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X.

Chapter the Speaker deal with the first amendment as if it were a distinct question, and with the second as if it were an ordinary amendment. The original question is, indeed, for a time, laid aside; and the amendment becomes, as it were, a substantive question itself. Unless this were done, there would be three points under consideration at once, viz. the question, the proposed amendment, and the amendment of that amendment: but when the question for adopting the words of an amendment is put forward distinctly, and apart from the original question, no confusion arises from moving amendments to it, before its ultimate adoption is proposed.1

Where the original amendment is either simply to insert, add, or omit words, an amendment may at once be proposed

1 It appears, from a curious letter of the younger Pliny (Plinii Epistolæ, lib. viii. ep. 14), that the Roman senate were perplexed in the mode of disentangling a question that involved three different propositions. It was doubtful whether the consul, Afranius Dexter, had died by his own hand or by that of a domestic; and if by the latter, whether at his own request or criminally; and the senate had to decide on the fate of his freedmen. One senator proposed that the freedmen ought not to be punished at all; another, that they should be banished; and a third, that they should suffer death. As these judgments differed so much, it was urged that they must be put to the question distinctly, and that those who were in favour of each of the three opinions should sit separately, in order to prevent two parties, each differing with the other, from joining against the third. On the other hand, it was contended that those who would put to death, and those who would banish, ought jointly to be compared with the number who voted for acquittal, and afterwards among themselves. The first opinion prevailed, and it was agreed that each question should be put separately. It

happened, however, that the senator who had proposed death at last joined the party in favour of banishment, in order to prevent the acquittal of the freedmen, which would have been the result of separating the senate into three distinct parties. The mode of proceeding adopted by the senate was clearly inconsistent with a determination by the majority of an assembly; being calculated to leave the decision to a minority of the members then present, if the majority were not agreed. The only correct mode of ascertaining the will of a majority is to put but one question at a time, and to have that resolved in the affirmative or negative by the whole body. The combinations of different parties against a third cannot be avoided (which after all was proved in the senate); and the only method of obtaining the ultimate judgment of a majority, and reconciling different opinions, is by amending the proposed question until a majority of all the parties agree to affirm or deny it, as it is ultimately put to the vote.-(Information supplied by the late Mr. Rickman.) See also Professor Long's Plutarch's Life of Pompey,

P. 80.

Amendments to

proposed amend

ments,

words.

to it, without reference to the question itself, which will be Chapter dealt with, when the amendment has been disposed of.

The most difficult form, perhaps, is when the amendment first proposed is to leave out certain words of the original question; and an amendment is proposed to such proposed leaving out amendment, by leaving thereout some of the words proposed to be omitted, and thus, in effect, restoring them to the original question. In such a case a question is first put, that the words proposed to be omitted, stand part of the proposed amendment. If that question be affirmed, the question is then put, that all the words proposed to be omitted by the first amendment, stand part of the original question. But if it be negatived, a question is put, that the words comprised in the amendment, so amended, stand part of such original question.1

Leaving out words

others.

But where the original amendment is to leave out certain and adding words, in order to insert or add other words, no amendment can be moved to the words proposed to be substituted, until the house have resolved that the words proposed to be left out shall not stand part of the question. But so soon as the question is proposed for inserting or adding the words of the amendment, an amendment may be moved thereto.

X.

amend

ments.

A short example will make this latter proceeding more See also Appendix intelligible. To avoid a difficult illustration (of which III., there are many in the journals 2), let the simple question ments to be, "That this bill be now read a second time;" to which amend an amendment has been proposed, by leaving out the word "now," and adding "upon this day six months;" and let the question that the word "now" stand part of the question, be negatived, and the question for adding "upon this day six months," be proposed. An amendment may then be proposed to such proposed amendment, by leaving out "six months," and adding "fortnight" instead thereof. The question will then be put, "That the words 'six

127 C. J. 298; 39 ib. 842; 64 ib. 131; 134 ib. 136.

2 See Com. Gen. Journ. Indexes,

tit. Amendments; 108 C. J. 516; 123
ib. 160.

X.

Chapter months' stand part of the said proposed amendment." If that be affirmed, the question for adding "upon this day six months" is put, and, if carried, the main question, so amended, is put, viz. "That this bill be read a second time upon this day six months." But if it be resolved that "six months" shall not stand part of the proposed amendment, a question is put that "fortnight" be added; and, if that be agreed to, the first amendment, so amended, is put, viz. that the words "upon this day fortnight" be added to the original question. That being agreed to, the main question, so amended, is put, viz. "That this bill be read a second time upon this day fortnight." 1 Several amendments may be moved, in succession, to a proposed amendment-subject to the same rules as amendments to questions. An amendment to a proposed amendment cannot be moved, if it proposes to leave out all the words of such proposed amendment: but in such a case the first amendment must be negatived before the second can be offered.3 Every amendment proposed to be made, either to a Amendcommittee, question or to a proposed amendment, should be so framed ments to see p. 383. that, if agreed to by the house, the question, or amendment gible. as amended, would be intelligible and consistent with itself.

Not

seconded in

be intelli

of amend

In the Commons, every amendment must be proposed and seconded in the same manner as an original motion; Seconding and, if no seconder can be found, the amendment is not ments. proposed by the Speaker, but drops, as a matter of course, and no entry of it appears in the votes.1

Except in the case of amendments of which previous notice is required (see p. 289), an amendment of which notice stands upon the notice paper can be moved by any member entitled to speak to the question before the house, if the member who gave notice of the amendment does not rise and move the same.

1 Dublin Waterworks Bill, 27th Feb. 1849, 104 C. J. 98; 102 H. D. 3 s. 1314.

26th March, 1840 (Supply), 95 C. J. 153; 101 ib. 865; 134 ib. 136; 145 ib. 53.

3 Education in rural districts (Mr. Pell and Mr. Wilbraham Egerton), 2nd March, 1875, 130 ib.

70.

177 H. D. 3 s. 1528; 133 Parl. Deb. 4 s. 322; 147 ib. 1040.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SAME QUESTION OR BILL MAY NOT BE TWICE OFFERED
IN A SESSION.

Chapter
XI.

Table of Contents,

see Introduction.

the rule.

Object of IT is a rule, in both houses, which is essential to the due For application of performance of their duties, that no question or bill shall this prinbe offered that is substantially the same as one on which ciple to motions, &c., their judgment has already been expressed in the current see p. 278. session.1

Resolutions rescinded.

18

A resolution may, however, be rescinded, and an order of the house discharged, notwithstanding a rule urged (2nd April, 1604), "That a question being once made, and carried in the affirmative or negative, cannot be questioned again, but must stand as a judgment of the house." Reference to past deTechnically, indeed, the rescinding of a vote is the matter bates, see p. of a new question; the form being to read the resolution of 325. the house, and to move that it be rescinded; and thus the same question which had been resolved in the affirmative is not again offered, although its effect is annulled.

To rescind a negative vote, except in the different stages of bills, is a proceeding of greater difficulty, because the same question would have to be offered again. The only means, therefore, by which a negative vote can be revoked, is by proposing another question, similar in its general purport to that which had been rejected, but with sufficient variance to constitute a new question; and the house would determine whether it were substantially the same question or not.

There is a difficulty in discharging an order for an address to the Crown, after it has been presented to his Majesty.

1 1 C. J. 306. 434. Cases when the Speaker has intervened to enforce this rule, 95 C. J. 495; 76 H. D. 3 s. 1021; 201 ib. 824; 214 ib. 287; 155 C. J. 139; 157 ib. 236.

2 Baron Smith, 89 C. J. 59; Edu

cation (Inspectors' Reports), 1864,
119 ib. 463; April, 1868, 123 ib. 145;
see also 2 Lord Colchester's Diary,
9.12.

3 1 C. J. 162.

XI.

Chapter Thus, in 1850, an address having been agreed to for discontinuing the collection and delivery of letters on Sunday, and for inquiry into the subject, another address was agreed to, some time afterwards, for inquiring whether Sunday labour might not be reduced in the post-office, without completely putting an end to the collection and delivery of letters.1 Again, in 1856, when an address had been voted on the subject of national education in Ireland, in which the majority of the house did not concur, instead of discharging the order for the address, a resolution was agreed to, for the purpose of qualifying the opinions embodied in the address; and her Majesty's answer was framed in the spirit of the resolution, as well as of the address.2

Debate

thereon, see p. 325.

See amend

ments on second

reading of a bill, p. 473, n. 6.

3

Notice is required of a motion to rescind a resolution; or to expunge or alter an entry in the "Votes and Proceedings." This rule, however, was not held to apply to a motion to rescind a resolution which affected the seat of a member, as being a matter of privilege, and which arose out of the proceedings in which the house was then engaged: 5 but under no circumstances is it competent for the house to rescind a resolution during the sitting when the resolution was agreed to."

Sometimes the house may not be prepared to rescind a resolution, but may be willing to modify its judgment, by considering and agreeing to another resolution relating to the same subject. Thus, a resolution having been agreed to which condemned an official appointment, the house, by a subsequent resolution, withdrew the censure which the previous resolution had conveyed."

Again, the effect of a resolution, by which the house determined that no legislation should be entertained,

1 105 C. J. 383. 509.

2111 ib. 272. 289. 298; 111 H. D. 3 s. 1404.

3 18th April, 1887, 313 ib. 1124. 26th Feb. 1885, 294 ib. 1423; 27th June, 1884, a motion to omit "Nem. Con." from the entry of the third reading of the Representation

of the People Bill on the "Votes,"
was brought forward without notice
as privilege, 139 C. J. 324.
5 253 H. D. 3 s. 644.
6138 ib. 1307.

Controller of the Stationery Office, 16th and 23rd July, 1877, 132 C. J. 345. 367.

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