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Point of Order

A Point of Order is a matter raised during a debate concerning the rules of debating themselves. Most Parliamentary and debating systems allow points of order to be raised if the rules have been broken, thus interrupting the debate itself. The point is resolved before the debate continues

Until recently in the British House of Commons it was required that a member raising a point of order while the House is voting be wearing a hat, and two hats were kept in the House for such occasions. This practice has now been abolished.


Point of Order is a 1964 documentary film which compiled television clips to show the story of the 1954 United States Army versus Senator Joseph McCarthy Hearings, in which the Army accused Senator McCarthy of improperly pressuring the Army for special privileges for Private G. David Schine, formerly of McCarthy's investigative staff. McCarthy accused the Army of holding Schine hostage to keep him from searching for Communists in the Army. These hearings resulted in McCarthy's eventual censure for conduct unbecoming a senator.

It was written by Robert Duncan and Emile de Antonio and directed by de Antonio. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.