The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-05-03
IN u Parliamentary Laws.

some practlcal remarks upon parma
.nentary law l do SO, believing that
The same may be of interest to many
of your readers and of material ben
eft 10 the less informed. 1t is 8
subject but little understood. But
ew indeed who have experience in
ieiiberatlve and legislative assem-
elies ever become versed in 1t and
a parliamentarian nothing Is
nore ridiculous than 10 see one in
The ch air who knows nothing of
even the first principles of parlia-
mentary law. In the absence of
special law or rules adopted by a
legislative or deliberative body par
law must govern. A
majority vote decides all questions
kept the withdrawal of a motion
or resolution after the same has be-
come a question. Then for the
withdrawal general consent is re-
quired. General consent means no
objection. A motion becomes
question when seconded and stated
0y the chair. No motion is recog
lized by the chair without second
AID no remarks should be made
thereon until stated by the chair.
The chair says: "The question is
upon the adoption or rejection of
-" Remarks are now in order"
If no one speaks, or should there
be the least delay, the chair says
sare you ready for the question:
AS many as are in favor of the mo-
ton say a." then "as many as are
opposed say enc" So coon as the
chair hears the .no" he instantly
decides that the ayes or hayes have
it and the motion prevails or fails
as the case may be. In this decis-
ion the chair should be prompt.
He should pay close attention to
the response aye or naye and en-
deavor to decide according to th'
seeming majority and never say l
am unable to decide. which is heard
so often from the chair. In the
first place the chair should never
use the personal pronoun W but
shoald always say "the chair" And
be should decide the vote as well as
make all of his rulings 'nstanter.
If any one thinks the vote decided
wrong he has a right to, and should,
call for a division. If this is done,
the chair proclaims that a division
is called for, as many as are IN Ia
vor of the motion Cor resolution
will rise to their feet. He then di-
reefs the secretary to count those
standing and then says "as many
as are opposed will RISE" The sec
rotary, now counts and reports to
the chair, who announces the result
to the house and should any one
be dissatisfied with the rulings OF
the chair, upon question of order
or anything else he can appeal from
his decision. When an appeal il
made the chair says "the decision
Just rendered by the chair is ap-
pealed from by Mr.. A. Gas many al
believe that the decision by the
chair shall stand as the judgment
Of the house, when the vote is taker
will say aye, and as many as be-
lieve to the contrary will say no
Now are you ready for the qaes
tion7' Remarks pro and con art
now in order. In the discussion o
a question of appeal the chair re
tains his seat and has preference
over all others to the floor. Upol
all other questions but this tn
chair when he speaks, must cal
some other gentleman to the char
but he does not vacate the chat
when speaking upon the question O
appeal. While any one is speakin,
or reading, if any gentleman be
iieves the speaker or reader to b
out Of order, he rises to his feet an
says, .tMr. Chairman, ] rise to
point of order" The chair say
Mr.. B. state your point of order.
After it is stated the chair says'th
point of order made by Mr. B.
well taken and is sustained by th
chair" or "the point of order take
by Mr.. B. is not well taken and
over-ruled by the chair" Will
this question of order is being rule
upon the speaker quietly takes hi
seat, and then after the ruling b
goes on with his speech, or if th
decision of the chair is averse
him he may appeal from that de
cision and give his reasons thereto
but not until the chair submits til
question of appeal.
In regard to motions I repeat: :
is not motion to be recognized b
the chair without a second, unle.
is in a committee of the whole, an
!. q motion Is made and seconded,
), not deemed cut Of order, the cha
will state it to the house Just
made, and it then becomes a ques
: ton for the consideration and is IL
/; property of the house and can n,
5 then bewlthdraw without unanimol
a consent. Any time, however, befol
the motion is stated by the cha
the mover can withdraw and mod
fly it and reintroduce it. After it
: stated by the chair the mover h.
e no more CONTROL of it than 9th,
member. He should be recognize
: however for the first and closir
: speech thereon. While a questic
9 is pending before the house--bt
fore it is disposed Oft is not
order to move any other question
except to adjourn, which is alway
in order, provided it is not dol
!, while smother member has the foo
: nor repeated until some business
/, transacted after motion to adjoul
: fails-but subsidiary motion,
= amend, to commit, for the previo,
n question, to lie on the table and fl
t postponement. When any of the
motions are made they should
considered and determined befo
!, proceeding with the original que
o ton. A motion made to amen
e after stated by the chair become
1t the question and remarks must
addressed to it and if adopted tn,
= the question is the original one
{ amended. Before, however, acti'
h is taken upon the motion to amen
L 1T is competent for another motto
'e to be made to amend that amen
u ment,s and action ON this won
IS have precedence over any otht
N 1t it is voted down the questit
o recurs upon the first amendmer
II and if this is voted down the que
o ton recurs upon the original mott,
= or resolution. If however a mott,