Page:Robert's Rules of Order - 1915.djvu/28



ings, giving the words used by the chairman and speakers in making and putting various motions; and also a few pages devoted to the legal rights of deliberative assemblies and ecclesiastical tribunals, and to the trial of members of such societies. The beginner, especially, will find it useful to read sections 69-71 in connection with sections 1-10, thus obtaining correct ideas as to the methods of conducting business in deliberative assemblies.

The Plan for the Study of Parliamentary Law, pages 305-312, gives some helpful suggestions to clubs and individuals wishing to study parliamentary law, together with a series of eighteen Lesson Outlines. The Index refers to pages, not sections, and at the beginning are given some suggestions as to the best method of finding anything in these Rules. DEFINITIONS.

In addition to the terms defined above (taking precedence of, yielding to, and applying to [see p. 21]), there are other terms that are liable to be misunderstood, to which attention is called. Accepting a report is the same as adopting it, and should not be confused with receiving a report, which is allowing it to be presented to the assembly. Assembly. This term is used for the deliberative assembly, and should be replaced in motions, etc., by the proper name of the body, as society, club, church, board, convention, etc.

The Chair means the presiding officer, whether temporary or permanent.

The terms Congress and H. R., when used in this Manual, refer to the U. S. House of Representatives.

Meeting and Session. Meeting is used in this Manual for an assembling of the members of a deliberative body for any length of time during which they do not separate for longer than a few minutes, as the morning meeting, or the evening meeting, of a convention. In a society with rules providing for regular meetings every week, or month, etc., each of these regular meetings is a separate session. A called or special meeting is a distinct session. Should a