[106th Congress House Rules Manual -- House Document No. 106-320]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Database]
[DOCID:hrulest-43]

[Page 253]

[[Page 253]]


                        sec. xxxix--the question

<>   The question is to be put
first on the affirmative, and then on the
negative side.

  Clause 6 of rule I provides more fully for putting the question.

  After the <> Speaker has put the affirmative part of the question, any
Member who has not spoken before to the question may rise and speak
before the negative be put; because it is no full question till the
negative part be put. Scob., 23; 2 Hats., 73.
  But in <> small
matters, and which are of course, such as receiving petitions, reports,
withdrawing motions, reading papers, &c., the Speaker most commonly
supposes the consent of the House where no objection is expressed, and
does not give them the trouble of putting the question formally. Scob.,
22; 2 Hats., 79, 2, 87; 5 Grey, 129; 9 Grey, 301.