National Congress Standing Orders
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Official Party Document
The veracity of this document is ensured by the National Council and editing of this page is limited to members of the National Council.
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General rules
- Do not interrupt the Chairs or other speakers, unless raising a vote of no confidence against a Chair.
- The National Council will appoint two Chairs before business begins, one to chair the National Congress generally, and another to act on behalf of remote participants.
- The National Council will appoint at least one person to take minutes of the National Congress before business begins.
- 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.
Remote participants
- Begin statements in IRC with the Remote Chair's IRC name.
- Follow this with the action, such as "MOTION", "QUESTION", or "COMMENT"
- The remote chair will then read this out at an appropriate juncture.
Nominations
- Nominations for electable positions must be made by the start of business on the second day of Congress.
- Nominees will be given the opportunity to present their nominations on the second day of Congress.
- Nominees may only present their nominations once, regardless of the number of positions for which they have nominated.
Announcing motions
- Motions to amend the platform or policies (including introducing new policies)
- must be announced in writing at least two (2) days prior to the National Congress, and
- may not be proposed on the floor.
- New policies or platform amendment proposals must be accompanied by a statement that discusses why and how the amendment is in line with the Party Principles as defined in Part I of the Party Constitution.
Announced motions
- Announced motions will be presented by or on behalf of the person who has submitted it to the National Congress.
- Questions may be asked regarding the motion according to a speaking order determined by the chair.
- Comments may not be made until after amendments have been proposed.
- Amendments may be proposed in the form of a motion to amend to the current motion.
- Individuals may speak for or against the motion according to a speaking order determined by the chair.
- The National Council may opt to make remarks.
- A simple majority vote of those present is required for the motion to be carried and placed to a final online vote of the members.
Amendments
- A member may motion to amend another motion.
- The person presenting a motion may agree to a proposed amendment unless the motion is
- a constitutional amendment proposal, or
- presented by or on behalf of the Policy Development Committee.
- A simple majority vote of those present is required for a motion to amend to be carried if it
- is not agreed to by the person presenting the motion, or
- relates to a constitutional amendment proposal, or
- is presented by on or behalf of the Policy Development Committee.
- Once amendments have been agreed to or voted upon the motion as amended may continue to be debated.
Commit
- A member may motion to place another motion in a committee.
- A simple majority vote of those present is required for a motion to commit to be carried.
- If placed in a committee, a motion may not be reintroduced until the committee reports.
Table
- A member may motion to table another motion for later discussion at the meeting.
- A simple majority vote of those present required for a motion to table to be carried.
- If tabled, a motion may not be reintroduced until the time specified in the motion to table.
Postpone
- A member may motion to postpone another motion indefinitely.
- A simple majority vote of those present is required for a motion to postpone to be carried.
- If postponed, a motion may not be reintroduced at that meeting.
Floor motions
- Floor motions must be presented after all announced business has been completed, unless leave is granted by the Chair.
- In all other regards, floor motions are treated the same as announced motions.
Procedural motions
- Procedural motions may be made at any time, except during discussion of other motions.
- Procedural motions relate to the running of the Congress including
- motioning for recesses (such as a lunch break),
- dismissing the Chair,
- adjusting the environment of the room,
- modifying the standing orders,
- adjourning the meeting.
- A person who has presented a motion may make procedural motion to discard the result of a previous successful vote and immediately reintroduce the motion.
- A simple majority vote of those present is required for a procedural motion to be carried.