[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 111th Congress]
[111st Congress]
[House Document 110-162]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[Pages 198-199]
[From the U.S. Government Printing 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be withdrawn but by leave of the House.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XVI provides further that a motion may be withdrawn before decision or 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 199]]

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.