CHAPTER IV. OF THE INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS. 43. The proceedings of a deliberative assembly, in reference to any particular subject, are ordinarily set in motion, in the first instance, by some one of the members either presenting a communication from persons not members, or himself submitting a proposition to the assembly. 44. Communications made to the assembly are of two kinds, namely, those which are merely for its information in matters. of fact, and those which contain a request for some action on the part of the assembly, either of a general nature, or for the benefit of an individual. The latter only, as they alone constitute a foundation for future proceedings, require to be noticed. 45. Propositions made by members are drawn up and introduced, by motion, in the form which they are intended by the mover to bear, as orders, resolutions, or votes, if they should be adopted by the assembly. These propositions, of whatever nature they may be, are usually denominated motions, until they are adopted; they then take the name which properly belongs to them. 46. When a member has occasion to make any communication whatever to the assembly, - whether to present a petition or other paper, or to make or second a motion of any kind, or merely to make a verbal statement, as well as when one desires to address the assembly in debate, he must, in the first place, as the expression is, "obtain the floor" for the purpose he has in view. In order to do this, he must rise in his place1, and, standing uncovered, address himself to the presiding officer, by his title; the latter, on hearing himself thus addressed, calls to the member by his name; and the member may then, but not before, proceed with his business. 47. If two or more members rise and address themselves to the presiding officer, at the same time, or nearly so, he should give 1 In the house of representatives of Massachusetts, where each member's seat is regularly assigned to him, and numbered, it has been found useful, in deciding upon the claims of several competitors for the floor, to prefer one who rises in his place, to a member who addresses the speaker from the area, the passageways, or the seat of any other member. the floor to the member, whose voice he first heard. If his decision should not be satisfactory, any member may call it in question, saying that in his opinion such a member (not the one named) was first up, and have the sense of the assembly taken thereon, as to which of the members should be heard. In this case, the question should be first taken upon the name of the member announced by the presiding officer; and, if this question should be decided in the negative, then upon the name of the member for whom the floor was claimed in opposition to him. 48. The mode of proceeding upon such communications from persons not members, as are above alluded to, may be explained by that adopted on the presentation of a petition, which may be considered as the representative of the whole class to which it belongs. 49. A petition, in order to be received, should be subscribed by the petitioner himself, with his own hand, either by name or mark, except in case of inability from sickness, or because the petitioner is attending in person; and should be presented or offered, not by the petitioner himself, but by some member to whom it is intrusted for that purpose. 50. The member, who presents a petition, should previously have informed himself of its contents, so as to be able to state the substance of it, on offering it to the assembly, and also to be prepared to say, if any question should be made, that in his judgment it is couched in proper language, and contains nothing intentionally disrespectful to the assembly. 51. Being thus prepared, the member rises in his place, with the petition in his hand, and informs the assembly that he has a certain petition, stating the substance of it, which he thereupon presents or offers to the assembly, and, at the same time moves (which, however, may be done by any other member) that it be received; this motion being seconded, the question is put whether the assembly will receive the petition or not. This is the regular course of proceeding; but, in practice, there is seldom any question made on receiving a petition; the presiding officer usually taking it for granted, that there is no objection to the reception, unless it be stated. If, however, any objection is made to a petition, before it has been otherwise disposed of, the presiding officer ought to retrace his steps and require a motion of reception to be regularly made and seconded. [¶ 317.] 52. If the question of reception is determined in the affirmative, the petition is brought up to the table by the member presenting it; and is there read as of course by the clerk. It is then regularly before the assembly, to be dealt with as it thinks proper; the usual course being either to proceed to consider the subject of it immediately, or to assign some future time for its consideration, or to order it to lie on the table for the examination and consider. ation of the members individually. 53. Whenever a member introduces a proposition of his own, for the consideration of the assembly, he puts it into the form he desires it should have, and then moves that it be adopted as the resolution, order, or vote of the assembly. If this proposition so far meets the approbation of other members, that one of them rises in his place and seconds it, it may then be put to the question; and the result, whether affirmative or negative, becomes the judgment of the assembly. 54. A motion must be submitted in writing; otherwise the presiding officer will be justified in refusing to receive it; he may do so, however, if he pleases, and is willing to take the trouble himself to reduce it to writing. This |