a choice is made. The blank must be filled before the vote is taken on the resolution, or whatever may be the form of the proposition.

Where the question is simply the filling of a blank it may be regarded as an original motion which may be amended, and which must be decided before the principal question.

Of the process of taking the numbers or times in order, putting the largest sum and longest time first, Jefferson says, "This is considered to be, not in the form of an amendment to the question, but as alternative or successive originals” (Manual, Section XXIX).

The filling of blanks, however, may be done under the form of motion and amendment. That is to say, there may be a regular motion to fill the blank in a particular way, which may be followed by an amendment changing the proposition so as to read differently, and so on. Thus the practice in the United States House of Representatives "permits to be pending a second number as an amendment, a third as an amendment to the amendment, a fourth as a substitute, and a fifth as an amendment to the substitute."

Where the blank is to be filled with a form of words the ordinary method of motion and amendment by insertion is to be followed.

5. Nominations. A Nomination is a form of proposition which names a particular individual for some specified position. Each member has a right to name one person for the office or position, but not more than one. If he can vote for only one, he should not name more than one. If the vote is a voice vote, then the names must be presented and voted upon in the order of nomination. If the vote is in some other form, then the names of the nominees are presented and considered together and at once, and voted on simultaneously so as to secure an equal chance for all. On a ballot vote a member may vote for a party who has not been openly placed in nomination or nominated at all. Every member has a right to make a nomination for cach position, and, therefore, it is not

permissible to move that the nominations close until every member has had ample opportunity to nominate his preference. It is a vicious practice to attempt to prevent nominations by rushing through a motion that the nominations close. Even when the nominations have been declared closed the voter is not absolutely debarred from voting for a person who has not been publicly named. A member may withdraw his nomination and nominate another, or withdraw the nomination and not present another. A nomination requires no seconding.

6. Division of the Question. A proposition, resolution, motion, or other measure before the house may be so constructed that it can be divided or subdivided into separate propositions, of which two or more could be voted on separately, and one might be adopted and the other rejected and yet there be a definite proposition.

A member might be willing to vote for one part of the pending proposition and not for another. As the matter stands in its entirety he would not vote for it, but, if he could have it divided into two or more parts, he would be willing to vote for one part while he would vote against another. So he may call for a division of the question, and state into what sections he wishes it divided.

As Speaker Reed says, The motion "must state the propositions into which it is proposed to divide the question" (Reed's Rules, p. 139).

"When a motion for a division is made the mover ought to specify in his motion the manner in which he proposes to make the division; and this motion, like every other of the nature of an amendment, is itself susceptible of amendment" (Cushing-Bolles: Rules, p. 70).

These separate parts must each be a substantive proposition and each indicated proposition becomes a separate question.

It used to require a motion to divide a question," but the modern and more expeditious practice is to divide on the demand of any member, the member indicating the divisions in the wording. In the United States House of

a choice is made. The blank must be filled before the vote is taken on the resolution, or whatever may be the form of the proposition.

Where the question is simply the filling of a blank it may be regarded as an original motion which may be amended, and which must be decided before the principal question.

Of the process of taking the numbers or times in order, putting the largest sum and longest time first, Jefferson says, "This is considered to be, not in the form of an amendment to the question, but as alternative or successive originals" (Manual, Section XXIX).

The filling of blanks, however, may be done under the form of motion and amendment. That is to say, there may be a regular motion to fill the blank in a particular way, which may be followed by an amendment changing the proposition so as to read differently, and so on. Thus the practice in the United States House of Representatives "permits to be pending a second number as an amendment, a third as an amendment to the amendment, a fourth as a substitute, and a fifth as an amendment to the substitute."

Where the blank is to be filled with a form of words the ordinary method of motion and amendment by insertion is to be followed.

5. Nominations. A Nomination is a form of proposition which names a particular individual for some specified position. Each member has a right to name one person for the office or position, but not more than one. If he can vote for only one, he should not name more than one. If the vote is a voice vote, then the names must be presented and voted upon in the order of nomination. If the vote is in some other form, then the names of the nominees are presented and considered together and at once, and voted on simultaneously so as to secure an equal chance for all. On a ballot vote a member may vote for a party who has not been openly placed in nomination or nominated at all. Every member has a right to make a nomination for each position, and, therefore, it is not

permissible to move that the nominations close until every member has had ample opportunity to nominate his preference. It is a vicious practice to attempt to prevent nominations by rushing through a motion that the nominations close. Even when the nominations have been declared closed the voter is not absolutely debarred from voting for a person who has not been publicly named. A member may withdraw his nomination and nominate another, or withdraw the nomination and not present another. A nomination requires no seconding.

6. Division of the Question. A proposition, resolution, motion, or other measure before the house may be so constructed that it can be divided or subdivided into separate propositions, of which two or more could be voted on separately, and one might be adopted and the other rejected and yet there be a definite proposition.

A member might be willing to vote for one part of the pending proposition and not for another. As the matter stands in its entirety he would not vote for it, but, if he could have it divided into two or more parts, he would be willing to vote for one part while he would vote against another. So he may call for a division of the question, and state into what sections he wishes it divided.

As Speaker Reed says, The motion "must state the propositions into which it is proposed to divide the question" (Reed's Rules, p. 139).

"When a motion for a division is made the mover ought to specify in his motion the manner in which he proposes to make the division; and this motion, like every other of the nature of an amendment, is itself susceptible of amendment" (Cushing-Bolles: Rules, p. 70).

These separate parts must each be a substantive proposition and each indicated proposition becomes a separate question.

It used to require a motion to divide a question," but the modern and more expeditious practice is to divide on the demand of any member, the member indicating the divisions in the wording. In the United States House of

Representatives it is permitted "on the demand of any member." The rule reads: "On the demand of any member, before the question is put, a question shall be divided if it include propositions so distinct in substance that one being taken away a substantive proposition shall remain."

It is for the Chair to note whether the indicated divisions make substantive propositions which can severally stand by themselves. If they are not, the division cannot be granted.

The motion, or demand, for a division of the question is in order even after the previous question is ordered, for this is simply determining the order of voting.

If the proposed divisions are distinct and capable of standing by themselves, and one be adopted alone and still be an intelligible expression, then each substantive part must be put to vote, as though it were a separate proposition, so that it is possible for one part to be carried and another lost.

The voting is in the order of the divisions. If all the separate propositions are agreed to, then the original proposition stands adopted as it was prior to the division; but, if parts have been rejected and other parts are adopted, then the proposition stands with the rejected parts eliminated or stricken out.

There is a question as to whether the matter of division should be classed as a form of amendment or as an incidental question. It may be regarded as an incidental question determining the form of voting upon the proposition, not moving to strike out anything, but merely giving an opportunity to vote separately on the several parts. For convenience it is here classed as a miscellaneous motion.

7. Reconsideration. To Reconsider is to consider again what has been considered and settled. American parliamentary practice permits a motion to reconsider a decision in the affirmative or the negative, so as again to reach what has been adopted or rejected. This motion is not known in English practice, but the British Parliament