    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 104th Congress]
    [104th Congress]
    [House Document 103-342]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 186-187]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                SEC. XX.--MOTION.

    Sec. 392. Parliamentary law as to making, withdrawing, and
    reading of motions.

        When a motion has been made, it is not to be put
    to the question or debated until it is seconded. Scob., 21.

      It is then, and not till then, in possession of the House, and can not
    be withdrawn but by leave of the House. It is to be put into writing, if
    the House or Speaker require it, and must be read to the House by the
    Speaker as often as any Member desires it for his information. 2 Hats.,
    82.

    [[Page 187]]
    withdrawn ``before decision or amendment''; and clause 1 of the same
    rule provides that the motion shall be reduced to writing ``on the
    demand of any Member.'' In the practice of the House, when a paper on
    which the House is to vote has been read once, the reading may not be
    required again unless the House shall order it read (V, 5260).

      The rules of the House of Representatives (clause 1 of rule XVI) have
    long since dispensed with the requirement of a second for ordinary
    motions (V, 5304). Clause 2 of rule XVI provides further that a motion
    may be

    Sec. 393. Interruptions of the Member having the
    floor.

      It  might be asked whether a motion for adjournment or for the
    orders of the day can be made by one Member while another is speaking?
    It can not. When two Members offer to speak, he who rose first is to be
    heard, and it is a breach of order in another to interrupt him, unless
    by calling him to order if he departs from it. And the question of order
    being decided, he is still to be heard through. A call for adjournment,
    or for the order of the day, or for the question, by gentlemen from
    their seats, is <> not a motion. No motion
    can be made without rising and addressing the Chair. Such calls are
    themselves breaches of order, which, though the Member who has risen may
    respect, as an expression of impatience of the House against further
    debate, yet, if he chooses, he has a right to go on.

      The practice of the House of Representatives has modified the
    principle that the Member who rises first is to be recognized (clause 2
    of rule XIV); but in other respects the principles of this paragraph of
    the law of Parliament are in force.