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HomeHow to Conduct a Debate › The President

The President

"The meeting [or society, or club, or association, as the case may be] will come to order."

If there have been a meeting previous: "The secretary will please to read the minutes."

After the minutes have been read: "You have heard the minutes of the previous meeting read. What order do you take on them?"

When a motion has been made and seconded : "It has been moved and seconded that [here state the motion]. Are you ready for the question ?"

If a member arises to speak, recognize him by naming him by his place, or in In putting the question : any way which will identify him without using his name, if possible. " It has been moved and seconded [here state the motion]. So many as are in favor of the motion will signify their assent by saying 'Aye!'” When the ayes have voted, say : "Those to the contrary opinion, 'No!'" Or have the resolution read and say: "It has been moved and seconded that the resolution just read be passed. So many as are in favor," etc.

On a call for the previous question : "Shall the main question be now put? Those in the affirmative will," etc. On an appeal, state the decision, and, if you think proper, the reason therefor, and that it has been appealed from, and then : "Shall the decision of the chair stand? Those in the affirmative," etc. Should it be sustained, say: "The ayes have it. The decision of the chair stands as the judgment of this meeting" [or society, etc., as the case may be].

Should it not be sustained, say: ) "The noes have it. The decision of the chair is reversed." In announcing the result of a question, if it be carried, say : "The ayes appear to have it-the ayes have it-the motion [or amendment, as the case may be] is carried."

If it be lost : "The noes appear to have it-the noes have it-the motion is lost." If a division be called: "A division is called for. Those in favor of the motion will rise." Count them. When counted, announce the number, and say: "Those opposed will rise."

Count them, report the number, and declare the result. If the yeas and nays be called for, and no objection be made, he states the question, if needed, and says: "As the roll is called, members will vote in the affirmative or negative. The secretary will call the roll."

After the ayes and nays have been determined, the chairman states the number and declares the result. If no quorum be present at the hour of meeting, after waiting a reasonable time, he says: "The hour for which this meeting was called having arrived and past, and no quorum being present, what order is to be taken ?"

Or, he may simply announce the fact, and wait for a member to move an adjournment.

If during a meeting some member calls for a count, he counts, and announces if a quorum be present or not. If not, he says: "This meeting is in want of a quorum. What order is to be taken ?" Or he may state the fact only, and wait for a motion to adjourn. But while there is no quorum present, business must be suspended. After the minutes have been adopted, he says: "The next business in order is the reports of standing committees." If none, or after they have reported, he says: "The reports of the special committees are next in order." And so he announces each business in its proper succession. When the hour for the orders of the day arrives, on call of a member, he says: etc. "Shall the orders of the day be taken up? So many as are in favor," In case of disorder in committee of the whole, which its chairman cannot repress, the presiding officer may say : "The committee of the whole is dissolved. The society or club, or association as the case may be] will come to order. Members will take their seats." whole.

He will then take the chair, instead of the chairman of the committee of the In taking the question on amendment he says: "The question will be on the amendment offered by the member from [naming his place, or otherwise indicating him]," and then puts the question. If on an amendment to an amendment, then : "The question will be on the amendment to the amendment," and the rest as before.

If either the amendment or the amendment to the amendment be carried, he will say: "The question now recurs on the resolution as amended. Are you ready for the question?"

And if no member rises to speak, he will put the question. On the motion to amend by striking out the words from a resolution, he says: "It is moved to amend by striking out the words naming them]. Shall those words stand?" And then he puts the question.

Objection being made to the reading of a paper, he will say: "Shall the paper [naming it] be read?" and then put the question. And on an objection being made to the reception of a report, he will say: " Shall the report of the committee be received?" and after the demand he puts the question.

When in doubt as to which member was up first, he says: "The chair is in doubt as to which member is entitled to the floor. The society [or club, or association, as the case may be] will decide. Was the gentleman from -indicating any one] first up?" And puts the question. If the body decide against that member, he puts the question on the next, and so through, until the society decides that some one of them has the floor. If but two contend, however, and the society decide against the first named, the decision virtually entitles the other to the floor without further vote.

If a member is out of order, he will say: "The member [indicating him] is out of order." He will make him take his seat, and then state wherein the member is out of order. If the point of order is raised by a member, he will say. "The member [indicating him] will state his point of order." When this has been done, he decides the point.

On a question of the time of adjournment, he says: "It has been moved and seconded that when this meeting [or club, etc., as the case may be] adjourns, it adjourn to [naming time and place]. Are you ready for the question?" And if no one rises to speak, put the question. On a question of adjournment, he says: "It has been moved and seconded that this meeting (or club, etc.] do now adjourn;" and puts the question.

When adjournment is carried, he says: " This society [or club, etc.] stands adjourned to" [naming time and place]; or if without any time, he says: "This society [or club, etc.] stands adjourned without day."

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