Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/130

 120 PARLIAMENTARY LAW PARMA assembly adjourns, it adjourn to meet," &c., specifying the time. A motion to amend by altering the time can be made. This motion takes precedence of all others. When it is desired to close the meeting, a member moves to adjourn, which, if unqualified, takes prece- dence of every motion but the preceding one. Debate must be confined to the question be- fore the assembly, the remarks being always addressed to the chairman and personalities avoided. The following motions are undeba- table, and excepting the first one they, togeth- er with the motion to postpone indefinitely, cannot be amended : to fix the time to which to adjourn ; to adjourn, when unqualified ; a call for the order of the day ; questions re- lating to the priority of business, or withdraw- ing a motion, or reading papers, or suspending the rules ; an appeal, if it relates merely to in- decorum or transgressions of the rules of speak- ing, or if made while the previous question is pending; an objection to the consideration of a question ; to lay on the table, and to take from the table ; the previous question ; and to reconsider a question which is itself undeba- table. All other questions are debatable, but debate is very limited on the motion to post- pone to a certain time, being confined to the propriety of the postponement ; while on the other hand the motions to commit, to postpone indefinitely, and to reconsider a debatable ques- tion, open for discussion the entire merits of the original question. In regard to precedence, the ordinary motions rank as follows, and any motion, except to amend, can be made while one of a lower order is pending, but none can supersede one of a higher order: to fix the time to which to adjourn ; to adjourn, when unqualified; a call for the order of the day; to lay on the table ; the previous question ; to postpone to a certain time ; to commit, amend, or postpone indefinitely. The privilege of a reconsideration has been explained under that motion. The other motions are incidental to any question, and take precedence of and must be decided before the questions which gave rise to them. In order to facilitate business, it is customary in all deliberative assemblies to form committees, whose duty it is to consider and report upon the subjects referred to them. The members are usually appointed by the presiding officer, but are sometimes elected by the as- sembly. Sometimes the assembly resolves it- self into a committee of the whole for the con- sideration of a particular subject. In this case the chairman is usually named by the presiding officer of the assembly, but he may be chosen by the committee. In the ordinary course of legislation in congress, a bill is introduced into the house of representatives or senate, on the report of a committee, or on motion for leave by a member after having given at least one day's notice. It must then be read three times on as many different days, unless it is other- wise specially ordered. Usually, however, the second reading immediately follows the first, it being taken for granted that it is by special order. After the second reading the merits of the bill are usually discussed, and it is deter- mined whether it shall be referred to a com- mittee, amended, or engrossed. If ordered to be engrossed, a day is appointed for the third reading. Having been read a third time, the question is whether the bill shall be passed. The second and third readings are commonly effected by simply reading the title. If the bill pass, it is certified by the clerk and sent to the other house. Having been passed by that body, it is enrolled on parchment, examined by a joint committee of two from each house, sign- ed by the speaker of the house and the presi- dent of the senate, presented to the president of the United States, and upon receiving his signature becomes a law. If it is vetoed, it is returned to that house in which it originated, and by receiving a two-thirds vote of each house will become a law without the executive approval. If not returned by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted) after pre- sentation to him, it becomes a law, unless con- gress by adjournment prevent its return. The procedure in regard to the progress of a bill is generally the same in the state legislatures. See Oushing's "Manual" (1847); "Digest of Rules and Practice of the House of Represen- tatives of the United States," by I. M. Barclay (1868); "Digest of Parliamentary Law," by O. M. Wilson (1869) ; " The Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies," by H. M. Robert (1875); and " Warrington's Manual," by W. S. Robinson (Boston, 1875). PARMA. I. A N. province of Italy, in the Emilia, separated N. by the Po from Cre- mona, E. by the Enza from Reggio, S. by the Apennines from Massa e Carrara and Genoa, and bounded N". W. by Piacenza; area, 1,251 sq. m.; pop. in 1872, 264,381. More than half the province is covered by ridges of the Apennines, some of the mountains being over 6,000 ft. high; one fifth of the territory is hilly, and the rest consists of fertile plains. The principal rivers are the Po and its afflu- ents the Taro and Enza. The agricultural products, though considerable, are not quite sufficient for the population. The most abun- dant productions are wine, oil, fruits, rice, timber, marble, alabaster, copper, and salt. The principal manufacture is of silk. Dairy products, particularly the celebrated Parmesan cheese, are largely exported. The province comprises the districts of Parma, Borgo San- donino, and Borgotaro. Under the Romans, who subdued this territory in 184 B. C., it formed part of Cisalpine Gaul. After the fall of the western empire it was held succes- sively by the Ostrogoths, the Longobards, and by Charlemagne, who ceded it to the pope. It became independent during the wars be- tween the holy see and the German emperors, and afterward passed under the dominion of local dynasties, until in 1346 it fell into the hands of the Visconti of Milan. In 1511 the