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House of Representatives                                Ch 10                                                 p 369

Clauses

Proceedings on the detailed consideration of a bill begin by the Chair calling the number of the clause, for example, ‘Clause 1’, and stating the question ‘That the clause be agreed to’. ¹ If it is the wish of the House or Main Committee to consider a group of clauses together, for example, clauses 1 to 4, the Chair states the question ‘That the clauses be agreed to’. The question is proposed without any motion being moved. A clause may be divided: a clause has been ordered to be considered by Divisions, ² by proposed sections ³ and by paragraphs. ⁴ It has also been ordered that clauses be taken together ⁵ but it is usual when it is desired that clauses be taken together for leave to be obtained. Leave is necessary if a Member wishes to move, as one amendment, to omit more than one clause and substitute another Part.

An amendment may be moved only when the clause to be amended is before the House or Main Committee. When a clause has been amended, the Chair proposes a further question ‘That the clause(s) as amended, be agreed to’ ⁶ before proceeding to the next part of the bill.

S.O. 149(c).

VP 1962-63/342. Consideration of the clause had begun before it was ordered to be considered by divisions and the first question following the order was ‘That the clause to the end of Division 1 be agreed to’ (thereafter ‘That Division 2 be agreed to’ etc.).

VP 1960-61/270. The clause proposed to insert new sections in the principal Act. Consideration of the clause had begun and the first question was ‘That the clause to the end of proposed section 24 be agreed to’.

VP 1959-60/264. The clause had been debated before the order and the first question after the order was ‘That the clause to the end of paragraph (a) be agreed to’ (thereafter ‘That paragraph (b) be agreed to’ etc.).

VP 1932-34/260, 332.

S.O. 150(c).