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The motion to take up a bill out of its order, after the rule has been suspended for that purpose, requires only a majority of those voting.

These directions are in accordance with the rules adopted at the session of 1890. Of course they would have to be varied if the rules cited should be materially amended.

Any bill or resolution may be taken up and acted upon out of its order, to any required extent, without previous notice, by the unanimous consent of the House being obtained therefor.

FORMS AND PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.

As each member is liable to be called to the chair, when the House goes into Committee of the Whole, it will be useful to those who have not previously occupied that position, nor have had practice as presiding officers, to familiarize themselves with the forms of proceeding on such an occasion. For this purpose, the following forms and instructions are given:

When the House has resolved to go into Committee of the Whole on one or more bills or subjects, the Speaker requests some member, calling him by name, to take the chair.

On taking his place, the Chairman says:

The House is now in Committee of the Whole on the bill entitled "An Act," etc. (here read the title from the copy which the Clerk furnishes).

The Chairman will then say :

The Clerk will read the bill by sections.

If, however, the Committee so direct, the Chairman says: The Clerk will read the bill through.

The Clerk having read the bill through, the Chairman says:

The Clerk will read the bill by sections.

After the Clerk reads the first section, the Chairman says:

Are there any amendments to be proposed to the first section?

If none are proposed, after waiting a proper time, the Chairman says:

If not, the Clerk will read the second section.

The same process is gone through with until all the sections have been disposed of, when the Chairman announces:

Amendments generally are now in order.

Under this head, amendments not before offered and acted on, can be proposed to any section of the bill. If none are offered, the Chairman says:

The Clerk will read the title of the bill.

When this is done, the Chairman inquires :

Are there any amendments to the title?

None being proposed, the Chairman next asks:

What is the further pleasure of the committee?

Here some member usually moves to rise and report the bill to the House, and recommend its passage. If, however, it is the first or second of the three bills referred, the motion is that when the committee rise, they report, etc. The motion is put thus:

Mr. Smith (or the gentleman from

moves that the committee do now rise and report (or that when this committee rise, they report) this bill to the House and recommend its passage. Is the committee ready for the question?

Gentlemen: You who are in favor of this motion will say aye. Those opposed will say no. The motion is carried (or lost, as the case may be).

If the motion is carried, and it is the first or second bill referred, the Chairman announces the next in like form as before. If it is the last bill, the Chairman then leaves the chair, which is resumed by the Speaker. The Chairman then advances opposite to the Speaker's chair, and makes his report on each bill in succession, in the following

manner.

Mr. Speaker:

The Speaker responds:
Mr. Chairman:

The Chairman proceeds:

The Committee of the Whole have had under consideration the bill entitled "An act," etc. (here recite the title), have gone through with the

same, made no amendment (or an amendment, or some amendments, as the case may be) thereto, and have directed their Chairman to report the same to the House and recommend its passage.

The Chairman, after reporting on all the bills referred to the same Committee of the Whole, retires to his seat, and the Speaker proceeds to put the question on disposing of the report.

If, during the consideration of the bill in the Committee of the Whole, amendments are proposed, the question on their adoption is put in the ordinary form. The Chairman first states the amendment or directs the Clerk to read it. He then asks:

Is the committee ready for the question?

If no further amendment or debate offer, he proceeds to put the question in the usual manner of putting any question to vote in a public assembly, deciding the question by the response of "Aye" and "No."

The strict parliamentary rule is, that a section cannot be amended after a motion to amend has once been negatived, and the section has been passed without further amendments being proposed; the idea being that the vote of the committee against amending is equivalent to approving the section as it stands, and that the entertainment of further amendments would be only a waste of time. But practice has sanctioned a more liberal construction. The rule as to amendments in Committee of the Whole, is more particularly given in Crosswell's Manual, included hereinafter.

It is competent for the committee, while amendments are in order, to reconsider the vote upon any amendment previously made. When a motion of this character is made, the question is stated thus:

Mr. Smith (or the gentleman from) moves to reconsider the vote upon the adoption

to this section

of the amendment of Mr.

(or the

-section).

If any member desires to know what the amendment is, the Chairman states it or directs the Clerk to read it, and then says:

Is the committee ready for the question?

If no one rises to debate, he puts the question. When the motion to reconsider is carried, and the decision is properly announced, the Chairman says:

The question now recurs upon the adoption of the amendment. Is the committee ready, etc.

If, at any time during the consideration of a bill, in Committee of the Whole, a motion is made to rise and report progress (or if it is the first or second bill, that when the committee rise they report progress), it is in order and must be decided without debate. If it is the last bill, and the question is decided in the affirmative, the committee immediately rises, and the Chairman makes his report:

Mr. Speaker:

The Speaker responds:
Mr. Chairman :

The Chairman proceeds:

The Committee of the Whole have had under consideration the bill entitled (here recite the title), have made some progress therein, but, not having gone through therewith, have directed their Chairman to report that fact to the House, and to ask leave to sit again.

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