Rules of Order for Nauvoo City Council, 22 January 1842, as Published in Times and Seasons
Source Note
, Rules of Order, for Nauvoo City Council, , Hancock Co., IL, 22 Jan. 1842. Version published in “Rules of Order of the City Council,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1842, 3:683–686.
no motion shall be received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for the previous question, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand arranged. A motion to strike out the enacting words of a bill, shall have precedence of a motion to amend, and, if carried, shall beconsidered a rejection.—And a motion to refer to a Standing Committee, shall have precedence of one to refer to a Select Committee. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order; that, and a motion to lie on the table, shall be taken without debate.
26th. The previous question shall be in this form, “Shall the main question be now put?” It shall only be admitted when demanded by a majority of the members present; until it is decided, shall preclude all amendment and further debate of the main question, and upon said question there shall be no debate.
27th. Any member may call for the division of a question where the sense will admit of it, but a question to strike out and insert, shall be indivisible.
28th. When a question is carried in the affirmative by yeas and nays any member may enter on the journal, his reasons for dissenting.
29th. It shall not be in order to introduce a bill, unless by way of report from committee, or leave be previously asked and obtained.
30th. every bill or resolution requiring the signature of the Mayor and Recerder, shall receive three several readings previous to its passage.
31st. The first reading of a bill shall be for information, and if opposition be made to it, the question shall be “Shall this bill be rejected?” If no opposition be made it shall go to the second reading without a question, when it shall be open for discussion and amendment, or such order as the council may think proper to take, except the question on the passage thereof, which can only be taken, on the day of the introduction of the bill, by the consent of two-thirds of the members present.
32nd. Before any bill or resolution requiring the signature of the Mayor and Recorder, shall be read a third time, the question shall be put, “Shall this bill be read a third time?” and if a majority of the members present shall not vote in the affirmative, the same shall be declared to be rejected.
33rd. On the third reading of a bill, the question shall be on its passage, but it may be committed at any time previous to its passage.
34th. When a blank is to be filled, and different sums or dates are proposed, the question shall be first taken on the highest sum or longest date, and thence downwards.
35th. The council, may at any time, suspend any of its rules by a majority of three-fourths of the members present.
36. After the arrival of the hour to which the council may stand adjourned, no member who may have appeared, shall absent himself without leave of those present, or of the council when formed.
Of Committees.
37th. All Standing and Select Committees shall be appointed by the Mayor, unless otherwise directed, and the first named member shall be the Chairman. The following Standing Committees shall be appointed, to wit:
A Committee of Ways and Means, to consist of one member from each ward, to whom shall be referred all subjects of taxation and revenue.
A Committee of Improvement, to consist of one member from each ward, to whom shall be referred all subjects relative to repairs and opening of roads and streets, and other subjects of a similar nature.
A Committee of Claims, to consist of three members, to whom shall be referred all matters of claims against the , and applications for remission of penalties.
A Committee of Unfinished Business, to consist of two members, who shall examine the journal of the preceding council, and report such business as may have remained unfinishsd.
A committee of Elections, to consist of three members.
A committee of Police, to consist of one member from each ward, who are empowered to call upon any officer of the Corporation, for any information, report, paper or other matter relative to the police.
A Committee of Municipal Laws, to consist of five members, to whom shall be referred all bills for ordinances presented to the council.
A committee of Public Grounds, to consist of one member from each ward.
A committee of Public Works, to consist of three members. [p. 685]