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Order and Decorum
1. When the presiding officer takes the chair every member is to be seated.
2. When any member means to speak, he is to stand up, uncovered, and to address himself-not to those around, or to any particular member-but to the presiding officer, who calls him by his name; or, better still, indicates him by his position, or otherwise, that the body may take notice who it is that speaks. But a member who is indisposed may be indulged to speak sitting.
3. When a member stands up to speak, no question is to be put; but he is to be heard, unless the body overrules him.
4. If two or more rise to speak nearly together, the chairman decides who was first up, and calls him by name or location; whereupon he proceeds, unless he voluntarily sits down, and gives way to the other. But if the chairman is not clear in his mind, or the body does not acquiesce in his decision, the question is to be put as to which was first up.
5. No man can speak more than once to the same question, not even though he change his opinion in the meanwhile, unless by unanimous consent.
6. But if he be the mover, proposer, or introducer of the question pending, he may close the debate; but only after every one desiring to speak on it shall have been heard. -
7. Or he may be permitted to speak again, to clear a matter of fact; or merely to explain himself in some material part of his speech; or to the manner and words of the question keeping himself to that only, and not travelling into the merits of it; or to the orders of the body, if they be transgressed, keeping within that line.
8. If the chairman rise to state a point of order, give information, or otherwise speak within his privilege, the member standing up must resume his seat, that the chairman may be first heard.
9. No one is to speak impertinently or beside the question, superfluously or tediously.
10. No person is to use indecent language against the proceedings of the body; and no prior determination of which is to be reflected on by any member, unless he means to conclude with a motion to rescind it. While a proposition is under consideration, however, though it has been even reported by a committee, reflections upon it are not reflections upon the body itself.
11. No person, in speaking, is to mention a member then present by his name; but to describe him by his seat, or as one who spoke last; or on the other side of the question; or in some other indirect way to identify him
12. Nor is he to digress from the matter to fall upon the person; nor to use even unmanly words against a member; nor to arraign the motives of those who propose or advocate it. All such violations of order it is the duty of the chair to immediately suppress.
13. When a member shall be called to order by a member or the chair, he shall sit down until the point of order is decided. The member who makes the call shall state his point of order, and the question shall be decided by the chair, without debate; subject of course, to an appeal.
14. While the chair is putting a question, or addressing the body, none shall walk out of or across the room; nor, in such case, nor while a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse; nor, while a member is speaking, shall pass between him and the chair. Every member shall remain uncovered while the body is in session. No member, or other person, shall visit or remain near the secretary's table while the ayes and noes are being called, or the ballots counted.
15. No one is to disturb another in his speech by hissing, coughing, spitting, or rude exclamations; nor stand up to interrupt him; nor pass between the chair and the speaking member, nor go across the house while he is speaking; nor walk up and down the floor; nor take books or papers from the table, or write there. Nevertheless, if no attention is paid to what the member says, it is a piece of prudence for him to sit down, as the ill-manners of his colleagues are prima facie evidence that he is saying nothing worth the hearing.
16. If repeated calls do not produce order, the chair may call any member by name who obstinately persists in irregularity, whereupon the main body may require the member to sit down. He must be heard in exculpation, if it is intended to proceed further, and then withdraw to await the further action of his colleagues, who may pass a vote of censure upon him; or, if he persist, may act in his case in the manner prescribed in the by-laws of the body.
17. Disorderly words are not to be noted until the member finishes his speech unless they are manifestly personal, indecent, blasphemous, or reflecting upon the house. The offensive words are to be taken down by the member who objects, or by the secretary, at his request. If the chair thinks they are not disorderly, he directs them not to be taken down by the secretary, unless there be a general cry to the contrary. They are to be read, when taken down, to the member, who may deny them; in which case the body shall decide by vote whether they are his or not. they are voted to be his, or if he acknowledges them, he must justify them satisfactorily explain the use of them, or apologize. If the offended member still persists, and is not satisfied, the sense of the body may be taken, during which both members, must withdraw. But when business has intervened, or any member spoken after the offensive words, they cannot be taken down. If
18. Disorderly words spoken in committee must be written down, as in the main body; but the committee can only report them to the latter for its action.
19. Blasphemous or seditious words, or words reflecting on the religious belief of members or on religion generally, are not in order.
20. No member can be present when anything which concerning himself is debating, much less vote upon it; nor is any member to speak to the merit of it until he withdraws. Nevertheless, he may be heard upon it, before he withdraws.
21. No member is to come into the place of meeting, or remain there, with his head covered, nor put on his hat while there.
22. A question of order may be adjourned for a time, to look into precedents.
23. When a member is called to order, he shall sit down at once, unless permitted to explain. If the body be appealed to, it shall decide the question without debate; if there be no appeal, the decision of the chair shall be submitted to. If the decision be in favor of the member, he shall be allowed to proceed; if against him, he shall not proceed without the leave of the body; and the body may, if it think proper, proceed to censure him.
24. All decisions of the presiding officer are liable to be reversed, altered, or amended by the body.