=============

is improper for an assembly to postpone anything to a day beyond the
next succeeding session, and thus attempt to prevent the next session
from considering the question. On the other hand, it is not permitted
to move a reconsideration [Sec. 27] of a vote taken at a previous session
[though the motion to reconsider can be called up, provided it was made
at the last meeting of the previous session.] Committees can be
appointed to report at a future session.

Note On Session--In Congress, and in fact all legislative bodies, the
limits of the sessions are clearly defined; but in ordinary societies
having a permanent existence, with regular meetings more or less
frequent, there appears to be a great deal of confusion upon the
subject. Any society is competent to decide what shall constitute one
of its sessions, but, where there is no rule on the subject, the common
parliamentary law would make each of its regular or special meetings a
separate session, as they are regarded in this Manual.

The disadvantages of a rule making a session include all the meetings of
an ordinary society, held during a long time as one year, are very
great. [Examine Indefinitely Postpone, Sec. 24, and Renewal of a Motion, Sec.
26.] If members of any society take advantage of the freedom allowed by
considering

=== Page 93 ============================================================

each regular meeting a separate session, and repeatedly renew obnoxious
or unprofitable motions, the society can adopt a rule prohibiting the
second introduction of any principal question [Sec. 6] within, say, three
or six months after its rejection, or indefinite postponement, or after
the society has refused to consider it. But generally it is better to
suppress the motion by refusing to consider it [Sec. 15].

43. A Quorum of an assembly is such a number as is competent to
transact its business. Without there is a special rule on the subject,
the quorum of every assembly is a majority of all the members of the
assembly. But whenever a society has any permanent existence, it is
usual to adopt a much smaller number, the quorum being often less than
one-twentieth of its members; this becomes a necessity in most large
societies, where only a small fraction of the members are ever present
at a meeting.* [While a quorum is competent to transact any business, it
is usually not expedient to transact important business without there is
a fair attend