Test #93 - Rules Governing Debate

Every member of the assembly has the right to speak on every debatable motion, and this right cannot be interfered with except

• if the chairman wishes to stop debate.

• when a member makes a motion to limit debate and it is adopted by a majority vote.

• by a two-thirds vote.

• when the maker of the motion decides to limit debate.

Before a motion may be debated upon by the assembly, it must be

• amended.

• explained by the chair regarding its merits.

• debated by the maker of the motion and then seconded.

• made, seconded, and stated by the chair.

If you were chairman and a member concluded debate on a main motion by making an amendment, what would you do?

• Ask for a second and process the amendment.

• Rule the amendment out of order.

• Take a vote on the amendment.

• Take a vote on the main motion and then process the amendment.

When the chairman asks, "Are you ready for the question?" this means that the chair

• wants members to ask the maker of the motion questions.

• has stopped debate on the main motion and is going to take an immediate voice vote on it.

• is trying to determine if debate has concluded.

• is asking permission to ask the maker of the motion a question related to the main motion.

After a member obtains the floor to debate a motion, he/she can speak no longer than

• 10 minutes.

• 20 minutes.

• 30 minutes.

• decided by the chair.

Which one of the following statements is false?

• If a speaker yields to another member for a question, the time consumed by the question is charged to the speaker.

• If a speaker does not use up the allotted ten minutes, it can be transferred to another member.

• A committee member's report is not considered as debate.

• When a member's debate time is exhausted, the chair may interrupt and stop debate.

A member wishes to transfer seven minutes of unused debating time to another member. What would you do as chairman?

• Grant permission to transfer the time to another member.

• Tell the member that unexpired time cannot be transferred to another member.

• Explain that since the other member proposed the motion, the time cannot be transferred.

• Ask the member to propose a motion, and if it is adopted by a majority vote, allow the transfer.

Except for an Appeal, how many times can a member speak on the same motion on the same day?

• Once

• Twice

• Three times

• Answer not given

Who is the only person who can speak twice on a motion to Appeal?

• Members in favor of the Appeal

• The parliamentarian

• The member who made the Appeal

• The presiding officer

The assembly can adopt the motion to close debate immediately on a pending question if two-thirds of those vote

• for a Division of the Question.

• to Postpone the Question.

• for the Previous Question.

• to Postpone the Question Indefinitely.