Page:Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies (1876).djvu/100

100 more necessary in Congress because the party lines are strictly drawn, and the minority could almost stop legislation if they could prevent the debate from being cut off.

In all bodies situated in these respects like Congress, a rule should be adopted allowing a majority to adopt the previous question, and motions to limit or close debate. [See the last note to § 38 in reference to the yeas and nays being ordered by a onefifth vote in Congress, and by even a smaller vote in some other bodies. The two notes in the Introduction, on pp. 15–17, may be read with advantage in connection with this note.]

 

The presiding officer, when no special title has been assigned him, is ordinarily called the Chairman (or in religious assemblies more usually the Moderator); frequently the constitution of the assembly prescribes for him a title, such as President.

His duties are generally as follows:

To open the session at the time at which the assembly is to meet, by taking the chair 