therefore, properly used to signify the choice, or pref erence, which one may have along with others, in relation to matters submitted for decision or persons proposed for office. This choice, or preference may be signified in different ways. It may be made viva voce (with the living voice); it may be made by raising the hand; and, besides various other ways, by ballot.

Ballot, primarily, signifies a little ball; and to vote by ballot is properly to signify one's choice by throwing into a box, urn, or other receptacle, a ball so colored, or otherwise marked, as to indicate an affirmative or negative vote. Instead of ballots, however, tickets, as being more convenient, are now generally used, though the process is still called by the same name.

13. What proportion of the votes given in any case, is necessary to determine a question? ·

The number of votes necessary to determine a question, where there is no special rule to the contrary, is always a majority.. But, in certain cases, other proportions are required, as two-thirds or three-fourths ; or, as is sometimes the case, a mere plurality.

14. What difference, in speaking of the result of a vote or election, is there between the terms majority and plurality?

Majority signifies the greater part, that is, more than half. He, therefore, that is elected by a majority, is elected by more than half of all the votes cast.

Plurality signifies a greater number; that is (in the case, for example, of an election where there are more than two candidates), a number greater than that re

ceived by any other candidate, but less than half of the whole number of votes cast. Thus, a candidate may have a plurality without having a majority; but he cannot have a majority without having a plu rality.

15. Must a motion submitted for the decision of a deliberative assembly, be oral or written ?

Every motion calling for special care and deliberation, that is, all important motions, should be in writ ing; but motions merely affecting the order of business, or other subordinate matters, are usually oral.

16. What differences in meaning or application, if any, are found to obtain among the words " Voted," " Ordered," and "Resolved," when placed at the beginning of proposi tions adopted by deliberate assemblies?

Whatever proposition has been duly adopted by a deliberative assembly, thereby becomes the vote, order, or resolution of that assembly. The terms "Voted," "Ordered," and "Resolved," therefore, are in so far synonymous, as they all properly indicate what has been done or decided upon.

Resolved," however, is the term most generally used: "Voted" being employed, it is said, chiefly in the Eastern States, while "Ordered" is confined mainly to religious organizations.*

* Hatsell (quoted in Jefferson's Manual, section xxi.) says:— When the House commands, it is "an order." But facts, principles, their own opinions and purposes, are expressed in the form of resolutions.

17. Why and when is a proposition before a deliberative body called a question?

When, after due deliberation, a motion comes to be put to vote, that is, when the question of its acceptance or rejection is directly submitted to the assembly, it is, then and for that reason, called the question.

18. What form is observed in submitting a question? When the debate, or deliberation upon a subject appears to be at a close, the presiding officer simply asks: “Is the assembly ready for the question ?”

If no one signifies a desire further to discuss or consider the subject, he then proceeds to submit the question thus: "As many as are in favor of the adoption of the Resolution, will signify it by saying 'Aye!" Then, pausing a moment to hear the response, he adds: "Those of the contrary opinion will say 'No!'”

The answer on both sides being duly given, the President announces the result; saying, "The ayes have it," or "The noes have it," according as he finds the one or the other side in the majority.

Should there seem to be any doubt about the result, the President should say: "The ayes appear to have it." If then no dissatisfaction is manifested, or no division called for, he adds: "The ayes have it."

19. Suppose, after the vote is given, the president is unable to decide, or after he has announced the result, his decision is questioned, what should be done?

Should the president, after putting the question, (if necessary a second time,) still be unable to decide, or should his decision, when announced, be brought into

question by a member rising in his place, and calling for a division of the house, his duty is immediately to so divide, or arrange the assembly as to allow the votes on each side to be accurately counted.

This may be done by directing the ayes and the noes respectively to take different sides of the room; or by first requesting the ayes to stand up in their places long enough to be numbered, and then calling upon the noes to do the same thing; or by asking the ayes each to raise the right hand, and as soon as those have been counted, inviting the noes to signify their will in the like manner.

Whatever method be adopted, the President is to count, or appoint tellers to count, the votes on each side respectively, and announce the true result to the assembly.

20. Suppose the members are equally divided, what fol lows?

If, on any question, the members are equally divided, the President must give the casting, or determining

vote.

21. Has any member a right to refrain from voting?

Every member present at the time when a question is duly submitted to the assembly for decision, is bound to give his vote for, or against the pending proposition.*

22. What is meant by taking a question by the yeas and nays?

It is sometimes thought proper to record the names * In some deliberative bodies, members are excused at their own request from voting; but this is clearly against duty in the case.

of members in connection with the votes they give for or against a proposition. In order to this, the question is thus stated: “As many as are in favor of the resolution (or whatever it is) will, as their names are called, answer' Yes;' and as many as are opposed to it, will answer 'No.'

The roll is then called by the Clerk, or Secretary, and as each member answers yes, or no, the answer is noted or marked opposite his name; and, to afford opportunity for the correction of mistakes, if any, the names of the voters on each side are again read over, and then the result is formally declared by the President. This is what is called taking a vote by yeas and nays.*

* The method of taking the yeas and nays in the House of Representatives in the State of Massachusetts, as described by Mr. Cushing, is so simple and so satisfactory, as to commend itself to every one. "The names of the members," says he, "being printed on a sheet, the clerk calls them in their order; and, as each one answers, the clerk (responding to the member at the same time) places a figure in pencil, expressing the number of the answer, at the left or right of the name, according as the answer is yes or no; so that the last figure or number, on each side, shows the number of the answers on that side; and the two last numbers or figures represent the respective numbers of the affirmatives and negatives on the division. Thus, at the left hand of the name of the member who first answers yes, the clerk places a figure 1; at the right hand of the first member who answers no, he also places a figure 1; the second member that answers yes is marked 2; and so on to the end of the list; the side of the name, on which the figure is placed, denoting whether the answer is yes or no, and the figure denoting the number of the answer on that side. The affirmatives and negatives are then read separately, if necessary, though this is usually omitted, and the clerk is then prepared, by means of the last figure on each side, to give the numbers to the Speaker to be announced to the House."