Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/145

Rh Session and Meeting. Each regular or special meeting of a society, together with its adjourned meetings, constitutes a session. An adjourned meeting is always a part of the same session as the previous meeting of which it is an adjournment. When a session lasts one or more days it is usual to take recesses for meals and to speak of the morning meeting, the afternoon meeting, and the evening or night meeting of each day. When each of the sessions lasts only two or three hours there is no difference between session and meeting, but the distinction is important in conventions lasting several days, and in all cases where adjourned meetings are held.

Order of Business. The usual order of business is as follows:

(1) Reading of Minutes.

(2) Reports of Officers and Boards and Standing Committees.

(3) Reports of Special Committees.

(4) Special Orders.

(5) Unfinished Business and General Orders.

(6) New Business.

This order of business applies to each day, and not to each of several meetings held on the same day. Hence if there is more than one meeting in a day, the minutes are read only at the first meeting. In taking up the general orders those on the calendar of the previous meeting should be disposed of before taking up the questions postponed to this meeting.