Presiding Officer
To begin the session, bang the gavel three times and say, " The
Senate/House will come to order."
1st Order: "The secretary will take the role" After the role is
taken say, "We are at the 5th order of business."
5th Order: "The secretary will read the resolutions by number
and title only and refer to____________committee." S/he will.
"The secretary will read the memorials by number and title only
and refer to the 10th order."
6th Order: For every bill referred out of committee you say, "The
_______committee reports out Senate/House bill ______ with
(1) a do pass or (2) without recommendation or (3) to be amended
(the 14th Order).
10th Order: "The Senate/House will be at the 10th order of business"
The secretary will begin to read the resolution/memorial. The sponsor
rises and says, "Mr/Madam President" or "Mr/Madam Speaker." You ask,"
for what purpose does the Senator/Representative rise?" The sponsor
says, " Mr/Madam President/Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that further
reading of the resolution/memorial be dispensed with and it be placed
before the Senate/House." You say, "There being no objection, the
senator/Representative has the floor."
The sponsor says, "Mr/Madam President/Speaker, I move the adoption of
Senate?house Resolution/Memorial number_____. The majority or minority
leader or assistant seconds the motion. You then say," The
Senator/Representative has the floor to open debate." As needed, ask
"Is there further debate?" When debate is finished, say, "Hearing none,
the Senator/Representative my close debate." Once the sponsor has
finished closing debate, say, "Debate being closed, shall
Resolution/Memorial #____ pass the Senate/House?" The Secretary calls
the role.
Once s/he gives you the vote tally, you say,"Senate/House
Resolution/Memorial #____ having PASSED the Senate/House, will be sent
to the House/Senate. Or "Senate/House Resolution/Memorial #____ having
FAILED the Senate/House, will be filed with the Secretary of the
Senate/House."
11th Order (1st reading): "The Senate/House will now be at the 11th
order of business. The secretary will read the bills on 1st reading."
The Majority Leader says," Mr/Madam President/Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all bills on 1st reading be read by number, author, and
title only and the journal show they have been read at length." You
say, "There being no objections, the clerk will so read the bills."
Once all the bills have been read, you announce to which committee they
are referred. "Senate/House Bill #____ to __________committee."
12th Order (2nd reading): " The Senate/House will be at the 12th order
of business. The secretary will read the bills on 2nd reading." As the
secretary begins to read, the Majority Leader rises and says, " Mr/Madam
President/Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all bills on 2nd reading
be ready by number and author only and the journal show they have been
read at length." You then say,"There being no objection, the secretary
will read the bills by title and committee only."
13th Order (3rd reading and vote on BILLS): "The Senate/House is now at
the 13th order." The secretary begins to read the bill in its entirety.
"Senate/House Bill___"
The sponsor rises and says, "Mr/Madam President" or "Mr/Madam Speaker."
You ask," For what purpose does the Senator/Representative rise?" The
sponsor says, " Mr/Madam President/Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
further reading of the Senate/House Bill____ be dispensed with and it be
placed before the Senate/House." You say, "There being no objection,
the Senator/Representative has the floor to open debate." Once
finished, any other Senator/Representative may rise to debate, first
saying "Mr/Madam President/Speaker" to which you reply, "For what
purpose does the Senator/Representative rise." S/he says, "To debate
the bill." "The Senator/Representative has the floor."
After each Senator/Representative debates you ask, "Is there further
debate?" If someone rises during another's debate ask, "For what
purpose does the Senator/Representative rise." If they rise to ask a
question, they say, " Mr/Madam President/Speaker, will the
Senator/Representative yield to a question?" You ask the debating
legislature,"Will the Senator/Representative yield?" The
Senator/Representative may respond, (1) "I will." If so, you say, "The
Senator/Representative yields. or (2) "I will not" to which you
respond,
The Senator/Representative does not yield." or (3) "When I am through
with my debate, I will yield." to which you reply, "The
Senator/Representative will yield at the end of debate. The
Senator/Representative may continue with debate."
When there is no more debate, say, "Is there further debate? Hearing
none, the Senator/Representative (sponsor) my close debate." Once the
sponsor has finished closing debate, say, "Debate being closed, shall
Bill #____ pass the Senate/House?" The Secretary calls the role.
Once s/he gives you the vote tally, you say,"Senate/House Bill #____
having PASSED the Senate/House, will be sent to the House/Senate. Or
"Senate/House Bill #____ having FAILED the Senate/House, will be filed
with the Secretary of the Senate/House."
14th Order: This is the amending order and will be run by the President
Pro Tem or Majority leader. It is run like a committee.
15th Order: A Senator/Representative may rise to say, "Mr/Madam
President/Speaker, for an announcement or point of personal privilege
(which is usually an introduction of someone visiting in the gallery or
to express dismay or pleasure at something that occurred or to tell a
joke, whatever). You say, " The Senator/Representative has the floor."
When all is through, the Majority Leader rises to say, "Mr/Madam
President/Speaker, I move we adjourn." The assistant majority leader
seconds the motion." You announce "The Senate/House stands adjourned
until (date) at ______ o'clock." You pound the gavel once.
