Robert's Parliamentary Practice/Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII.
THIRD DRILL, ILLUSTRATING CHAPTER VII.
Commit or Refer.
[This is another meeting of the Parliamentary Law Class. It is assumed that the previous drills are mastered, and therefore nothing is said about the position of the chairman, whether sitting or standing, or about obtaining the floor, unless there is something peculiar calling for attention. The instructor appoints a chairman and a secretary. The secretary keeps a memorandum of the motions made and their disposition without attempting to put his record in the form of minutes. He should be able, however, to furnish the exact words of every main motion and amendment.]
Chairman. The meeting will come to order. [As soon as all are seated and quiet, he says:] Business is now in order.
Mr. A. I move "that a committee be appointed to investigate the ventilating system of the High School." [Seconded.]
Chairman. It is moved and seconded
Mr. B [rising and interrupting]. Mr. Chairman. [As soon as he catches the chairman's eye, he continues:] I rise to a point of order.
Chairman. The gentleman will state his point.
Mr. B. Our standing rule prohibits the making of the motion to commit.
Chairman. Our rule prohibits the making of the subsidiary motion to commit, but not the main motion to appoint a committee on a question which is not pending. The principle is the same as in the case of amending a resolution which was previously adopted and is not now pending, which was explained in the previous drill. The gentleman will please be seated. [The chair states the question.]
Mr. C. I move to amend by inserting the words "by nominations from the floor" after the word "appointed." [Seconded.]
Chairman [states the question].
Mr. D. I move to amend the amendment by striking out the words "nominations from the floor" and inserting the words "the chair." [Seconded.]
Chairman. It is moved and seconded to amend the amendment by striking out the words "nominations from the floor" and inserting the words "the chair." The effect of this amendment, if adopted, is to have the committee appointed by the chair instead of having it elected by the assembly after it has been nominated from the floor.[1] Are you ready for the question?
[After debate, the question is put on the immediately pending question, the secondary amendment, which is adopted, and the business proceeds thus:]
Chairman. The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted. The question recurs on the primary amendment as amended, which is, to insert the words by the chair" after the word "appointed. Are you ready for the question? [There being no response the question is put and the amendment is adopted, after which the chairman continues:] The question is now on the original motion as amended, which is, "that a committee be appointed by the chair to investigate the ventilating system of the High School."
Mr. E. I move to amend by inserting the words "and report on" after the word "investigate." [Seconded.]
Chairman [states and puts the question. The amendment is adopted, after which he puts the question on the original motion as amended and it is adopted, and he announces the result thus:] The ayes have it and the motion is adopted. The chair appoints Mr. U, Mr. V, and Mr. W as the committee to which the motion is referred.
Mr. F. I move to suspend the standing rule limiting the motions allowed in these meetings. [Seconded.]
Mr. G. Mr. Chairman.
Chairman. For what does the gentleman rise?
Mr. G. I wish to ask the gentleman to withdraw his motion, as its adoption would permit so many motions with which we are unfamiliar. If the motion is withdrawn, I will move to amend the rule so as to allow the motion to commit.[2]
Mr. F [rising]. I withdraw my motion.
Chairman. The motion is withdrawn. Mr. G.[3]
Mr. G. I move to amend the standing rule limiting the motions allowed in our meetings by inserting "and to commit" after "amend." [Seconded.]
[Question stated[4] and put, and the motion adopted by a two-thirds vote as in previous drill.]
Mr. H. I move the adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved, That we give $200 to the public library." [Seconded and stated.]
Mr. I. I move to refer the resolution to a committee of three. [Seconded.]
[Question stated and put, and motion adopted.]
Chairman. How shall the committee be appointed?
Member [calls out from his seat]: Nominations from the floor.
Chairman [there being no other method proposed, assumes this to be the will of the assembly and says]: Nominations are in order.
[Members from their seats name three persons, one each, and the chair announces them as the committee.]
Mr. J. I move the adoption of the following resolution, "Resolved, That a rest room be maintained for the convenience of the women and children of the surrounding country." [Seconded, handed to the chair and stated.]
Mr. K. I move to amend the resolution by adding the words "provided the annual cost is not more than $500." [Seconded and stated.]
Mr. L. I move to refer the resolution to a committee of five to be appointed by the chair. [Seconded.]
[Question stated and put, the motion adopted, and committee appointed.]
Mr. M. I move the adoption of the following resolution, "Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that a new High School should be built immediately, the cost not to exceed $100,000." [Seconded, handed to the chair, and stated.]
Mr. N. I move that the resolution be referred to a committee of seven to be nominated by the chair. [Seconded.]
[Question stated and put, motion adopted, and committee nominated by the chair.]
Chairman. As many as are in favor of these gentlemen's constituting the committee say Aye. Those opposed say No. The ayes have it and these gentlemen are appointed the committee to which is referred the resolution.
Mr. O. I move that we build a new clubhouse at a cost of $50,000.[Seconded and stated.]
Mr. P. I move to amend the motion by striking out "of" and inserting "not to exceed."
Mr. O [without rising]. I accept the amendment.
Chairman. Is there any objection? The chair hears none—the motion is amended, and the question is on the adoption of the motion, "That we build a clubhouse at a cost not to exceed $50,000."[5]
Mr. Q. I move that it be referred to a committee of three to be appointed by the chair. [Seconded.]
[Question stated and put, motion adopted, and committee appointed by the chair.]
Mr. R. I move to adjourn. [Seconded.]
[Question stated and put, motion adopted, and the chair declares the assembly adjourned.]
- ↑ It is the duty of the chairman to so state the question that all may clearly understand what question is before them for consideration and action. He is to assume that some members have not heard motion or remarks made by members.
- ↑ Such interruption before the question is stated is allowed because after the question is stated the mover cannot withdraw his motion without the consent of the assembly. So a few words of explanation are allowed to show why the request is made. See Withdraw a Motion, page 101.
- ↑ When a member's request is granted for the purpose of enabling him to make a certain motion the chair should assign him the floor without waiting for him to claim it. Having been assigned the floor, the member should immediately rise and make his motion.
- ↑ See page 37 for method of stating this question.
- ↑ Time may often be saved by accepting an amendment as in this case. It cannot be accepted, however, if a single objection is made. If objection is made the chair should immediately state the question on the amendment.