Adoption of Senate rules

[Deimos Jasonides]

Madam President,
Senators of Elwynn,

I move that this house decides to adopt the following Rules of the Senate:

Rules of the Senate

I. NAME
1. The name of this house is the Senate, alternatively the Senate of Elwynn.

II. MEMBERSHIP

2. Members of the Senate are known as Senators.

3. The Prince appoints the Senators in a manner consistent with the Constitution.

4. A Senator may by public notice to the Senate resign his or her membership in the Senate.

5. A Senator who has renounced or otherwise lost his or her Elwynnese nationality (citizenship) has automatically resigned his or her membership in the Senate.

6. The Senate may, by a majority vote of all Senators and at least three fourths' majority of those voting, exclude a Senator from the membership in the Senate.

III. MEETINGS

7. The Senate is in continuous session and meets normally in public.

8.In times of emergency, the Senate or its President may decide to meet behind locked doors, provided that once the emergency is over, the Senate shall release its records of the meeting.

IV. PRESIDING OFFICERS

9. Presiding officers of the Senate are the President of the Senate, the Deputy President and the President pro tempore.

10. The President of the Senate is elected by the Senate according to the rules on election, but may be removed by a simple decision of the Senate (according to the rules on measures).

11. The President of the Senate shall appoint a Deputy President to assist him or her whenever necessary, operating as a team to streamline Senate efficiency. In the absence of the President of the Senate, the Deputy President shall temporarily assume those duties.

12. The President pro tempore is, in the absence of a presiding officer, the first Senator, other than the one making a proposal, to address an item on the Senate floor. The President pro tempore retains said title only so long as a presiding officer remains absent.

13. The hierarchy among the presiding officers is as follows:

• 1. the President of the Senate
  2. the Deputy President
  3. the President pro tempore

14. The President pro tempore may be overruled by the deputy president and the President of the Senate. The Deputy President may be overruled by the President of the Senate. The Senate is, however, reserved the right to overrule any of its presiding officers.

15. Whenever the rules speak of "the President", it shall include any of the presiding officers under this rule.

16. Notwithstanding anything contrary to it in this rule, the Prince (or in his stead, the Steward or other representative) shall be the presiding officer in the election of the President of the Senate.

17. The President, on his or her own accord or at the request of a Senator, may summon witnesses to give testimony to the Senate on relevant subjects.

V. RECORD-KEEPING

18. The President shall make public each enacted law, resolution or other decision of the State in appropriate sections of the Senate's library as soon as possible after passage in the Senate.

19. The President shall keep the roster of Senators and update such roster when a new Senator is admitted and when a Senator resigns or is relieved from the Senate.

VI. ELECTIONS

20. Whenever the Senate shall elect a Prince, President of the Senate or other officer of the State, the election shall be managed according to this rule.

21. At least seventy-two hours of nominations shall be ensured, during which nominations must be confirmed by the prospective nominee.

22. If so moved, the President shall allow the Senate's subsequent discussion and debate on the matter for as long as deemed necessary, provided that it is not for longer than 120 hours.

23. Thereafter, voting for at least 72 hours shall go on. Each confirmed nominee shall be considered a candidate. Senators are allowed one vote alone and shall vote for one candidate, against all candidates (or, whenever only one candidate is provided, against the candidate) or vote blank.

24. When tallying the votes, blank votes shall make no bearing on the result. Otherwise, the plurality of the options wins. If it is a candidate, the candidate wins. In case of the "against all candidates"/"against the candidate") option winning, no candidate shall be elected and the election re-visited.

VII. MEASURES OF THE SENATE

25. The Senate passes Measures of the Senate. A Measure making law or amending a law is an Act of the Senate. A Measure deciding an administrative function of the Senate, as well as ratifying treaties, is a Decision of the Senate. A Measure expressing the Senate's will, sentiments or feelings is a Resolution of the Senate.

26. Any Senator may bring a Proposal for a Measure ("Proposal") to the Senate. The proposal shall be given at least 72 hours of debate upon receipt from the President.

27. During the debate stage, the Measure-proposing Senator may accept amendments to his or her Proposal . Should this occur, at least forty-two hours of debate shall be given.

28. After the debate stage, the President shall invite the Senate to vote on the Proposal during a period of 96 hours. Votes shall be cast in clear language and shall be in favour of passing the Proposal or against passing the Proposal. Senators may also indicate their neutrality by doing so in clear language. Votes of "AYE" for signifying being in favour, "NAY" for signifying being against and "BLANK" for neutrality are recommended.

29. After the voting stage is complete, the President shall tally the votes. The option (of either "AYE" or "NAY") receiving plurality shall be considered being adopted. If the plurality is in favour ("AYE") the Proposal is made official as the intended Measure (Act, Decision, Resolution). If the plurality is against, the Proposal is considered failed and recorded in the Senate's library.

VIII. TIME LIMITS

30. When so moved by a Senator, the President may extend any hourly measured stage (for example in debate or voting) by an appropriate number of hours. The President may decide not to agree to such an extension and shall make his or her decision known.

31. When so moved by a Senator, the President may reduce any hourly measured stage by an appropriate number of hours. Reducing the hours of voting shall be only be made if a majority of the Senators already have voted or if the outcome of the vote cannot be changed by any subsequent vote.

32. Debate shall extend beyond the allotted hours until the President invites the Senate to vote.

33. Voting shall extend beyond the allotted hours until the President has closed the voting.

X. BY-LAWS

34. The President shall, when necessary, issue temporary by-laws to interpret these Rules.

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[Soreaa Isurui]

Senators,

His Serene Highness the Prince has submitted a proposal to the Senate. Ninety-six hours is allocated for debate, unless I hear a motion otherwise.

[Warner Barentsz]

Lady Isurui,

If it is good enough for His Serene Highness the Prince to propose to the Senate, I am sure it is good enough for us to adapt. I move to begin voting.

[Royston Merrick]

I have every confidence in His Serenity and the Principle of His Leadership. Even without reading this I know that the rules that have been proposed are perfect in every detail. I second the motion to vote. Let freedom reign!

Elwynn Prevails!

[Soreaa Isurui]

Senators,

The motion by Mr X'halar is denied for reason that he has found himself in the wrong house of the legislature. I advise Mr X'halar to go downstairs where he will find the Congress meeting. And while he is there, perhaps he could tell Mr Lewis to come back here and fill his place in this house.

I see that Mr X'halar as censored himself for his comments.

The proposal by the Serene Prince has been moved to immediate vote and seconded.

Voting will begin immediately.

[Warner Barentsz]

Aye! Hail Deimos!

[Verion]

Aye.

[Royston Merrick]

Aye! Hail Deimos!

[Monty]

Nay.

Every Person of standing should be considered capable of speaking in the Senate.