Delegation Resource Manual: Rules and Procedures
Page 118
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Legislative Procedures – Floor Sessions
Presiding Officers
1.
In the House, the Speaker shall be the Presiding Officer and shall be addressed as Mr. or
Madam Speaker. In the Senate, the Lt. Governor shall be the presiding Officer and shall be
addressed as Mr. or Madam President. In the absence of the Speaker, the Chairman of the
House Committee on Law & Justice shall act as the Presiding Officer. In the absence of the
Lt. Governor, the Majority Leader shall act as the Presiding Officer. The Speaker and the Lt.
Governor may not participate in debate, nor speak on any question; which may be on the
floor for consideration.
2.
The Presiding Officer shall take the Chair at the prescribed time for a legislative session, and
shall call the Chamber to order. He/She shall direct the order of business as set forth in
these rules, and shall adhere to all prescribed times set forth in the rules.
3.
The Presiding Officer shall preserve order and decorum in the Chamber, and in the galleries
and lobbies. In the case of any disturbance, disorderly conduct or commission of an
infraction of these rules, he/she shall have the authority to order any person or member to
leave the chamber, lobbies or galleries for the remainder of the legislative session or a
specific time period not to exceed the legislative session. Any member ordered to leave, may
not vote while absent from the chamber, but shall be counted as present during any vote in
determining either a quorum or a majority. The Presiding Officer may not at any time and
for any reason close the gallery while the chamber is in session.
4.
The Presiding Officer shall decide all questions/points of order, subject to appeal by any
member, unless otherwise provided. No debate shall be allowed on any question/point of
order. If a member appeals the decision of the chair, the Presiding Officer shall recognize
the member appealing the decision for a one minute or less statement explaining the basis of
the appeal. No other speaking or debate shall occur on the appeal and the Presiding Officer
shall immediately place the question before the chamber for a vote. Any other action or
business is out of order until the appeal is decided. The Presiding Officer shall put the
question as follows: “Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?” A majority vote of the
members in the affirmative shall sustain other action on an appeal is out of order. Members
may not abuse the question/point of order privilege and should the Presiding Officer
determine that a member is abusing this privilege, the Presiding Officer may place such
member on notice, and in subsequent action, call such member out of order, and/or remove
the member from the chambers pursuant to these rules.
5.
The Presiding Officer shall set the calendar for consideration of business to be brought
before the chamber. The calendar may not be debated, nor is the calendar subject to
approval by the Chamber.
6.
In setting the calendar, the Presiding Officer must place at the top of the calendar for the
next legislative session all bills received from another chamber. Where bills may be received
from more than one chamber, the Presiding Officer in setting the calendar shall alternate
consideration of bills from other chambers with those for consideration from the Presiding
