Reed's Rules
Reed’s Rules is a parliamentary manual used by the Washington State Legislature to inform parliamentary practice when not in conflict with adopted rules. The manual was written by Thomas B. Reed, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1889-91 and 1895-99.
Preface
It should be understood at once that this Manual has nothing to do with the political differences which have existed as to the rules of the House of Representatives, except so far as any treatise would incidentally refer to them.
The object of this book is to present the rules of general parliamentary law in such a way that the system can be comprehended by persons who may be called upon to preside over meetings of deliberative bodies, and by those who may desire to participate in the proceedings. The aim has been to so explain each motion that it may be understood by itself and also in its relations to other motions. Paragraphs also have been inserted to show the changes made in general parliamentary law by the rules and usages of the United States House of Representatives. This, it was thought, would be useful to enable those who desired so to do to comprehend, in a general way, the practice of that body.
Forms and suggestions have been added. If it should seem to anyone versed in parliamentary law that many of the forms are too simple to need printing, the author ventures to suggest that a beginner does not know the simpler things, and needs them the most.
If the student has once fixed in his mind the idea that parliamentary law is not a series of arbitrary rules, but a plain, consistent system, founded on common sense, and sanctioned by the experience of mankind, he will have gone far toward understanding it. That this little volume will complete his education is too much to expect, but that it will aid and assist the learner is the hope of the author.
THOMAS B. REED
- I. Introduction
- II. Preliminary Propositions
- III. Organization
- IV. Necessary Officers and Their Duties
- V. Rights and Duties of Members
- VI. Rules and Orders
- VII. Committees
- VIII. Conduct of Business Disposal of the Main Question
- IX. Conduct of Business, Continued Amendments
- X. Conduct of Business, Continued
- XI. Recapitulation and Classification of Motions
- XII. Motions for Reconsideration
- XIII. Debate and Decorum
- XIV. Methods of Voting
- XV. Proceedings Between Coordinate Branches of a Legislature
- XVI. Order of Business
- XVII. Special Rules
- XVIII. Forms
- XIX. United States House of Representatives -- Methods of Business
- Index.
Index.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
by S.R. Holcomb, Chief Clerk,
House of Representatives, Olympia, Wash., 1952
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Section Number
Action by Assembly, forms ... 100
Adjourn .... 169, 170, 201
motions, not debatable, nor amendable ... 201
motion to fix the day, debatable, amendable ... 201
motion to, privileged ... 169, 170, 171
motion to, privileged ... 172
practical suggestions ... 173
Amendment ... 129 to 161, 201
amendment to the amendment ... 133, 149
committee ... 84
division of question ... 151, 152, 153
division of question, who may demand ... 152
filling of blanks ... 154
germane .... 160, 161
incidental motions ... 201
insertion of words ... 135, 136
limitation of words ... 159
method of making, three ways ... 132
modification by mover ... 150
motion for proposal ... 129 to 167
motions, all debatable, amendable ... 201
object ... 131
other methods ... 155
paragraphs ... 130, 144
preamble ... 130 note
proposal, procedure ... 129, 130
proposed, one at a time ... 134
stating amendments to the House ... 158
striking all and substituting new matter ... 156, 157
striking out ... 137 to 147
striking out and inserting ... 140
striking out and inserting indivisible ... 141, 145
striking out and inserting paragraph ... 144, 147
striking out and inserting, practical suggestion ... 146
striking out, etc., effect of affirmative action ... 143
striking out, etc., effect of negative action ... 142
substitute ...140
Assemblies
adaption of organization to size and nature of Assembly ... 5
controlled by custom, parliamentary law ... 1
credentials of membership ... 6
House of Representatives, permanent organization ... 7
legislative and constituent Assemblies ... 4
nature of Assemblies, vary .... 2
quorum, committee of the whole ... 18
quorum, definition ... 9
quorum, House of Reps., practice .... 16
quorum, House of Reps., required during debate ... 17
quorum, not present, adjournment ... 20
quorum, number necessary ... 10 to 15
quorum, practical application .... 19
temporary organization ... 8
voluntary, called by those interested in a cause ... 3
Assembly, adaption of organization ... 5 to 8
forms of action ... 100
Business, how introduced ... 101, 102
conduct .... 100 to 195
Clerk ....41
duties ... 43
qualifications ... 42
right to debate and vote, if a member of the Assembly ... 45
substitute ... 44
Commit. See Motions.
Committee of the Whole ... 86 to 99
chairman ... 87
clerk ... 88
debate ... 91
House of Representatives ... 96
origin .... 86
procedure .... 87 to 98
quorum .... 89
record ... 93
report ... 93
rising ... 92
sittings, how ordered ... 98
subjects referred .... 95
suggestions ... 99
yeas and nays prohibited ... 90
Committees .... 119
action before Assembly ... 80 to 82
action must be at meeting ... 79
amendments ... 84
appointment and selection ... 64 to 69
conference ... 63
consideration of reports ... 81, 82
consideration of reports on bills ... 83
duties of officers ... 73
joint ... 62
kinds ... 59
method of procedure ... 70 to 79
minority views ... 75
motion to rerefer, to suspend action ... 119, 120
nature and need ... 58
organization ... 71
place and time of meeting ... 70
principle of selection ... 69
quorum ... 72
report ... 80, 85
secret meetings ... 78
select .... 61
selection ... 64 to 69
standing ... 60
Communication between two houses, methods ... 236
committees ... 238, 239
messages ... 237
Conduct of Business .... 100 to 195
Conference Committees. See Inter-proceedings, Senate and House.
Consideration, question of .... 110
motions as to methods ... 194
time of raising ... 112
Debate .... 91
beginning .... 213
cessation .... 220
committee of the whole ... 91
disorderly words ... 222, 223
duties of members ... 212, 213, 214
duties, presiding officer ... 225
House of Representatives ... 227
informal remarks ... 219
infraction, punishment ... 226, 227, 228
members may speak but once .... 215
motions, various, debate allowed ... 201
object .... 212
preserving order ... 221
recognitions ... 214
reference to in other branch ... 224
relevancy, confined to subject ... 216
yielding the floor ... 217, 218
Decorum
debate and disorder, punishment ... 226, 227, 228
disorderly words in debate ... 222
duties of presiding officer ... 225
preserving order, during debate ... 221
references to other branch of legislature ... 224
Division of Question .... 151, 193
amendments ... 151, 152, 153
Duties
clerk .... 43
committee officers ... 73
members ... 49
presiding officer ... 34
Filling of Blanks
amendments ... 154
Forms ... 270 to 288
call for meeting ... 270
calling to order ... 271
motions to adjourn ... 281
motions to amend ... 279
motions to commit ... 278
motions on division of question ... 288
motions to lay on table ... 276
motions on point of order ... 274, 288
motions on postponement ... 277
motions on previous question ... 280
motions of privilege ... 283
motions on reading of papers ... 285
motions on recess ... 282
motions on suspension of rules ... 286
parliamentary inquiries ... 273
preliminary proceedings ... 271
General Parliamentary Law. See Introduction.
House and Senate Inter-proceedings
conference committees, action, objective ... 243
conference committees, method of obtaining ... 245
conference committees, procedure in House and Senate to accept or reject reports ... 246 to 254
conference committee reports ... 244
conferences ... 240, 241
free conference ... 242
joint committees ... 238
messages ... 237
methods of communication ... 236
select committees ... 239
House of Representatives
committee, may report at any time ... 80
committees of the whole ... 96
conference report ... 246
debate ... 227
division of question ... 152
lay on the table ... 115
methods of business ... 289
orders of the day ... 258
permanent organization ... 7
petitions ... 107
previous question ... 126
privileged motions ... 177
punishment for misbehavior ... 228
questions of privilege ... 178
quorum, committee of the whole ... 18
quorum, not present, adjournment ...20
quorum, practical application ... 19
quorum, practice ... 16, 21
quorum, required during debate ... 17
rank of motions .... 265
reading papers ... 188
reconsideration ... 206
reconsideration, who may move ... 208
seconding motions ... 105
speaker pro tem, selection of ... 39
suspension of rules ... 54, 192
temporary organization .... 8
withdrawal of motion ... 190
yielding floor .... 218
Incidental Motions. See Order, points of ... 181 to 195
consideration, motions as to method ... 194, 195
division of the question ... 151, 193
motions, not debatable nor amendable ... 201
reading of papers ... 187
relation to subsidiary motions, rank ... 181, 182, 199, 200
suspension of rules ... 53
withdrawal of motion ... 189
Indefinite Postponement. See Motions.
motion for ... 121, 122
Inter-proceedings Between Senate and House
conference committees, action, objective ... 243
conference committees, method of obtaining ... 245
conference committees, procedure in Senate and House to accept or reject report .... 246 to 254
conference committee reports ... 244
conferences ... 240, 241
free conference ... 242
joint committees ... 238
messages ... 237
methods of communication ... 236
select committees ... 239
Journal ... 46
Lay on Table. See Motions.
motion not debatable ... 201
motion to suspend action ... 114 to 117
Legislature, co-ordinate branches. See Inter-proceedings, Senate and House.
committees, joint .... 238
committees, select .... 239
communication, method ... 236
conferences .... 240 to 246
Main Question .... 109
described ... 196
incidental motions and questions ... 199
motions not debatable or amendable ... 201
order of motions, described ... 200
privileged motions ... 198
subsidiary motions, rank .... 197
Majority Rule .... 23
Members' Rights and Duties ..... 48, 49, 50
Minority, views .... 75
Minutes. See Journal.
Motions. See Amendments .... 129 to 167
adjourn .... 169, 170, 171
adjourn and recess, quorum required ... 175, 176
adjournment, fixing time ... 171, 172
change in rank, House of Representatives .... 264, 265, 268
committee, motion to rerefer ... 119, 120, 197, 201
consideration, methods ... 194, 195
incidental, rank ... 181, 182, 199
indefinite postponement ... 121, 122, 201
lay on table ... 114 to 117, 201
main question, when stated ... 109
point of order preventing consideration ... 111, 112
postpone indefinitely, not amendable but debatable ... 201
postpone to a day certain ... 118, 201, 256
postpone to a day certain, debatable, amendable ... 201
previous question ... 123 to 127, 201, 268, 269
privileged ... 167 to 174, 201
privileged and incidental ... 162
question of consideration ... 110
rank ... 197, 201, 264, 265
rank, change in order .... 268
reading of papers ... 187, 188
recess ... 174, 201
reconsideration ... 202 to 211
rerefer to committee ... 119, 120, 197, 201
rerefer to committee, amendable, debatable ...201
second ...104, 105
stated, in possession of House ... 108
subsidiary ... 162 to 197
subsidiary to main question, rank ... 163 to 166
suspension of rules ... 191, 192
withdrawal of motion ... 189, 190
written, when required ... 103
Officers, election by plurality ... 25
additional ... 47
required ... 47
Order of Business .... 255, 258, 260 to 263, 267
changes in order ... 267, 171
customary practices ... 260 to 263
orders of the day ... 255
orders of the day, how taken up.... 257
postpone to a day certain ... 256
rank of motions .... 264, 265
special rules .... 266
Order, Points of .... 111, 182, 199
appeal ...184, 185
disposal ...183
during divisions ... 235
manner of raising and deciding ... 184
time of raising ... 112, 199
Orders of the Day ... 255, 256, 257
House of Representatives ... 258
Organization, commencement ... 5 to 8
bicameral ... 28, 29, 30
House of Representatives ... 31
legislative ... 31
object ... 26
permanent .... 30
simple ... 27
temporary ... 29
Origin and Precedents .... 1
Parliamentary Inquiry. Note ... 34
Parliamentary Law .... 1
Petitions .... 106
House of Representatives ... 107
Point of Order. See Order, Points of.
preventing consideration of motion ... 111, 112
raised while voting ... 235
Postpone Indefinitely
motion, amendable, debatable ... 201
Postpone to Day Certain. See Motions.
motion, debatable, amendable ... 201
motion for becomes order of day for that day ... 256
motion to suspend action ... 118
Preamble, amendment ... 130
Presiding Officer .... 32
appointment of substitute .... 37, 38, 39
behavior ... 35
debate, right to ... 40
duties ... 34, 94, 214
duty on abuse of forms ... 225
power over Assembly ... 36
qualifications ... 33
substitute ... 37, 38, 39
Previous Question
motion, not debatable nor amendable ...201
motions to stop debate ... 123 to 127
two-thirds rule ... 269
Privileged Motions .... 167, 168, 198
description ... 167, 168, 174, 198
Procedure, Method
amendments ... 129
main question ... 109
paragraphs ... 134, 144
sections ... 134, 144
Qualifications of Officers .... 33, 42
Question of Consideration .... 110
Questions of Order
appeal, disposition ... 185
disposition ... 183
division of question ... 193, 194, 195
method of raising ... 184
points of order, illustrations ... 186
reading of papers ... 187, 188
suspension of rules ... 191, 192
withdrawal of motion ... 189, 190
Questions of Privilege .... 167 to 180
Quorum, adjournment when lacking .167... 20
ascertainment ... 34
committee of the whole ... 18, 89
definition ... 9
during debate ... 17
majority ...12
motions to adjourn and recess ... 175, 176
number necessary ... 10
practical application of doctrine ... 19
practice in House of Representatives ... 16
present, sufficient requirement ... 15
required ...14
Rank of Motions, general ... 197, 201, 264, 265
parliamentary acceptance ... 265
Reading of Papers ... 187
Recess, motion for ... 174
Recognitions, by presiding officer .... 214
Reconsideration ... 202 to 211
debate ... 210
effect ... 203
generally ... 202
motions for, described and explained ... 202 to 211
motion, object ... 209
motion, reopens entire question ... 203
motion, when permissible ... 204
motion, when to be made ... 205, 206
motion, who may make it ... 207, 208
object ... 209
second reconsideration prohibited ... 204
yeas and nays, who may make motion ... 204
Recording Officer. See Clerk.
Rules, absence ... 56
alteration and amendment ... 52
practical suggestions ... 55
reason for rules ... 51
special .... 51, 259
suspension ... 53, 54
Secretary. See Clerk.
Senate and House Inter-proceedings
conference committees, action, objective ... 243
conference committees, method of obtaining ... 245
conference committees, procedure in Senate and House to accept or reject reports ... 246 to 254
conference committee reports ... 244
conferences ... 240, 241
free conference ... 242
joint committees ... 238
messages ... 237
methods of communication ... 236
select committees ... 239
Sub-committees .... 97
Subsidiary Motions, to main question,
rank ...163 to 166, 197
Substitute Bill ... 77
Suspension of Rules ... 53, 54
Unanimous Consent, effect ... 24
View of Minority ....75
Voting
methods ... 229 to 234
points of order ... 235
rising vote ... 231
sound ... 230
various other methods ... 234
yeas and nays ... 232, 233