Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/17



A large proportion of the adult population of the United States and Canada are members of societies in which at times it is necessary or desirable to ascertain the views of the members of the society upon a certain matter, or to have the society take action in the case. These societies vary from the simple ones of a Shakspeare or Browning club of a dozen members, to a State or National Convention of a thousand or more delegates.

If there were no rules or established customs to guide an assembly of persons, and if each could talk on any subject as long and as many times as he pleased, and if all could talk at the same time, it would be impracticable in most cases to ascertain their deliberate judgment on any particular matter. Experience has shown the necessity for rules, for a presiding officer to enforce them and to preserve order, and for a recording secretary to keep a record of the business transacted by the assembly.

The object of rules is to assist an assembly in its effort to ascertain and express the deliberate opinion of the members regarding the questions upon Rh