This edition of Cushing’s Manual of Parliamentary Practice has annotations, etc., not to be found in any other edition of the Manual. The old edition of course could not be improved upon, but there were several passages in which the meaning could be brought out plainer by notes illustrating them. This has been done, and the reader will find that the notes will assist him materially.
In addition the [Constitution of the United States] has been added, and as not a few references are made to it in the Manual, it will be found to be an addition to the book not to be despised.
[p7]
]TABLE OF CONTENTS.
| PAGE | ||
|---|---|---|
| [9] | ||
[CHAPTER I.]—Of Certain Preliminary Matters | [20] | |
| [Sect. I.] | Quorum | [20] |
| [Sect. II.] | Rules and Orders | [22] |
| [Sect. III.] | Time of Meeting | [23] |
| [Sect. IV.] | Principle of Decision | [24] |
[CHAPTER II.]—Of the Officers | [25] | |
| [Sect. I.] | The Presiding Officer | [26] |
| [Sect. II.] | The Recording Officer | [28] |
[CHAPTER III.]—Of the Rights and Duties of Members | [30] | |
[CHAPTER IV.]—Of the Introduction of Business | [34] | |
[CHAPTER V.]—Of Motions in General | [42] | |
[CHAPTER VI.]—Of Motions To Suppress | [45] | |
| [Sect. I.] | Previous Question | [46] |
| [Sect. II.] | Indefinite Postponement | [50] |
[CHAPTER VII.]—Of Motions To Postpone | [51] | |
[CHAPTER VIII.]—Of Motions To Commit | [52] | |
[CHAPTER IX.]—Of Motions to Amend | [54] | |
| [Sect. I.] | Division of a Question | [55] |
| [Sect. II.] | Filling Blanks | [57] |
| [Sect. III.] | Addition—Separation—Transposition | [60] |
| [Sect. IV.] | Modification, etc., by the Mover | [61] |
| [Sect. V.] | General Rules relating to Amendments | [62] |
| [Sect. VI.] | Amendments, by striking out | [65] |
| [Sect. VII.] | Amendments, by inserting | [69] |
| [Sect. VIII.[!-- period invisible --] | Amendments, by striking out and inserting | [71] |
| [Sect. IX.] | Amendments, changing the nature of a question | [74] |
[p8] | [79] | |
| [Sect. I.] | Privileged Questions | [80] |
| [81] | ||
| [82] | ||
| [83] | ||
| [Sect. II.] | Incidental Questions | [86] |
| [86] | ||
| [88] | ||
| [91] | ||
| [91] | ||
| [92] | ||
| [Sect. III.] | Subsidiary Questions | [93] |
| [95] | ||
| [96] | ||
| [97] | ||
| [98] | ||
| [99] | ||
[CHAPTER XI.]—Of the Order of Proceeding | [101] | |
[CHAPTER XII.]—Of Order in Debate | [108] | |
| [Sect. I.] | As to the Manner of Speaking | [109] |
| [Sect. II.] | As to the Matter in Speaking | [112] |
| [Sect. III.] | As to Times of Speaking | [115] |
| [Sect. IV.] | As to Stopping Debate | [117] |
| [Sect. V.] | As to Decorum in Debate | [119] |
| [Sect. VI.] | As to Disorderly Words | [120] |
[CHAPTER XIII.]—Of the Question | [124] | |
[CHAPTER XIV.]—Of Reconsideration | [135] | |
[CHAPTER XV.]—Of Committees | [138] | |
| [Sect. I.] | Their Nature and Functions | [138] |
| [Sect. II.] | Their Appointment | [141] |
| [Sect. III.] | Their Organization, etc. | [145] |
| [Sect. IV.] | Their Report | [150] |
| [Sect. V.] | Committee of the Whole | [155] |
| [161] | ||
| [165] | ||
[p9]
]PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE.
INTRODUCTION.
[1]. The purposes, whatever they may be, for which a deliberative assembly of any kind is constituted, can only be effected by ascertaining the sense or will of the assembly, in reference to the several subjects submitted to it, and by embodying that sense or will in an intelligible, authentic, and authoritative form. To do this, it is necessary, in the first place, that the assembly should be properly constituted and organized; and, secondly, that it should conduct its proceedings according to certain rules, and agreeably to certain forms, which experience has shown to be the best adapted to the purpose.
[2]. Some deliberative assemblies, especially those which consist of permanently established bodies, such as municipal and other corporations, are usually constituted and [p10] ]organized, at least, in part, in virtue of certain legal provisions; while others, of an occasional or temporary character, such as conventions and political meetings, constitute and organize themselves on their assembling together for the purposes of their appointment.