Delegation Resource Manual: Rules and Procedures
Page 124
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Consideration of Bills - Changes to the Calendar:
1.
Following the establishment of the legislative calendar by the Presiding Officer, the Clerk
shall read the calendar. Should any member desire that the calendar be changed, that
member must submit a written request to the Clerk immediately following the reading of the
calendar or as soon as possible prior to consideration of the bill in question.
2.
All such requests will be referred to the Presiding Officer and the Presiding Officer shall
exercise discretion to either change or not change the calendar. No motions or any other
discussion on the floor may be permitted with regard to the calendar.
Consideration of Bills - Withdrawing a Bill From Consideration:
Should a sponsor desire to withdraw a bill from consideration, the Presiding Officer may, at
his/her discretion place the question before the chamber and a majority of the chamber voting
in the affirmative may decline consideration of the bill.
The Presiding Officer may only exercise this option at the request of the bill’s sponsor. In all
other cases, a bill must be considered by the chamber and a motion to table or defer a bill or any
other action by the chamber which would result in the bill not being considered by the chamber,
will be out of order.
Demeanor in Chambers During Debate:
1.
Members of the chamber are expected to be attentive during debate, and are to refrain from
engaging in any activity that would distract from the speaker. The speaker must confine his
remarks to the question before the chamber.
2.
A speaker may not refer to another member by name. A speaker may not personally insult,
offend or otherwise engage in disparaging statements about another member or person. A
speaker may debate the subject matter of the bill, but may not debate personalities. A
speaker should always refer to an officer by his title. A speaker may not call into question
another members motives.
Interrogation of a Member Speaking:
1.
A speaker may be questioned by another member, but only if the Presiding Officer
recognizes that member. The member who wishes to question the speaker must rise, and be
recognized and state his reason for rising as “Mr. Speaker or Mr. President, will the speaker
yield to a question?” If the speaker declines, the member may not rise again to question the
speaker.
2.
If the speaker yields, the member may direct only one question to the speaker and may not
direct subsequent questions, unless another member has asked an intervening question. The
Presiding Officer may refuse to recognize members for questions of the speaker if in his/her
discretion, such questions are detracting from the debate of the bill.
