Temple Student Government Parliamentary Bylaws Article I: Name and Purpose Section 1: Name i. The name of this governing body shall be Temple Student Government Parliament. Section 2: Purpose i. The purpose of Temple Student Government Parliament shall be to: a. Serve as a Legislative Branch of Temple Student Government; b. Debate and propose initiatives that address aspects of student life; c. Collaborate with the Executive Branch to execute legislation. Article II: Rules of Order Section 1: Debate i. To obtain the floor, a Member shall rise after the floor has been yielded. Once a Member has caught the attention of the Presiding Officer, they shall address the Presiding Officer by their appropriate title. Once the Presiding Officer has recognized the Member, the Member has officially obtained the floor and is free to make a motion. ii. No Member shall speak out of turn or be recognized by the Presiding Officer while another Member is addressing the Parliament. The exceptions to this are: a. A point of order This is used to flag a potential violation to Parliamentary Procedure. b. A point of inquiry This is used to request additional information on either Parliamentary Procedure or the topic of debate. c. A point of personal privilege This is used to request a personal accommodation to improve comfort or working environment. iii. Debate on a resolution is to be run by means of a Pro-Con-To speakers list: a. Members of Parliament who wish to speak shall self-select into speaking in favor of (pro) a resolution, against (con), or both (to) lists. b. Members of Parliament are selected from the list in the following order: 1. The next pro speaker 2. The next con speaker 3. The next to speaker
c. If there are no Members actively on a list, then the next Member from the following list is selected. d. The Presiding Officer asks for speakers at the beginning of debate, and following every round of pro-con-to. e. Members may only be actively on one list at a time, and only once on that list at a time. f. The Presiding Officer may not speak during the course of debate, but is granted a final constructive speech at the close of debate on the resolution. iv. Debate on a topic is to be run by means of a simple speakers list: a. The Presiding Officer asks for names of those wishing to speak at the beginning of debate and then periodically throughout the debate. b. Members of Parliament are selected from the list in the order they were placed on it. c. Members may only be actively on the list once at a time. d. The Presiding Officer may not speak during the course of debate, but is granted a final constructive speech at the close of debate on the topic. v. Should there be no set topic or resolution on the floor, the next topic or resolution from the agenda automatically becomes the current item of debate. Section 2: Procedural Rules and Motions i. The Agenda and the Table a. Agenda The agenda is a list of resolutions and topics prepared by the Speaker in the order they are intended to be debated. The agenda must include all draft resolutions that have been presented to the Speaker sufficiently in advance of the Session. 1. All resolutions or topics must be submitted to the Speaker six days before a full parliament session. This can be expedited at the Speaker s judgment, only for time-sensitive matters. 2. The Speaker is to distribute the agenda to all Parliament Members at least 3 days prior to a Session. 3. The body may reorder the agenda or add general topics for debate using motions described below; however, resolutions may not be added to the agenda during a session. b. Table The table consists of all agenda items that the Parliament has debated on and discarded. An item may be tabled either through a specific motion or by failing Voting Procedures. Tabling a topic means that the Parliament is satisfied with the amount of debate on the topic,
and no longer feels like it is necessary to debate any further during the present session. Resolutions that fail Voting Procedures may not appear on future agendas without substantive change. ii. Motions: a. Definition of a motion: 1. A motion is an administrative proposal guiding the flow of debate within the Parliament. 2. It is made by a Member's obtaining the floor as already described and saying, "I move" and then stating the action he or she proposes to have taken. 3. All motions must be seconded to be considered. 4. Unless otherwise specified, all motions require a simple majority to pass. 5. A mover may amend their motion at any point prior to voting on the motion. 6. Motions need not be in writing, however the Presiding Officer reserves the right to request any motion, amendment, or instructions to the Parliament in writing. 7. All present Members are required to vote either in the affirmative or negative on proposed motions. No abstentions are allowed on these procedural votes. 8. The procedure for voting on a motion is as follows: the Presiding Officer shall first repeat the question to the Parliament for clarity, then call for the affirmative votes, and then call for the negative votes. All Members in favor of the motion shall raise their hand when called, and all Members in opposition shall raise their hand when called. The Presiding Officer shall tally the votes and announce the results. b. The following motions are permitted during Parliament sessions: 1. Motion to set the Speaking Time Before drawing up a speakers list, the body must set a speaking time. 2. Motion to Modify the Agenda This motion allows the body to change the order of items on the agenda supplied by the Presiding Officer. No resolutions may be added to the agenda, but the body may add general topics for debate. Any motion to modify the agenda must include a written new agenda to vote on. Failing a motion to modify the agenda means that the previously standing agenda remains active. This motion requires a ⅔ majority to pass.
3. Motion to Reconsider This motion is used to request that the Presiding Officer reconsider an administrative ruling. 4. Motion to Move into Voting Procedure This motion is used to end debate on a resolution and immediately vote upon it. This motion requires a ⅔ majority to pass. 5. Motion to Amend This motion is used to request that a change be made to the resolution currently up for debate. All amendments must be submitted to the Presiding Officer in writing. Passage of an amendment requires a simple majority in favor. 6. Motion to Delay the Question This motion is used at any point prior to Voting Procedures on a resolution to delay the vote until the next session. This tables the resolution, and the Speaker is obliged to put the item on the agenda for the following session if the resolution is not taken from the table later in the same session. This motion requires a ⅔ majority to pass. 7. Motion to Table This motion is used to end debate on a topic or resolution without entering Voting Procedures. If a resolution is tabled it is neither passed nor failed. The Speaker may choose to include any tabled resolutions in any future agendas. This motion requires a ⅔ majority to pass. 8. Motion to Take from the Table This motion allows the body to reconsider any item that has been tabled. Taking an item from the table immediately makes that item the active item; the previous active item is placed at the top of the agenda. This motion requires a ¾ majority to pass. 9. Motion to Recess This motion is used to pause debate within a session for a specified amount of time. It may not be used for longer than one hour in total during each session. The committee must adjourn in order to break for longer than fifteen minutes. 10. Motion to Adjourn This motion is used to end a Parliament session. When adjourning the next meeting time must be specified. The agenda, table, and all failed amendments are discarded after adjourning. 11. Motion to Suspend the Rules of Debate This motion is used to suspend the rules for a specified period of time not to exceed one hour. Resolutions cannot be passed or tabled, nor can the agenda modified, while the rules have been suspended (the
rules around this specific motion remain in force throughout). A ¾ majority is required to pass a suspension of the rules. iii. Resolutions: a. A resolution is a formal proposal that a Member, with approval of at least one committee or the Speaker, submits to the full Parliament for debate. b. All resolutions must include the following: 1. A formal title; 2. At least one sponsoring committee or the sponsorship of the Speaker; 3. At least one sponsoring Member; 4. One or more preambulatory clauses expressing the rationale behind the resolution; 5. One or more operative clauses expressing the desired actions in general terms. Section 3: Voting Procedures i. Upon entering Voting Procedures, the doors are closed and no Members may enter or leave until the close of voting. ii. Voting shall proceed as follows: a. The Presiding Officer shall first read the resolution in its entirety to the Parliament for clarity. b. Resolutions requiring a majority vote: The Presiding Officer shall call for the affirmative, the negative, and the abstaining votes by a show of hands. The Presiding Officer shall tally the votes and announce the results. c. Resolutions requiring greater than a majority: The Presiding Officer shall then proceed by roll call. The Presiding Officer shall record each present Member s vote of the affirmative, the negative, or abstention, and then announce the result of the vote. The record of each Member s vote shall be appended to the minutes. iii. Should the resolution fail to meet the required threshold, it is discarded.
Article III: Officers and Elections Section 1: Speaker of the Parliament i. The Speaker of the Parliament shall serve as the presiding officer of the Temple Student Government Parliament. They are duly elected from within the body of Parliament Members. The Speaker s duties are to: a. Moderate Parliament meetings as outlined in the Bylaws, b. Enforce decorum, c. Appoint Parliament Members to standing committees in concert with the Parliamentarian, d. Create ad-hoc committees upon request of the Parliament, e. Set the agenda prior to each full Parliament session, f. Other than where explicitly stated, the Speaker relinquishes their right to speak to the substance of a resolution or topic during full Parliament meetings as a condition of assuming the office. ii. Selection of the Speaker a. Elections for the Speaker shall be held on the second official Parliament meeting of each semester; this meeting is presided over by the Parliamentarian. b. Members wishing to run for Speaker must submit notice of their candidacy to the Parliamentarian in writing by the Friday beforehand. c. During the session in which the election is taking place, candidates running for Speaker shall be yielded the floor in alphabetical order, and shall give a constructive speech not exceeding three minutes with a 30 second grace period. d. Voting to elect a Speaker shall immediately proceed by secret ballot in which each Member of Parliament shall rank the candidates in order of preference. The Parliamentarian and the Elections Commissioner, using the single transferable vote method, shall tally votes and announce the results. The winner shall immediately assume the duties of the Speaker of the Parliament. iii. Removal of the Speaker: a. Should Members of the Parliament become dissatisfied with the performance of the Speaker, they may attempt to remove the Speaker through a vote of no confidence. b. To begin the process, at least ¼ of sitting Parliament Members must sign a written resolution to the Parliamentarian explaining their rationale for calling for a vote of no confidence; one Member must be the primary sponsor. This resolution needs neither a committee nor the Speaker to sponsor it.
c. Upon receipt of this letter, the Parliamentarian shall notify all Parliament Members that the next Monday will be a special full session of Parliament, regardless of the standing schedule. d. The Parliamentarian shall preside over this special session of Parliament; the first and only agenda item is the resolution of no confidence; the agenda for this session cannot be modified, and the resolution cannot be tabled. e. The special session shall be closed to all non-parliament Members. f. The special session shall begin with the Parliamentarian reading the resolution of no confidence. g. The primary sponsor shall then have 1½ minutes to summarize the reasons behind their resolution of no confidence. h. The Speaker shall then have a period of 3 minutes to respond to the resolution of no confidence. i. Voting shall proceed by secret ballot. All present Members must vote either for or against the resolution; abstention is not permitted. j. The resolution of no confidence requires a ⅔ majority to pass. k. The Parliamentarian shall announce the results to the Parliament. l. If the vote of no confidence fails: 1. The Speaker remains in office. 2. The special session automatically adjourns. 3. Parliament returns to normal schedule and operation. m. If the vote of no confidence passes: 1. The Speaker is immediately relieved of their duties as Speaker and resumes their responsibilities as a Member of Parliament. 2. The special session automatically adjourns. 3. The following Monday shall be a full Parliament session during which elections for a new Speaker shall take place.
Section 2: Parliamentarian i. The Parliamentarian shall serve as the expert on parliamentary procedure and ensure the smooth functioning of the Parliament. The Executive Branch appoints them. Their responsibilities are to: a. Be fluent in the Constitution of Temple Student Government and Temple Student Government Parliamentary Bylaws; b. Aid the Speaker in enforcing decorum during Parliament; c. Approve amendments to the Parliamentary Bylaws as necessary; d. Serve as Presiding Officer for Parliament meetings in the absence of the Speaker or during special sessions. ii. The Parliamentarian is not a full Member of Parliament, and therefore cannot introduce motions or resolutions, be a member of a committee, or vote; however, they are entitled to attend any meeting of the Parliament, whether full session or committee. Section 3: Liaison to the Parliament i. The Liaison to the Parliament shall serve as a liaison between the Executive Branch of TSG and the Parliament. The Executive Branch appoints them. ii. The Liaison to the Parliament is not a full Member of Parliament, and therefore cannot introduce motions or resolutions, be a member of a committee, or vote; however, they are entitled to attend any meeting of the Parliament, whether full session or committee. Article IV: Committees Section 1: Standing Committees i. Committees shall appoint from among themselves a committee chair who shall be responsible for organizing the operations of the committee and keeping the Speaker informed on the committee s agenda. Section 2: Ad-hoc Committees i. Ad-hoc committees shall be created based on a resolution that, at a minimum, specifies: the topic the committee shall confine itself to, a tentative timeline for completion, and a tentative agenda spanning the committee s intended duration.
Article V: Administrative Section 1: Minutes i. The Parliamentarian shall take minutes during all each full parliament session. These minutes shall, at minimum, include: a. Records of who speaks on each agenda item; b. A general summary of major arguments made throughout the debate; c. Voting records where specified under the Voting Procedures section. ii. Full Parliament session minutes and passed resolutions shall be posted on the Temple Student Government website for public access. Section 2: Meetings i. Full Parliament a. The full Parliament shall meet every other week immediately following the General Assembly. 1. An exception to this is the beginning of the academic year, when the full Parliament meets two weeks in a row; a normal schedule is resumed the following week. b. Full parliament meetings shall be open to any Temple student, faculty, or staff member. c. Parliament Members shall be seated in meetings by the order of their positions, as outlined in the Temple Student Government Constitution. d. Quorum for the full Parliament is at least ¾ of sitting Members of Parliament. ii. Committees a. Standing committees shall meet every other week immediately following the General Assembly, on weeks where the full Parliament does not meet. b. Ad-hoc committees shall meet at a time and frequency at the discretion of the chosen committee chair. c. All committee meetings are typically closed; that is, they are not open to non-parliament Members. 1. Committees may, at their discretion, invite outside observers to comment or otherwise offer information about an issue the committee is deliberating upon. d. Quorum for a committee is at least ½ of committee members.
Section 3: General Expectations i. Attendance a. All full Parliament sessions and TSG General Assemblies are mandatory for all Members of Parliament. b. All committee meetings are mandatory for all members of each respective committee. c. Should there be a compelling reason that a Member cannot attend a meeting, they must contact the Speaker of the Parliament or the Parliamentarian prior to the meeting. ii. Availability a. All Parliament Members must maintain a weekly time that they are available to meet with any student, faculty, or staff; this time shall be published along with contact information.