8. How presiding officers are chosen.—Either law, rule or custom regulates the selection of a presiding officer of an assembly, council or other body. The speaker of the Canadian and English houses is elected on motion duly made by a mover and seconder, with the clerk acting as temporary chairman. If two or more candidates are proposed, the sense of the house is given on the name of each candidate, in the same order in which it is proposed: that is to say, the first name is voted upon, and if rejected, the second name, and so forth. It is not usual for a candidate to vote for himself. In the case of all public bodies in this country, it would be well to adopt the same practice and in this way ensure uniformity from a primary up to a parliamentary assembly[1]
9. Special statutory provisions in certain cases provide for chairman and other officers.—An ordinary public or primary meeting elects its chairman on a motion duly made, seconded, submitted and agreed to by the meeting. In the case of assemblies governed by statute, rules and by-laws-like—legislative, ecclesiastical and municipal bodies, special provision is made for the election or appointment of all the officers. The speakers of the house of commons and of legislative assemblies generally in Canada are elected by those bodies as provided by law. Wardens, mayors and reeves are chosen by the people of the municipalities or by
- ↑ See below, p. 39, for parliamentary rule respecting the election of speaker.
