Parliamentary Procedure Outline Opening: Chair: The Chamber will now revert to the order of passage of Senate/House Bill Number. Are the authors of Senate/House Bill Number present? Will the Senators/Representatives please come forward? Once the authors are present The Clerk will now read Senate/House Bill Number. The Clerk reads the bill. Thank you, Clerk. The Chair recognizes Senators/Representatives for their five (5) minute opening statement. Opening Statement: An opening statement is a five minute period allotted to the bill author to speak on the content of his/her bill. If the entire five minutes is not used, the author may reserve any remaining time to the closing The opening statement should be used to present the main components of the bill topic and any other ideas the author deems necessary. Authors: Thank you, Mister/Madam President/Speaker. The Authors give their opening statement. After speaking, the Authors may yield their remaining time to their closing We yield any remaining time to our closing The Authors may also yield their remaining time to the floor. We yield any remaining time to the floor. Chair: Thank you, Authors. You have yielded minutes and seconds to your closing If the time for the Authors opening elapses before the Authors yield, the Chair must immediately interrupt the speaker. I m sorry, Authors, but the time period for your opening statement has elapsed. Non-Debatable, Technical Questions: Chair: We will now move into a ten (10) minute period of non-debatable, technical questions. Are there any such questions on the floor? Technical Questions: These questions will consist of any other non-debatable, technical questions. Technical questions can be asked in a series of multiple questions and must be in an Is it or is it not true that... format. The author can only answer yes or no to these questions. These questions are typically used to clarify points of the bill that may need a deeper understanding. Point of Information: This is to be used for informational questions like how many, how, etc. Used to request certain information about the bill and takes precedence over any other question unless the floor leader desires to speak. Delegate: Point of Information Delegate states this before the Chair recognizes a member of the chamber. Chair: State your point.
Delegate: Thank you, Mister/Madam President/Speaker. Delegate states their informational question. Authors: Authors answer question. Answer must be brief and to the point. Delegate: Delegate holds up placard to seek recognition. Chair: The Chair recognizes Senator/Representative. Delegate: Thank you, Mister/Madam President/Speaker. Will the Authors yield to a series of questions? The delegate must seek permission through the Chair. Chair: Authors, do you yield? Authors: Yes. or No. If the Authors say yes, the Chair will inform the delegate, and then the delegate may ask their questions If the Authors say no, the Chair will inform the delegate, and request they be seated. Chair: For yes: The Authors will yield. Delegate asks question For no: The Authors will not yield. Please be seated. Delegate sits, and the Chair moves onto the next delegate seeking recognition. Delegate: Is it or is it not true that. Authors: Yes. or No. The Chair must limit the Authors answer. Move the previous question: This is how to move on to the next section of procedure. It can be used during non-debatable, technical questions or con/pro debate. In con/pro debate, a motion to move the previous question can only be entertained after a con speaker and can be made by any delegate. Communication between the Floor Leader and the Chair is essential during this motion because a movement to the previous question is generally made by the Floor Leader. This motion can be used to efficiently manage time. Chair: The Chair recognizes the Floor Leader. Floor Leader: Thank you, Mister/Madam President/Speaker. I would like to motion to move the previous question. Any delegate can make a motion to move the previous question; however, it is most commonly used by the Floor Leader. Chair: There is a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Delegate: Second! Any delegate can yell out second. Only one second is needed.
Chair: The motion has been properly seconded. Are there any objections to this motion? If there are no objections, the Chair will state this and move on with procedure. Hearing none; this motion carries. We will now If there is an objection, the Chair will note this objection and move to vote on passage of the motion. Objection noted. We will now revert to the carriage of this motion. All those in favor of carrying this motion, please stand and in a normal speaking voice say aye. Delegates: Aye. Chair: All those opposed, please stand and in a normal speaking voice say nay. Delegates: Nay. Chair: In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. This motion carries. We will now Move onto the next procedure. Rap gavel twice, then pause; rap once for a final time. In the opinion of the Chair, the nays have it. This motion does not carry. Are there any..? Revert back to the procedure taking place before the motion was made. Rap twice, then pause; rap once for a final time. Con/Pro Debate: Chair: We will now move into a fifteen (15) minute period of con/pro debate. Bill Authors, you may be seated. The Chair will now entertain a con speaker. Is there such a speaker on the floor? The Chair recognizes Senator/Representative." Each speaker will receive two (2) minutes. Delegate: A delegate raises their placard and gains recognition. Thank you, Mister/Madam President/Speaker. I would like to speak in opposition of this bill. Chair: That is your right. Delegate: Thank you. The second thank you is not required. Delegate presents their argument. After speaking, the delegate must yield their time. I yield my time to the floor. A delegate may also yield to another like-minded speaker, to the Chair, or to the authors Chair: Thank you, Senator/Representative. The Chair will entertain a pro speaker. Is there such a speaker on the floor?
Delegate: Thank you, Mister/Madam President/Speaker. I would like to speak in favor of this bill. Chair: That is your right. Delegate: Thank you. The second thank you is not required. Delegate presents their argument. After speaking, the delegate must yield their time. I yield my time to the floor. A delegate may also yield to another like-minded speaker, to the Chair, or to the authors To end con/pro debate the fifteen (15) minute time period must elapse or there must be a motion to move the previous question. Debate must end on a con. Chair: If time elapses for con/pro debate, the chair will wait for a final con speaker and end debate without a motion. I m sorry, delegates, but the time period for con/pro debate has elapsed. Closing: If con/pro debate ends by a motion to move the previous question, move onto the next procedure. Closing Summation: This is a three-minute period (plus any yielded time) for the bill author(s) to sum up any main points he/she/they would like to be reiterated. The author(s) may also use points said by previous delegates to support the bill. The author(s) may also refute points made by previous delegates. Chair: We will now recognize the Bill Authors for their closing Bill Authors, you are recognized for your minute and second closing Authors: Authors close. We yield our time to the floor. Time may also be yielded to the Chair. Voting: Chair: Thank you, Authors. We will now revert to the passage of Senate/House Bill Number. Will the Sergeant at Arms please seal the Chamber? Let the Chamber be sealed. Are there any objections to the passage of Senate/House Bill Number? If there are no objections, the Chair will state this, and the bill passes unanimously. Hearing none; Senate/House Bill Number passes unanimously. Rap gavel once. If there is an objection, the Chair will note this objection and move to vote on passage of the bill. Objection noted. We will now vote on the passage of Senate/House Bill Number. All those in favor of passing this bill, please stand and in a normal speaking voice say aye.
Delegates: Aye. Chair: All those opposed, please stand and in a normal speaking voice say Nay. Delegates: Nay. Chair: In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. Senate/House Bill Number passes. Rap gavel twice; pause for a second for a division call; rap again once to make the decision final. Clapping is in order. In the opinion of the Chair, the nays have it. Senate/House Bill Number fails. Rap gavel once; pause for a second for a division call; rap two times to make the decision final. Clapping is NOT in order. Division: Any member of the chamber may yell out division in between the first two gavel raps and the final rap to contest the Chair s decision. It is at the discretion of the Chair to hear and warrant the division, hear and not warrant, or ignore the call for division. If division is warranted the entire chamber must cast votes by standing and being counted. This process should be done by both Presiding Officers as efficiently and as accurately as possible. Division is heard and warranted. Standing count. Division is heard and not warranted. Do not count. Chair s original decision is final. Rap final gavel. If a bill passes, you may clap. If it fails, do not clap. If clapping occurs on a failed bill, please reprimand the chamber. Clapping after a bill fails is disrespectful and will not be acceptable at any time.