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176 .MINIC'IPAl, r<A\V.
^.»8. Order of Business. In I'iirlinini'iit, tln' ("li'ik of tlu' ll<.M^sl>
plact's on till' Spraki r"s tjililr oNcry iMoniiui;' Itct'ofo tlic iiicftiiiy ol' tlu-
Hoiisc tl\i^ oriln-iil' jU'iK'ci'iliii^i-s I'l.r the "lay, wliich iiiiist Ih' (mI i ii|> in tliu
rrjfiilai' onlrr \vitli<nit any (.'liani;!'. A nuitinn nia^ ' i, mt. of its
ji])[)()int('(l (irdi'i- prtniilin;^' nn one ohji'ets— the as- iii;;' ui'Muiuioiis,
is calli'il " IJnivorsal assnit.'
In tlic various iir;^Mni/,ations aii<l associations t lin)iio],,,iit tlir ••minti'y
the "Oi'dcr of IJusin'jss'' is frcciuontly clian^fil by consent of the n
but e\t;n one person objecting;' it cannot be done, unless such |)ro\ -luu is
expressly made. .Some nnniicipal councils proviile, by tlu-ir by-laws, for a
suspension of rules Ijy a two-thirds vote: lau where this is not done the
assent nnist be unanimous.
Jtitt. Orders of the Day. Kvery asseml)iy, in order to t'.i,:. ;,.r ;li<veut
transaction of business, must have printed or otherwise jn' p<.r'. 1 their
order of proceedings for their regular meetings. The following js that
adopted by the Toronto City Council
(1) Reuding of minutes, (2) Original conununications, (M) Presenting
petitions, (4) En(piiries ami answers thereto, (•')) (living notice, ((i) Intro-
duction and consideratii>n of bills. {~) Presentation and considei'ation of
reports of the executive and other connnitti'es, (N) Motions, (9) Cn-
tinished business.
This order of laisine.ss, calle<l " Orders of the Day," varies in all the
munici]ial councils of ( ana<la, as it will among the \arious associations to
suit the \ai'ied conditions, l)Ut the aliove will sulHct for a guide in prejiar-
ing "(Jrders of the Day "' by tlio.se who consult this book for that purp(jse.
)4»0. Introduction of Business, 'i'he proceedings of a deliberative
assendily are ordinarily set in motion, in the first instance, liy a member
either presenting a communication from persons not meudiei-, or him-rlf
submitting a proposition to the a.ssembly.
The communication to the' as.senibly may be merely for its information
in matters of fact, or may contain a reipiest for some action on the part "f
the assembly.
When a member wishes to present a petition or other paper, make or
second a motion, or merely make a verbal statement, or to address the
assembly in debate, he must in the first place (as the expressi<in is) "obtain
the floor." In ordi'r to do this he must ri.se in his place, standing un-
covered, address the presiding ofHcer liy his pi'oper title— as Mr. Speaker or
^Ir. President, or as the ca.si: may l)e. The latter, on hearing himself thus
addressed, calls the member by his name: and the memlier may tlu'ii, iuit
not liefoic jiroceed with the business he has in hand.
4 at the same time, or nearly so, the picsiding oflicer should give tlu) floor to
In the event of two or moi-e members rising and addressing the rlmir
the uiembir whose voice he tii-st heard. If this decision should n(jt be
satisfactory, any memiier iiuiy call it in (piestion, by staling that in his
opinion such a meiidier (not the one name<D had the floor first, and have
the sense' of the assemlily taken thereon as to which of the two members
shouhl be heard. The (piestion wouid be first taken on the nanw! of the
person announci'd by tln' presiding ofHcer ; and if this ijuestion should be