Rules of the Common Council. Duty Ist. The Mayor or presiding officer, shall at the ap- Mayor. pointed hour of meeting call the City Council to order; and if a quorum be present, he shall direct the minutes of the preceding meeting to be read, corrected, if necessary, and approved. It shall be the duty of the Mayor or presiding officer, to preserve order and decorum, and to decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Common Council. 2d. business. of The order of business, after the reading of the Order of minutes shall be as follows: I. The presentation of petitions. 2. 3. Reports of select committees. The reports of standing committes. 4. Communications to the Common Council. 5. Unfinished business of preceding meeting. Rule in regard to motions. 3d. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the presiding officer, or read by the Clerk, previous to being debated or acted upon by the Common Council. If any member require it, all motions (except to adjourn, postpone or commit) shall be reduced to writing. Any motion may be withdrawn by consent of the Common Council before discussion or amendment. 4th. Every member present when a question is put Members to shall vote, unless the Common Council shall, from some excused special cause, excuse him, or unless he shall be directly vote unless interested. or interested in the question; in which case he shall not vote. In regard to 5th. A motion to adjourn shall always be considered adjourn ment and in order, and, together with a call for the previous quesquestions. tion, shall be decided without debate. previous member in Duty of 6th. When any member is about to speak in debate, speaking. or make report of any matter to the Common Council, he shall rise from his seat and address himself to the presiding officer, and shall confine himself to the subject matter under consideration, and avoid personalities. Chair to 7th. When two or more members rise to speak at certain cases once, the presiding officer shall name the member who is first to speak. decide in Rest ric tio n in speaking. Speaker not to be interrupted. Division of question. Filling of blanks. Privilege d questions. Previous questions. Ayes and noes. Name of member to 8th. No member shall speak except in his place, nor more than twice on any question, except on leave of the Common Council. 9th. When a member is speaking no member shall entertain any private discourse, or in any way interrupt the speaker, except as to a question of order. Ioth Any member may call for a division of a question, when the same will admit thereof. 11th. When a blank is to be filled, and different sums or times proposed, the question shall first be put upon the largest sum and the longest time. 12th. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received unless to adjourn, to lay on the table, for the previous question, to postpone to a day certain, to commit, to amend, or to postpone indefinitely; and these several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they stand arranged. 13th. The previous question shall be admitted on demand of any member, and until decided shall preclude all amendments and discussion. 14th. It shall be competent for any member, when a question is taken, to call for the ayes and noes, which shall be recorded by the Clerk. 15th. In all cases when a resolution or a motion shall be entered. be entered on the minutes, the name of the member RULES OF COMMON COUNCIL. moving the same shall also be entered on the minutes. 16th. Standing or select committees shall always re- Reports port in writing. be made in writing. 17th. A majority of the members of the Common Quorum. Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but no ordinance shall be passed, or appropriation of money voted, unless eight members shall vote in favor thereof. of rules. 18th. It shall require a vote of two-thirds of the Suspension members present to suspend any rule of the City Council. and a c- 19th. No ordinance shall be passed, or account al- Ordinances lowed, or appropriation made, without first having been counts. proposed or considered at a previous meeting. committees. 20th. The following standing committees, to consist Standing of three members each, shall be elected by a majority of this Council : 21st. Streets and Alleys. Pauper affairs. "Gas Light. All reports of committees shall be addressed to Reports. How adthe Mayor and Common Council of the city of Kenosha, dressed. |