Meeting Rules

• Raise your hand to get on the list of speakers.
• Wait for the Chair to ask you to speak.You can speak to an item or to a motion, make a motion, or amend a motion that is under debate.
• The only time a member should ‘jump the line’ is to request the Chair to rule on a ‘point of order’, to appeal a decision made by the Chair, or to make a point of privilege (see below).
• The Chair may interrupt a speaker to let them know they are nearing the end of their allotted speaking time.
• The Chair may close the list of speakers if the time allotted to an agenda item is coming to its end.
• Motions to extend debate, limit debate, or call the vote (see below) can only be made by a Member on the speakers list whose turn it is to speak.

• Normally, motions will be presented with the Agenda.
• Motions raised at a meeting must be moved and seconded (with several exceptions – see below).
• The Chair will rule on whether or not motions moved from the floor of a meeting are in order.

• A motion may be amended by adding, deleting, or substituting specific words, phrases, or paragraphs, even to the extent of substituting an entirely different motion provided it relates to the subject matter of the original motion.
• Motions may be amended without formal motion, provided that no member objects; otherwise a formal motion, duly seconded, is necessary.
• The Chair may order that amendments to such motions be submitted in writing.
• Amendments may be made to an amendment, but cannot themselves be amended.

Motions can be postponed indefinitely or to a fixed time, or be sent to a committee.

• Postpone to a fixed time: this motion can be raised by a speaker when it is there turn to speak. It can be amended only by changing the time specified and is debatable only with respect to the propriety of the postponement. It requires a simple majority.
• Postpone indefinitely: This motion cannot be amended, and is debatable only with respect to the propriety of the postponement. It requires a simple majority.
• An item of business can be committed to a new committee or recommitted to the committee from which it came. It may be debated and amended, and requires a simple majority.

• The Chair may interrupt any speaker on any business at any time to call a member to order, or to rule a motion out of order.
• Similarly, a member may interrupt a speaker or business by raising a point of order which, when stated, is decided upon by the Chair immediately. There shall be no seconder, and no debate,except that the Chair may, if they wish, submit the question to the meeting and permit a brief debate thereon.
• Any member may interrupt a speaker or any business in order to request information regarding proper procedure or to request information with respect to facts under discussion (“point of privilege”). The Chair will immediate rule if the request is a proper interruption.

Such an appeal must be made immediately after the disputed ruling, and can be raised without the Chair first recognizing the Member. It must be seconded. It can be debated, but not amended. It requires a majority vote. If there is a tie-vote, the challenge shall be considered defeated.

• No more than forty-five minutes of any one meeting shall be devoted to discussion of any one agenda item unless at least two-thirds of the members present and voting adopt a resolution to extend the debate. Such a motion is to be raised by a Member whose turn it is to speak.
• Motions to Close Debate (“call the question”) can be made when it is a Member’s turn to speak. It must be seconded, cannot be debated or amended, and requires 2/3 majority to pass. Unless otherwise stated, it applies to the principle motion and all related amendments.
• Motions to Limit Debate have the effect of fixing a time at which debate on a subject shall be terminated. It is not debatable, but can be amended as to time. The amendment may be debated. It requires 2/3 majority for passage.

After 2.5 hours have elapsed the meeting shall be adjourned unless at least two-thirds of the members present and voting decide otherwise.

A motion to adjourn, once adopted, terminates a meeting. Such a motion may not interrupt a speaker or a vote, and must be raised be a Member on the speakers list whose turn it is to speak. Such a motion does take precedence over other pending business. If at one point such a motion is defeated, it may be reintroduced at any time, as long as other business has intervened.