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en in answer before the house is never written down; but before a committee it must be, for the information of the house, who are not present to hear it. 7 Grey 52, 334.

If either house have occasion for the presence of a person in custody of the other, they ask the other their leave that he may be brought up to them in custody. 3 Hats. 52.

A member, in his place, gives information to the house of what he knows of any matter under hearing at the bar. Jour. H. of C. January 22, 1744....5.

Either house may request, but not command the attendance of a member of the other. They are to make the request by message to the other house, and to express clearly the purpose of attendance, that no improper subject of examination may be tendered to him. The house then gives leave to the member to attend, if he choose it; waiting first to know from the member himself whether he chooses to attend, till which, they do not take the message into consideration. But when the peers are sitting as a court of criminal judicature, they may order attendance; unless where it be a case of impeachment by the Commons. There it is to be a request. 3 Hats. 17. 9 Grey 306, 406. 10 Grey 133. Counsel are to be heard only on private, not on public bills, and on such points of law only as the house shall direct. 10 Grey 61.

SECTION XIV.

ARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS.

The Speaker shall cause the clerk of the house to make a list of all bills, resolutions, reports of committees, and other proceedings in the house, which are committed to a committee of the whole house, and which are not made the order of the day, for any particular day, which list shall be called "the general orders of the day." R. of A. 39.

On the meeting of the house, after the reading of the journal, the presentation of petitions shall be first in order; and it shall be the duty of the speaker to call for the same.-R. of A. 40.

When the house have proceeded to the "general orders of the day," no other business shall be in order, until the house have disposed of the same by laying them upon the table, or by postponing them until the next day.-R. of A. 41.

A settled order of business is necessary for the government of the presiding person, and to restrain individual members from calling up favourite measures, or matters under their special patronage, out of their just turn. It is useful also, for directing the discretion of the house, when they are moved to take up a particular matter, to the prejudice of others having priority of right to their attention in the general order of business.

1. After the reading and reference of petitions, however, bills for a second reading are read, that they may be re-committed to a committee of the whole house, and so put under way.

Reports of committees are next in order. These should all be delivered in, that the business may take its proper place upon the general orders of the day. are read the third time, and the

2. Bills ready for Uhich is either to lie on the table,

question taken thereon,

postponed to a day certain, to reject, to re-commit, or that the same do pass. If the latter, the speaker puts the question," Shall this bill pass? Gentlemen, as many as agree that this bill do pass, will say aye—those opposed say no." The speaker then pronounces the vote, "'tis carried," or "'tis lost," as the case may be.

3. Bills and other matters before the house, and unfinished on the preceding day, whether taken up in turn or on special order, are entitled to be resumed and passed on through their present stage.

4. These matters being dispatched, the general orders of the day is again taken up, and each article of it is brought on according to its priority of entry thereon. And although many bills were passed over the day preceding, the general order, except as to the unfinished business, is to be taken up from the beginning of the list of bills undisposed of by the house.

In this way time is not wasted in debating what shall be taken up; one thing is done at a time: thus the house follows up a subject while it is fresh, and till it is done

with; clears the house of business grad atim, and prevents, to a certain degree, its immense accumulation towards the close of the session.

Orders of the day may be called for, even when another question is before the house.

The order of the day shall have the preference to any motion before the house. R. of A. 31.

SECTION XV.

ORDER.

In Parliament, "instances make order," per speaker Onslow, 2 Hats. 141. but what is done only by one Parliament, cannot be called custom of Parliament, by Prynne. 1 Grey 52.

SECTION XVI.

ORDER RESPECTING PAPERS.

The clerk is to let no journals, records, accounts, or papers be taken from the table, or out of his custody. 2 Hats. 193, 194.

Mr. Prynne having at a committee of the whole amended a mistake in a bill without order or knowledge of the committee, was reprimanded. 1 Chand. 77.

A bill being missing, the house resolved that a protestation should be made and subscribed by the members "before Almighty God and this honourable house, that neither myself nor any other to my knowledge, have taken away, or do at this present concéal a bill entitled, &c. 5 Grey 202.

After a bill is engrossed, it is put into the speaker's hands, and he is not to let any one have it to look into. Town. col. 209.

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SECTION XVII.

ORDER IN DEBATE.

When the speaker is seated in his chair, every member is to sit in his place. Scob. 6. 3 Grey 403.

When any member means to speak, he is to stand up in his place, uncovered, and to address himself, not to the house, or any particular member, but to the speaker, who calls him by his name, that the house may take notice who it is that speaks. Scob. 6. D'Ewes, 487. Col. 1. 2 Hats. 77. 4 Grey 66. 8 Grey 108. But members who are indisposed may be indulged to speak sitting. 2 Hats. 75, 77. 1 Grey 195.

Every member, previous to his speaking, shall rise from his seat, and address himself to the speaker.-R. of A. 6.

When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, unless to amend it; to lay it on the table ; to commit it; to postpone it to a day certain; for the previous question; or to adjourn.-R. of A. 11.

The previous question, until it is decided, shall preclude all amendment and debate of the main question, and shall be decided in this form-shall the main question be now put ?-R. of A. 13.

No member shall speak more than once, without leave, upon a previous question.-R. of A. 14.

A motion for commitment, until it is decided, shall preclude all amendment of the main question.-R. of A. 15. When a member stands up to speak, no question is to be put, but he is to be heard, unless the house overrule him. 4 Grey 390. 5 Grey 6, 143.

If two or more rise to speak nearly together, the speaker determines who was first up, and calls him by name, whereupon he proceeds, unless he voluntarily sits down and gives way to the other. But sometimes the house does not acquiesce in the speaker's decision, in which case the question is put "which member was first up 2 Hats. 76 Scob. 7. D'Ewes 434. col. 1, 2.

In the assembly of New-York, when two or more members rise at once, the speaker shall name the member who is first to speak. R. of A. 7.

No man may speak more than once to the same bill on the same day; or even on another day if the debate be adjourned. But if it be read more than once in the same day, he may speak once at every reading. Co. 12, 116. Hakew. 148. Scob. 58. 2 Hats. 75. Even a change of opinion does not give a right to be heard a second time. Smyth Comw. L. 2. c. 3. Arcan. Parl. 17.

The corresponding rule of assembly, is in these words: No member shall speak more than twice to the same question, without leave of the house; nor more than once, until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.R. of A. 8.

But he may be permitted to speak again to clear a matter of fact. 3 Grey 357, 416. Or merely to explain himself, 2 Hats. 73. in some material part of his speech, ib. 75. or to the manner or words of the question, keeping himself to that only and not travelling into the merits of it; Memorials in Hakew. 29. or to the orders of the house if they be transgressed, keeping within that line, and not falling into the matter itself. Mem. in Hakew. 30, 31.

But if the speaker rises to speak, the member standing up ought to sit down, that he may be first heard. Town. col. 205. Hale Parl. 133. Mem. in Hakew. 30, 31. Nevertheless, though the speaker may of right speak to matters of order and be first heard, he is restrained from speaking on any other subject, except where the house have occasion for facts within his knowledge; then he may, with their leave, state the matter of fact. 3 Grey 38. No one is to speak impertinently or beside the question, superfluously or tediously. Scob. 31 33. 2 Hats. 166, 168. Hale Parl. 133.

No person is to use indecent language against the proce edings of the house, no prior determination of which is to be reflected on by any member, unless he means to conclude with a motion to rescind it. 2 Hats. 169, 170. Rushw. P. 3. v. 1. fol. 42. But while a proposition is under consideration, is still in fieri, though it has even been reported by a committee, reflections on it are no reflections on the house. 9 Grey 508.

No person in speaking, is to mention a member then present by his name; but to describe him by his seat in

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