Page:Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure Upload 2.pdf/132

128

128. When a question is composed of two or more propositions, and these propositions are so far independent of each other that if one were adopted and the others rejected it would still be an intelligible expression of the opinion of the assembly, the question may be divided to enable the assembly to vote on each proposition separately.

The division cannot be demanded as the right of any member, but the question may be divided by the chair (subject to an appeal to the assembly) or by a motion regularly made and seconded for the purpose; but each proposition into which it is proposed to divide the question must be distinct and capable of standing upon its own merits if none of the other propositions were adopted. In other words, the division of a question is a form of amendment used to secure a separate vote on different parts of a motion or resolution, and is subject to all rules governing amendments. It may be amended by dividing the question dif-