to adopt the following resolution: "Resolved, That no subsidiary motions except to postpone indefinitely be allowed in these meetings." Are you ready for the question? [There being no response, he continues:] The question is on the adoption of this resolution which, if adopted, practically suspends the rules, as it deprives members of their right to make subsidiary motions, and therefore a two-thirds vote is required for its adoption.[6] It is also of the nature of a standing rule as it affects future sessions until rescinded or suspended. As many as are in favor of the motion will rise. Be seated. Those opposed will rise. Be seated. There being two-thirds in the affirmative, the motion is adopted, and no subsidiary motions except postpone indefinitely will be in order in these meetings.
Mr. H [obtaining the floor]. I move the adoption of the following resolutions:
"Whereas, Many married women are obliged to work away from home, thus often leaving very young children without proper guardianship; and
"Whereas, The rearing of children under improper influences is detrimental to the state; therefore, be it
"Resolved, That Day Nurseries should be established and maintained in every manufacturing town at the public expense.
"Resolved, That our Mayor and the press be furnished with a copy of these resolutions." [Hands the written resolutions to the chairman, and resumes his seat.]
Member [from his seat]. I second the motion.
Chairman. It is moved and seconded to adopt the following resolutions, "Whereas," etc.: [reads the resolutions] . Are you ready for the question?
Mr. I [rising]. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. H [rising]. Mr. Chairman.
Chairman. Mr. H.
Mr. I [still standing]. Mr. Chairman, I rose first and addressed the chair.
Chairman. Mr. H offered the pending resolution and as he claimed the floor with reasonable promptness he is entitled to recognition even though Mr. I rose first. Mr. H has the floor. [Mr. I resumes his seat.]
[Mr. H is followed in debate by others. During the debate the chairman is seated, and when it is ended he proceeds as follows:]
Chairman. Are you ready for the question? [There being no response he stands and puts the question:] The question is on the adoption of the following resolutions: "Whereas," etc. [reads them]. As many as are in favor of the resolutions say Aye. Those opposed say No. The ayes have it and the resolutions are adopted.
Mr. J [obtaining the floor]. I move the adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved, That our club give a banquet on Nov. 18."[7]
Member [seated]. I second the motion.
Mr. K [rising]. Mr. Chairman, I move to postpone———
Chairman [interrupting]. The gentleman will please be seated. The chair has not stated the question.
Mr. K. I beg the chair's pardon. [Takes his seat.]
Chairman. It has been moved and seconded to adopt the following resolution: "Resolved," etc. [Repeats the resolution.]
Mr. K [obtaining the floor]. I move to postpone the question indefinitely.
Member [seated]. I second the motion.
Chairman. It has been moved and seconded to postpone the question indefinitely. Are you ready for the question?
[After debate, which enters into the merits of the main question, the chair proceeds thus:]
Chairman. Are you ready for the question? [There being no response, he rises and continues:] The question is on the motion to postpone indefinitely the pending resolution relating to having a banquet. As many as are in favor of the motion say Aye. Those opposed say No. The ayes have it and the resolution relating to a banquet is postponed indefinitely.
Mr. L [obtaining the floor]. I move to adjourn.
Member [seated]. I second the motion.
Chairman [standing]. It is moved and seconded to adjourn. As many as are in favor of the motion say Aye. Those opposed say No. [The ayes being greatly in the majority, he continues:] The ayes have it, the motion is adopted, and we stand adjourned.
- ↑ It is not necessary to obtain the floor to make a nomination.
- ↑ It is not necessary to obtain the floor to make a nomination or a parliamentary inquiry, but the member must rise in the latter case.
- ↑ In large bodies where some present are not entitled to vote, it is necessary, in order to be sure that the seconder is entitled to vote, that he rise.
- ↑ The chairman cannot put the question on a debatable motion as long as any one entitled to speak on the question wishes to do so. He must, therefore, before putting a debatable question ask, "Are you ready for the question?" and pause sufficiently to allow any one who may wish, to debate or make some subsidiary motion to claim the floor.
- ↑ Whenever a vote is taken the chairman should announce the result. If there is other business he should then announce the next in order. This saves much trouble, as otherwise members are liable to introduce business that is out of order.
- ↑ When the expression "majority vote," or "two-thirds vote," is used, it means a majority or two-thirds of the votes cast, regardless of the number of members present.
- ↑ Though this is a main motion it is so short and simple that usually it would not be required to be in writing.