24 THREE KINGDOMS. 



special law, a majority of the members constitutes a 

 quorum. 



2. There is properly no business before the house 

 until a member has been recognized by the chairman 

 as having offered a motion. 



3. It requires a two-thirds vote to suppress a ques- 

 tion without permitting debate. 



4. A motion to reconsider a question once decided 

 can only be made by one who has voted affirmatively. 



5. A rule adopted must be enforced by the chair 

 without question. 



6. Motions to lay on the table, and for the previous 

 question, are customary methods for disposing of 

 questions and abridging debate. 



7. Debate must be confined to the question, and 

 personalities are out of order. 



8. Motions which are undebatable are : The previous 

 question ; to lay on or take from the table ; an objec- 

 tion to the consideration of any question ; an appeal 

 relative to indecorum or violation of rule ; questions 

 relative to the order of business, to the withdrawal 

 of a motion, to reading papers, or to suspending the 

 rules ; and motions to adjourn, to fix the time to 

 which to adjourn, or to postpone indefinitely. None 

 of these can be amended except that to fix the time to 

 which to adjourn. Precedence is given to motions in 

 the following order ; and any motion, except to amend, 

 can be made while one of a lower order is pending, 

 but none can supersede one of a higher order : 



1. To fix the time to which to adjourn. 



2. To adjourn. 



3. A call for the order of the day. 



4. To lay on the table. 



5. The previous question. 



6. To postpone to a certain time. 



7. To commit, amend, or postpone indefinitely. 



