Senate Resolution No. 1–Senator Raggio
Senate RESOLUTION—Adopting the Rules of the Senate for the 17th Special Session of the Legislature.
1-1 Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, That the
1-2 following Rules of the Senate for the 17th Special Session of the
1-3 Legislature are hereby adopted:
1-4 I. APPLICABILITY
1-5 Rule No. 1. Generally.
1-6 The Rules of the Senate for the 17th Special Session of the Legislature
1-7 are applicable only during the 17th Special Session of the Legislature.
1-8 II. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
1-9 Duties of Officers
1-10 Rule No. 2. President.
1-11 The President shall take the chair and call the Senate to order
1-12 precisely at the hour appointed for meeting. He shall preserve order and
1-13 decorum, and in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct within
1-14 the Senate Chamber, shall order the Sergeant at Arms to suppress it, and
1-15 may order the arrest of any person creating any disturbance within the
1-16 Senate Chamber. He may speak to points of order in preference to
1-17 members, rising from his seat for that purpose, and shall decide
1-18 questions of order without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate by
1-19 two members, on which appeal no member may speak more than once
1-20 without leave of the Senate. He shall sign all acts, addresses and joint
1-21 resolutions, and all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the
1-22 Senate; all of which must be attested by the Secretary. He has general
1-23 direction of the Senate Chamber.
1-24 Rule No. 3. President pro Tem.
1-25 The President pro Tem has all the power and shall discharge all the
1-26 duties of the President during his absence or inability to discharge the
1-27 duties of his office. In the absence or inability of the President pro Tem
1-28 to discharge the duties of the President’s office, the Senate shall elect
1-29 one of its members as the presiding officer for that occasion.
1-30 Rule No. 4. Secretary.
1-31 1. The Secretary of the Senate is elected by the Senate, and shall:
1-32 (a) Interview and recommend persons to be considered for
1-33 employment to assist the Secretary.
1-34 (b) See that these employees perform their respective duties.
1-35 (c) Administer the daily business of the Senate, including the
1-36 provision of secretaries as needed.
1-37 (d) Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, transmit as soon as
1-38 practicable those bills and resolutions upon which the next action is to
1-39 be taken by the Assembly.
2-1 2. The Secretary is responsible to the Majority Leader.
2-2 Rule No. 5. Sergeant at Arms.
2-3 1. The Sergeant at Arms shall attend the Senate during its sittings,
2-4 and execute its commands and all process issued by its authority. He
2-5 must be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.
2-6 2. The Sergeant at Arms shall:
2-7 (a) Superintend the upkeep of the Senate’s Chamber, private lounge,
2-8 and meeting rooms.
2-9 (b) Interview and recommend persons to be considered for
2-10 employment to assist the Sergeant at Arms.
2-11 3. The Sergeant at Arms is responsible to the Majority Leader.
2-12 Rule No. 6. Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
2-13 The Assistant Sergeant at Arms shall be doorkeeper and shall preserve
2-14 order in the Senate Chamber and shall assist the Sergeant at Arms. He
2-15 shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.
2-16 III. SESSIONS AND MEETINGS
2-17 Rule No. 7. Call of Senate—Moved by Three Members.
2-18 A Call of the Senate may be moved by three Senators, and if carried by
2-19 a majority of all present, the Secretary shall call the roll and note the
2-20 absentees, after which the names of the absentees shall again be called
2-21 over. The doors shall then be closed and the Sergeant at Arms directed
2-22 to take into custody all who may be absent without leave, and all
2-23 Senators so taken into custody shall be presented at the bar of the Senate
2-24 for such action as to the Senate may seem proper.
2-25 Rule No. 8. Absence—Leave Required.
2-26 No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without
2-27 leave, except in case of accident or sickness, and if any Senator or
2-28 officer shall so absent himself his per diem shall not be allowed him.
2-29 Rule No. 9. Open Meetings.
2-30 1. Except as provided in the Constitution of the State of Nevada and
2-31 in subsection 2 of this rule, all meetings of the Senate and the
2-32 Committee of the Whole must be open to the public.
2-33 2. A meeting may be closed to consider the character, alleged
2-34 misconduct, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a
2-35 person.
2-36 IV. DECORUMAND DEBATE
2-37 Rule No. 10. Points of Order.
2-38 1. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of
2-39 the Senate, the President shall, or any Senator may, call him to order. If
2-40 a Senator is so called to order, he shall not proceed without leave of the
2-41 Senate. If such leave is granted, it must be upon the motion, “That he be
3-1 allowed to proceed in order,” and the Senator shall confine himself to the
3-2 question under consideration and avoid personality.
3-3 2. Every decision of points of order made by the President is subject
3-4 to appeal, and a discussion of a question of order may be allowed only
3-5 upon the appeal of two Senators. In all cases of appeal, the question
3-6 must be, “Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the
3-7 Senate?”
3-8 Rule No. 11. Breaches of Decorum.
3-9 1. In cases of breaches of decorum or propriety, any Senator, officer
3-10 or other person is liable to such censure or punishment as the Senate
3-11 may deem proper.
3-12 2. If any Senator is called to order for offensive or indecorous
3-13 language or conduct, the person calling him to order shall report the
3-14 offensive or indecorous language or conduct to the presiding officer. No
3-15 member may be held to answer for any language used on the floor of the
3-16 Senate if business has intervened before exception to the language was
3-17 taken.
3-18 3. Indecorous conduct or boisterous or unbecoming language is not
3-19 permitted in the Senate Chamber.
3-20 V. QUORUM, VOTING, ELECTIONS
3-21 Rule No. 12. Recorded Vote—Three Required to Call For.
3-22 1. A recorded vote must be taken upon final passage of a bill or joint
3-23 resolution, and in any other case when called for by three members.
3-24 Every Senator within the bar of the Senate shall vote “aye” or “no” or
3-25 record himself as “not voting,” unless excused by unanimous vote of the
3-26 Senate.
3-27 2. The votes and names of those absent or recorded as “not voting”
3-28 and the names of Senators demanding the recorded vote must be entered
3-29 in the Journal.
3-30 Rule No. 13. President to Decide—Tie Vote.
3-31 A question is lost by a tie vote, but when the Senate is equally divided
3-32 on any question except the passage of a bill or joint resolution, the
3-33 President may give the deciding vote.
3-34 Rule No. 14. Manner of Election—Voting.
3-35 1. In all cases of election by the Senate, the vote must be taken viva
3-36 voce. In other cases, if a vote is to be recorded, it may be taken by oral
3-37 roll-call or by electronic recording.
3-38 2. When a recorded vote is taken, no Senator may:
3-39 (a) Vote except when at his seat;
3-40 (b) Vote upon any question in which he is in any way personally or
3-41 directly interested;
3-42 (c) Explain his vote or discuss the question while the voting is in
3-43 progress; or
3-44 (d) Change his vote after the result is announced.
4-1 3. The announcement of the result of any vote must not be
4-2 postponed.
4-3 VI. LEGISLATIVE BODIES
4-4 Rule No. 15. Committee of the Whole.
4-5 1. All bills and resolutions may be referred to the Committee of the
4-6 Whole.
4-7 2. In forming the Committee of the Whole, the Majority Leader shall
4-8 name a chairman to preside.
4-9 3. At any stage in the proceedings of the Committee of the Whole, a
4-10 member of the committee may speak only once on the question under
4-11 consideration, for a period of not more than 10 minutes, unless he is
4-12 granted leave of the chairman to speak more than once. If a member is
4-13 granted leave to speak more than once, the chairman may limit the
4-14 length of time that member may speak.
4-15 4. All amendments proposed by the committee:
4-16 (a) Must first be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate
4-17 and a majority of the members of the Assembly appointed to the Joint
4-18 Rules Committee for the 17th Special Session of the Legislature.
4-19 (b) Must be reported by the chairman to the Senate.
4-20 Rule No. 16. Rules Applicable to Committee of the Whole.
4-21 The Rules of the Senate shall apply to proceedings in Committee of the
4-22 Whole, except that the previous question shall not be ordered, nor the
4-23 ayes and noes demanded. Messages may be received by the President
4-24 while the committee is sitting; in which case the President will resume
4-25 the chair, receive the message, and vacate the chair in favor of the
4-26 chairman of the committee.
4-27 Rule No. 17. Motion to Rise Committee of the Whole.
4-28 A motion that the committee rise shall always be in order, and shall be
4-29 decided without debate.
4-30 VII. RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS
4-31 A. Motions Generally
4-32 Rule No. 18. Entertaining.
4-33 1. No motion may be debated until it is announced by the President.
4-34 2. By consent of the Senate, a motion may be withdrawn before
4-35 amendment or decision.
4-36 Rule No. 19. Precedence of Motions.
4-37 When a question is under debate no motion shall be received but the
4-38 following, which shall have precedence in the order named:
4-39 1. To adjourn.
4-40 2. For a call of the Senate.
4-41 3. To lay on the table.
4-42 4. For the previous question.
4-43 5. To postpone to a day certain.
5-1 6. To commit.
5-2 7. To amend.
5-3 8. To postpone indefinitely.
5-4 The first four shall be decided without debate.
5-5 Rule No. 20. When Not Entertained.
5-6 1. When a motion to commit, to postpone to a day certain, or to
5-7 postpone indefinitely has been decided, it must not be again entertained
5-8 on the same day.
5-9 2. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it must not
5-10 again be introduced during the special session unless this rule is
5-11 suspended by a two-thirds vote.
5-12 3. There must be no reconsideration of a vote on a motion to
5-13 postpone indefinitely.
5-14 B. Particular Motions
5-15 Rule No. 21. To Adjourn.
5-16 A motion to adjourn shall always be in order. The name of the Senator
5-17 moving to adjourn, and the time when the motion was made, shall be
5-18 entered in the Journal.
5-19 Rule No. 22. Lay on the Table.
5-20 A motion to lay on or take from the table shall be carried by a majority
5-21 vote.
5-22 Rule No. 23. To Strike Enacting Clause.
5-23 A motion to strike out the enacting clause of a bill or resolution has
5-24 precedence over a motion to commit or amend. If a motion to strike out
5-25 the enacting clause of a bill or resolution is carried, the bill or resolution
5-26 is rejected.
5-27 Rule No. 24. Division of Question.
5-28 1. Any Senator may call for a division of a question.
5-29 2. A question must be divided if it embraces subjects so distinct that if
5-30 one subject is taken away, a substantive proposition remains for the
5-31 decision of the Senate.
5-32 3. A motion to strike out and insert must not be divided.
5-33 Rule No. 25. Explanation of Motion.
5-34 Whenever a Senator moveGreen numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).s to change the usual disposition of a bill or
5-35 resolution, he shall describe the subject of the bill or resolution and state
5-36 the reasons for his requesting the change in the processing of the bill or
5-37 resolution.
5-38 VIII. DEBATE
5-39 Rule No. 26. Speaking on Question.
5-40 1. Every Senator who speaks shall, standing in his place, address
5-41 “Mr. or Madam President,” in a courteous manner, and shall confine
6-1 himself to the question before the Senate. When he has finished, he shall
6-2 sit down.
6-3 2. No Senator may speak:
6-4 (a) More than twice during the consideration of any one question on
6-5 the same day, except for explanation.
6-6 (b) A second time without leave when others who have not spoken
6-7 desire the floor.
6-8 3. Incidental and subsidiary questions arising during debate shall
6-9 not be considered the same question.
6-10 Rule No. 27. Previous Question.
6-11 The previous question shall not be put unless demanded by three
6-12 Senators, and it shall be in this form: “Shall the main question be now
6-13 put?” When sustained by a majority of Senators present it shall put an
6-14 end to all debate and bring the Senate to a vote on the question or
6-15 questions before it, and all incidental questions arising after the motion
6-16 was made shall be decided without debate. A person who is speaking on
6-17 a question shall not while he has the floor move to put that question.
6-18 IX. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
6-19 A. Generally
6-20 Rule No. 28. Mason’s Manual.
6-21 The rules of parliamentary practice contained in Mason’s Manual of
6-22 Legislative Procedure shall govern the Senate in all cases in which they
6-23 are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules and
6-24 orders of the Senate for the 17th Special Session of the Legislature, and
6-25 the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly for the 17th Special Session
6-26 of the Legislature.
6-27 Rule No. 29. Suspension of Rule.
6-28 No rule or order of the Senate for the 17th Special Session of the
6-29 Legislature shall be rescinded or changed without a vote of two-thirds of
6-30 the Senate and one day’s notice of the motion therefor; but a rule or
6-31 order may be temporarily suspended for a special purpose by a vote of
6-32 two-thirds of the members present. When the suspension of a rule is
6-33 called for, and after due notice from the President no objection is
6-34 offered, he can announce the rule suspended and the Senate may
6-35 proceed accordingly; but this shall not apply to that portion of Senate
6-36 Rule No. 37 of the 17th Special Session of the Legislature relating to the
6-37 third reading of bills, which cannot be suspended.
6-38 Rule No. 30. Protest.
6-39 Any Senator, or Senators, may protest against the action of the Senate
6-40 upon any question, and have such protest entered in the Journal.
7-1 Rule No. 31. Privilege of the Floor.
7-2 1. To preserve decorum and facilitate the business of the Senate,
7-3 only the following persons may be present on the floor of the Senate
7-4 during formal sessions:
7-5 (a) State officers;
7-6 (b) Officers and members of the Senate;
7-7 (c) Employees of the Legislative Counsel Bureau;
7-8 (d) Attachés and employees of the Senate; and
7-9 (e) Members of the Assembly whose presence is required for the
7-10 transaction of business.
7-11 2. Guests of Senators must be seated in a section of the upper or
7-12 lower gallery of the Senate Chamber to be specially designated by the
7-13 Sergeant at Arms. The Majority Leader may specify special occasions
7-14 when guests may be seated on the floor of the Senate with a Senator.
7-15 3. A majority of Senators may authorize the President to have the
7-16 Senate Chamber cleared of all persons except Senators and officers of
7-17 the Senate.
7-18 4. The Senate Chamber may not be used for any business other than
7-19 legislative business during a legislative session.
7-20 Rule No. 32. Material Placed on Legislators’ Desks.
7-21 1. Only the Sergeant at Arms and officers and employees of the
7-22 Senate may place papers, letters, notes, pamphlets and other written
7-23 material upon a Senator’s desk. Such material must contain the name of
7-24 the Legislator requesting the placement of the material on the desk or a
7-25 designation of the origin of the material.
7-26 2. This rule does not apply to books containing the legislative bills
7-27 and resolutions, the daily histories and daily journals of the Senate or
7-28 Assembly, or Legislative Counsel Bureau material.
7-29 Rule No. 33. Petitions and Memorials.
7-30 The contents of any petition or memorial shall be briefly stated by the
7-31 President or any Senator presenting it. It shall then lie on the table or be
7-32 referred, as the President or Senate may direct.
7-33 Rule No. 34. Objection to Reading of Paper.
7-34 Where the reading of any paper is called for, and is objected to by any
7-35 Senator, it shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, and without
7-36 debate.
7-37 Rule No. 35. Questions Relating to Priority of Business.
7-38 All questions relating to the priority of business shall be decided
7-39 without debate.
7-40 B. Bills
7-41 Rule No. 36. Skeleton Bills.
7-42 Skeleton bills may not be introduced.
8-1 Rule No. 37. Reading of Bills.
8-2 1. Every bill must receive three readings before its passage, unless, in
8-3 case of emergency, this rule is suspended by a two-thirds vote.
8-4 2. The first reading of a bill is for information, and if there is
8-5 opposition to the bill, the question must be, “Shall this bill be rejected?”
8-6 If there is no opposition to the bill, or if the question to reject is defeated,
8-7 the bill must then take the usual course.
8-8 3. No bill may be committed until once read, nor amended until twice
8-9 read.
8-10 4. The third reading of every bill must be by sections.
8-11 Rule No. 38. Second Reading File—Consent Calendar.
8-12 1. All bills or joint resolutions reported by the Committee of the
8-13 Whole must be placed on a second reading file unless recommended for
8-14 placement on the consent calendar.
8-15 2. The Committee of the Whole shall not recommend a bill or joint
8-16 resolution for placement on the consent calendar if:
8-17 (a) An amendment of the bill or joint resolution is recommended;
8-18 (b) It contains an appropriation;
8-19 (c) It requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate; or
8-20 (d) It is controversial in nature.
8-21 3. A bill or joint resolution must be removed from the consent
8-22 calendar at the request of any Senator. A bill or joint resolution so
8-23 removed must be immediately placed on the second reading file for
8-24 consideration in the usual order of business.
8-25 4. When the consent calendar is called, the bills remaining on the
8-26 consent calendar must be read by number and summary, and the vote
8-27 must be taken on their final passage as a group.
8-28 Rule No. 39. Printing.
8-29 Five hundred copies of all bills and resolutions of general interest
8-30 must be printed for the use of the Senate and Assembly. Such other
8-31 matter must be printed as may be ordered by the Senate.
8-32 Rule No. 40. Reading of Bills—General File.
8-33 1. Upon reading of bills on the second reading file, Senate and
8-34 Assembly bills reported without amendments must be placed on the
8-35 general file. Amendments proposed by the Committee of the Whole and
8-36 reported with bills must be considered upon their second reading and
8-37 such amendments may be adopted by a majority vote of the members
8-38 present. Bills so amended must be reprinted, engrossed or reengrossed,
8-39 and placed on the general file. The file must be posted in the Senate
8-40 Chamber and made available to members of the public each day by the
8-41 Secretary.
8-42 2. Any member may move to amend a bill during its reading on the
8-43 second reading file or during its third reading if the amendment is first
8-44 approved by a majority of the members of the Senate and a majority of
8-45 the members of the Assembly appointed to the Joint Rules Committee for
8-46 the 17th Special Session of the Legislature, and the motion to amend
8-47 may be adopted by a majority vote of the members present. Bills so
8-48 amended
9-1 on second reading must be treated the same as bills with amendments
9-2 proposed by the Committee of the Whole. Any bill so amended upon the
9-3 general file must be reprinted and engrossed or reengrossed.
9-4 3. Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, five hundred copies of all
9-5 amended bills must be printed.
9-6 Rule No. 41. Reconsideration of Vote on Bill.
9-7 No motion to reconsider a vote is in order.
9-8 C. Resolutions
9-9 Rule No. 42. Treated as Bills.
9-10 Resolutions addressed to Congress, or to either House thereof, or to
9-11 the President of the United States, or the heads of any of the national
9-12 departments, or proposing amendments to the State Constitution are
9-13 subject, in all respects, to the foregoing rules governing the course of
9-14 bills. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution
9-15 shall be entered in the journal in its entirety.
9-16 Rule No. 43. Treated as Motions.
9-17 Resolutions, other than those referred to in Senate Rule No. 42 of the
9-18 17th Special Session of the Legislature, shall be treated as motions in all
9-19 proceedings of the Senate.
9-20 Rule No. 44. Order of Business.
9-21 1. Roll Call.
9-22 2. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9-23 3. Reading and Approval of the Journal.
9-24 4. Reports of the Committee of the Whole.
9-25 5. Messages from the Governor.
9-26 6. Messages from the Assembly.
9-27 7. Communications.
9-28 8. [Reserved.]
9-29 9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices.
9-30 10. Introduction, First Reading and Reference.
9-31 11. Consent Calendar.
9-32 12. Second Reading and Amendment.
9-33 13. General File and Third Reading.
9-34 14. Unfinished Business.
9-35 15. Special Orders of the Day.
9-36 16. Remarks from the Floor; Introduction of Guests.
9-37 Rule No. 45. Privilege.
9-38 Any Senator may rise and explain a matter personal to himself by
9-39 leave of the President, but he shall not discuss any pending question in
9-40 such explanation.
10-1 Rule No. 46. Preference to Speak.
10-2 When two or more Senators rise at the same time the President shall
10-3 name the one who may first speak—giving preference, when practicable,
10-4 to the mover or introducer of the subject under consideration.
10-5 Rule No. 47. Special Order.
10-6 The President shall call the Senate to order on the arrival of the time
10-7 fixed for the consideration of a special order, and announce that the
10-8 special order is before the Senate, which shall be considered, unless it be
10-9 postponed by a two-thirds vote, and any business before the Senate at the
10-10 time of the announcement of the special order shall go to Unfinished
10-11 Business.
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