House Rules of Decorum, second edition.
The following rules of decorum are mandatory throughout the House of Representatives.
1. Be respectful of your fellow colleagues. Each and every representative of the House is a dignified individual, worthy of the respect associated with the office. As such, referring to fellow colleagues by name is extremely rude. Representatives are to address their fellow colleagues as "The gentleman from <insert state>" or "The lady from <insert state>" or "My distinguished colleague from <insert state>."
2. Be considerate of your fellow colleagues. Each representative is assumed to be acting in the best interest of their constitutes, as such, representatives will refrain from questioning the intent and motives of their fellow colleagues at all times. It is not allowable to arraign the motives of a member, but the nature or consequences of a measure may be condemned in strong terms. It is not the man, but the measure, that is the subject of debate.
3. Be respectful of those with authority. Those in positions of power have earned the respect of every member of the House, regardless of political affiliation. When addressing such members as the Speaker of the House, or a distinguished Chair of a House Committee, it is polite and becoming to address them as Mr. (or Mrs., Ms., Miss, Madame) Speaker or Mr. (or Mrs., Ms., Miss, Madame) Chairman or Chairwoman.
4. Behave like an adult. This is the world of politics, there are bound to be times where passion and emotion get the best of us and we fly off the handle at a fellow colleague. Whenever you are feeling the passion and emotion raging, instead of acting like an everyday commoner, release that passion and emotion in an adult like, dignified manner.
5. Being called to order. Finally, being called to order has an effect. Members can be called to order for failing to adhere to the rules of decorum. Members who are called to order may potentially be removed from debate and, or, the immediate following vote. The Speaker must seek permission from the House Administrator before removing someone from a debate or immediate following vote.
6. Being expelled. Being expelled is a form of punishment the Speaker may enact, with permission of the House Administrator, for members who continuously act out of line. After being called to order multiple times (two or more), the Speaker may seek permission from the House Administrator to expel a member and effectively remove them from the House Floor completely for up to ten days.
Full Version: House Rules and Institutions
Standing Committees
Organization
1. The House shall consist of no less than four committees and no more than six committees.
2. The committees and their respective jurisdiction may be amended once per Congressional session, to take effect the following session.
3. Committees may hold hearings on bills, as well as investigate, exploratory and other kinds of hearings. The House Administrator reserves the right to stop any hearing that he deems fit.
Committee organization
1. Each committee shall have nine members, as follows:
(i) Four members of the majority party;
(ii) Four members of the minority party; and
(iii) One chair, appointed by the majority party.
(iv) The minority party shall also designate one of its four members on each committee as a Ranking Member.
2. The chair and ranking member shall have, respectfully, all powers of their real life counter parts, to be amended as needed for purposes of game play.
Hearings
1. The Chair of a committee shall have the power to schedule debate for legislation.
2. The Chair of a committee shall have the power to call and schedule hearings on matters under the jurisdiction of the committee.
Bills
1. The Speaker shall have the authority to refer bills to committee or to the floor, at their discretion.
2. Whilst on the floor for debate, representatives may move to refer a bill back to committee for review. Such a motion shall take precedence over all other motions, shall be recognised and shall require a plurality of those voting to pass.
Rules Committee
Organization
1. The House Rules Committee shall consist of six members, as follows:
(i) The Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Majority Whip, and Minority Whip; and
(ii) One additional member appointed by the majority party; and
(iii) One additional member appointed by the minority party.
2. The Speaker of the House shall serve as chair of the Rules Committee. In this capacity, the Speaker may debate but has no voting or tie-breaking authority.
Authority
1. The Rules Committee shall have the authority to determine the Rule under which individual bills come to the House Floor, subject to certain limitations:
(i) Although every bill is subject to its authority, bills do not have to go through the Rules Committee. The default rules shall be those laid out in the House Rules of Order and by precedent; every bill shall be assumed to fall under these rules unless and until the Rules Committee agrees otherwise.
(ii) The Rules Committee may consider and vote on rules for any bill which has not yet begun debate on the House Floor during the present session.
(iii) All proposed rules must be seconded, and then passed by the affirmative votes of at least four (4) members of the Rules Committee.
(iv) Except where specifically noted below, rules passed by the Rules Committee apply only to debate on the House Floor, not in Standing Committees.
(v) The House Administrator reserves final veto power over any rule (or part thereof) passed by the Rules Committee.
2. No rule or decision other than those listed here shall be entertained by the Rules Committee:
(i) Closed Rule: No amendments whatsoever permitted to the bill on the House Floor
(ii) Modified Closed Rule: Certain segments of the bill are designated as unamendable, and/or certain types of amendments are deemed out of order
(iii) Set Debate Length: Determines the number of hours allocated for debate
(iv) Refer Directly to Floor: The bill bypasses the standing committee and proceeds directly to the House Floor for debate
(v) Fast-track to Floor: The bill is referred directly to the floor under a Closed Rule, and moves right into a simultaneous debate and final vote.
(vi) Fast-track to Committee: The bill is referred to a standing committee, which must then put the bill up for debate no later than the next docket.
(vii) Refer to Committee With Instructions: The standing committee is given a set of (general or specific) requirements to fulfill before the bill reaches the floor. If the standing committee does not satisfactorily follow the instructions, the Rules Committee may vote once again to Refer to Committee With Instructions, so long as the bill has not yet been put up for debate on the House Floor.
(viii) Refer to Committee for Circular Filing: It is out of order for the standing committee to bring the bill up for a debate or vote for the remainder of the session.
3. Subject to the approval of the House Admin, the decisions of the Rules Committee are binding.
4. The Speaker shall clearly state any rules changes when opening debate on a bill on the Floor. Chairmen of Standing Committees shall clearly state any instructions handed down by the Rules Committee when opening debate on a bill.
Organization
1. The House shall consist of no less than four committees and no more than six committees.
2. The committees and their respective jurisdiction may be amended once per Congressional session, to take effect the following session.
3. Committees may hold hearings on bills, as well as investigate, exploratory and other kinds of hearings. The House Administrator reserves the right to stop any hearing that he deems fit.
Committee organization
1. Each committee shall have nine members, as follows:
(i) Four members of the majority party;
(ii) Four members of the minority party; and
(iii) One chair, appointed by the majority party.
(iv) The minority party shall also designate one of its four members on each committee as a Ranking Member.
2. The chair and ranking member shall have, respectfully, all powers of their real life counter parts, to be amended as needed for purposes of game play.
Hearings
1. The Chair of a committee shall have the power to schedule debate for legislation.
2. The Chair of a committee shall have the power to call and schedule hearings on matters under the jurisdiction of the committee.
Bills
1. The Speaker shall have the authority to refer bills to committee or to the floor, at their discretion.
2. Whilst on the floor for debate, representatives may move to refer a bill back to committee for review. Such a motion shall take precedence over all other motions, shall be recognised and shall require a plurality of those voting to pass.
Rules Committee
Organization
1. The House Rules Committee shall consist of six members, as follows:
(i) The Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Majority Whip, and Minority Whip; and
(ii) One additional member appointed by the majority party; and
(iii) One additional member appointed by the minority party.
2. The Speaker of the House shall serve as chair of the Rules Committee. In this capacity, the Speaker may debate but has no voting or tie-breaking authority.
Authority
1. The Rules Committee shall have the authority to determine the Rule under which individual bills come to the House Floor, subject to certain limitations:
(i) Although every bill is subject to its authority, bills do not have to go through the Rules Committee. The default rules shall be those laid out in the House Rules of Order and by precedent; every bill shall be assumed to fall under these rules unless and until the Rules Committee agrees otherwise.
(ii) The Rules Committee may consider and vote on rules for any bill which has not yet begun debate on the House Floor during the present session.
(iii) All proposed rules must be seconded, and then passed by the affirmative votes of at least four (4) members of the Rules Committee.
(iv) Except where specifically noted below, rules passed by the Rules Committee apply only to debate on the House Floor, not in Standing Committees.
(v) The House Administrator reserves final veto power over any rule (or part thereof) passed by the Rules Committee.
2. No rule or decision other than those listed here shall be entertained by the Rules Committee:
(i) Closed Rule: No amendments whatsoever permitted to the bill on the House Floor
(ii) Modified Closed Rule: Certain segments of the bill are designated as unamendable, and/or certain types of amendments are deemed out of order
(iii) Set Debate Length: Determines the number of hours allocated for debate
(iv) Refer Directly to Floor: The bill bypasses the standing committee and proceeds directly to the House Floor for debate
(v) Fast-track to Floor: The bill is referred directly to the floor under a Closed Rule, and moves right into a simultaneous debate and final vote.
(vi) Fast-track to Committee: The bill is referred to a standing committee, which must then put the bill up for debate no later than the next docket.
(vii) Refer to Committee With Instructions: The standing committee is given a set of (general or specific) requirements to fulfill before the bill reaches the floor. If the standing committee does not satisfactorily follow the instructions, the Rules Committee may vote once again to Refer to Committee With Instructions, so long as the bill has not yet been put up for debate on the House Floor.
(viii) Refer to Committee for Circular Filing: It is out of order for the standing committee to bring the bill up for a debate or vote for the remainder of the session.
3. Subject to the approval of the House Admin, the decisions of the Rules Committee are binding.
4. The Speaker shall clearly state any rules changes when opening debate on a bill on the Floor. Chairmen of Standing Committees shall clearly state any instructions handed down by the Rules Committee when opening debate on a bill.
House Rules of Order, Eighth Edition
A: Motions
I. Supremacy Clause: No motion other than those listed within these rule shall be entertained before the floor.
II. Subsidiary Motions
-The previous question
Description: The previous question is used to end debate and move to an immediate vote on the pending question before the assembly. Since The previous question is used to suppress debate, it requires a 2/3rds vote. May have no subsidiary motions applied to it. Only in order after twenty-four (24) hours debate time has elapsed.
Form: I move [or demand, or call for] the previous question on [here specify the bill(s) on which it is desired to be ordered].
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: 2/3rds of those voting in the affirmative.
-To Extend Limits of Debate
Description: Extend Limits of Debate is used to extend the debate time delegated to the question before the assembly. This motion may be applied to any debatable motion as well. May not have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
Form: "I move that debate on the pending question be extended to [insert days]."
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple Majority of those voting in the affirmative. May be run concurrently.
-To Commit or Refer
Description: To Commit or Refer is used to commit of refer a question before the assembly back to a committee for re-examination. This motion cannot be used on any subsidiary motion, nor can it be laid on the table or postponed. May not have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
Form: "I move to commit/refer [insert bill] to [insert committee] [insert reason].
Debatable: Yes; up to 36 hours concurrently.
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple Majority of those voting in the affirmative. May be run concurrently.
-To amend
Description: To amend is used by Congressmen and Senators to amend the current question before the assembly. While any member of congress may move to amend any question before the assembly, this does not give congressmen and congresswomen free reign. Amendments offered must be germane to the question before the assembly, and the presiding officer has the final judgment whether or not an amendment is germane. No more than five amendments per bill may be considered concurrently.
Form: "I move to amend: [insert amendment]"
Debatable: No
Amendable: Yes, amendments may be amended up to one time.
Vote: Simple Majority of those voting in the affirmative. Non-conflicting amendments may be run concurrently.
III. Incidental Motions
-Point of Order
Description: A Point of Order takes precedence over the pending question and is in order at all times during a hearing or debate; does not require a second; cannot be amended or have any other subsidiary motion applied to it. A Point of Order is used when any member of their respective house believes that the Presiding officer has acted outside the Parliamentary Procedure rules.
Form: "I rise to a Point of Order. [insert point]."
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: None; Presiding Officer issues ruling.
-Appeal
Description: An appeal may be made from any decision of the chair unless otherwise stated within these rules, but it can be made only within 24 hours of the ruling. An answer to a parliamentary inquiry is not a decision, and therefore cannot be appealed from
Form: "I move to appeal [insert ruling]"
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple majority of those voting in the NEGATIVE. When a motion to appeal has been properly made and seconded, the presiding officer asks: "Shall the ruling of the Chair be sustained?" Members shall vote "Aye" to sustain the ruling of the chair, or "Nay" to overturn it.
IV. Unclassified motions
-Reconsider
Description: A motion to Reconsider is used to reconsider votes. Only members voting with the prevailing side may move to reconsider, and motions to Reconsider must be made within 12 hours of the certification of the vote. A main motion may only be reconsidered once, and the result of the reconsideration may not be reconsidered. May not have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
Form: "I move to reconsider [insert vote]
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple Majority in the affirmative.
-Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent is used to agree to motions or bills without a formal vote.
Any member of the House may ask for Unanimous Consent on any motion or bill before the House. Request for Unanimous Consent do not require seconds. Should there be no objections within twenty-four (24) hours of the request, Unanimous Consent is achieved and the motion or bill is agreed to.
B: Terms
-Dilatory: Any motion made that is not listed within these Procedural Rules is dilatory and automatically out of order. This is not appealable. A motion is "dilatory" when it's sole purpose is to obstruct and delay the business of the floor. The presiding officer shall, should he or she be convinced the motion's sole purpose is to obstruct or delay, shall rule the motion dilatory and out of order. If the presiding officer is sustained on appeal, or no appeal is made, the motion(s) ruled dilatory shall remain dilatory for the remainder of the debate. This is not appealable.
-Second: A "second" is made on a motion in order for the assembly to consider it. Unless otherwise stated, all motions require one second to be entertained by the assembly.
C: Debate and Vote procedures
I. Under standard rules, debate shall last a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours and a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) hours.
II. Under standard rules, voting on bills shall last a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours, and a maximum of seventy-two (72). The presiding officer shall clearly state the length of the voting period when opening a final vote.
III. Under standard rules, voting on motions shall last exactly twenty-four hours.
IV. Voter eligibility. Anyone within the House of representatives may vote on any bill or motion so long as they are in good standing. Newly joined members may vote immediately, provided they officially join before the end of the original forty-eight hours.
D: Discharge Petitions
I. If a submitted bill has not yet been voted upon by the House as a whole in the current session, a member of Congress may file a Discharge Petition to advance the bill to the House Floor for debate, by posting a thread in the main House forum.
II. In addition to the person filing it, the petition must be signed by no fewer than six (6) eligible members of the House, including at least one member from each party. Signatures should be collected prior to filing the petition -- the names of all signatories should be included in the original post. Each signatory must then respond within 48 hours to confirm their signature. All signatures are considered public and IC.
III. Once a petition has been properly filed and the signatures confirmed, the House as a whole shall vote on whether to discharge the bill. A three-fifths supermajority is required for the motion to pass.
IV. If the supermajority threshold is reached, the bill shall be placed up for debate on the House Floor. If the vote fails, no Discharge Petition for the bill shall be in order for the remainder of the session, but the bill may still reach the floor via the standard procedures.
V. No player may submit more than one Discharge Petition at a time. If a player's petition is currently being voted upon, the player may not submit another Discharge Petition until the vote has concluded.
A: Motions
I. Supremacy Clause: No motion other than those listed within these rule shall be entertained before the floor.
II. Subsidiary Motions
-The previous question
Description: The previous question is used to end debate and move to an immediate vote on the pending question before the assembly. Since The previous question is used to suppress debate, it requires a 2/3rds vote. May have no subsidiary motions applied to it. Only in order after twenty-four (24) hours debate time has elapsed.
Form: I move [or demand, or call for] the previous question on [here specify the bill(s) on which it is desired to be ordered].
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: 2/3rds of those voting in the affirmative.
-To Extend Limits of Debate
Description: Extend Limits of Debate is used to extend the debate time delegated to the question before the assembly. This motion may be applied to any debatable motion as well. May not have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
Form: "I move that debate on the pending question be extended to [insert days]."
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple Majority of those voting in the affirmative. May be run concurrently.
-To Commit or Refer
Description: To Commit or Refer is used to commit of refer a question before the assembly back to a committee for re-examination. This motion cannot be used on any subsidiary motion, nor can it be laid on the table or postponed. May not have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
Form: "I move to commit/refer [insert bill] to [insert committee] [insert reason].
Debatable: Yes; up to 36 hours concurrently.
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple Majority of those voting in the affirmative. May be run concurrently.
-To amend
Description: To amend is used by Congressmen and Senators to amend the current question before the assembly. While any member of congress may move to amend any question before the assembly, this does not give congressmen and congresswomen free reign. Amendments offered must be germane to the question before the assembly, and the presiding officer has the final judgment whether or not an amendment is germane. No more than five amendments per bill may be considered concurrently.
Form: "I move to amend: [insert amendment]"
Debatable: No
Amendable: Yes, amendments may be amended up to one time.
Vote: Simple Majority of those voting in the affirmative. Non-conflicting amendments may be run concurrently.
III. Incidental Motions
-Point of Order
Description: A Point of Order takes precedence over the pending question and is in order at all times during a hearing or debate; does not require a second; cannot be amended or have any other subsidiary motion applied to it. A Point of Order is used when any member of their respective house believes that the Presiding officer has acted outside the Parliamentary Procedure rules.
Form: "I rise to a Point of Order. [insert point]."
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: None; Presiding Officer issues ruling.
-Appeal
Description: An appeal may be made from any decision of the chair unless otherwise stated within these rules, but it can be made only within 24 hours of the ruling. An answer to a parliamentary inquiry is not a decision, and therefore cannot be appealed from
Form: "I move to appeal [insert ruling]"
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple majority of those voting in the NEGATIVE. When a motion to appeal has been properly made and seconded, the presiding officer asks: "Shall the ruling of the Chair be sustained?" Members shall vote "Aye" to sustain the ruling of the chair, or "Nay" to overturn it.
IV. Unclassified motions
-Reconsider
Description: A motion to Reconsider is used to reconsider votes. Only members voting with the prevailing side may move to reconsider, and motions to Reconsider must be made within 12 hours of the certification of the vote. A main motion may only be reconsidered once, and the result of the reconsideration may not be reconsidered. May not have any subsidiary motion applied to it.
Form: "I move to reconsider [insert vote]
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote: Simple Majority in the affirmative.
-Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent is used to agree to motions or bills without a formal vote.
Any member of the House may ask for Unanimous Consent on any motion or bill before the House. Request for Unanimous Consent do not require seconds. Should there be no objections within twenty-four (24) hours of the request, Unanimous Consent is achieved and the motion or bill is agreed to.
B: Terms
-Dilatory: Any motion made that is not listed within these Procedural Rules is dilatory and automatically out of order. This is not appealable. A motion is "dilatory" when it's sole purpose is to obstruct and delay the business of the floor. The presiding officer shall, should he or she be convinced the motion's sole purpose is to obstruct or delay, shall rule the motion dilatory and out of order. If the presiding officer is sustained on appeal, or no appeal is made, the motion(s) ruled dilatory shall remain dilatory for the remainder of the debate. This is not appealable.
-Second: A "second" is made on a motion in order for the assembly to consider it. Unless otherwise stated, all motions require one second to be entertained by the assembly.
C: Debate and Vote procedures
I. Under standard rules, debate shall last a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours and a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) hours.
II. Under standard rules, voting on bills shall last a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours, and a maximum of seventy-two (72). The presiding officer shall clearly state the length of the voting period when opening a final vote.
III. Under standard rules, voting on motions shall last exactly twenty-four hours.
IV. Voter eligibility. Anyone within the House of representatives may vote on any bill or motion so long as they are in good standing. Newly joined members may vote immediately, provided they officially join before the end of the original forty-eight hours.
D: Discharge Petitions
I. If a submitted bill has not yet been voted upon by the House as a whole in the current session, a member of Congress may file a Discharge Petition to advance the bill to the House Floor for debate, by posting a thread in the main House forum.
II. In addition to the person filing it, the petition must be signed by no fewer than six (6) eligible members of the House, including at least one member from each party. Signatures should be collected prior to filing the petition -- the names of all signatories should be included in the original post. Each signatory must then respond within 48 hours to confirm their signature. All signatures are considered public and IC.
III. Once a petition has been properly filed and the signatures confirmed, the House as a whole shall vote on whether to discharge the bill. A three-fifths supermajority is required for the motion to pass.
IV. If the supermajority threshold is reached, the bill shall be placed up for debate on the House Floor. If the vote fails, no Discharge Petition for the bill shall be in order for the remainder of the session, but the bill may still reach the floor via the standard procedures.
V. No player may submit more than one Discharge Petition at a time. If a player's petition is currently being voted upon, the player may not submit another Discharge Petition until the vote has concluded.
Precedents
A compilation of in-force House Admin rulings, as they are located. This list is not exhaustive!
Amendments
---To findings and definitions:
Appealing Decisions of the Chair
---On calls to order:
---Timing of motion and second:
Committees
---Replacing members, counting votes:
When a committee member is replaced, the new member may vote immediately. However, if the outgoing member had already voted on any outstanding questions prior to being removed, the chair shall count the outgoing member's votes and discard the new member's votes (if applicable) on the same questions. The new member's votes should still be counted for all questions on which the outgoing member did not vote.
Co-Sponsorship
---Unrestrictedness:
End of Session
---Bill status:
---With a new president:
Federal Budget
---Force of law:
Motions to Appeal/Overturn
---Chair's ability to vote
Passing the Gavel
---Re-taking the gavel:
Referring to Committee
---Committee jurisdiction:
---Senate-originated bills:
Speaker Pro Tempore
---Appointment of:
Sponsorship of Bills
---Primary sponsor no longer in the House:
Unanimous Consent
---Bills not on docket:
Vote Counts
---Presiding officer's responsibilities:
A compilation of in-force House Admin rulings, as they are located. This list is not exhaustive!
Amendments
---To findings and definitions:
QUOTE (Red @ 18 September 2009, 06:24 ) 
Findings cannot be amended, but Definitions can.
Appealing Decisions of the Chair
---On calls to order:
QUOTE (Red @ 09 September 2009, 08:53 )
It is and has been my interpretation that calling someone to order is not an actual ruling, and therefore not appealable, until the chair actually attempts to remove the person or take away their speaking privileges.
---Timing of motion and second:
QUOTE (Red @ 07 July 2009, 16:24 )
The motion [to appeal] must be made and seconded within the 24 hour period.
Committees
---Replacing members, counting votes:
When a committee member is replaced, the new member may vote immediately. However, if the outgoing member had already voted on any outstanding questions prior to being removed, the chair shall count the outgoing member's votes and discard the new member's votes (if applicable) on the same questions. The new member's votes should still be counted for all questions on which the outgoing member did not vote.
Co-Sponsorship
---Unrestrictedness:
QUOTE (Addie @ 30 April 2009, 23:09 )
Anyone is free to sign on as a co-sponsor while a bill is in the Hopper, and is as equally free to be a co-sponsor while the bill is up for debate.
End of Session
---Bill status:
QUOTE (Magruder @ 23 July 2008, 20:43)
[Link on Old Boards]
In either Senate or House committees, any bill that has not made it completely through the committee process by session's end (i.e. completion of debate and voting) has, for all intents and purposeses, died in Committee. This means that the bill is returned in its original and unamended form to the respective Committee hopper to be dealt with from the beginning next session.
Similarly, on either the Senate or House floor, any bill that has not made it completely through the process of debate and voting on the floor will be returned in its pre-floor debate and post-Committee approval form to the respective folder in that chamber for next session.
In either Senate or House committees, any bill that has not made it completely through the committee process by session's end (i.e. completion of debate and voting) has, for all intents and purposeses, died in Committee. This means that the bill is returned in its original and unamended form to the respective Committee hopper to be dealt with from the beginning next session.
Similarly, on either the Senate or House floor, any bill that has not made it completely through the process of debate and voting on the floor will be returned in its pre-floor debate and post-Committee approval form to the respective folder in that chamber for next session.
---With a new president:
QUOTE (Mitsuki @ 21 November 2007, 08:57)
[Link on Old Boards]
Beginning this term, after a NEW President takes office, the House Majority Leader's office will be wiped clean, to prevent either party from "stacking" the HML Office with their bills.
Beginning this term, after a NEW President takes office, the House Majority Leader's office will be wiped clean, to prevent either party from "stacking" the HML Office with their bills.
Federal Budget
---Force of law:
QUOTE (Mitsuki Sanada @ 09 February 2009, 18:38 )
The Federal Budget is not a bill, it is technically a resolution. It has no force of law, neither does the Federal Budget change or supersede any law. Non-discretionary spending cannot be altered within the budget as their spending is mandated by federal law.
Motions to Appeal/Overturn
---Chair's ability to vote
QUOTE (Red @ 13 March 2010, 11:44)
Standing committee chairs are by rule considered voting members of the assembly (as opposed to, say, the chair of the Rules Committee, who does not get to vote, period), and all voting members -- the chair expressly included -- are allowed to vote on motions to appeal.
Passing the Gavel
---Re-taking the gavel:
QUOTE (Mitsuki Sanada @ 21 January 2009, 16:44 )
The Speaker cannot hand over the gavel and resume within the same debate [or docket], for future references.
Referring to Committee
---Committee jurisdiction:
QUOTE (Red @ 24 February 2010, 20:24 )
There is no rule of order preventing a bill from being referred to any specific committee if the body deems it appropriate.
---Senate-originated bills:
QUOTE (Red @ 25 February 2010, 07:31 )
The House rule[s] should not be construed to disallow motions to commit on bills that have not previously been considered in a House committee.
Speaker Pro Tempore
---Appointment of:
QUOTE (Mitsuki @ 21 November 2007, 08:57)
[Link on Old Boards]
The Speaker Pro Tempore must be publicly named by the Speaker of the House in order for the appointment to be recognised.
The Speaker Pro Tempore must be publicly named by the Speaker of the House in order for the appointment to be recognised.
Sponsorship of Bills
---Primary sponsor no longer in the House:
QUOTE (Red @ 09 March 2010, 07:10 )
As long as the bill was submitted properly in the first place, the body may still consider it even if the primary sponsor is no longer a member of the House. [...] Although for the record, with the body's consent another member may take up primary sponsorship of the bill for the purposes of advocacy, accepting friendly amendments, etc.
Unanimous Consent
---Bills not on docket:
QUOTE (Mitsuki Sanada @ 09 December 2008, 18:36 )
Yes. You can't move to pass [a bill] via UC unless it's on the docket.
Vote Counts
---Presiding officer's responsibilities:
QUOTE (Red @ 09 September 2009, 15:35 )
On amendment and procedural votes, there is not necessarily a requirement that the chair post vote counts. If it looks obvious that one side has more votes, an eyeball test will often suffice. However, as per Robert's Rules, any one member has the right to request a vote count for any reason. If requested, the chair must provide a count -- while there's no hard-and-fast rule as to how soon it must be provided, a general rule of thumb is that everything should be cleared up before the bill moves to a final vote. This is to prevent having to stop a vote right in the middle of it in order to correct a previous mistake.
On final votes, the chair is always required to include vote counts because I use those counts when calculating the House Election warchests. Although no rules have been set in stone previously regarding a time frame, here's how we will deal with them ...
For all currently outstanding and future final votes, the bill is not considered to have officially passed or failed until the vote count is posted. That means the presiding officer is free to close the thread and announce which side had more votes, but until the numbers are provided, the bill may not be sent to the Senate, to the Conference Committee, or to the President's desk. ...
That doesn't mean a chair can choose to sit on one of the minority's bills indefinitely and refuse to announce the vote count in order to kill it, either. If I have reason to believe this is taking place, I will just call the results myself and reserve the right to impose harsh IG penalties at my discretion.
On final votes, the chair is always required to include vote counts because I use those counts when calculating the House Election warchests. Although no rules have been set in stone previously regarding a time frame, here's how we will deal with them ...
For all currently outstanding and future final votes, the bill is not considered to have officially passed or failed until the vote count is posted. That means the presiding officer is free to close the thread and announce which side had more votes, but until the numbers are provided, the bill may not be sent to the Senate, to the Conference Committee, or to the President's desk. ...
That doesn't mean a chair can choose to sit on one of the minority's bills indefinitely and refuse to announce the vote count in order to kill it, either. If I have reason to believe this is taking place, I will just call the results myself and reserve the right to impose harsh IG penalties at my discretion.
Rules for Bills Submitted to the House Hopper:
QUOTE (Red @ 01 December 2008, 01:20 )
Rules for bills.
1. No bill submitted to the House Hopper may contain more than 2,000 words of THOMAS content. Note that hand-written bills are also more likely to have positive results, garner media attention, and influence voters.
2. You must credit the real-life author of any THOMAS bill you submit.
3. Any bill written in legalese REQUIRES a plain English summary.
1. No bill submitted to the House Hopper may contain more than 2,000 words of THOMAS content. Note that hand-written bills are also more likely to have positive results, garner media attention, and influence voters.
2. You must credit the real-life author of any THOMAS bill you submit.
3. Any bill written in legalese REQUIRES a plain English summary.
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