Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/70

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48
PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE

announce the names of the committee, he should make that statement and do it before the adjournment.

As previously stated the motion to commit may include all the details as in this example: "I move to refer the resolution [or question] to a committee consisting of A, B, and C with instructions to report at the next meeting."

Whoever appoints the committee may at the same time name the chairman. When the committee is nominated or appointed by the chair it is understood that the first one named is appointed chairman. When nominations are made from the floor, or when the committee is elected by ballot, since no one is named as chairman, the member first named acts as chairman unless the committee elects another chairman which action it has the power to take. As soon as the committee is appointed, the secretary turns over to its chairman all the papers referred to the committee. These papers must be carefully preserved and eventually returned without defacement to the secretary. Any amendments proposed by the committee must be written on a separate sheet of paper even though the report is made orally. The chairman calls the members together as soon as practicable and submits the papers referred to the committee. After requesting a hearing, members have a right to appear before the committee and to present their views on the question at such times as the committee may have designated. If the chairman neglects to call the com-