See Sec. 22, p. 164.

Re. 25, Ho. Reps. p. 74.

Custom of Congress.

solved that this committee be discharged from the further consideration of this subject."

REPORTS OF A COMMITTEE.

§ 1. OR a committee may state the facts, &c., and conclude by condensing them and all the reasonings thereon, in the form of a resolution or a series of resolutions, or it may report by resolution without any preliminary observations.

§ 2. All resolutions should recommend definite action, and form the basis of proceeding for an assembly.

§ 3. The first question after a report, is on its reception or adoption. If it contains only a statement of facts, reasonings, or opinions, the question should be on its acceptance.†

§ 4. If, however, it contains a resolution, or definite propositions of any description, the question should be on its adoption.

THE MINORITY REPORT.

§ 1. EACH member of every committee is presumed to have carefully examined the subject re

* In Congress, when the business is unfinished, the form of proceeding varies. The chairman of a committee of the whole House on the state of the Union, reports that "the committee have come to no resolution thereon." The chairman of a committee of the whole House "reports progress, and asks leave to sit again;" and the chairman of a standing or select committee when called on, simply announces the fact that "the committee are not prepared to report." See page 153.

† And the acceptance or adoption of the report, under these circumstances, dissolves a special committee.

ferred, in all its bearings; hence, should any one differ in opinion from his colleagues, and be desirous of placing his views and conclusions before the assembly, he may do so by making a separate and distinct report, immediately after that of the majority.

§ 2. Whenever any one of a committee feels it his duty to make a statement different from his colleagues, he should signify his desire to some member, who should move that action on the report of the majority be postponed in order to hear that of the minority,* and immediately after it is made, a motion will be in order to take up, for consideration, the report of the majority, but that of the minority may be substituted for it, or the subject may be recommitted with instructions, or See recom the whole matter may be referred to a new com-165. mittee.

Re.120,Ho. Reps. p. 100.

mitment, p.

PRECEDENCE OF QUESTIONS.

§ 1. THE proposition first moved and seconded

* When the minority are not ready to report, the whole matter may be postponed till another meeting, or the assembly may proceed at once to act on the report of the majority. Whenever a committee may be divided, the following are the appropriate forms: The undersigned, a majority of the committee on the to whom was referred the relating to have bestowed upon them that deliberate consideration which their importance is entitled to, and beg leave to submit the following report:

Report of the Minority of the Committee on the

The undersigned, a minority of the committee on the -, to which

were referred the relating to

ing report:

beg leave to submit the follow

Jeff. Man. p. 168, this book.

Re. 48, and note, p. 80.

Re. 46, Ho. Reps. p. 79.

Re. 50, Ho. Reps. p. 81.

should be put first, unless a privileged question arises.

§ 2. The following are privileged questions, and have precedence in the order in which they are arranged:

1. A motion to fix the day to which the assembly shall adjourn.

2. To adjourn.

3. To lie on the table.

4. For the previous question.
To postpone to a day certain.

5.

6. To commit.

7. To amend.

8. To postpone indefinitely.

§ 3. The design of the privileged questions is to subserve the interests of the assembly. A proposition, of great benefit, may be brought forward, which the majority may not comprehend, and consequently deem useless, or inexpedient, and which, if put to a direct vote, would be rejected; hence, the motion to lay a proposition on the table, which admits of no amendment, will often prevail, and upon further examination it may be called up and passed by the votes of those who, if urged to vote in the first instance, would have rejected it.

§ 4. The previous question is designed to rid the assembly of an unnecessary discussion. It is not in order, and should not be put unless demanded by a majority present. The postponement to a day certain, gives the members more time for deliber

ating thereon, or affords them an opportunity to attend to other business requiring immediate action.

§ 5. When a proposition ought to be condensed, simplified, or materially altered in any way, it should be referred to a committee. If it need only a slight alteration, a motion to amend it may be all that is necessary.

§ 6. When it is desirable to reject any question in a delicate manner, indefinite postponement should be moved.

See Sec. 5,

p. 169.

privi

§ 7. The main question may also be delayed by leged questhe introduction of questions which affect the per-171 tions, page sonal rights and privileges of the members, or of

the assembly itself; for example, a quarrel may arise between some of those assembled, or the business of the meeting may be interrupted by some other kind of disorder.

Congress.

§ 8. Questions growing out of cases of this de- Custom of scription, take the precedence of all others, except those pertaining to adjournment, and should always be first decided. When order has been restored, business should be immediately resumed at the point at which it was suspended.

§ 9. A question that arises out of another, See p. 170 one, from which it arose; hence an amendment to an amendment should be first put; then the amendment, and lastly the original question, either with or without amendment, as the case may be.

should be decided before the origin?

Cust. Ho

§ 10. When a question of order arises, it arrests Reps. all consideration of the subject out of which it

arose, and should be first decided, after which the business that gave rise to it should, unless disposed of by the question, be resumed at the point at Re. 2, H. which it was suspended. All questions of order should be promptly decided, without debate, by the presiding officer.

Reps., p. 67.

Re. 46, 48,

and 49, Ho. Reps. pages

81.

ADJOURNMENT.

§ 1. A MOTION to adjourn is always in order, un70, 80 and less it be made immediately after the question to adjourn has been negatived;* then it would not be in order, for the question already decided would be the same as the one following it.

Jeff. Man. p. 188, this book.

Custom Ho.
Reps.

§ 2. An assembly may adjourn for conference, or for a certain number of minutes.

§ 3. Should a regular adjournment take place during the consideration of any business, or before any question is decided, the subject before the assembly at the time is thereby removed, and will not come up as the first business of the next meeting, but will take its place as the first item in order on the roll of unfinished business.

Re. 27, Ho. Reps., p. 74.

ORDERS OF THE DAY.

§ 1. WHEN any subject before an assembly is postponed to a certain day, it is called the ORDER for that day. If two or more subjects be postponed to the same day, they form the orders for that day.

* Or unless a motion be made to fix the time to which the assembly will adjourn. [See note to Rule 48, Ho. Reps. p. 80.]