Page:Felt’s Parliamentary Procedure Upload 2.pdf/74

70 66. Sometimes the members of a committee do not agree upon a report. In this case the majority of the members determine the report of the committee, which is sometimes erroneously called the majority report. The other members of the committee may desire to present their views in opposition, which they do collectively or individually by consent of the assembly in a report known as the minority report.

It is customary to receive the minority report immediately after receiving the report of the committee, so when the committee's report is presented the minority may by courtesy be permitted to submit their report—this permission is seldom refused—but said minority report has simply the standing of a substitute (141) except that it is known to be backed by certain members of the committee who have been investing the subject and are therefore competent to instruct the assembly on the subject; but said minority report can only be acted upon by first voting to substitute it for the report of the committee.