Parliamentary Procedure

South Carolina Student Legislature                                

                                

Overview

 

Parliamentary Procedure is used in SCSL to because it is a time-tested set of rules that allows everyone to be heard and make decisions without confusion.

 

How it Works

 

The Chair (person who is presiding over session at the time) will begin by reading the purpose statement of the bill that is in line to be debated. The following table illustrates the activities that take place when a bill is being debated and the time allotted for each activity.

 

Activity	Description	Time Allotted
Speeches	The bill author approaches the well to present his/her bill	3 minutes
Question & Answer	Members of the body may ask the bill author questions about his/her bill	2 minutes
Pro/Con Debate	Members of the body may give speeches in favor or opposition of the bill being presented	5 minutes
Last Rights	The bill author may reserve his/her last right to address any questions/issues raised during debate before the question is called to a vote	1 minute
*Time limits to Q&A and Pro/Con Debate can be limited when a member makes a motion

 

Speeches

 

            After reading the purposes statement of the bill up for debate, the Chair will ask if the bill author is present. If it is your bill, you should respond by saying, “I am. May I approach the well?” Once the Chair has given you permission, you may approach the well. If you wish to reserve your last rights (ability to speak right before the vote is called), this is the appropriate time to invoke your right. You may do say by saying, “I reserve my last right.” Then you may begin presenting your bill.

 

Question & Answer

 

            After the bill author has presented his/her bill, members of the body are free to ask questions of the bill author. Questions should not be argumentative. To obtain the floor, raise your hand and wait to be recognized by the chair. After obtaining the floor, you should stand and state your name, school and one of the three following statements:

• “Will the speaker yield to a question?” – When you have a single question
• “Will the speaker yield to a series?” – A series is a maximum of three (3) questions in a row

Once your question(s) have been answered, please take a seat. After the time period for question and answer has elapsed, we will then move into a time of pro/con debate on the bill. If members of the body still have questions, a member may make a motion to extend the time for question and answer, usually limited by a certain amount of time.

 

 

Pro/Con Debate

 

            After question and answer, we move into a period of alternating pro/con debate on the bill, beginning with an affirmative speech. If you wish to give a speech in favor of the bill on the floor, you signify by raising your hand with an open palm and wait to be recognized by the Chair. Should you wish to give a speech in opposition, you signify by raising your hand with a closed fist and await recognition from the Chair. After obtaining the floor, please stand and state your name and school and then proceed with your speech in favor/opposition. There are no time limits on each individual’s speech but please be considerate of others who wish to speak on the matter. If need be, a motion may be made to extend the period of pro/con debate, usually limited by a certain amount of time.

 

Amendments

            If, throughout the course of pro/con debate, the need for an amendment to the bill should arise, amendment forms will be available from the chair. You should quietly, so as not to disrupt the debate, obtain an amendment form, complete it and return it to the chair. After doing that, raise your hand as you would if you were giving a speech in opposition and wait to be recognized by the chair. Once you obtain the floor, you should say, “I believe there is an amendment on the floor.” The chair will acknowledge the amendment on the floor and read the amendment. From this point, the amendment process follows the same as presenting a bill – speech by author, question & answer, debate, and the vote. Once the amendment has been voted on, debate on the bill, with or without the amendment, will resume.

 

The Rules

• Point of Privilege – pertains to noise, personal comfort, etc. – may interrupt only if necessary!
• Point of Parliamentary Inquiry – inquire as to the correct motion – to accomplish a desired result, or raise a point of order
• Point of Information – generally applies to information desired from the speaker
• Point of Order – infraction of the rules, or improper decorum in speaking. Must be raised immediately after the error is made
• Division – calls for a standing vote if there is a disagreement with the Chair’s voice count. Must have 5 members standing for this to carry
• Amend – inserting or striking out words or paragraphs, or substituting whole paragraphs or resolutions
• Withdraw/Modify Motion – applies only after the question is stated; mover can accept an amendment without obtaining the floor
• Extend Debate – applies only to the immediately pending question; extends until a certain time or for a certain time period
• Limit Debate – closing debate at a certain time, or limiting to a certain period of time
• Postpone to a Certain Time – state the time the motion or agenda item will be resumed
• Object to Consideration – objection must be stated before discussion or another motion is stated
• Lay on the Table (table) – temporarily suspends  further consideration/action on pending question; may be made after motion to close debate has carried or is pending
• Take from the table (un-table) – resumes consideration of item previously “laid on the table” – state the motion to take from the table
• Reconsider – can be made only by one on the prevailing side who has changed position or view
• Postpone Indefinitely – kills the question/resolution for this session – exception: the motion to reconsider can be made in this session
• Previous Question – closes debate if successful
• Appeal Decision of the Chair – appeal for the assembly to decide – must be made before other business is resumed; NOT debatable if relates to decorum, violation of rules, or order of business
• Suspend the Rules – allows a violation of the assembly’s own rules (except Constitution); the object of the suspension must be specified.