RES 68210 - Laserfiche WebLink

in the order in which they request recognition, but it remains his duty to see that all persons entitled to recognition be given a reasonable opportunity to be recognized. It is further his duty, after a person has been recognized, to protect that person in the rights he has acquired to be heard and to prevent unnecessary interruption and interference so long as the person continues to have the right to the floor. The presiding officer has the duty of maintaSning proper decoru~a, preventing disturbance or interruption of the group in their duties, and preventing improper conduct or stater~nts on the part of members. This extends to reprimand when necessary, denial of the right to be further heard on the part of a member or, in extreme cases, to have a person who persist in attempting to inter- fere with the conduct of the business to be removed from the meeting. BUSINESS-LIKE CONDUCT OF MEETINGS There are three essential, practical, rules which the presiding officer must enforce in order to prevent confusion and secure the orderly performance of its duties by a legislative body. First of all, there can be only one subject under discussion at a time. Before any discussion can take place on an item of business, it must be presented to the body in proper form for consideration. When that business has been presented it is the only subject which can be considered so long as it remains before the body. For example, if o~e ordinance is under consideration it is not legal or proper until an action is taken to dispose of that matter pe~anently or, for the time being, to present another ordinance or resolution. When an item of business is under consideration it is, of course, proper to permit certain related motions which have priority, such as an amendment to the proposal to be submitted, and when such an amendment is submitted the amendment (or other motion having prece- dence) becomes the question under consideration until disposed of. There are many other motions which have precedence and can be properly made while one subject is under discussion as will be dis- cussed later. As essential as the rule requiring one subject under discussion at a time. This practical rule may appear to be entirely obvious, yet confusion frequently results from permitting more than one persons to speak at the same time, as well as to permit more than one subject to be under discussion at a time. A further practical rule is that no person has a right to speak more than once on a subject while other persons desire to be heard. It is necessary that no person be permitted to monopolize a dis- cussion on any question. A person may, of course, ~e entitled to speak a second time when the others who wish to have spoken, or to engage in a discussion in which he is not preventing other members from having the same opportunity to discuss the question as himself. -13-