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• Directions to the Pre-Legislative Session at The New Jersey Statehouse

General Procedures | Procedures for the President of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly | Consent Calendar | Use of Pages | Decorum and Debate | Amending Bills | Motions – Their Meanings and Effects | Gavel Raps | Voting

Decorum and Debate

• When a member wishes to speak, he/she shall raise a hand and wait to be recognized by the Chair. The members should not call out, whistle, snap fingers, etc. to get attention.
• When recognized, the delegate shall rise and state his/her name and delegation.
• Members shall address all comments to the Chair, who is to be called “Mr./Madam Speaker or Mr./Madam President”.
• Members may be ruled out of order and lose the right to speak if items above are not followed.
• No member shall use profane, insulting or abusive language.
• Members shall treat one another with dignity and respect at all times.
• Improperly dressed members shall not be recognized to speak.
• No member shall interrupt another while speaking except by rising a Point of Order or a Question of Personal Privilege or to Yield.
• • When a member obtains the floor, he/she may not be required to yield, except at the discretion of the Chair.
• No member may use the speaking time of another unless the time has been yielded.
• A recognized speaker must confine his/her remarks to the subject under debate. There are to be no personal references.
• All remarks are to be addressed to the Chair.
• The Chair shall entertain no frivolous motions. The presenter shall be ruled out of order. This ruling may be appealed to the Chamber Advisor who will make a decision.
• If any member repeatedly violates any of the rules or disrupts the proceedings, the Chair shall call the member to order and order the member to his/her seat. Said member shall lose the privilege of speaking on the pending matter, however, he/she may vote on it. If the member refuses to comply, the matter shall be referred to the overall Chamber Advisor for immediate action. The non-compliant member may risk removal from the Program.
• Members are expected to vote on all matters. Abstentions should be used sparingly – they reflect a disinterest in the Bill and a disrespect for the work of the Sponsors.