RULES AND ORDERS

OF THE

ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.

ADOPTED FEBRUARY 5, 1858.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER.

1. The Speaker shall take the chair each day at the Speaker to hour to which the House shall have adjourned. He take the shall call to order, and, except in the absence of a quorum, shall proceed to business in the manner prescribed by these rules.

2. He shall possess the powers and perform the duties Duties of herein prescribed, viz:

the Speaker
1. He shall preserve order and decorum.
2. He shall decide all questions of order, subject Appeals.

to appeal to the House. On every appeal he
shall have the right, in his place, to assign his

reasons for his decision.
3. He shall appoint all committees, except where Committees

the House shall otherwise order.
4. He may substitute any member to perform the Speaker

duties of the Chair for a period not exceeding pro tem.
two consecutive legislative days, but for no
longer period, except by special consent of
the House.

Committee of the Whole.

Passage of bills.

Reporters.

5. When the House shall be ready to go into Com

mittee of the Whole, he shall name a Chair

man to preside therein. 6. He shall certify the passage of all bills by the

House, with the date thereof, together with the fact whether passed as majority, threefifths, or two-thirds bills, as required either

by the Constitution or laws of this state. 7. He shall designate what persons are entitled to

admission to the floor as reporters for the public press, not exceeding 20 in number; and shall withhold his certificate for stationery, under the law of 1853, until the first day of

April next. 8. He shall have the right to invite to the floor of

the House, such persons as he shall deem deserving of the privilege; but the right of admission under such invitation shall not extend beyond the day on which it shall be given.

Privilege of the floor.

Reading of journal.

Order of business.

CHAPTER II.

OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS.
3. The first business of each day's session shall be
the reading of the journal of the preceding day, and
the correction of any errors that may be found to exist
therein. After which, except on days and at times set
apart for the consideration of General or Special Orders,
the order of business shall be as follows, viz:

1. The presentation of petitions.
2. Reports of standing committees.
3. Reports of select committees.
4. Messages from the Governor.
5. Communications from the State officers.
6. Messages from the Senate.
7. Notices.
8. Third reading of bills.
9. Introduction of bills.

10. Motions and resolutions.
11. Unfinished business of the General Orders.
12. Special orders of the day.
13. General orders of the day. But messages from

the Governor, communications from State offi-
cers, messages from the Senate, and reports
from the committee on engrossed bills may be
received under any order of business.

CHAPTER III.

OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS. 4. Petitions, memorials and any other papers ad- Presentadressed to the House shall be presented by the Speaker, tions.

tion of petior by any member in his place. 5. Every member presenting a paper shall endorse Papers to

beendorsed the same; if a petition, memorial or report to the Legislature, with a brief statement of its subject or contents, adding his name; if a notice or resolution, with his name; if a report of a committee, a statement of such report, with the name of the committee and member making the same; if a bill, a statement of its title, with his name, and the fact whether presented on notice or by unanimous consent. 6. Every member who shall be within the bar of the Whermen

ber must House when a question is stated from the chair, shall vote. vote thereon, unless he be excused by the House, or unless he be directly interested in the question. No member shall be permitted to vote on any question unless within the bar when his name is called. The bar of the House shall be deemed to include only the Assembly Chamber within the rails.

7. Any member requesting to be excused from voting Excuse may make, either immediately before or after the roli from voting. shall have been called, and before the result shall be announced, a brief and verbal statement of the reasons for making such request, and the question shall then be taken without debate.

CHAPTER IV.

OF ORDER AND DECORUM,

The Speak

8. No member rising to debate, to give a notice, er to be ad- make a motion or report, or to present a petition or dressed.

other paper, shall proceed until he shall have addressed

the Speaker, and have been recognized by him. Order. 9. While a member is speaking, no member shall

entertain any private discourse, or pass between him and the chair.

10. While the Speaker is putting a question, or a count is being had, no member shall speak or leave his place.

11. When the House adjourns, the members and officers shall keep their seats and places till the Speaker leaves the chair.

CHAPTER V.

OF ORDER IN DEBATE. Order of 12. No member shall speak twice to the same geneSpeaking. ral question, without leave of the House; nor more

than once in any case, until every member desiring to

speak on the question pending, shall have spoken. Calls to

13. If any member, in speaking, transgress the rules order. of the House, the Speaker shall, or any member may,

call to order; in which case the member so called to order shall immediately sit down, and shall not rise,

unless to explain or proceed in order, Priority of 14. All questions relating to priority of business, business.

that is the priority of one question or subject matter over another, under the same order of business, shall be decided without debate.

CHAPTER VI.

OF COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES.

Standing 15. Standing committees, consisting, except when committees. otherwise specified, of five members each, shall be

appointed on the following subjects:

1. Ways and Means, 2. Commerce and Navigation, 3. Canals, 4. Railroads, 5. Banks, 6. Insurance Companies, 7. Two-third and three-fifth Bills, 8. Colleges, Academies and Common Schools, 9. Grievances, 10. Privileges and Elections. 11. Petitions of Aliens. 12. Erection and Division of Towns and Counties. 13. Claims. 14. Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties. 15. Medical Societies and Colleges. 16. State Charitable Institutions. 17. Incorporation of Cities and Villages. 18. Manufacture of Salt. 19. Trade and Manufactures. 20. State Prisons. 21. Engrossed Bills. 22. Militia and Public Defence. 23. Roads and Bridges. 24. Public Lands. 25. Indian Affairs. 26. Charitable and Religious Societies. 27. Agriculture. 28. Public Printing. 29. Expenditures in the Executive Department. 30. Expenditures of the House. 31. A committee of the judiciary, to consist of seven

members. 16. It shall be the duty of each of the several com- Duties of

committees. mittees to inquire into the matter indicated by its name, and to report thereon to the House any information, and any bill or resolution which it may deem conducive to the public good.

Committee 17. It shall be the duty of the committee on Ways

on ways and and Means to examine into all the departments of the