h. If the member's remarks are decided to be improper, and any one
objects to his continuing his speech, he cannot continue it without a
vote of the assembly to that effect. Instead of the method just
described, it is usual, when it is simply a case of improper language
used in debate, for a member to say, "I call the gentleman to order;"
the Chairman
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decides whether the speaker is in or out of order, and proceeds as
before. The Chairman can ask the advice of members when he has to
decide questions of order, but the advice must be given sitting, to
avoid the appearance of debate; or the Chair, when unable to decide the
question, may at once submit it to the assembly. The effect of laying
an appeal on the table, is to sustain, at least for the time, the
decision of the Chair, and does not carry to the table the question
which gave rise to the question of order.
15. Objection to the Consideration of a Question. An objection can be
made to any principal motion [Sec. 6], but only when it is first
introduced, before it has been debated. It is similar to a question of
order [Sec. 14,] in that it can be made while another member has the floor,
and does not require a second; and as the Chairman can call a member to
order, so can he put this question if he deems it necessary, upon his
own responsibility. It can not be debated [Sec. 35] or have any subsidiary
motion [Sec. 7] applied to it. When a motion is made and any member
"objects to its consideration," the Chairman shall immediately put the
question, "Will the assembly consider it?" or, "Shall the question be
considered"
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[or discussed]? If decided in the negative by a two-thirds vote [Sec. 39],
the whole matter is dismissed for that session [Sec. 42]; otherwise the
discussion continues as if this question had never been made.
The Object of this motion is not to cut off debate (for which other
motions are provided, see Sec. 37), but to enable the assembly to avoid
altogether any question which it may deem irrelevant, unprofitable or
contentious.* [In Congress, the introduction of such questions could be
temporarily prevented by a majority vote under the 41st Rule of the
House of Representatives, which is as follows: "Where any motion or
proposition is made, the question, 'Will the House now consider it?'
shall
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