In the Constitution of the United States, the number is one fifth; some of the State constitutions give this power to one fifth, some to three members; some to two, and some to one.”—Ed.
26. The usual and necessary officers of a deliberative assembly are those already mentioned, namely, a presiding, and a recording, officer; both of whom are elected or appointed by the assembly itself, and removable at its pleasure. These officers are always to be elected by absolute majorities, even in those States in which elections are usually effected by a plurality, for the reason, that, being removable at the pleasure of the assembly, if any number short of a majority were to elect, a person elected by any such less number would not be able to retain his office for a moment; inasmuch as he might be instantly removed therefrom, on a question made for that purpose, by the votes of those who had voted for other persons on the election; and it is essential to the due and satisfactory performance of the functions of these officers, that they should possess the confidence of the assembly, which they cannot be said to do, unless they have the suffrages of at least a majority.
27. The principal duties of this officer are the following:—
To open the sitting, at the time to which the assembly is adjourned, by taking the chair and calling the members to order;
To announce the business before the assembly in the order in which it is to be acted upon;
To receive and submit, in the proper manner, all motions and propositions presented by the members;
To put to vote all questions, which are regularly moved, or necessarily arise in the course of the proceedings, and to announce the result;
To restrain the members, when engaged in debate, within the rules of order;
To enforce on all occasions the observance of order and decorum among the members;
To receive all messages and other communications and announce them to the assembly;
To authenticate, by his signature, when necessary, all the acts, orders, and proceedings of the assembly;
To inform the assembly, when necessary, or when referred to for the purpose, in a point of order or practice;
To name the members (when directed to do so in a particular case, or when it is made a part of his general duty by a rule,) who are to serve on committees; and, in general,