Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/71

Rh together it is the duty of the committee to meet on the call of any two of its members.

When the committee meets, the proceedings are usually quite informal. The committee cannot limit debate. Members do not rise and address the chair to make motions or to debate, nor does the chair need to stand while putting questions. Motions are not seconded and members may speak as many times as they please but no longer at any time than is allowed in the assembly. The chairman, instead of abstaining from debate and from expressing his opinions as in the assembly, usually takes the most active part in the debate and puts questions to vote on his own initiative after an informal discussion. A quorum, that is the number that must be present in order to transact business, is a majority of the committee. A committee has no right to discipline any of its members: if any member obstructs business, its only recourse is to report the facts to the assembly for its action. If a committee finds that its investigations will involve expense that has not been authorized, it must obtain from the assembly such authority before incurring the expense.

In minor matters, or when a committee has to act promptly and a meeting cannot be held, the members of the committee may be consulted and take action by telephone, provided every member is consulted and no objection is made to waiving a formal meeting.

Committees may be appointed