Difference between revisions of "Proposals/Senate Procedures"

Revision as of 12:23, 2 July 2010

Item I: Procedures for Simple Legislation

1. Any Citizen may propose a bill within the Senate Chambers, wherein all Senators may freely debate and propose modifications to the bill.
2. Should a third of Senators nominate the bill, it shall be move to the Senate floor for a vote not to exceed a week in duration.
3. Should two thirds of Senators motion to dismiss the bill debate on the bill shall be closed, and the bill may not be reintroduced until a week has expired.
4. Debate on a proposed bill shall be open for the duration of a week or until the bill has garnered sufficient nominations to be moved to the floor, whichever comes first.
5. The period for debate may be extended by the duration of a week should a third of Senators motion to extend the period for debate.
6. Should a bill fail to garner sufficient support to be moved to the floor after a week has expired and no motion to extend debate has succeeded debate shall be closed and the bill may not be reintroduced until another week has expired.
7. The Speaker may request new nominations for a bill should in their opinion the content of the bill have changed sufficiently.
8. Absent Senators shall not be taken into consideration when determining whether a bill has accrued enough nominations to be moved to the floor or if a motion to dismiss a bill or extend the period for debate is successful.
9. A simple majority shall be necessary for the passage of simple legislation.

Item II: Procedures for Constitutional Amendments

1. Any Senator may propose an amendment within the Senate Chambers, wherein all Senators may freely debate and propose modifications to the amendment.
2. Should a half of Senators nominate the amendment, it shall be move to the Senate floor for a vote not to exceed a week in duration.
3. Should a half of Senators motion to dismiss the amendment debate on the amendment shall be closed, and the amendment may not be reintroduced until a week has expired.
4. Debate on a proposed amendment shall be open for the duration of a week or until the amendment has garnered sufficient nominations to be moved to the floor, whichever comes first.
5. The period for debate may be extended by the duration of a week should a third of Senators motion to extend the period for debate.
6. Should an amendment fail to garner sufficient support to be moved to the floor after a week has expired and no motion to extend debate has succeeded debate shall be closed and the amendment may not be reintroduced until another week has expired.
7. The Speaker may request new nominations for an amendment should in their opinion the content of the bill have changed sufficiently.
8. Absent Senators shall not be taken into consideration when determining whether an amendment has accrued enough nominations to be moved to the floor or if a motion to dismiss an amendment or extend the period for debate is successful.

Item III: Procedures for the Election of the Speaker of the Senate

1. Elections for the Speaker shall be held whenever a senate election has concluded.
2. Election proceedings shall begin on the tenth day of the month, at which point nominations will be opened within the Senate Chambers.
3. Nominations shall be concluded on the seventeenth day of the month, at which point candidates may campaign for the office of Speaker within the Senate Chambers for the duration of a week.
4. Campaigns shall be concluded on the twenty fourth day of the month, at which point a votes shall be opened on the floor for the duration of a week..
5. Voting shall be concluded on the thirtieth day of the month, and the Speaker of the Senate Elect shall be sworn into office on the first day of the following month.

Item IV: Procedures for the Confirmation of Justices of the Supreme Court

1. Should the Delegate nominate a Justice of the Supreme Court a review shall be opened within the Senate Chambers.
2. Reviews on nominees will be open to all Senators for the duration of a week, after which the review shall be concluded and a vote to confirm the nomination shall be opened on the Senate Floor for the duration of a week.
3. A simple majority shall be necessary to confirm a nomination for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court.

Item V: Procedures for the Emergency Election of the Speaker of the Senate

1. Should the office of the Speaker of the Senate be vacant, or should a motion for a Vote of No Confidence be made against the Speaker of the Senate, provided that Emergency Election Procedures are not presently in motion, nominations shall be opened within the Senate Chambers for the duration of seven days and any candidate may begin to campaign for the office of the Speaker of the Senate.
2. Nominations shall be closed after the seventh day and a vote shall be opened on the Senate Floor for the duration of a week. Should Emergency Election Procedures have been initiated as the result of a Motion of No Confidence against the Speaker of the Senate a vote shall only be held if the Speaker of the Senate of has been removed from office as a result.
3. After a week has expired the shall be vote closed, and the Speaker of the Senate Elect shall be sworn into office within the following three days.
4. Should the period for emergency election procedures for the Speaker extend into the period for the general election of the Speaker, no emergency election shall be held.

Item VI: Procedures for the Removal of Members of the Executive

1. Any Senator may motion for to remove from office any member of the Executive within the Senate Chambers.
2. Should a Senator motion to remove a member of the Executive a vote shall be opened on the Senate Floor for the duration of week.

Item VII: Procedures for a Vote of No Confidence

1. Any Senator may motion for a vote of no confidence within the Senate Chambers.
2. Should a Senator motion for a vote of no confidence a vote shall be opened on the Senate Floor for the duration of week.
3. A simple majority shall be necessary for a vote of no confidence to pass and for the Speaker to be removed from office.

Item VIII: Procedures for the Removal of Justices of the Supreme Court

1. Any Senator may motion for to remove from office a Justice of the Supreme Court within the Senate Chambers.
2. Should a Senator motion to remove a Justice of the Supreme Court vote shall be opened on the Senate Floor for the duration of week

Item IX: Procedures for Abstentions, Absences

1. The votes of Senators who abstain, are absent, whether with or without previous notice shall not be considered when determining the outcome of a vote.

Item X: The Speaker pro Tempore

1. The Speaker shall have the power to appoint at their discretion any number of Senators, to be ranked in whatever order of preference they choose, to the office of Speaker pro Tempore.
2. Should the Speaker be unable to perform their duties or their office be left vacant the highest ranked Speaker pro Tempore of those present shall assume the duties of the Speaker until a new Speaker has been elected.