entitled to the floor, even though another member has risen first and addressed the Chair [in case of a report of a committee, it is the member who presents the report]; and this member is also entitled to close the debate, but not until every member choosing to speak has spoken. When a member reports a measure from a committee, he cannot in any way be deprived of his right to close the debate; so if the previous question [§ 20] is ordered the Chairman at once assigns him the floor to close the debate. With this exception, no member shall speak more than twice to the same question (only once to a question of order, § 14), nor longer than ten minutes at one time, without leave of the assembly, and the question upon granting the leave shall be decided by a majority vote without debate.[1] If greater freedom is desired, the proper course
- ↑ The limit in time should vary to suit circumstances, but the limit of two speeches of ten minutes each will usually answer in ordinary assemblies, and it can be increased, when desirable, by a majority vote as shown above, or diminished as shown in § 37. In the U. S. House of Representatives no member can speak more than once to the same question, nor longer than one hour. The fourth rule of the Senate is as follows: ‘‘No senator shall speak more than twice in any one debate, on the same day, without leave of the Senate, which question shall be decided without debate.” If no rule is adopted, each member can speak but once to the same question.
