e) Adjournment of debate on the item under discussion; f) Closure of debate on the item under discussion. Rule 47 Submission of Motion and Amendment of Substance Unless the Commission decides otherwise, the motions or amendments to motions on substantive matters made by members of the Commission shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary with supporting documents. Rule 48 Withdrawal and Re-submission of a Motion The sponsor of a motion may withdraw it before it is put to vote, provided that it has not been amended. Another member of the Commission may re-submit a motion thus withdrawn. When a member of the Commission moves for the re- submission of a motion, only one member of the Commission may speak in favour of and one against the motion, after which it shall immediately be put to a vote. Rule 49 Oral Interventions 1. No one may take the floor at a meeting of the Commission without the authorisation of the Chairperson of the Commission. The Chairperson of the Commission shall grant the floor to speakers in the order in which it has been requested. 2. Oral intervention shall deal solely with the matter under discussion by the Commission and the Chairperson of the Commission shall call to order any speaker whose remarks are irrelevant. 3. The Chairperson of the Commission may limit the time accorded to speakers as well as the number of interventions in accordance with the present Rules of Procedure. The time limit for each speaker shall be determined by the Chairperson. Rule 50 Right of Reply 1. A right of reply may be granted by the Chairperson of the Commission to any member of the Commission or representative of a State Party who requests it. 2. A member of the Commission or representative of a State Party must, while exercising this right, respect the time limit fixed by the Chairperson for reply and take the floor preferably at the end of the sitting at which this right has been requested. 3. The right of reply shall be limited to one reply per party and all parties shall have the same length of time to reply. Chapter XI Voting Rule 51 Right to Vote 1. Decisions of the Commission may be taken by consensus, failing which the decision shall be taken by voting. 2. However, at the request of a member, any proposal or motion shall be put to a vote. 3. Each member of the Commission shall have one vote. In the case of a tie in votes, the Chairperson of the Commission shall have a casting vote. Rule 52 Required Majority 1. Except as otherwise provided by the African Charter or the present Rules of Procedure, decisions of the Commission shall be taken by a simple majority of the members present and voting. 2. For the purpose of the Rules of Procedure, the expression "members present and voting" shall mean members voting for or against. The members who shall abstain from voting shall be considered as nonvoting members. Rule 53 Method of Voting 1. Subject to the provisions of Rule 56 of the present Rules, the Commission, unless it otherwise decides, shall vote by show of hands, but any member may request a roll- call vote, which shall be taken in alphabetical order. 2. In all the votes by roll-call each member shall reply "yes" or "no" or "abstention". The vote of each member participating in the ballot shall be recorded in the minutes. 3. The Commission may decide to hold a secret ballot. 9