eport
of the committee on the Constitution and By-Laws." The chairman of the
committee, after addressing "Mr. Chairman" and being recognized, reads
the committee's report and then hands it to the chairman.* [In large and
formal bodies the chairman, before inquiring what is to be done with the
report, usually directs the secretary to read it again. See note to Sec.
46 (c), for a few common errors in acting upon reports of committees.
[See also note to Sec. 46 (b).]] If no motion is made, the chairman says,
"You have heard the report read --

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what order shall be taken upon it?" Or simply inquires, "What shall be
done with the report?" Some one moves its adoption, or still better,
moves "the adoption of the Constitution reported by the committee," and
when seconded, the chairman says, "The question is on the adoption of
the Constitution reported by the committee." He then reads the first
article of the Constitution, and asks, "Are there any amendments
proposed to this article?" If none are offered, after a pause, he reads
the next article and asks the same question, and proceeds thus until he
reads the last article, when he says, "The whole Constitution having
been read, it is open to amendment." Now any one can move amendments to
any part of the Constitution.

When the chairman thinks it has been modified to suit the wishes of the
assembly, he inquires, "Are you ready for the question?" If no one
wishes to speak, he puts the question, "As many as are in favor of
adopting the Constitution as amended, will say aye;" and then, "As many
as are opposed, will say no." He distinctly announces the result of the
vote, which should always be done. If the articles of the Constitution
are subdivided into sections

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or paragraphs, then the amendments should be made by sections or
paragraphs, instead of by articles.

The chairman now states that the Constitution having been adopted, it
will be necessary for those wishing to become members to sign it (and
pay the initiation fee, if required by the Constitution), and suggests,
if the assembly is a large one, that a recess be taken for the purpose.
A motion is then made to take a recess for say ten minutes, or until the
Constitution is signed. The constitution being signed, no one is
permitted to vote excepting those who have s