[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be withdrawn but by leave of the House.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withdrawn ``before decision or amendment''; and clause 1 of the same 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.