speaker. 1. One who speaks or makes a speech (the slander claim was viable only against the speaker). 2. The presiding officer of a large deliberative assembly, esp. a legislature’s more numerous house, such as the House of Representatives (Speaker of the House). See CHAIR(1). [Cases: United States 7. 1. C.J.S. United States § 16.]
canvass, vb. 1. To examine in detail; scrutinize (that issue has been repeatedly canvassed by our state’s courts). 2. To formally count ballots and report the returns (canvass the votes). “When all the ballots have been collected, including those of the presiding officer, the secretary, and the tellers, the ballots are canvassed by the tellers.
president, n. 1. The chief political executive of a government; the head of state. [Cases: United States 26. C.J.S. United States §§ 45–47.] 2. The chief executive officer of a corporation or other organization. 3. CHAIR(1). 4. See CHAIR(3). See (in senses 3 & 4) presiding officer (3) under OFFICER(2). — presidential, adj. immediate past
A bill passed by both houses of the legislature and signed by their presiding officers. See ENROLL(2); ENROLLED-BILL RULE. [Cases: Statutes 37. C.J.S. Statutes §§ 56–58.]
gavel through. Parliamentary law. To put (a question) to a vote before any member can obtain the floor. • The practice of “gaveling through” a motion is improper under parliamentary law. “It should be noted that, under legitimate parliamentary procedure, there is no such thing as ‘gaveling through’ a measure. The right of members to
rector (rek-t[schwa]r). 1. Eccles. law. The spiritual head and presiding officer of a parish. — Also termed parson. Cf. VICAR. impropriate rector. A lay rector as opposed to a clerical rector. rector sinecure (sI-nee-kyoor-ee). A rector who does not have the cure of souls. 2. Roman law. A governor or ruler. rector provinciae (pr[schwa]-vin-shee-ee). A
Parliamentary law. 1. A deliberative assembly’s presiding officer [the chair calls for order]. See PRESIDE. 2. The presiding officer’s seat [take the chair].3. The officer who heads an organization [the treasurer reports directly to the chair]. — Also termed chairman (of a male chair, in senses 1 & 3); chairwoman (of a female chair, in
A chair elected or appointed during or in anticipation of the regular presiding officer’s (or officers’) absence from the chair, and whose service ends when a regular presiding officer resumes the chair. — Often shortened to chair pro tem. See PRO TEMPORE.
hundredary (h[schwa]n-dri-der-ee), n. [Law Latin] Hist. The chief or presiding officer of a hundred. — Also termed hundredarius.
recognition, n. 1. Confirmation that an act done by another person was authorized. See RATIFICATION. [Cases: Principal and Agent 170(2).C.J.S. Agency § 88.] 2. The formal admission that a person, entity, or thing has a particular status; esp. a nation’s act in formally acknowledging the existence of another nation or national government. 3. Parliamentary law.