The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-11
Age-Herald. September II. 19O7.
ORDINANCE N. qt.

procedure ui tllt Ni's N~'i
 mingham.
 Re if ordained by the City Council of Birmingham follows:
 Section I. Oath of Office-On the 1st day If October after the regular biennial cleo tion. and as soon as the City Counell have been duly declared elected, 1t shall be their duty 10 assemble in the city hall. and before entering upon the duties nf their respective offices the president of the council and each alderman shall take and subscribe to an oath or anlrma- ton. 10 be administered by the city clerk or any officer of the state authorized to administer an oath, as follows, to-wit: solemnly swear tor af- firm, (as the case may be-, that l will support the constitution of tle United States and the constitution of the state of Alabama, so long as l continue a clt- izen thereof. and that I will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office upon which 1 am about to enter to the best of my ability. so help me God"
 The Mayor shall. upon assuming office likewise and in like manner take and sub scribe to said oath or affirmation.
 Sec. 9 Meeting of Council-After such organization, and until otherwise ordered the Council shall meet for business on the first and third Wednesdays ot each month for the transaction of business Tor the city, and shall hold such special meet ings as are called according to law, all notices of special meetings shall De m writing served upon each person entitled 10 notice unless personal notice be given by the clerk to such person.
 Sec & Quorum-A majority or the coun- cil shall be required to transact any cor porate business but any number not less than three may assemble at their regular place of meeting, and adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance or me absent members in such manner ana under such penalties the council may prescribe
 Sec 4 chairman Of Council His Duties The President of the council shall be ex- officio chairman Of the council when It Is in session, and shall be addressed by members and other parties as MT. Chair man. In the absence of the president or the council the president pro tempore small be the presiding officer. In his absence the oouncil shall elect one of their num- Der to preside The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum in all pro ceedings of the council; he shall appoint committees and put all questions; he snail decide all questions of order subject to an appeal from his decision to the coun- ell and when an appeal to the council is taken the question shall be put in this form Shall the decision of the chair stand?"
 Sec. ,. Rules of Order-For the order lv transaction of public business the foi- lowing rules are adopted for the govern ment of the council:
 | At the appointed hour the presiding officer shall take the chair, call the coun- cil to order and if there be as many as ten dW members present the council shall proceed to business.
 2 The business shall be taken up and disposed of in the following manner viz: l. calling the roll and noting the ab- sent members.
 ? Reading the minutes of the former meeting, and if approved by the council shall be signed by the presiding off cer
 B. Communications from the Mayor.
 4 Reports from each officer required to make d report, which report shall be re- ferred to the appropriate committee.
 > Reports of each standing committee which shall be disposed of referred back to the committee. The chairman of all standing committees i'll making re- port to the council for his committee, shall state the time and place or the meeting of such committee, and the num- Der of members present and absent, and if there was no quorum of said committee present at such meeting, no report shall be allowed to be made.
 c. Reports from select committees, which must be made to the next meeting after the reference. unless further time is given, which report must De ulSpoSeu Ol or re- ferred back to the committee.
 Petitions read and disposed of. or re- ferred to appropriate committees.
 B. Any unfinished business.
 Q. Elections to All vacancies in any of the offices of the city.
 1O Any new business.
 8. The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorim in the transaction of business during the sitting of the coun- A4ntr of dor mn af,n preference 10 any alderman
 4 When any alderman is about to speak or make a motion, he shall arise and ad- dress the presiding officer as MT. Chair man."
 5. If, in speaking or in any other way, any alderman shall violate any rule. the presiding officer shall, or any alderman may, call such member to order, and in such case he shall sit down, unless per mitted by the presiding officer to pro- ceed.
 e When two or more aldermen arise 10 speak at the same time the presiding of- ficer shall decide who is first entitled to speak.
 i. No alderman shall speak more than twice on the same subject without per mission from the board
 S When motion is made and 1T It have A second 1t shall be stated by the presiding officer if verbal; If in writ ing. 1t shall be read by the clerk ana at the request of the presiding officer or any alderman all motions shall be put In writing No motion shall be written m less than one-half sheet of copy pa ner. when so read. the presiding officer .hall nut all motions to the vote of the aldermen .
 s All motions resolutions and ordl- nances shall be open to as many as three f,, amendments and no more, unles sthis rule may be suspended by two-thirus vote.
 10. In all cases where an amendment shall be offered the question shall be hfst nut. Shall the amendment be allowed! and if so allowed, then the vote shaii ie taken upon tie motion, resolution or or dinance as amended
 n If the amendment be lost, then the original motion, resolution or oru'hai'ee shall be put upon its passage.
 10 A motion to adjourn shall always De in order. and shall be decided without de- pate. u .
 R. The previous question shall nave o,aoeaence over all other notions except motion to adjourn and a motion to lay ,non the table and shall. if sustained, oreclude all debate and all amendments, nd inc same shall be put in this form, .s.halI the main question be now put
 ;l Any alderman having voted with r.ioritv on any question may move Tor recon nsiderstlon of the question at that ,eeting or at the next succeeding meet ne of the council. but not afterwards. .x. The president of the council shall