Roberts Rules of Order | Page 6

"Society," or "Convention," or "Board." The term "Congress,"

when used in this Manual, refers to the House of Representatives of the
U.S.
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Part I.
Rules of Order.
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Art. I. Introduction of Business. [§§ 1-5.]
1. All business should be brought before the assembly by a motion of a
member, or by the presentation of a communication to the assembly. It
is not usual, however, to make a motion to receive the reports of
committees [§ 30] or communications to the assembly; and in many
other cases in the ordinary routine of business, the formality of a
motion is dispensed with; but should any member object, a regular
motion becomes necessary.
2. Before a member can make a motion or address the assembly upon
any question, it is necessary that he obtain the floor; that is, he must
rise and address the presiding officer
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by his title, thus: "Mr. Chairman" [§ 34], who will then announce the
member's name. Where two or more rise at the same time the Chairman
must decide who is entitled to the floor, which he does by announcing
that member's name. From this decision, however, an appeal [§ 14] can
he taken; though if there is any doubt as to who is entitled to the floor,
the Chairman can at the first allow the assembly to decide the question
by a vote--the one getting the largest vote being entitled to the floor.
The member upon whose motion the subject under discussion was

brought before the assembly (or, in case of a committee's report, the
one who presented the report) is entitled to be recognized as having the
floor (if he has not already had it during that discussion),
notwithstanding another member may have first risen and addressed the
Chair. If the Chairman rise to speak before the floor has been assigned
to any one, it is the duty of a member who may have previously risen to
take his seat. [See Decorum in Debate, § 36.]
When a member has obtained the floor, he cannot be cut off from
addressing the assembly, nor be interrupted in this speech by a
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motion to adjourn, or for any purpose, by either the Chairman or any
member, except (a) to have entered on the minutes a motion to
reconsider [§ 27]; (b) by a call to order [§ 14]; (c) by an objection to the
consideration of the question [§ 15]; or (d) by a call for the orders of
the day [§ 13].* [See note to § 61.] In such cases the member when he
arises and addresses the Chair should state at once for what purpose he
rises, as, for instance, that he "rises to a point of order." A call for an
adjournment, or for the question, by members in their seats, is not a
motion; as no motion can be made, without rising and addressing, the
Chair, and being announced by the presiding officer. Such calls for the
question are themselves breaches of order, and do not prevent the
speaker from going on if he pleases.
3. Before any subject is open to debate [§ 34] it is necessary, first, that
a motion he made; second, that it be seconded, (see exceptions below);
and third, that it be stated by the presiding officer. When the motion is
in writing it shall be handed to the Chairman, and read before it is
debated.
This does not prevent suggestions of alterations, before the question is
stated by the
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presiding officer. To the contrary, much time may be saved by such

informal remarks; which, however, must never be allowed to run into
debate. The member who offers the motion, until it has been stated by
the presiding officer, can modify his motion, or even withdraw it
entirely; after it is stated he can do neither, without the consent of the
assembly. [See §§ 5 and 17]. When the mover modifies his motion, the
one who seconded it can withdraw his second.
Exceptions: A call for the order of the day, a question of order (though
not an appeal), or an objection to the consideration of a question [§§ 13,
14, 15], does not have to be seconded; and many questions of routine
are not seconded or even made; the presiding officer merely
announcing that, if no objection is made, such will be considered the
action of the assembly.
4. All Principal Motions [§ 6], Amendments and Instructions to
Committees, should be in writing, if required by the presiding officer.
Although a question is complicated, and capable of being made into
several questions, no one member (without there is a special rule
allowing it) can insist upon its being divided; his resource is to