The first step towards securing a truly functioning legislature is to ensure that there is order and decorum in its proceedings, as provided both by our Instrument of Government and by parliamentary tradition. Therefore, I have put together a draft of a document which, if amenable to my Right Honourable Friends and Members, can serve as the guiding force in our future proceedings. I present this draft as follows for the consideration, comments, suggestions, and approval of the House:
The Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Brettish Commonwealth
Rules for Order and Procedure to be kept in Parliament.
CHAPTER I. OFFICERS OF PARLIAMENT
1. At the beginning of each term of Parliament, or whenever the office shall fall vacant, the Father of the House shall conduct an election to choose a Speaker.
(a) No other business may take place in Parliament until a Speaker has been chosen.
(b) The Father of the House shall be the Member who has served in the Brettish Parliament for the longest unbroken period.
2. The Speaker shall preside over meetings of Parliament, conduct its divisions, and ensure the proper execution of these Standing Orders.
(a) When it is necessary to rule on the interpretation of a Standing Order, however, it shall be done by a Resolution of the House.
3. The Speaker may appoint a Member to be Deputy Speaker, serving during his pleasure, who shall have the power to act for the Speaker when he deems it necessary.
4. The Lord Protector and ministers of the Brettish government may be allowed to address the House.
(a) The Lord Protector may address Parliament when he shall deem it necessary.
(b) Ministers may be summoned by the Speaker to address the House by a motion made, seconded, and carried to that effect.
(c) Members may question the Lord Protector, or ministers of the Brettish government, on the content of an address and other pressing matters on its commencement, to be moderated by the Speaker.
(d) For the Lord Protector’s address, or that of ministers, the business of the House shall be put aside, and debate on Bills shall be halted.
CHAPTER II. MOTIONS AND DIVISIONS
5. When a motion has been moved, it shall be open to debate for a period of three days, after which the Speaker shall put the Question, subject to division.
(a) To "put the Question" means to restate the motion under consideration, and then call a division upon it.
(b) A "division" means a vote in Parliament on a particular motion.
6. A motion must be seconded by a Member other than the mover before the Question may be put upon it.
7. The following motions shall be deemed to have been carried without debate or the Question being put:
(a) that this Bill be now read a first time;
(b) that this Bill be expedited;
(c) that debate be extended;
(d) that a minister of the government be summoned to the House.
8. Divisions shall be decided by a majority of those Members who cast their votes within the time appointed, except where these Standing Orders require otherwise. A motion which receives a majority of voting members in favor shall be considered carried.
9. When it is necessary for a division to be held, the Speaker shall call for all Members in favour of the decision to say "Aye," those to the contrary to say "No," and those wishing to excuse themselves “Abstain.” After allowing no less than 48 hours nor more than 72 hours for Members to cast their votes, the Speaker shall tally and announce the result.
(a) If all Members cast their vote before the allotted time period, the Speaker may end the vote immediately.
(b) If no votes are cast during that time, the voting period may be extended, at the discretion of the Speaker, for up to one week.
CHAPTER III. THE CONSIDERATION OF BILLS
10. Bills shall be proposed to the House by means of an Introduction giving the long title of the Bill, and the text of the bill itself, followed by a brief explanation of its general intent, after which the sponsor shall move that this Bill be now read a first time. The Speaker shall then read out the long title of the Bill.
(a) Legislation prepared by the Lord Protector shall be introduced by the Speaker, and may only be withdrawn from consideration at the pleasure of the Lord Protector.
11. After a Bill has been proposed and given a first reading, it shall be debated freely for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven, unless a Member shall move that debate be extended. If a motion to extend debate is seconded, the Bill shall be discussed for a further three days.
12. The sponsor of a Bill and other Members may amend it at any time before a motion for passage, by notifying the House of the amendment. When an amendment has been proposed, the Speaker shall immediately hold a division for its approval or rejection.
13. Provided that all amendments have been voted upon, the sponsor of a Bill shall move that this Bill be passed for approval by the Lord Protector. The Speaker shall give a second reading with the complete text of the Bill, and if the motion is carried, and shall submit it to the Lord Protector for approval.
14. A Member may present a motion to form a committee for the purpose of legislative discussion on a particular subject, which shall be chaired by the Speaker or a member appointed by him.
15. A Member may move that a Bill be expedited, which, if proposed and seconded, shall immediately be subject to a division for its approval or rejection.
16. A Bill shall be at once withdrawn from consideration upon notification from its sponsor, or if he fails to motion for its passage within the appropriate period of time.
CHAPTER IV. RESOLUTIONS OF THE HOUSE
17. Resolutions may be proposed in order to express a desire or opinion of the House, without having any legal effect, unless otherwise noted in these Standing Orders or the Instrument of Government; such Resolutions shall be formed and considered as an ordinary motion.
18. Resolutions shall be considered in the same manner as Bills, the word "Resolution" being substituted for "Bill" where necessary, and the Resolution being submitted as the opinion of the House, rather than to the Lord Protector for approval.
19. Confirmations of officers of the Commonwealth, as well as impeachments of officers, shall be carried out by a Resolution of the House.
(a) A Confirmation Resolution shall mean approval by a simple majority vote of all present Members.
(b) An Impeachment Resolution must be approved by a majority of all members of the House.
CHAPTER V. MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS
20. Members of the House shall direct their comments to the Speaker, or to the House as “Honourable Members.” Members shall refer to their fellow Members as “the Honourable Member,” or “My Right Honourable Friend.”
(a) The Speaker is permitted to correct a Member in the middle of debate should decorum be breached.
21. These Standing Orders, or any of them, may be suspended for a specified period of time not greater than ten days, by means of a motion to that effect; such a motion, made and seconded, must be carried by two-thirds of all Members of Parliament.
22. Should a Member disrupt the business of the House with disorderly conduct or violation of these Standing Orders, any Member may move that he be expelled. Provided that the motion is carried by two-thirds of those voting, the Member in question shall be barred from speaking or voting in Parliament for the remainder of the term.
23. The Speaker may be removed from office if a motion to remove the Speaker is made, seconded, and carried by two-thirds of all Members of Parliament.
24. These Standing Orders may be amended if a member move that the Standing Orders be amended, followed by the text of the amendment. If the motion, made and seconded, is carried by a two-thirds majority of the House, then the amendment shall be considered passed.