address the assembly upon any question, it is necessary that he obtain the floor; that is, he must rise and address the presiding officer by his title, thus: “Mr. Chairman,” who will then announce the member’s name.[1] Where two or more rise at the same time, the Chairman must decide who is entitled to the floor, which he does by announcing that member’s name. In making his decision he should be guided by the following principles:
(a) The member upon whose motion the subject under discussion was brought before the assembly (or, in case of a committee’s report, the one who presented the report,) is entitled to be recognized as having the floor (if he has not already had it during that discussion), notwithstanding another member may have first risen and addressed the chair. (b) No member who has once had the floor is again entitled to it while the same question is before the assembly, provided the floor is claimed by one who has not spoken to that
- ↑ If the Chairman has some other title, as President, Moderator, etc., he is addressed by his special title, thus: “Mr. President’’ [See § 34]. If the Chairman rise to speak before the floor has been assigned to any one, it is the duty of a member who may have previously risen to take his seat. [See Decorum in Debate, § 36.]
