Viewing page 16 of 71

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

CONDENSED ROBERT'S RULES AND ORDER OF BUSINESS 

(1)The convention shall be called to order at 9:30 A.M. and remain in session to 12:30 P.M., reconvene at 2:30 P.M. and remain in session until 5:30 P.M. on each day of the convention, to be recessed at any time for committee hearings, unless otherwise ordered by the convention. 

(2) On motion the regular order of business may be suspended by two-thirds vote of the meeting at any time to dispose of anything deemed urgent. 

(3) At the request of five (5) members, the mover of a motion shall be required to reduce it to writing. 

(4)Any conversation by whispering or otherwise which is calculated to disturb a member while speaking, or hinder the transaction of business, shall be deemed violation of order. 

(5)Sectarian discussions shall not be permitted in meetings under any circumstances. 

(6) A motion to be entertained by the presiding officer must be seconded, and the mover as well as seconder must rise and be recognized by the Chair. 

(7) Any member having made a motion can withdraw it by consent of his second, but a motion once debated cannot be withdrawn except by a majority vote. 

(8) A motion to amend an amendment shall be in order, but no motion to amend an amendment to an amendment shall be permitted. 

(9) A motion shall not be subject to debate until it has been stated by the Chair. 

(10) When a member wishes to speak, he shall rise and respectfully address the Chair and if recognized by the Chair, he shall be entitled to the floor. 

(11) If two or more members rise to speak at the same time, the Chair shall decide which is entitled to the floor. 

(12) Each member, when speaking, shall confine himself to the question under debate and avoid all personal, indecorous or sarcastic language. 

(13) No member shall interrupt another while speaking, except to raise a point of order, and he shall definitely state the point, and the Chair shall decide the same without debate. 

(14) If a member, while speaking, is called to order, he shall take his seat until the point of order is decided. If decided the point of order is not well taken, he may proceed. 

(15) No member shall speak more than once on the same subject until all the members desiring the floor shall have spoken, nor more than twice without unanimous consent, nor more than five minutes at any one time without a two-thirds vote of the members present. 

(16) When a question is before the house no motion shall be in order, except: 
1. To adjourn (Not debatable) 
2. To lay on table (Not debatable) 
3. For the previous question (Not debatable) 
4. To postpone to a given time 
5. To refer or commit 
6. To amend 

and these motions shall have the precedence in the order herein arranged.