Difference between revisions of "Proposal:Internal Procedures of the Senate"

Latest revision as of 16:07, 26 September 2011

Meeting Places

1. The Senate will meet on the Regional Forums and on Internet Relay Chat in the channel #senate on EsperNet.
2. If online, senators will join the #senate. If a majority of senators are present, the Senate will do business in #senate. Else it will do business on the Regional Forums.
3. Logs of any discussion, motion or vote occurring in #senate will be promptly posted on the Regional Forums when recessed or concluded.
4. If any discussions, motions or votes occurring in #senate conflict with concurrent ones on the Regional Forums, those from #senate will be given precedence.

Motions

1. Any senator may introduce a motion to exercise any of the Senate’s powers.
2. If any other senator seconds the motion, a vote will be held.
3. If a the vote succeeds, the motion will carry.

Discussions

1. If the Senate is doing business on the Regional Forums, any senator may open a discussion by creating a new thread. If the Senate is doing business in #senate, any senator my introduce a motion to open a discussion. Discussions in #senate may be new or continue one on the Regional Forums.
2. When the Senate is doing business in #senate, any senator may introduce a motion to recess any ongoing discussion. If a majority of senators ceases to be present or a new discussion is opened, any ongoing discussion will be recessed.
3. Any senator may introduce a motion to close an ongoing discussion.

Votes

1. If an absolute majority vote for a measure in #senate, it will take immediate effect. If only a simple majority vote for it, the measure will be moved to a vote on the Regional Forums.
2. If an absolute majority vote for or an absolute majority vote against a measure in a vote on the Regional Forums, the vote will be closed.
3. If a vote has reached quorum and has been open for forty-eight hours, it will be closed. If quorum has not been met, the vote will be closed after forty-eight more hours.
4. If any senator is present for a vote in #senate but does not participate, they will be considered to have abstained.

Seniority

1. Senators who have served more consecutive days until the present will be senior to those who have served less.
2. Among senators who have served an equal number of days, those who registered earlier on the Regional Forums will be senior to those who registered later.

The Speaker

1. If the Speaker is unable to perform their duties or their office becomes vacant, the most senior senator available will become Speaker.
2. If the Senate is doing business in #senate and the Speaker is absent, the most senior senator present will server as Interim Speaker.