Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies/Article 13

by Henry M. Robert

Layout 2

 

Art. XIII. Miscellaneous.

64. Debate. All remarks must be addressed to the chairman and confined to the question before the assembly, avoiding all personalities and reflections upon any one’s motives. It is usual for permanent assemblies to adopt rules limiting the number of times any one can speak to the same question, and the time allowed for each speech,^[1] as otherwise one member, while he could speak only once to the same question, might defeat a measure by prolonging his speech, and declining to yield the floor except for a motion to adjourn. In ordinary assemblies two speeches should be allowed each member (except upon an appeal), and these rules also limit the time for each speech to ten minutes. A majority can permit a member to speak oftener or longer whenever it is desired, and the motion granting such permission cannot be debated. However, if greater freedom is wanted, it is only necessary to consider the question informally, or if the assembly is large, to go into committee of the whole.^[2] If, on the other hand, it is desired to limit the debate more, or close it altogether, it can be done by a two-thirds vote, as shown in § 58 (b).

65. Forms of Stating and Putting Questions. Whenever a motion has been made and seconded, it is the duty of the Chairman, if the motion is in order, to state the question, so that the assembly may know what question Is before them. The seconding ofa motion is required to prevent the introduction of a question when only one member is in favor of it, and consequently but little attention is paid to mere routine motions, or when it is evident that many are in favor of the motion; in such cases the Chairman assumes that the motion is seconded.

Often in routine work the Chairman puts the question without waiting for even a motion,^[3] as few persons like to make such formal motions, and much time would be wasted by waiting for them (but the Chairman can only do this as long as no one objects). The following motions, however, do not have to be seconded: (a) a call for the orders of the day; (b) a call to order, or the raising of any question of order; and (c) an objection to the consideration of a question.

One of the commonest forms of stating a question is to say that, “It is moved and seconded that,” and then give the motion; or, in case of resolutions, it might be stated in this way (after they have been read): “The question is on the adoption of the resolutions just read.”

In some cases, in order to state the question clearly, the Chairman should do much more than merely repeat the motion, and say that the question is on its adoption. In the case of an appeal, he should state the decision of the Chair (and, if he thinks proper, the reasons for it), and that the decision has been appealed from; he then says, “The question is, shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the assembly?” In stating the question on an amendment, the Chairman should read (1) the passage to be amended; (2) the words to be struck out, if any; (3) the words to be inserted, if any; and (4) the whole passage as it will stand if the amendment is adopted; he then states the question in a form similar to this: “The question is, shall the word censure be inserted in the resolution in the place of the word thanks?” As soon as a vote is taken, he should immediately state the question then before the assembly, if there be any. Thus, if an amendment has been voted on, the Chairman announces the result, and then says: “The question now recurs on the resolution,” or, “on the resolution as amended,” as the case may be. So, if an amendment is reconsidered, the Chairman should announce the result of the vote and state the question before the assembly in a form similar to this: “The motion is carried—the vote on the amendment is reconsidered; the question recurs on the adoption of the amendment.”

After stating the question on a motion that can be debated or amended, the Chairman, unless some one immediately rises, asks: “Are you ready for the question?”^[4] When the Chairman thinks the debate is closed, he again inquires: “Are you ready for the question?” If no one rises, he once more states the question as already described, and puts it to vote.

One of the commonest forms of putting the question (after it has been stated) is this: “As many as are in favor of the motion will say aye; those opposed will say no.” Another one is as follows: “Those in favor of the motion will hold up the right hand; those opposed will manifest it by the same sign.”^[5]

1. In Congress, the House of Representatives allows from each member only one speech of one hour’s length; the Senate allows two speeches without limit as to length.
2. See §§ 32, 33.
3. A presiding officer can frequently expedite business by not waiting for a motion or even taking a vote on a question of routine. In such a case he announces that if there is no objection such will be considered the action of the assembly. For example, when the treasurer’s report is read he can say, “If there is no objection the report will be referred to an auditing committee, consisting of Messrs. A and B,’’—adding, after a moment’s pause, “It is so referred.”
4. The question, in some societies, is more usually: “Are there any remarks?” or, “Are there any further remarks?”
5. See §§ 38, 46–48, 54 for examples of various ways of stating and putting questions, and page 10 for peculiar forms.