National Congress Standing Orders

General rules

 * Do not interrupt the chairs or other speakers.
 * There will be two chairs, one to chair the meeting generally, and another to act on the interests of remote participants.
 * Interruption is permitted to raise a vote of no confidence against a chair.
 * If you wish to speak, draw attention to the chair by raising your hand.
 * Upon acknowledgement of the chair, move to a microphone before you begin speaking.

Nominations (inserted on Saturday 19 July 2014)

 * All nominations must be in before the close of the meeting today.

Announcing motions
Motions to amend the platform and/or policies (including introducing new policies):
 * Must be announced in writing at least three days prior to the National Congress.
 * May not be proposed on the floor.

Remote participants

 * 1) Begin your statement in IRC with the remote chair's IRC name.
 * 2) Follow this with your action, such as "MOTION", "QUESTION", or "COMMENT"
 * 3) The remote chair will then read this out on your behalf at an appropriate juncture.

Announced motions
Announced motions follow this procedure:


 * 1) Presenter presents the motion
 * 2) Questions are asked regarding the motion
 * 3) * The chair will determine speaking order
 * 4) * COMMENTS ARE NOT QUESTIONS
 * 5) Amendments are proposed as a new motion applying to the current motion
 * 6) Attempt to find two speakers in favour, two speakers against (alternating).
 * 7) * There must be equal speakers for and against
 * 8) National Council may opt to make remarks
 * 9) A majority vote of those present required to be carried

Amendments

 * 1) A member may motion to amend another motion.
 * 2) If the person presenting a motion agrees to a proposed amendment, the amended motion may then be debated.
 * 3) If the person presenting a motion does not agree to a proposed amendment, those present must vote for or against the proposed amendment. A majority vote will see the amendment carried. After this vote, the motion (amended or otherwise) may then be debated.

Commit

 * 1) A member may motion to place another motion in a committee.
 * 2) Majority vote of those present required to be carried.
 * 3) Motion may not be reintroduced until committee reports.

Table

 * 1) A member may motion to table another motion for later discussion at the meeting.
 * 2) Majority vote of those present required to be carried.

Postpone motion

 * 1) A member may motion to postpone another motion indefinitely
 * 2) Majority vote of those present required to be carried.
 * 3) Motion may not be reintroduced at that meeting if successfully postponed.

Floor motions

 * Floor motions must be presented after all announced business has been completed.
 * In all other regards, floor motions are treated the same as announced motions.

Procedural motions

 * May be made any time, except during discussion of other motions.
 * Pertain to the running of the Congress including:
 * motioning for recesses (such as a lunch break),
 * dismissing a chair,
 * adjusting the environment of the room, and
 * modifying the standing orders.

Motion to recess or adjourn

 * A motion to recess or adjourn the meeting must be formally put.
 * Majority vote of those present required to be carried.