RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1779-1780.

RULES AND ORDERS TO BE OBSERVED BY THE CONVENTION HELD AT CAMBRIDGE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FRAMING A NEW CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, AGREEABLE TO THEIR VOTE OF THE 2D SEPTEMBER, 1779.

1st. The seat now occupied by any member shall be the seat of such member, during the Sitting of this Convention, unless such seat has previously been taken possession of by another Member.

2dly. No member shall speak more than twice to any question, without leave expressly obtained; nor more than once, until others, who have not spoken, shall have delivered their sentiments, if they shall desire it.

3dly. Any member, rising to speak, shall address himself to the President, and as soon as he has done speaking, he shall sit down.

4thly. No member speaking shall be interrupted by another, unless it be by calling to order, or to correct a mistake with respect to matter of fact; and no member shall stand up to the interruption of any one speaking, or to hinder other members from hearing the Delegates, or what is read by the President. 5thly. No member shall declare or scruple any vote, until the President shall have made his declaration thereon.

6thly. It shall be the duty of the Monitors to keep good order in the Convention, and when any vote is questioned, to make return of the numbers in their respective quarters or divisions, voting for or against the motion proposed.

7thly. When a motion shall be made by any member, and seconded by some other member, the same shall be considered as before the Convention, but not otherwise.

8thly. When a Vote is scrupled, it shall be determined by the numbers voting in the affirmative, and the numbers present in the Convention, unless any member shall be excused giving his Vote by the Convention.

9thly. No member shall nominate more than one person for one Committee, provided the person by him first nominated be chosen.

10thly. No Vote shall be reconsidered, unless there be as many of the members in the Convention, at the time of reconsideration, as there were when it was passed.

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1820.

RULES AND ORDERS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE CONVENTION OF DELEGATES FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, MET ON WEDNESDAY, THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER, 1820.

CHAPTER I.

Of the Duties and Powers of the President.

SECT. 1. The President shall take the chair every day, precisely at the hour to which the Convention may have adjourned; shall call the members to order, and on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the journal of the preceding day to be read and proceed to business.

SECT. 2. He shall preserve decorum and order; he may speak to points of order in preference to other members, and shall decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the Convention, on motion of any member regularly seconded.

SECT. 3. He shall declare all votes; but if any one member doubts the vote, the President shall order a return of the convention, with the numbers voting in the affirmative and in the negative, and shall declare the result.

SECT. 4. He shall rise to put a question or address the Convention, but may read sitting.

SECT. 5. In all cases, the President may vote.

SECT. 6. When the Convention shall determine to go into a committee of the whole, the President shall appoint the member who shall take the chair.

SECT. 7. When any member shall require a question to be determined by yeas and nays, the President shall take the sense of the Convention in that manner, provided that one fifth of the members present are in favor of it.