BY-LAWS. 29 



2. There is properly no business before the house 

 until a member has been recognized by the chairman as 

 having 1 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 with- 

 out question. 



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

 question, are customary methods for disposing of ques- 

 tions and abridging debate. 



7. Debate must be confined to the question, and per- 

 sonalities are out of order. 



8. Motions which are imdebatable are: The previous 

 question; to lay on or take from the table; to adjourn, 

 and to fix the time to which to adjourn. 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. 



BY-LAWS. 



Very much of the comfort and harmony of your meet- 

 ings will depend upon the wisdom of your by-laws. They 

 should be simple, short and comprehensive, and should 



