Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/27

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Introduction of Business. The meeting being organized, the chairman says, "The meeting is now open for business." A member who wishes the assembly to take certain action rises and addresses "the Chair," as the presiding officer is commonly referred to whatever is his title. The regular presiding officer should always be addressed by his official title preceded by Mr. or Madam, thus: Mr. President, Mr. Moderator, Mr. Grand Commander, Madam Chairman, Madam President, etc. A temporary presiding officer, or one with no special title, is addressed as Mr., or Madam, Chairman. A vice president in the chair is addressed as Mr., or Madam, President. The chairman "recognizes" a member by announcing his name, or in small assemblies where the members are all acquainted, by bowing to him. If two or more rise at about the same time, the chair generally recognizes and thus assigns the floor to the one who rose first and addressed the chair. The member having "obtained the floor" presents the subject to the assembly in the form of what is called a "motion." A motion is a proposal that the assembly take certain action, or that it express itself as holding certain views. It is made by a member's obtaining the floor and saying, except in the case of a resolution, "I move to," etc. or "I move that," etc., as for example, "I move to postpone the question to," etc., or "I move