# ****Standing Rules of New York State Senate (Blox Channel)****

## **RULE I — THE PRESIDING OFFICER**

1. The Lieutenant Governor shall be the President of the Senate and its primary presiding officer. When the President shall be absent, the President pro tempore shall be the presiding officer. Only the President shall have the power to break ties; that authority shall not be given to the President pro tempore. The President pro tempore, if the presiding officer, shall not be required to vote but may choose to do so.
2. The Senate shall at the beginning of the Congress, and for any vacancy, elect a senator to be the President pro tempore. The Senate may, by resolution, remove the President pro tempore provided that there is a just reason for it.
3. The presiding officer shall control the proceedings of the Senate, ensure these rules are upheld, and maintain order and attendance of the Senate.
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## RULE II — SESSIONS AND QUORUM

1. The quorum requirement for regular session shall be 1⁄2 of the membership.
2. The Senate Memebers shall convene in regular session at least once every two weeks, as prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor.
3. Special sessions shall be convened by the Governor or by 1⁄2 of the senate members. During special sessions convened by the Governor, the legislature shall be confined to discuss:
a) subjects designated in the calling of an emergency session;
b) subjects presented by him; and
c) the reconsideration of bills vetoed by the Governor
4. Emergency Sessions that are convened by 1⁄2 of the membership shall not be limited in discussion.
5. The membership, when wishing to perform an override of a veto or an impeachment, shall require a presence of 2⁄3 of the membership at the session.
6. If the membership, when convened, does not meet Quorum then the only motion that shall be available is to compel the attendance of absent members.

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## RULE III — Order of Session

2. **During** **regular** **session**:
a) Members shall listen to any members, confirm any Judicial or Cabinet appointment, hear committee reports, and then proceed to hear bills that have been tabled. The presiding officer shall read out the title unless it is motioned that the entire text of the bill is to be read; the presiding officer shall then entertain any other petitions or motions from the floor after which, the Orders of the Day will then be created in the order that they were introduced.
b) sessions will close when adjournment is made solely from the floor of the Senate.

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## RULE IV — RULES OF DEBATE
1. When a member desires to speak, at any time during the session, he shall rise and address the presiding officer (Mr./Madam President), and will not proceed with the request until recognised by the Presiding Officer. Only one member may hold the floor unless authorized by a special motion by the Senate.
2. Every member speaking shall avoid personalities, they shall sit down when finished. No member shall speak out of their place without leave from the presiding officer.
3. When two or more members rise at the same time, the presiding officer shall name the member entitled to the floor.
4. Members repeatedly in violation of any of the rules of the Senate shall be called to order by the presiding officer, and order the member to take their seat.
5. A member called to order shall lose the right to speak on the pending motion, but shall not be barred from voting.
6. A member called to order shall remain seated until the Senate begins consideration of another motion or unless the presiding officer returns the rights of the member to the floor.
7. If a member called to order refuses to immediately take their seat, the presiding officer shall name that member, who shall be escorted from the chamber.
8. No member may interrupt another except:
a) in compliance with the motions in order;
b) to doubt the presence of a quorum; or
c) to ask the person speaking to yield.
9. No member shall speak more than once on a question unless all other members have been afforded that chance.
10. No member shall occupy more than five minutes at a time while speaking where debate is unlimited.
11. All members shall be courteous, avoid personal attacks, avoid digressions and shall direct their remarks to the presiding officer.

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## RULE V — MOTIONS IN ORDER
1. Motions will only be entertained when the presiding officer deems it to be suitable; the exception being points of order and parliamentary procedure. Only motions that allow members to interrupt the presiding officer may allow members to speak without being recognized by the presiding officer.
2. Motions may only be made by the member after being recognized by the presiding officer. If the motion requires a sufficient second, the presiding officer shall go out for them. If a sufficient second is not achieved as required, the motion shall fail automatically.
3. The presiding officer, after the motion is seconded, shall seek any opposition. If none are heard, the motion is granted automatically. If a member objects, they shall briefly state why. A motion may only be refused by the presiding officer if it breaks any of these rules.
4. If opposition is made, the presiding officer may make time for debate or may call the motion for a vote. The result shall be stated with either of the following: “The motion is adopted” or “The motion is defeated.”

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## RULE VI — IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS
1. Whenever a member shall propose articles of impeachment against the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or members of the Cabinet, it shall be referred to the Committee on Government Oversight (House Of Representatives) Unless discharged by the Senate, the Committee on Government Oversight shall vote to send it to the Senate. The articles of impeachment shall list fully the basis for the proceeding.
2. Whenever a member shall propose articles of impeachment against the Chief Justice, members of the Supreme Court and District Court, it shall be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Unless discharged by the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary shall vote to send it to the Senate either favorably or unfavorably. The articles of impeachment shall list fully the basis for the proceeding.
3. The Senate may impeach the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Cabinet, Chief Justice, members of the Supreme Court and District Court. Whenever the committee reports the articles of impeachment, the Senate may vote; it shall require a majority to impeachment.
4. Following a majority in favor of impeachment, the impeachment shall be referred by the President of the Senate to the Chief Justice or the Chief Judge (whichever is applicable). The Senate shall then appoint an impeachment manager, which may be any Senator or any bar-certified attorney.

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## RULE VII — INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

1. All members wishing to introduce a bill to the floor through a motion must publish the draft bill at least 24 hours before the motion is made.
2. Repealing a hence signed piece of legislation shall require a simple majority of the members as a collective in favor of motion.
3. Overriding the Governor’s veto of passed legislation shall require all of the members present in favor of such motion.
4. The presiding officer will update when a Bill has gone through its straight reading in the respective channel in the Legislative Discord
5. In the instance that a Senator has planned absence but wishes to vote on a bill planned to be brought to the floor, they may notify the presiding officer to accept their vote in proxy.

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## RULE VIII — VOTING

1. The presiding officer shall declare the result of all voted motions in the session; but shall any member doubt a vote, a rvote must be done.
2. Any member shall require permission from the presiding officer to abstain from voting on any question or motion.
3. A member, having been away from their keyboard, shall be marked as abstained; however, following their return to their keyboard, shall be required to change their vote.
4. When a question has been decided by the Senate, any member voting with the prevailing side or who has not voted may, on the same day or during the next session thereafter, move for reconsideration.
5. Every motion to reconsider shall be decided by a majority vote.

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## RULE IX — SENATE CHAMBER

1. The senate session shall be done within the State Chamber in the State Capital, unless the presiding officer chooses to conduct it elsewhere for an extenuating circumstance.
2. The Chamber shall be made public access for those wishing to spectate the convening legislative session unless the presiding officer orders to seal the chambers. The Senate may motion to seal the chambers as well.

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## RULE X — COMMITTEES

1. Standing committees shall consist of no more than five senators, elected through senate resolution or motion.
2. The following standing committees shall have members appointed to it at the commencement of each term of congress, and shall have jurisdiction over the following subjects:
a) Committee on Government Oversight — impeachment proceedings on any government official, misconduct by the executive or legislative branch, expulsions hearings, disciplinary action towards senators, investigation of ethics violations by senators, management of executive or legislative operations, audits of the executive or legislative branch, and maintenance of transparency between the public and the executive branch.

b) Committee on Homeland Security — matters concerning state security, The committee also conducts oversight and handles legislation (and resolutions) related to the security of the United States. The committee may amend, approve, or table homeland security related bills. It also has the power to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and subpoena witnesses.

c) Committee on the Judiciary — Judicial proceedings, judges, justices, the operations and administration of the Department of Justice, criminal penalties, civil liberties, and the judiciary and its operations in general.

d) Committee of Ethics — The Committee on Ethics has jurisdiction over all bills, resolutions and other matters relating to the Code of Conduct. They can investigate alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct or of any applicable rules, laws, or regulations governing the performance of official duties or the discharge of official responsibilities. Such investigations must be made in accordance with Committee rules and more.

3. Members may not be on any more than two committees at a given time. Members may not serve as Chairperson of more than one committee. All standing committees shall have the power to:
a) issue a subpoena to testify in front of the given Committee;
b) discuss bills passed to them by the Senate;
c) pass resolutions or reports; and
d) introduce bills to the Senate
Committees may meet separately to normal sessions.
Standing committees shall be granted authority to create their own standing rules but within the framing of the existing Standing Rules of the Senate.
The members of each committee shall elect a chairperson amongst themselves.

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## RULE XI — AMENDMENTS TO THESE RULES

1. Any proposal to amend the rules shall be done in writing and sent to the President of the Senate or President pro tempore. No motion to amend these rules shall be in order unless by one day’s notice. No amendment shall take effect unless 3⁄4 of the whole Senate be in agreement.

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> ### Rules & Administration Committee