
This is a summary of a deliberating Assembly's procedures based on code Morin. It's goal is to explain in clear and simple terms the basic procedures of an Assembly meeting. For more details, please refer to code Morin.
- Assembly Chair
- Ensures that the meeting flows well.
- Opens and presides over the meeting.
- Gives the right to speak / leads the assembly in matters of procedures and discussions.
- Calls to order any member that does not respect order, procedures and/or decorum.
- Rules on points of order / if necessary, can sanction members.
- Must be impartial but in the event of a tied vote; must rule whether the motion is passed or defeated.
- Opening of the Meeting
- The Chair calls the meeting to order, reads the orders of the day and calls the vote.
- The secretary then reads the minutes from the last meeting and then the Chair calls the vote.
* Note that the orders of the day and the minutes must be proposed and seconded but adopted only after the necessary modifications have been made (if needed).
* The minutes can only be adopted by members present during the meeting at which they were taken.
- Right to Speak
- Any member of the Assembly has the right to speak at the meetings : he/she must raise their hand and wait for the Chair to give them the floor.
- Comments must be brief and limited to the subject debated at the time.
* Note that the Chair has the right to limit both the time and the number of interventions on each subject.
- Main Motion
- Any voting member of the Assembly can put forward a motion as long as it is on the subject debated on the order paper at the time.
- The motioning member must wait until the Chair gives him/her the floor and begins like so : "Mister Chairman, I motion that. . ."
- The motion must then be seconded like so: "Mister Chairman, I second that motion."
* Note that a motion is put forward when a member wishes the Assembly to reach a decision on a debated subject.
- Amendment
- Is used to modify a detail of the main motion.
- Must be on the motion debated at the time / must be proposed and seconded.
* Note that a member putting forward an amendment to a motion must generally agree with the main motion and only want to change a detail ( the general gist of the motion must remain the same).
- Sub-amendment
- Is an amendment on an amendment that is used to modify a detail as well.
- Must be proposed and seconded.
* Note that only one (1) amendment and one (1) sub-amendment can be made to the same main motion.
* When a motion has received an amendment and a sub-amendment the debate must be done in the following order: sub-amendment, amendment and main motion.
- Vote
- Is held at the end of a debate when the Chair reads the questions debated and calls the vote.
- It can be done by show of hands or by secret ballot (any member can request it).
* Note that the vote generally requires 50% + 1, but in certain cases it may be 2/3, 3/4 or unanimous.
* If the motionner speaks again, the debate will be-closed after his/her comments and the assembly will immediately be asked to vote (under the direction of the Chair).
- Preliminary Question / Request for the Vote
- Is used by a member to end a debate when he/she deems that it is time to make a decision or take a vote.
- The member must request the floor from the Chair and then ask the preliminary question or request the vote.
- When either one is done, the Chair will call (without debate) the vote.
* Note that the preliminary question requires 2/3 of the assembly to be passed.
* If the preliminary question is passed, only the motionner can close the debate and the vote will follow immediately.
- Tabled Proposition
- When the assembly has debated on a subject drained all ideas and that no solution seems to be imminent, a member can request that the question be tabled.
- The question is then postponed until a member asks for it to be discussed again.
* Note that when a member wishes to table a question, a motion must be put forward and seconded without discussion or amendments and to be passed, the vote must be of 50% +1.
- Challenge of the Chair's Ruling
- Used when a member does not agree with a ruling that the Chair has made.
- The motionner must first explain his/her point of view, then the Chair the reasons behind his/hers ruling, after which the assembly must vote (50% + 1) without further interventions.
* Note that the motion must be seconded by another member in order to be heard.
- Point of Order
- Used when a member believes that the procedures are not being followed / to voice an objection.
- Must be worded like so: "Mister Chairman, point of order."
- Note that it is the Chair that rules for or against the point of order.
- Point of Information
- Used when a member does not understand the procedures / has a question on the issue being debated.
- Can be done at any time during the meeting.
- Must be worded like so: "Madam Chairman. point of information."
- Point of Privilege
- Used when a member believes that his/her rights are not being respected / that the meeting is being held incorrectly.
- Can be done at any time during the meeting.
- Must be worded like so: "Mister Chairman, point of privilege."
- Procedures to put forward a motion
- The motionner must put forward his/her motion at the item on the order paper entitled "motions from the Assembly".
- Another member must second the motion.
- The motion is then given in writing to the Assembly's secretary (ideally in both languages).
- The motionner opens the debate and explains his/her motion (speaks first).
- During the debate, he / she can then answer questions but may not take the floor again or the debate will be closed.
- After the allocated time for the debate has expired, the Assembly Chair will call the vote. The motion will then be carried or defeated.
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© CPSSA/AÉSPC, 1998. Questions? E-mail Aaron Hokanson (CPSSA Webmaster). This site was last updated 04/10/99. |