minutes will stand approved as read” [or “corrected,” if any corrections have been made].
He announces as the next business in order, “the hearing of the report of the committee on the Constitution and By-Laws.” The chairman of the committee, after addressing “Mr. Chairman” and being recognized, reads the committee’s report and then hands it to the chairman.[1] If no motion is made, the chairman says, “You have heard the report read—what order shall be taken upon it?” Or simply inquires, “What shall be done with the report?” Some one moves its adoption, or still better, moves “the adoption of the Constitution reported by the committee,” and when seconded, the chairman says, “The question is on the adoption of the Constitution reported by the committee.” He then reads the first article of the Constitution, and asks, “Are there any amendments proposed to this article?” If none are offered, after a pause, he reads the next article, and asks the same question, and proceeds thus until he reads the last article, when he says, “The whole Constitution having
- ↑ In large and formal bodies the chairman, before inquiring what is to be done with the report, usually directs the secretary to read it again. See note to § 30 for a few common errors in acting upon reports of committees. [See also note to § 46 (b).]
