Page:Bourinots Rules of Order 1918.djvu/30

 law of all assemblies in this country. It is only in the case of the election of speaker that the reverse of this practice obtains.

16. How sense of an assembly is taken on a question.—The common law of parliament also provides certain methods of coming to a conclusion on any question submitted in the way just stated. When the chair is of the opinion that the meeting is ready to close the debate, he will first submit the question to the voice of the meeting, and give his opinion whether the "yeas" or "nays" prevail. If he cannot decide by the voices, then the rules of parliament require that five members rise, and the names of the yeas and nays be duly recorded in accordance with the method in vogue. In ordinary public meetings a show of hands is only necessary as a rule, and a poll or a rеcording of the names, is peculiar to more formal assemblies governed by strict rules. Municipal councils, generally speaking, follow the practice of legislative bodies. In some assemblies and societies, a ballot is required by the rules. All of which will be explained in the proper place.