Take the floor意思
"Take the floor" is an idiomatic expression that is commonly used in the context of meetings, debates, or formal discussions. It means to assume the right or opportunity to speak, typically by standing up or by being recognized by the chair or presiding officer. The person who "takes the floor" is given the opportunity to express their views, opinions, or ideas without interruption from others, until they have finished speaking or yield the floor to someone else.
In parliamentary procedure, the term "floor" refers to the space in a meeting room where members stand to speak, and the right to speak is a fundamental part of deliberative assemblies. When someone "takes the floor," they are physically moving to the floor or indicating their desire to speak, and they are granted the right to do so by the rules of the assembly.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of what typically happens when someone "takes the floor":
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Raising the Point of Order: A member who wishes to speak will usually raise their hand or otherwise signal their desire to be recognized by the chair or presiding officer.
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Recognition: The chair acknowledges the member and grants them the right to speak. This is often done by saying, "The gentleman/lady from [district/state] has the floor."
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Delivering the Speech: Once recognized, the member steps forward or otherwise indicates that they are about to speak, and then delivers their speech or comments on the topic at hand.
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Yielding the Floor: After finishing their speech, the member will typically say something like, "I yield the floor," or "I have no further comments," to indicate that they are finished speaking and are yielding the right to someone else who wishes to speak.
The expression "take the floor" is not limited to parliamentary settings; it can also be used metaphorically in other contexts to mean taking the opportunity to speak or present one's views, especially in a formal or public setting.