Page 548 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

signature, when necessary, all the acts nr id proceedings of the house, and generally
to declare its ‘wilt.
He may speak to points of order in preference to others: shall dee Me. all
questions of order, and j[' the house is evenly divided he may give the. rasl mg vote,
it) doing which, he may, if he pleases, give his retisons.
The Clerk,
It, is the duty of the clcrk or secretary to keep correct minutes of the
proceedings of the house; to rear] a[l papers when ordered, and for this purpose
he should always rise ; to call the roll, and state the answer when a vote is taken
by yeas and nays j to have ttie custody of ail papers and documents, and to
authenticate the acts and proceedings of the house by his signature.
Committees.
Standing comtn ittees sit permanently ; special committees perform only some
particular duty, when they are discharged. The person hrst-uamed is usually
regarded as chairman, hut this is only a matter of courtesy; every committee ima
a right to select its owU chairman. Custom, however, has practically taken away
this right, and it is considered bad form to cdcct any otlietr person than the first ■
named as chairman. The mover of a motion to commit, should be placed on the
committee rind first-named, except where the matter committed concerns him per­
sonally, I 11 the appointment of the committee no person directly opposed to the
measure committed should he named, mid when any person who is thus opposed to
same, hears himseJf named of its committee he should ask to be excused.
The chair appoints ah committec-s. Committees do not asdjouru, hat, -when
they have concluded their deliberations, should rise and report. The report should
he presented by the chairman* When ttic report is received the committee is dis­
charged ar.d cannot act further without new power.
Any committee required or on titled to report upon a subject referred to them
may make a majority and minority report, while any member of such committee
dissenting in whole or in part, from either the conclusion or the reasoning of both
the majority and minority, may also present a statement of his reasons tor such
dissent, which should be received in connection with the reports.,
The cormnitl.ee of the whole is an expedient to simplify the business of legist
lative bodies. No record is made of its proceedings. The presiding officer puli'
the question, and, if same is earricd, appoints some person as chairman and then
vacates the chair.
Motions.

Propositions made to a deliberative assembly are called -motions; when the
proposition is put to vote it is called the question. A motion cannot he entertained
or the question put, until the same has been seconded. After this it bceomes the
property of the house, and cannot be withdrawn except by leave. It must be in
writing' whenever the house or presidiug officer requires it, and must he read when
any person demands it for information.