A Guide to Participating into the Senate

All citizens of the Republic of Lavalon are entitled to participate in the Senate.

First Steps

The Senate conduct's it's business in public, on the web forum hosted at http://www.lavalon.info/forums/index.php/board,3.0.html

To be able to post message to the forum you must first register a login. Once you have registered, inform the Consul of your login details (send an email to lavalonmicronation@gmail.com) and he will give you access to the forum.

To actively participate in every part of the Senates business, it is necessary to check in at least once every two days. It is possible to be as active or inactive as you like, there is no requirement for Senators to vote on every measure (although it is preferred).

Procedure

Any member may propose a motion, resolution or bill.

There are two kinds of motions. Procedural motions concern the function of the Senate (eg. I move that the bill be put to a vote).

Motions to Amend are proposals to alter an existing proposal before the Senate. (Eg. I propose that section 3 of the bill be altered as follows…)

A resolution is a statement of the Senate to an individual or the world at large. (eg. Be it resolved that this house does condemn torture).

A bill is a proposed law.

Proposing a Measure

To propose a resolution or a bill, create a new thread, state the purpose of the bill or resolution (eg. “I beg leave to introduce a bill for the better regulation of the Senate), and then post the text of the proposal in quotes.

Motions should be posted in the thread of the matter they concern. A motion can be a simple statement for procedural motions (”I propose that debate be extended by three days”), or a statement followed by the text of an amendment.

Debate, Amendments and Vote

Bills and resolutions are debated for three days, unless someone moves that debate be extended.

After three days, the matter is called to a vote by the consul, and all members of the Senate state whether approve, oppose or abstain from voting the proposal. They have fortyeight hours to do so.

Procedural Motions are not debated. If there is no objection to a motion within 24 hours, then it is considered carried. If there is an objection, a vote is called for.

Motions to amend are debated. When a motion to amend is made, the proposer of the original bill can declare that the amendment is “friendly”. The amendment is thus passed.

If the proposer of the original measure objects to the amendment, or does not respond to it within twenty four hours, it is considered “hostile”, where upon the Senate debates and votes upon the amendment (again, three days debate, followed by forty eight hours to vote).

There can be no amendments to amendments.

All votes remain open for forty eight hours, unless there is a motion to extend voting.

Protocol

Statements on the merit of a proposal should only be made during the debate period of that proposal.

When a vote is called, debate ends and the Senators state their position on the measure as it stands.

When an amendment is proposed, debate on the original measure ceases whilst the merits of the amendment are discussed.

When a procedural motion is being consider, no debate occurs.

No amendments on amendments.

No procedural motions to procedural motions.

Allowable Procedural Motions

“That debate be extended”

“That the vote be extended”

“That the measure be put to a vote”

“That the measure be dismissed”