Act 0304-AU-009
An Act Amending the Bylaws, Establishing Rules for Debate
Sponsor: The Executive Committee
First Reading 31 October 2003. Approved 21 November 2003.
Section 1. The purpose of this act is to amend the CGS Bylaws, establishing rules for floor debate at Council meetings. This amendment is presented in accordance with Article X of the CGS Constitution.
Section 2. In the past, use of the Council's time has not always been optimized due to lack of clarity in the rules for floor debate at Council meetings. Specifying the format and structure of debate will allow for more efficient dispensation of business before the Council.
Section 3. The following text shall be inserted into the CGS bylaws:
Article VII - Meetings
Section VII.3: Debating Legislation - According to Article IX, Section 1 of the Council’s Constitution, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised govern all meetings of the Council except where conflicting with the Council’s Constitution or Bylaws. When microphone or seat is written, this indicates the location where the speaker must be located when addressing the meeting chair and/or Council. In a room without a physical microphone, microphone shall indicate the front of the auditorium.
Consideration of legislation before the Council shall follow the rules set forth in this section.
Section VII.3.a. Proposing Legislation - Legislation may be brought before the Council by the Executive Committee, any standing or ad-hoc committee of the Council, or by any voting member of the Council. In order for legislation to appear on the Council's agenda, the author must inform the President that legislation will be brought forward two weeks prior to a Council meeting. The legislation must be submitted in proper format (see guidelines) to the Secretary one week prior to the Council meeting. Legislation not presented to the Council in proper format in time to make it in the meeting packet will be removed from the agenda.
Section VII.3.b. Main Motion - Proposed legislation, in order as assigned by the Executive Committee on the Council’s agenda, is read to the delegate body by one author at the microphone. At the discretion of the author, a full reading of the legislation may be waived. Legislation may only be considered during the Old and New Business portions of a Council meeting.
Section VII.3.c. Second Needed - A second will be needed from the general body to continue. The second can be given by raising a placard and calling "second" (seat). The exception to this rule is when legislation is sponsored by the Executive Committee, or any standing or ad-hoc committee of the Council. Committee-sponsored legislation is considered automatically seconded.
Section VII.3.d. Author(s)’ Rationale - The author(s) will have 2 minutes to state why they are proposing the legislation (microphone).
Section VII.3.e. Questions for Author(s) - The delegate body may ask the author(s) questions concerning the main motion for a period of 5 minutes (microphone).
Section VII.3.f. Motion to Extend - The time period for questions, and later, debate, may be extended when time has expired if the delegate body deems it necessary. To extend, someone will need to make a motion to extend, a second is needed, no debate is accepted, and a 2/3 vote is needed to pass the extension (seat or microphone).
Section VII.3.g. Debate - After questions for the author(s), debate begins. The debate period is 10 minutes, but may be extended if the body deems it necessary (see Section VII.3.f). Debate will end if no speaker is waiting in line for the floor, when time expires, or when someone in line calls the question.
Section VII.3.h. Amendments to the Main Motion - Amendments can be made at the time of debate only. In order to make an amendment, a voting member of the Council must be in line at the pro or con microphone. The amendment should be read to the Council and then submitted in writing to the Secretary. Upon receiving a second deliberation on the amendment begins with the author(s) rationale and proceeds through debate. Amendments can be amended.
Section VII.3.i. Calling the Previous Question - To call the question one must be at a microphone and in line to speak. Once the question is called, debate is ended and the Council moves into a vote on the main motion, unless an objection is raised. If there is an objection, then a vote is taken (without debate and requiring a 2/3 majority to pass) to decide whether to end debate and move onto a vote on the issue being discussed.
Section VII.4: Timed Agenda - The Council shall follow a timed agenda as approved by the Executive Committee. That is, each agenda item will be published with a maximum duration. For each meeting, the chair shall appoint a timekeeper (who must be distinct from the individual serving as recording secretary). When the time allotted to an agenda item is announced as having expired, all presentations, discussion, and debate immediately ceases and cannot be resumed without a motion to alter the agenda. If a motion is on the floor, the Council immediately proceeds to a vote on that motion. A motion to amend the agenda requires a second, is not debatable, and requires a 2/3 vote. Whenever discussion on a given agenda item finishes before its allotted time, the chair will move the Council on to the next item.
Section VII.5: Beginning and Ending Times - Each agenda is published with a beginning and ending time. These times are estimates only and therefore non-binding; the meeting begins when the secretary establishes that a quorum is present and ends after the last agenda item (perhaps as amended) has been handled.
Section 4. These changes shall take effect at the next regular meeting of the Council of Graduate Students after approval.
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