Rules for the Government of the Committee

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The following Rules for the government of this Committee in their debates and proceedings, were read, agreed to, and ordered to be entered on their Minutes, viz:

1st. That the Chairman, and in his absence, the Deputy Chairman, and in the absence of both, a Chairman to be appointed pro tempore, shall preside at every meeting,

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and keep order and decorum, and that it shall be his duty to sign all letters from the Board.

2d. That a Secretary shall be appointed who is not a member of the Board.

3d. That all Addresses shall be made to the Chair, and standing.

4th. That if more than one shall rise to speak at the same time, the Chairman shall determine who shall first be heard.

5th. That the substance of every motion which, is seconded, shall be entered on the Minutes.

6th. That no interruption shall be offered while a member is delivering his sentiments.

7th. That every question shall be determined by a majority of voices, and after a determination, the same question shall not be resumed, but with the consent of a majority at a subsequent meeting.

8th. That when a question shall be determined, the names of the members shall be entered as they shall vote, on each side.

9th. That the Committee shall meet every Monday at six o' clock in the evening, and on application of any five members the Chairman, or in his absence the Deputy, and in the absence of both, the Secretary, shall call a special meeting, printed notice whereof to be left at the residence of each member.

10th. That, for the despatch of business and to prevent interruptions, the doors, at our meetings, shall be shut, and that no act, proceeding, or debate of the Committee shall be published or divulged, except to a member, unless leave shall be first given by the Committee.

llth. That when the Chairman and Deputy Chairman shall be out of Town, the five first members named on the list of the body, who may be in Town, shall be at liberty to open Letters directed to the Committee, and that the contents of such Letters shall not be communicated but to a member, without leave of the Committee.

12th. That every member after appearing shall keep his seat, and not leave the Committee without the consent of the Chairman.

13th. That no question shall be determined the day that it is agitated, if one-third of the members then present desire it to be postponed to the next meeting.

14th. That no member shall be at liberty to speak more than twice to the same point without leave of the Board.

15th. That at every stated weekly meeting, these Rules shall be publickly read previous to the proceeding upon business.

Rules for the government of the Committee. [1775-05-01] New-York Committee. [S4-V2-p0468] [Document Details][Complete Volume]