    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 113th Congress]
    [113rd Congress]
    [House Document 112-161]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Pages 201-202]
    [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    be withdrawn but by leave of the House.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.

      The House has long since dispensed with the requirement of a second
    for ordinary motions (clause 1 of rule XVI; V, 5304); and the
    requirement of a second for a motion to suspend the rules was eliminated
    in the 102d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1991, p. 39). Clause 2 of rule
    XVI provides further that a motion may be withdrawn before decision or
    amendment (see Sec. 904, infra); and clause 1 of the same rule provides
    that the motion shall be reduced to writing on the demand of any Member
    (see Sec. 902, infra). 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).

    [[Page 202]]

    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.

    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

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