Rules of Order Of the House of Deputies I. HOLY SCRIPTURE AND PRAYERS ........................................................................................................ 1 II. GENERAL RULES ........................................................................................................................................ 1 III. DEPUTATIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 1 IV. FLOOR PRIVILEGES AND ARRANGEMENTS ............................................................................... 2 V. OFFICERS........................................................................................................................................................ 3 VI. REGULAR SESSION SCHEDULE ......................................................................................................... 4 VII. RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS ................................................................................................... 5 VIII. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES ............................................................................................................ 6 IX. OTHER COMMITTEES ......................................................................................................................... 11 X. SPECIAL COMMITTEES ........................................................................................................................ 12 XI. SESSIONS OF THE HOUSE ................................................................................................................. 13 XII. DEBATE ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 XIII. MOTIONS ................................................................................................................................................ 14 XIV. VOTING .................................................................................................................................................... 16 XV. ELECTIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 17 XVI. CONFIRMATION OF THE ELECTION OF A PRESIDING BISHOP ................................ 18 XVII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY .................................................................................................. 18 XVIII. SUPREMACY AND IN FORCE CLAUSE .................................................................................... 18 XIX. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF ORDER ........................................................................... 18 Holy Scripture and Prayers Page 1 of 20 2. These rules apply to physical materials I. Holy Scripture and Prayers on the floor and digital materials A. Placement of Holy Scriptures distributed through official legislative 1. The President and Secretary will ensure software or devices. that a copy of the Holy Scriptures is D. Quorum reverently displayed at all meetings of 1. To transact business the Constitution, the House of Deputies. Article I Sec. 4, requires: B. Daily Prayers i. A majority of the Dioceses entitled to 1. The daily session of the House will representation in this House must begin with prayers. have at least one clerical Deputy 2. The President may call for prayers at present; and other times. ii. A majority of the Dioceses entitled to 3. Any Deputy may ask the President to representation in this House must call for prayer at other times. have at least one lay Deputy present. E. Minutes II. General Rules 1. The Minutes of the House will be kept A. Duty of Deputies by the Secretary or Assistant Secretaries and reviewed by the Committee on the 1. Deputies will prepare for and give their Certification of Minutes. attention to the business of the House. 2. Deputies will attend all sessions of the 2. The Committee on the Certification of House unless excused by the President. Minutes will review, approve, and B. Communications Devices publish the final Minutes for each day before the start of the next day’s 1. The President may allow Deputies to session. bring cell phones, computers, and other communication devices to the House, 3. The Committee on the Certification of except as provided in these rules during Minutes will report its action at the next closed sessions. scheduled session. 2. No talking on communications devices 4. The House may require that the is allowed while the House is in session. Minutes for any session be approved by 3. All communications devices will be set the House. to the silent mode. 4. Deputies will respect those around III. Deputations them as they use such devices. A. Chair of Deputation C. Distribution of Printed, Digital, and Other 1. At least one year before the first Materials legislative session of the General 1. Only official reports, papers, and Convention, each Deputation will: documents necessary for the business i. designate a Chair; and of the House may be distributed to the ii. notify the Secretary of the House of House, except with the approval of: Deputies of the name of the Chair. i. the President; or 2. The Deputation Chair will: ii. the House by a majority vote. i. serve as the primary contact for House of Deputies communications; Holy Scripture and Prayers Page 1 of 20 ii. certify the Deputation’s votes by 1. two ordained persons and two lay orders; persons who are duly authorized iii. certify changes in the Deputation representatives of the Episcopal during General Convention; Church in Liberia; iv. perform other duties as directed by 2. members of the Official Youth the President. Presence; 3. other persons authorized by the Joint B. Certification of Alternate Deputies as Deputies Rules, the Constitution, or Canons. 1. Alternate Deputies may not sit or vote C. Platform. Only officers of the House of with their Deputations, unless and until Deputies, designated members of the certified by the Committee on Committee on Dispatch of Business, and Credentials as a substitute for a Deputy. other persons authorized or invited by 2. The Committee on Credentials will the President may be on the platform of certify Alternate Deputies as Deputies the House. before each session. D. Placement of Deputations and Others. 3. The procedures for certification will be Deputations will be seated together on those determined by the Secretary of the floor of the House in random order, the House of Deputies except that: 4. An Alternate Deputy will serve for one 1. Deputations with members serving on or more legislative sessions as Deputy the platform may be seated near the but only until the Deputy for whom he platform; or she substituted is able to resume 2. Deputations requiring language their seats. interpretation or with other needs may 5. The Committee on Credentials will be seated in proximity to one another; hear and decide any disputes on and certification of Deputies and will report 3. The President may seat deputations and their decision to the House. others as necessary to assist in the business of the House. IV. Floor Privileges and E. Seating Adjacent to the Floor Arrangements 1. The President and the Secretary will A. Floor Privileges. No one will be admitted to designate a visitor’s gallery. the floor except Deputies, officers of the 2. The President and Secretary may House, and: designate areas adjacent to the floor of 1. the Treasurer of the General the House of Deputies as seating for Convention; Alternate Deputies, members of 2. other persons authorized by the Executive Council, and others. President or Secretary to assist in the F. Revocation of Floor Privileges conduct of the business of the House; 1. Any person, including Deputies and 3. other persons invited or authorized by officers, may be excluded for good the President. cause from the floor of the House by a B. Seat and Voice. The following will have two-thirds vote. seat and voice on the floor of the House: Floor Privileges and Arrangements Page 2 of 20 2. Any motion to exclude must specify the 1. The Secretary of the House of Deputies length of time, up to the final will be elected in accordance with the adjournment, that the person is Canons. excluded from the floor. 2. The Secretary may appoint Assistant 3. The motion may provide that the Secretaries with the confirmation of the person discontinues serving as a House member of a committee during the D. Parliamentarian person’s exclusion from the floor. 1. The President may appoint one or more Parliamentarians and Vice- V. Officers Parliamentarians to advise the President A. President. The President of the House of or presiding officer on parliamentary Deputies will be elected in accordance procedure. with the Canons. 2. A Parliamentarian may be a member of 1. The President will preside over all the House or another person at the meetings of the House, unless the discretion of the President. President relinquishes the Chair for a 3. The Parliamentarian may address the temporary period. House or any committee of the House 2. If the President relinquishes the Chair: at the direction of the President or presiding officer to facilitate the i. The Vice-President will preside; or business of the House. ii. If the Vice-President is unable or E. Chaplain unwilling to Preside, the President 1. The President may appoint one or may appoint any Deputy to preside. more Chaplains to the House, who 3. If the President has relinquished the may, but need not be, members of the Chair,