Senate Standing Rules and Procedure

[City of Los Santos]

 

 

STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE

1. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

• 1.1 - “Bill” refers to legislation proposed by a Member.
• 1.2 - “Committee” refers to a specific group of Members appointed by the Senate to undertake certain business on behalf of the Senate.
• 1.3 - “Constitution” refers to the Constitution of the State of San Andreas.
• 1.4 - “Governor” refers to the Governor of San Andreas.
• 1.5 - “Meeting” refers to a gathering of a quorum of the Members of the Senate or a committee thereof in one place for the purpose of discussing legislative or other official matters within the jurisdiction of the Senate or a committee thereof.
• 1.6 - “Presiding Officer” refers to an individual presiding over a meeting of Members, including the Senate as a whole or an individual committee thereof, who shall act as a moderator of debate and administrator of parliamentary procedure.
• 1.7 - “Penal Code” refers to the Penal Code of San Andreas.
• 1.8 - “Resolution” refers to an expression of the Senate's nonbinding positions or its internal affairs such as the creation of a committee.
• 1.9 - “Senate as a whole” refers to the Senate meeting with a quorum of Members present as a collective legislative body, as opposed to a committee thereof.
• 1.10 - "Simple Majority" refers to anything gaining over 50%.

 

2. OFFICES OF THE SENATE

• 2.1 - Senators
  • 2.1.1 - The Senate shall be composed of eleven (11) senators, who are elected at-large for a term in accordance with the Constitution.
  • 2.1.2 - Senators shall hold the formal title of “The Honorable”, or the prefix “Hon.”.
  • 2.1.3 - Senators may be referred to as “Members” or “Senator” by one another during legislative business.
  • 2.1.4 - Only Senators may cast a vote during legislative business.

• 2.2 - President Pro Tempore
  • 2.2.1 - The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall be the Speaker.
  • 2.2.2 - Election of the Speaker
    • 2.2.3 - The Speaker shall be elected by a majority of Members at the beginning of each legislative term following an election.
    • 2.2.4 - Members who wish to be candidates for the office of Speaker, shall submit their names to the Clerk no later than one (1) week following an election.
    • 2.2.5 - Once the Clerk is satisfied that all candidates seeking the office of the Speaker have declared their candidacy, they shall submit a Special Resolution before the Senate as a whole with the names of all candidate Members.
    • 2.2.6 - Members may vote for one (1) candidate for Speaker. The candidate Member with a plurality of votes shall be declared the winner.
    • 2.2.7 - Upon the death, resignation, or impeachment of Speaker, the Lieutenant Governor shall tentatively preside as Speaker until an election is held. An election for speaker shall be held no later than one (1) week after the death, resignation, or impeachment of Speaker.
  • 2.2.8 - Duties of the Speaker
    • 2.2.9 - The Speaker shall hold responsibility for moderating debates, making rulings on procedure, announcing the results of votes and other legislative business, acting as the chair of the Senate, and fulfilling all other executive functions necessary to the Senate’s business.
    • 2.2.10 - The Speaker shall act in a nonpartisan and neutral manner in the execution of their duties and responsibilities.
    • 2.2.11 - Unless otherwise provided, the Speaker shall be the presiding officer of all debates and discussions before the Senate as a whole.
    • 2.2.12 - The Speaker may designate another Member, or the Clerk, to act as presiding officer over debates and discussions before the Senate as a whole when necessary.
    • 2.2.13 - The Speaker shall not take part in any debate or discussion before the Senate while acting as presiding officer.
  • 2.3 - State Clerk
    • 2.3.1 - The State Clerk shall be the senior administrative officer of the Senate. The responsibilities of the Clerk shall include tallying votes during legislative business, maintaining records of the proceedings of the Senate, administering the oath of office to Members when necessary and performing other administrative functions necessary to the Senate’s business.
    • 2.3.2 - The Clerk shall also act as the official advisor to the Senate on the interpretation and application of these Standing Rules, as well as general parliamentary procedure. The advice of the Clerk may be sought by any Member during any stage of proceedings.
    • 2.3.3 - The Clerk may be assisted by Assistant Clerks and Legislative Counsel as necessary.
  • 2.4 Sergeant-at-Arms
    • 2.4.1 - The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be an officer of the Senate responsible for maintaining order and decorum in the Senate chamber and on its grounds, as well as ensuring the safety and security of all Members, staff, and visitors on Senate grounds.
    • 2.4.2 -The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be chosen a majority of Members and must be a sworn peace officer under the laws of San Andreas.
    • 2.4.3 -The Sergeant-at-Arms may be aided by assistants as necessary.

 

3.0 OATHS

• 3.1 - All Members of the Senate shall undertake the following oath or affirmation in the presence of a judge, The President Pro Tempore, Clerk of the Senate, or the Governor, or Lieutenant-Governor, of San Andreas before entering upon their official duties:
  
  “I [NAME] do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of San Andreas against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitutions of the United States and the State of San Andreas; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter and during such time as I hold the office of Senator of the State of San Andreas.”

 

4.0 TERMS AND SESSIONS

• 4.1 - A legislation calendar is established each year. After a legislative term expires, pending legislation must be reintroduced.

 

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