Law 5: The Conduct of Debate

Motions

5.1

the order of debate shall be as follows:

(i) the proposer of a motion shall speak first

(ii) a speaker against the proposal shall then be invited to speak

(iii) the chairperson shall then b alance the number of speeches for and against the proposal

(iv) before taking the vote the chairperson shall invite the proposer to sum up on the proposal

(v) the vote shall then be taken and the result declared by the chairperson.

Amendments

5.2

in the event of an amendment being proposed to the motion the order of debate shall be as follows:

(i) the chairperson shall invite the proposer of the motion to indicate whether they accept or reject the amendment

(ii) if the amendment is accepted it shall be incorporated into the motion and the order of debate shall continue as in 5.1 above

(iii) if the proposer of the motion rejects the amendment then a debate shall immediately be held on the amendment

(iv) the chairperson shall invite the proposer of the original motion to speak against the amendment

(v) the chairperson shall then b alance speeches for and against the amendment

(vi) before taking a vote the chairperson shall invite the proposer of the amendment to sum up

(vii) the vote shall then be taken and the result declared by the chairperson

(viii) if the amendment is passed then it shall be incorporated into the motion and the proposer of the amendment shall then be deemed to be the proposer of the motion as amended

(ix) the order of debate shall then continue as in 5.1 above.

Points of Order

5.3

a point of order may be raised at any time (other than during a vote unless the point of order relates to the conduct of that vote) and shall be a request to the chairperson to:

(i) rule on a matter relating to the conduct of the meeting

(ii) check that the meeting remains quorate.

Procedural Motion

5.5

a procedural motion may be raised at any time (other than during a vote unless the procedural motion relates to the conduct of that vote) and shall be discussed immediately in accordance with the order of debate as in 5.1 above. Procedural motions may be proposed as follows:

(i) that the chairperson take a further round of speeches

(ii) that the chairperson move straight to the vote

(iii) that the meeting be adjourned

(iv) that the vote be by secret ballot

(v) that the vote be recounted

(vi) to vote on different parts of a proposal separately

(vii) not to take a vote on the issue under discussion

(viii) that the meeting has no confidence in the chairperson (during the debate on which the chairperson shall vacate the chair and shall be afforded the opportunity to speak against the procedural motion).

Votes

5.6

debates shall be decided by a simple majority of those voting other than where otherwise required by the Constitution.