10. A committee is discharged by a vote, when its business is done, and its report accepted. But usually, in routine business, a committee is considered discharged by the acceptance of its report.
Standing Committee
A committee appointed to act for a given period or during the recess of the body is called a standing committee. It has charge of a given department of business assigned by the body, and acts either with power, under instructions, or at discretion, as may be ordered. A standing committee is substantially a minor board, and has its own chairman, secretary, records, and times of meeting.
Appeal
The moderator announces all votes, and decides all questions as to rules of proceeding, and order of debate. But any member who is dissatisfied with his decisions may appeal from them to the body. The moderator then puts the question, “Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?” The vote of the body, whether negative or affirmative, is final. The right of appeal is undeniable, but should not be resorted to on trivial occasions.
Previous Question
Debate may be cut short by a vote to take the previous question. This means that the original, or main, question under discussion be immediately voted on, regardless of amendments and secondary questions and without further debate. Usually a two-thirds vote is necessary to order the previous question.
1. If the motion for the previous question be carried, then the main question must be immediately taken, without further debate.
2. If the motion for the previous question be lost, the debate proceeds, as though no such motion had been made.
3. If the motion for the previous question be lost, it cannot be renewed with reference to the same question, during the same session.