Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/95

Rh motion, whatever its rank. They cannot be debated. An order limiting or closing debate is exhausted, or dead, and is no longer in force, at the close of the session at which it was adopted. [See Previous Question, page 74.] If no questions are specified in the order it applies to the immediately pending question and secondary motions subsequently made. These motions to limit or close debate may be applied to an entire series of pending questions or to any part of the series that is continuous beginning with the first question. The assembly may by a two-thirds vote also extend the limits of debate either for a speech of a single member, or for all members during the entire debate on a specified question, or make any other desired extension of the limits of debate.

Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate. Under what may now be called common parliamentary law, each member is limited to two speeches of ten minutes each during the same day on the same question. Whenever a question is pending upon which many members wish to speak and the time is limited, the assembly should adopt an order reducing these limits to fit their needs. A motion should be made in one of the following forms: "I move that members be allowed only one speech each of two minutes' length on the pending amendment"; "I move that until the pending questions are disposed of debate be limited to two minute speeches"; "I move that debate upon the pending questions and any interrupting secondary