Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure/How to Obtain the Floor
HOW TO OBTAIN THE FLOOR.
23. Whenever a member desires to introduce any business or to speak to the question before the assembly, it is necessary to first obtain the floor. In order to do this he rises in his place and addresses the presiding officer by his official title, as “Mr. Chairman,” or “Mr. President,” and awaits recognition. When offering a motion or when desiring the floor for any purpose the speaker, after addressing the chair, should remain standing and silent until recognized by the chair. This recognition is shown by the chairman calling the name of the member, or by some sign of recognition, which signifies to the assembly who has the floor. (For exceptions see Sec. 79). If more than one member asks the floor at the same time, upon the chair's decision as to which is entitled to the floor, all others should be seated and await another opportunity. If, however, any member considers himself aggrieved by the decision it is his privilege to appeal (124) to the assembly.
24. Upon recognition by the chairman the member is entitled to the floor and states his proposition, business of motion, which must be reduced to writing, if requested by the chairman. Until the member has the floor the introduction of any business is not in order. After the member has the floor he cannot be interrupted by calls for the question, or by a motion to adjourn, or for any purpose by either the chairman or any member, so long as he keeps within the rules of the assembly, except to have entered on the minutes a motion to reconsider (135), by a call to order (32), by an objection to the consideration of the question (126), by a call for the orders of the day ([1]89), or by a question of privilege requiring immediate action (87).
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- ↑ Note.—Some writers hold that a speaker cannot be interrupted by call “call for the orders,” but this ruling is not generally accepted at the present, because the member speaking might defeat the order by prolonging his speech until adjournment, and declining to yield the floor, except for a motion to adjourn.