Parlimentary Procedure

Parlimentary procedure is how the Federation of United Planets regulates their debates. The Chair of the United Planets is the final arbitor of all debates about parlimentary procedure, except when their decisions are overturned by a motion to overturn the decision of the chair.

In all cases (except suspension of the rules), Parlimentary procedure means not speaking unless called on by the chair or proposing a point.

Besides speaking in debate, the rules of debate may be altered or moved forward with points and motions. If multiple points and orders arise, they should be addressed in this order:

Points
Point are quick interjections that always take priority. They are always addressed by the chair and require no further debate.


 * Point of Order - used to correct someone's use of the rules (basically an "objection")
 * Point of Clarification - used to ask the speaker or the chair for questions related to the rules or debate
 * Point of Privilege - used to ask the chair to comment on the substance of someone's speech (like responding to a baseless attack or a distraction from the real debate)

Motions
Motions are large changes to debate that require a second, and a vote to pass/be enacted. The chair must always consider a motion unless it is point of ordered.


 * Motion to Overturn the Decision of the Chair - (requires 2/3 majority) if passed it overrules a former ruling made by the chair. The chair may not make rulings on the same or simialr topics.
 * Motion to Adjourn - (requires a 2/3 majority) ends debate until the speaker opens the next session (cannot be this round).
 * Motion to Table - used to table the current topic (remove it from debate and the agenda, until a motion to propose is passed)
 * Motion to Propose Agenda Item - changes debate to a new topic, or adds an item to the agenda for later.
 * Motion to Ammend - adds an ammendment to the proposed law.
 * Motion to Close Debate - ends debate on the subject and the council moves immeadiately into voting on the law.
 * Motion for Recess - ends debate for specified amout of time.
 * Motion to Ammend the Rules - allows changes to the rules, including points and motions, voting, membership, etc.
 * Motion to Suspend the Rules - (requires a 2/3 majority) suspends all rules until the chair reinstates them.
 * Motion to acclimate - With a second and no objections, another motion or proposal is accepted without any formal vote taken.