[Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 109th Congress]
[109th Congress]
[House Document 108-241]
[Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
[Page 258]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 

<>   The question is to be put 
first on the affirmative, and then on the
negative side.

                        sec. xxxix--the question


  Clause 6 of rule I provides more fully for putting the question.

Sec. 490. Effect of putting the question in ending debate. After the Speaker has put the affirmative part of the question, any Member who has not spoken before to the question may rise and speak before the negative be put; because it is no full question till the negative part be put. Scob., 23; 2 Hats., 73.
Sec. 491. Informal putting of the question. But in small matters, and which are of course, such as receiving petitions, reports, withdrawing motions, reading papers, &c., the Speaker most commonly supposes the consent of the House where no objection is expressed, and does not give them the trouble of putting the question formally. Scob., 22; 2 Hats., 79, 2, 87; 5 Grey, 129; 9 Grey, 301.