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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
General Procedures
- No one but the assigned delegates and Pages are permitted on the floor of either Chamber. All others must observe from the Gallery.
- Only Pages, Chamber Officers or Advisors may handle Official Bills.
- Senate Presidents and Assembly Speakers (hereinafter referred to as “Chair”) shall preside over their respective Chambers.
- Delegates shall take care not to disturb any items on the desks. Delegates shall never open the desks.
- Once delegates have selected seats in the Chamber, they shall retain this original seat throughout, unless directed to move by the Chair.
- Bills are randomly and equally assigned to the Assembly and Senate. There is no guarantee that a Bill will be heard first in the Chamber of the Main Sponsor. It is for this reason that each Bill should have a Sponsor in both the Senate and Assembly and both should be well prepared to speak on the Bill.
- After the first session of the day is called to order by the Chair, the Chaplain shall give the invocation and the members shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance. These items will be repeated at the start of session on Sunday.
- Bills will be placed on the Docket by the Expeditor. This order may not be changed except by the Expeditor.
- The Clerk/Secretary shall read the Bill by the Title only, noting all amendments.
- The Sponsor has two (2) minutes to present an Opening Statement, which explains and urges passage of the Bill.
- All questions, comments, etc. Must be addressed to ‘the Chair’. The Chair will then entertain Non-Debatable Technical Questions for a period not to exceed five (5) minutes.
- Debate will begin by the Chair recognizing a Con speaker. This person has two (2) minutes to speak in opposition to the Bill. Amendments are proper at this time.
- After the Con speaker concludes, a Pro speaker is recognized who, also has two (2) minutes to speak in support of the Bill. This pattern of rotation continues for at least three rounds.
- When debate has ended, the Sponsor has three (3) minutes to make a Closing Statement – this often responds to previously made Con remarks. The Sponsor then makes a motion to have the Bill read (by Title only) and placed before the Chamber for a final vote.
- If there are no objections, the Clerk/Secretary reads the Title and the Bill proceeds to a vote. (See Rules – Voting)
- Bills may, in certain cases, be sent back to Committee. After being sent back, Bills are not guaranteed to be reintroduced for debate. (See Rules – Voting)
- In fairness to all delegates, Bills may not be tabled, but they may be returned to committee.
- Delegates may not enter or speak in any Chamber other than where assigned.
- The Governor, Cabinet, and Lobbyists may be permitted to speak before the Chamber by a 2/3 majority vote.
- If a Bill passes the first Chamber, it is delivered to the Expeditor who sends it to the second Chamber. Bills sent from another Chamber alternate on the existing Docket.
- If the Bill is defeated in the first Chamber, it is delivered to the Expeditor but does not move on to any other Chamber.
- If the Bill passes the second Chamber, it is delivered to the Expeditor who sends it to the Governor’s Office for action.
- If the Bill is amended in the second Chamber, it is delivered to the Expeditor who returns it to the first Chamber for a vote on the amendment. If the amendment passes, the Bill goes to the Governor. If the amendment does not pass, the Bill is defeated and does not move on.
- Delegates not appropriately dressed shall not be permitted to speak.
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