Allen Hall Council - General Assembly Procedure

• 1 - Administrative
  • 1.1 Quorum/Majority
    A quorum will be two-thirds of the General Assembly population. Only three people from a floor may count towards quorum. Questions concerning quorum or majority should be directed to the chair. It it the responsibility of the chair to ensure that a quorum is present as deemed necessary by the constitution.
    

  • 1.2 General Authority of the Chairperson
    In addition to exercising such authority conferred upon the chair elsewhere in these rules, the chair shall:
    • Declare the opening and closing of each session
      
    • Ensure the observance of the rules
      
    • Direct the discussions of the Council, and accord the right to speak
      
    • Advise the Council on methods of procedure that will enable the body to accomplish its goals
      
    • Rule on Points of Order and Procedure, and subject to these rules, shall have control of the procedings of the Council and the maintenance of order at its meetings
      
    During the course of the session the chair may propose:
    • Limits on Debate (6.7)
      
    • Closure of Debate (6.4)
      
    • Suspension of the Meeting (6.1)
      
    • Adjournment of the Meeting (6.2)
      
    The Chairperson is under the direct authority of the Constitution and Rules Committee (CRC). If the president finds it necessary to be absent, an individual will be assigned to perform the duties with the same authority. At no time will the chair be accorded the right to vote axcept as noted in the constitution.
    

  • 1.3 Selection of Agenda Items
    Agenda items shall be selected by the executive board prior to the start of the meeting. Once selected, these items may only be changed with a majority vote of the General Assembly.
    

• 2 - General Rules
  • 2.1 Diplomatic Courtesy
    Representatives must accord diplomatic courtesy to all other Representives at all times. Representives who persist in obvious attmpts to disrupt the session shall be subject to expulsion from the council for the duration of the meeting by the chair in consultation with the CRC. Decisions in regards to diplomatic courtesy are not appealable.
    

  • 2.2 Speeches
    No floor may address the Council without obtaining the permission of the chair. Individuals are called upon in the order in which they signify their desire to speak. Speakers must keep their remarks germane to the subject under discussion. A time limit may be established on speeches (rule 6.7).
    Representatives, at the conclusion of a substantive speech, will be allowed, if they are willing, to answer questions concerning their speech, otherwise they yield the floor. An individual that desires to ask a question should signify by raising a Point of Inquiry (rule 5.3).
    All questions and replies are made through the chair. A speaker who desires to make a motion may do so after their speech and questions, but prior to yeilding the floor. By making a motion the speaker yields the floor.
    Motions may not be made from Points of Order (rule 5.1), Information (rule 5.2), Inquiry (rule 5.3), or from any procedural speech.
    

  • 2.3 Recognition of Speakers
    Individuals wishing to speak on an item before the body will signify by raising their hand. The exception to this rule occurs on any Point of Order (rule 5.1), Information (rule 5.2), or Inquiry (rule 5.3), at which time a Representive should raise their hand and call out "Point of _______" to the Chair. Points will be recognized in the order of their priority. Speakers will be recognized in a fair and orderly manner.
    

  • 2.4 Withdrawal of Motions
    A motion may be withdrawn by its proposer at any time before voting on it has begun, provided the motion has not been amended. Seconds to a motion may also be withdrawn. A withdrawn motion or second may be reintroduced by another person.
    

  • 2.5 Dilatory motions
    The president may rule out of order any motion repeating or closely approximation a recent, previous motion on which the Council has already rendered an opinion. This ruling is not subject to General Assembly appeal.
    

• 3 - Rules that relate to the rules
  • 3.1 Rule priority and Procedure
    These rules are the official rules of procedure for Allen Hall Council and will be used for all council sessions. These rules have precedence over any former rule set and may only be overridden by the AHC consitiution.
    

  • 3.2 Order of Prececence of Procedual Motions
    The order of precedence of procedural motions is listed in order of priority on the short form and in these rules under sections 5 and 6. Procedural motions proceed in their order of Priority. These motions, in the order given, have precedence over all other proposals or motions before the council.
    

  • 3.3 Rule Changes
    The CRC reserves the right to make changes in these rules. Should a change occur, it will be communicated to the General Assemby and go into effect at the meeting following the announcement.
    

• 4 - Voting
  • 4.1 Voting Rights
    Each member floor shall have three votes as indicated in the constitiution. No one may cast a vote on behalf of another floor.
    

  • 4.2 Simple Majority
    Unless otherwise specified in these rules or the constitution, decisions in the Council shall be made by a majority vote of those present as indicated by the sign-in sheet.
    

  • 4.3 Method of Voting
    The Council shall normally vote by a show of raised hands, unless the issue is financial in nature or as otherwise specified in the consititution. The president may grant a request for a roll-call vote; the decision to grant such a request is not subject to appeal. All final votes of financial proposals and votes committing the council to action shall be taken by roll-call: the roll shall be called in standard order beginning with a floor selected at random by the Secretary. The floor president shall reply with the number of "yes", "no" or "abstain" votes, or if a floor representive wishes to abstain from the order of voting, the whole floor shall abstain from the order. A floor may abstain from the order of voting once during a roll call: a second abstention from the order of voting will be recorded as an abstention for the entire floor.
    

  • 4.4 Conduct during voting
    Immediately prior to a vote, the president shall describe the item to be voted on, and shall explain the consequences of a "yes" or "no" vote. Prior to entering voting procedure, all persons involved in the presenting of the proposal if it is financial in nature or if it directly involves them (ie. impeachment or replacing an executive board member) shall leave the room. If the proposal is presented by a floor in request of funds all representatives of that floor including the RA shall leave the room. Voting shall begin upon the Chair's declaration "we are in voting procedure", and end when the results are announced. Once in voting procedure, no Representive shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order or information concerning the actual conduct of the vote. During voting procedure the doors to the chamber shall remain closed. Following Closure of Debate, and prior to entering voting procedure, the Chair shall pause briefly to allow the opportunity to make any relevent motions. Relevent motions prior to a vote include: Suspension of the Meeting (6.1), Adjournment of the Meeting (6.2), and Division of the Question (6.8).
    

• 5 - Points of procedure in order of priority
  • 5.1 Point of Order
    During the discussion of any matter, a representive may rise to a Point of Order if he/she believes that the Council is proceeding in a manner contrary to these rules. The Representative will be immediately recognized by the chair /and the point ruled on. If a Representive's ability to participate in the Council's deliberaton is impaired for any reason, the Representative may rise to a Point of Order. A Point of Order may interrupt a speaker.
    

  • 5.2 Point of Information
    A Point of Information is raised to the Chair if a Representative wishes to obtain a clarification of procedure or a statement of the matters before the Council. Representatives may not interrupt a speaker on a Point of Information.
    

  • 5.3 Point of Inquiry
    During a substantive debate, a Representative may question a speaker by rising to a Point of Inquiry. The question may be posed only after the speaker has concluded his/her remarks, but before he/she has yielded the floor. Representatives may not interrupt a speaker on a Point of Inquiry. See also rule 2.2, Speeches.
    

• 6 - Procedural Motions in order of Priority
  • 6.1 Suspension of the Meeting
    During the discussion of any matter, a Representative may move to suspend the meeting, except when such a motion would interrupt a speaker. Suspending a meeting recesses it for the time specified in the motion. A second and a majority vote are required for passage. This motion is not debateable. The chair may request the mover to modify the time of suspension. If the motion passes, the Council, when it reconvenes, will continue its business from the point at which the suspension was moved.
    

  • 6.2 Adjournment of the Meeting.
    The motion of adjournment means that all business of the council has been completed, and that the Council will not reconvene untill the next scheduled session. A second and a majority vote are required for passage. The Chair may refuse to recognize a motion to adjourn the meeting if the Council still has business before it. This decision is not appealable. A motion to adjourn is not debatable, and will be put to an immediate vote.
    

  • 6.3 Adjournment of Debate
    During the discussion of any matter, a Representative may move to Adjourn to Debate on that matter. Adjournment of Debate on a motion has the effect of tabling that item and allows the Council to move onto another issue. A second and a majority vote is required for passage. Two individuals from different floors may speak in favor, and two opposed; the motion shall then be put to a vote. A item upon which debate has been adjourned must pass a vote of reconsideration before it may be brought back to the floor for consideration (see also rule 6.9).
    

  • 6.4 Closure of Debate
    A representive may move to close debate on an issue before the council at any time, except when such a motion would interrupt a speaker. If closure passes, the item upon which the debate was closed will be put to a vote. A second and a majority vote are required for passage. Two Representatives from different floors may speak against closure and the motion will then be put to a vote. When discussing an amendment, Representatives should specify whether the motion for closure applies to the ammendment in question or the initial proposal. If closure passes on the initial proposal all amendments on the floor will be voted on in the reverse order from which they were moved to the floor. After voting on all amendments is completed the resoltion shall be voted upon in accordance with these rules.
    

  • 6.5 Appealing a Decision of the Chair
    Rulings of the Chair are appealable unless otherwise specified in these rules. A second and a 2/3rds majority vote are required for passage. Two Representatives from different floors may speak in faver of the motion and two opposed. An appeal must be made immediately following the ruling in question. The chair shall put the vote thusly: : "Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?" A "yes" vote support the Chair's decision; a "no" vote signifies objection. The decision of the Chair shall be sustained by a tie. Rulings by the Chair may not be appealed if specified elsewhere in these rules or any time the rule is a direct quote from these rules of procedure.
    

  • 6.6 Changing the Agenda
    Agenda items will be considered in the order in which they appear, unless that order is altered by the passage of a motion to Change the Agenda. A second and a majority vote are required for passage. This motion is not debatable. This motion may be presented by the Chair.
    

  • 6.7 Limits on Debate
    A motion to limit or extend the time allotted to each delegation, or to limit the number of times each delegation can speak on a proposal, is in order at any time. This motion may be proposd by the Chair or a Representative. A second and a majority vote are required for passage. Two Representatives from different floors may speak in favor of the limits and two against. This motion may also be used to limit the time allowed for debate on an agenda item, a motion of action, or an amendment.
    

  • 6.8 Division of the Question
    A motion to divide the question, proposing that an amendment or set of amendments be voted on seperately from the associated motion, is in order at any time prior to entering into voting procedure on said motion. A second and a 2/3rds majority vote are required for passage. Two Representatives from different floors may speak in favor of the division and two against. The first motion for division to recieve a majority vote shall determine the order in which the amendments/proposal parts are to be voted on. Those clauses of the amendment/proposal which are approved shall then be put to a vote as a whole.
    

  • 6.9 Consideration of Amendments.
    To bring an amendment to the floor for discussion a delegation must first be recognized by the Chair. No verbal second is required. The chair will present the amendment to the body. The delegation moving consideration will be allowed to speak first on the amendment, if desired.
    

  • 6.10 Reconsideration of Proposals.
    A motion to reconsider is in order on an amendment or proposal which has passed or failed when put to a final vote. The motion is also in order for proposals on which debate has been adjourned. A motion to reconsider requires a second and 2/3 majority vote for passage. Two delegations may speak opposed to the motion. If the motion passes it brings the issue back before the body for debate and to be voted upon again.