PARLIAMENTARY RULES. 737 



tion, commencing with the amendments if there be any pending. The effect 

 of the call and vote on the previous question, as it is called, is simply to shut 

 off all debate and have the voting proceeded with in the regular way. 



8. A motion to reconsider must be made by a person who voted in the 

 affirmative when the question was adopted ; is debatable when the main ques- 

 tion was, and opens up the whole subject for discussion. The following 

 motions cannot be reconsidered : First, to reconsider ; second, to adjourn ; 

 third, to refer a question ; fourth, that the committee do not rise ; fifth, to 

 suspend the rules ; sixth, to take up from the table, and probably some 

 others. 



9. A person claiming a question of privilege may interrupt another who 

 has the floor, by rising to his feet and addressing the President with a " ques- 

 tion of privilege." The President will ask him to state his question of privi- 

 lege. He should then state why the subject he wishes to speak on is a 

 privileged question, and if the President rules that it is, he may keep the floor 

 and speak on the question, and when he has concluded the floor will revert to 

 the person interrupted. A person wishing to make a point of order has a 

 similar right to the floor for that purpose at any time. He should rise and 

 say: "Mr. President, 11 and when recognized say, "a point of order." The 

 President will say: " State the point of order." When stated the President 

 shall rule the point of order " well taken " or not well taken." If the ruling 

 does not give satisfaction, an appeal may be taken to the house. An appeal 

 on a simple point of order is not debatable, but if it involves a question of 

 law it is usually debatable. 



10. The person who makes a motion has the right to claim the floor for 

 opening and closing the debate, and may claim the floor even after a call has 

 been made for the " previous question." The rule is that all other persons 

 can only speak once to a question without consent of the house. The Presi- 

 dent is supposed to protect the audience from having their time consumed by 

 those who would rise and express every new idea that popped into their 

 heads, consequently he will not allow the second speech on the same question 

 without the consent of the house. 



