·Previous question applies to. - The previous question applies to a question of privilege equally with any other question. Barclay's Digest, p. 173.

QUESTION- when divisible. — Jefferson says: A question to be divisible must comprehend points so distinct and entire, that one of them being taken away the other may stand." Warrington, p. 49.

If a motion be made to insert or strike out a section, then a motion to amend it; the motion to amend must be first put. Warrington, p. 26.

-

- Division of. — A division of the question is not in order on a motion to commit with instructions, or on the different branches of instructions.

RECESS. When not in order.

Pending a motion to suspend the rules, so as to take an immediate vote on a proposition, a motion for a recess is not in order.

RECONSIDERATION.

Barclay's Digest, p. 207.

- The right to move a. Where a vote is not taken by ayes and nays, and consequently no record made of each member's vote, it is the well-settled practice to permit any member to move a reconsideration.

-When in order. It is in order at any time, even when a member is on the floor, or the highest privileged question is pending, on the same or succeeding day, to move a reconsideration, and have it entered, but it cannot be taken up and considered while another question is before the house.

— If papers are out of the house. - A motion to reconsider, if made in time, may be entertained, notwithstanding the papers connected with the original proposition have gone out of the possession of the house.

It is not in order to move a reconsideration of a vote sustaining a decision of the chair, after subsequent action has resulted from such decision which it is impossible for the house to reverse.

Where a motion to reconsider has been once put and decided, it is not in order to repeat the motion.

A motion to reconsider a vote laying a motion to reconsider on the table, is not in order.

- Cannot reconsider:

A motion to lay on the table.

Barclay's Digest, p. 198.
Roberts, p. 62.

A motion to take from the table.

A motion to adjourn.

Warrington, p. 45.

A motion to reconsider is not amendable

Previous question may be moved to suppress any other original motion, but not on an amendment, on any other merely subsidiary motion, as to commit or postpone.

Cushing, p. 556.

When the previous question is moved on the motion to reconsider the previous question applies only to that. Warrington, p. 36.

REPORT.-Minority. It sometimes happens that one or more members of a committee will dissent from the views of the majority, and that they will naturally desire to express their antagonistic opinions in a written paper. This paper is usually called a minority report.' But the term is an inaccurate one, since the decision of parliamentary law is, that the minority of a committee cannot make a report, a minority not being a committee. Such reports are not known in the British parliament, but in congress, by a courtesy of the house, they are on motion received with the report of the majority and are printed, postponed, or considered in the same manner. Their effect seems to be to serve as a basis for amendments to be moved in the resolutions proposed by the majority. It has been usual, although not strictly parliamentary, in popular assemblies, when there are two reports, to move that the report of the minority be adopted. Such a motion is only admissible on the ground that it is to be viewed as a motion for a substitute, by way of amendment to the report of the majority.

If such a motion is adopted, its effect is the change of the character of the majority report, and the adoption of the report as so amended. But at this stage a motion might be made to lie on the table, to commit, or to postpone. In a word, the report of a minority can only be treated as any other amendment to that of the majority.

One more observation is necessary. The report of the minority does not, I think, so adhere, ir parliamentary phrase, to that of the majority, that a vote to lay the former on the table would carry the latter with it. It is one of the exceptions to the general rule, that whatever adheres to the subject of a motion goes to the table with it.

MacKay's Parliamentary Law, pp. 190 and 191.

RULES.— To suspend. — If a motion to suspend the rules for a particular purpose is decided in the negative, there can be no reconsideration of the vote, nor in any second motion to suspend the rules for the same purpose in order on the same day unless the motion is varied in its terms, or is for a different time, or unless some intervening business takes place; but a second suspension for the same purpose is in order on a different day, and a vote to suspend the rules may be reconsidered. Cushing, p. 1487.

A motion to suspend the rules is not debatable.

Mell, par. 163. SPECIAL ORDERS.- To make a special order requires a two-thirds vote. The same to postpone and rescind.

Roberts, p. 97.

When there are two special orders for the same day, the first must be disposed of before the second is taken up. Warrington, p. 72.

SPECIAL SESSIONS.— When the house is in special session for a special purpose no other business is in order, even by unanimous consent.

This principle is recognized in the Constitution, article 4, section 4, which reads: At extraordinary sessions no subject shall be acted upon, except such as the governor may recommend for consideration.

TABLE.-Negative and affirmative vote to lie on the.—A negative vote on a motion to lie on the table may be reconsidered.

Ii a motion to reconsider be laid on the table, the latter vote cannot be reconsidered. Barclay's Digest, p. 134.

VOTES --Change of.-In a legislative body no member is allowed, under any circumstance, to vote or change his vote after the result is announced by the chair. Under such circumstances, a member, if he desires to have his opinion known, may, if allowed, have a statement put upon the journal as to the way he would have voted.

Warrington, p. 25.

-Tie.-When there is a tie vote the motion fails unless the chair gives his vote in the affirmative. Where his vote will make a tie, he can cast it, and thus defeat the measure. Roberts, p. 94.