Senate Resolution No. 1–Senator Raggio
Senate RESOLUTION—Adopting the Rules of the Senate for the 18th 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 18th 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 18th Special Session of the Legislature
1-7 are applicable only during the 18th 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.
2-1 (d) Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, transmit as soon as
2-2 practicable those bills and resolutions upon which the next action is to be
2-3 taken by the Assembly.
2-4 2. The Secretary is responsible to the Majority Leader.
2-5 Rule No. 5. Sergeant at Arms.
2-6 1. The Sergeant at Arms shall attend the Senate during its sittings,
2-7 and execute its commands and all process issued by its authority. He
2-8 must be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.
2-9 2. The Sergeant at Arms shall:
2-10 (a) Superintend the upkeep of the Senate’s Chamber, private lounge,
2-11 and meeting rooms.
2-12 (b) Interview and recommend persons to be considered for
2-13 employment to assist the Sergeant at Arms.
2-14 3. The Sergeant at Arms is responsible to the Majority Leader.
2-15 Rule No. 6. Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
2-16 The Assistant Sergeant at Arms shall be doorkeeper and shall preserve
2-17 order in the Senate Chamber and shall assist the Sergeant at Arms. He
2-18 shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.
2-19 III. SESSIONS AND MEETINGS
2-20 Rule No. 7. Call of Senate—Moved by Three Members.
2-21 A Call of the Senate may be moved by three Senators, and if carried by
2-22 a majority of all present, the Secretary shall call the roll and note the
2-23 absentees, after which the names of the absentees shall again be called
2-24 over. The doors shall then be closed and the Sergeant at Arms directed
2-25 to take into custody all who may be absent without leave, and all
2-26 Senators so taken into custody shall be presented at the bar of the Senate
2-27 for such action as to the Senate may seem proper.
2-28 Rule No. 8. Absence—Leave Required.
2-29 No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without
2-30 leave, except in case of accident or sickness, and if any Senator or
2-31 officer shall so absent himself his per diem shall not be allowed him.
2-32 Rule No. 9. Open Meetings.
2-33 1. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution of the State of
2-34 Nevada and in subsection 2 of this rule, all meetings of the Senate and
2-35 the Committee of the Whole must be open to the public.
2-36 2. A meeting may be closed to consider the character, alleged
2-37 misconduct, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a
2-38 person.
2-39 IV. DECORUM AND DEBATE
2-40 Rule No. 10. Points of Order.
2-41 1. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of
2-42 the Senate, the President shall, or any Senator may, call him to order. If
3-1 a Senator is so called to order, he shall not proceed without leave of the
3-2 Senate. If such leave is granted, it must be upon the motion, “That he be
3-3 allowed to proceed in order,” and the Senator shall confine himself to
3-4 the question under consideration and avoid personality.
3-5 2. Every decision of points of order made by the President is subject
3-6 to appeal, and a discussion of a question of order may be allowed only
3-7 upon the appeal of two Senators. In all cases of appeal, the question
3-8 must be, “Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the
3-9 Senate?”
3-10 Rule No. 11. Breaches of Decorum.
3-11 1. In cases of breaches of decorum or propriety, any Senator, officer
3-12 or other person is liable to such censure or punishment as the Senate
3-13 may deem proper.
3-14 2. If any Senator is called to order for offensive or indecorous
3-15 language or conduct, the person calling him to order shall report the
3-16 offensive or indecorous language or conduct to the presiding officer. No
3-17 member may be held to answer for any language used on the floor of the
3-18 Senate if business has intervened before exception to the language was
3-19 taken.
3-20 3. Indecorous conduct or boisterous or unbecoming language is not
3-21 permitted in the Senate Chamber.
3-22 V. QUORUM, VOTING, ELECTIONS
3-23 Rule No. 12. Action Required to be Taken in Senate Chamber.
3-24 Any action taken by the Senate must be taken in the Senate Chamber.
3-25 Rule No. 13. Recorded Vote—Three Required to Call For.
3-26 1. A recorded vote must be taken upon final passage of a bill or joint
3-27 resolution, and in any other case when called for by three members.
3-28 Every Senator within the bar of the Senate shall vote “aye” or “no” or
3-29 record himself as “not voting,” unless excused by unanimous vote of the
3-30 Senate.
3-31 2. The votes and names of those absent or recorded as “not voting”
3-32 and the names of Senators demanding the recorded vote must be entered
3-33 in the Journal.
3-34 Rule No. 14. President to Decide—Tie Vote.
3-35 A question is lost by a tie vote, but when the Senate is equally divided
3-36 on any question except the passage of a bill or joint resolution, the
3-37 President may give the deciding vote.
3-38 Rule No. 15. Manner of Election—Voting.
3-39 1. In all cases of election by the Senate, the vote must be taken viva
3-40 voce. In other cases, if a vote is to be recorded, it may be taken by oral
3-41 roll-call or by electronic recording.
4-1 2. When a recorded vote is taken, no Senator may:
4-2 (a) Vote except when at his seat;
4-3 (b) Vote upon any question in which he is in any way personally or
4-4 directly interested;
4-5 (c) Explain his vote or discuss the question while the voting is in
4-6 progress; or
4-7 (d) Change his vote after the result is announced.
4-8 3. The announcement of the result of any vote must not be
4-9 postponed.
4-10 VI. LEGISLATIVE BODIES
4-11 Rule No. 16. Committee of the Whole.
4-12 1. All bills and resolutions may be referred only to the Committee of
4-13 the Whole.
4-14 2. The Majority Leader shall preside as chairman of the committee
4-15 or name a chairman to preside.
4-16 3. Any meeting of the Committee of the Whole may be conducted
4-17 outside the Senate Chamber, as designated by the chairman of the
4-18 committee.
4-19 4. A member of the committee may speak only once on an item listed
4-20 on the committee’s agenda, for a period of not more than 10 minutes,
4-21 unless he is granted leave of the chairman to speak for a longer period
4-22 or more than once. If a member is granted leave to speak for a longer
4-23 period or more than once, the chairman may limit the length of
4-24 additional time that the member may speak.
4-25 5. The chairman may require any vote of the committee to be
4-26 recorded in the manner designated by the chairman.
4-27 6. All amendments proposed by the committee:
4-28 (a) Must first be approved by the committee.
4-29 (b) Must be reported by the chairman to the Senate.
4-30 7. The minutes of the committee’s meetings must be entered in the
4-31 final Journal.
4-32 Rule No. 17. Rules Applicable to Committee of the Whole.
4-33 The Rules of the Senate shall apply to proceedings in Committee of the
4-34 Whole, except that the previous question shall not be ordered. The rules
4-35 of parliamentary practice contained in Mason’s Manual of Legislative
4-36 Procedure shall govern the committee in all cases in which they are
4-37 applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules and
4-38 orders of the Senate.
4-39 Rule No. 18. Motion to Rise Committee of the Whole.
4-40 A motion that the committee rise shall always be in order, and shall be
4-41 decided without debate.
5-1 VII. RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS
5-2 A. Motions Generally
5-3 Rule No. 19. Entertaining.
5-4 1. No motion may be debated until it is announced by the President.
5-5 2. By consent of the Senate, a motion may be withdrawn before
5-6 amendment or decision.
5-7 Rule No. 20. Precedence of Motions.
5-8 When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but the
5-9 following, which shall have precedence in the order named:
5-10 1. To adjourn.
5-11 2. For a call of the Senate.
5-12 3. To lay on the table.
5-13 4. For the previous question.
5-14 5. To postpone to a day certain.
5-15 6. To commit.
5-16 7. To amend.
5-17 8. To postpone indefinitely.
5-18 The first four shall be decided without debate.
5-19 Rule No. 21. When Not Entertained.
5-20 1. When a motion to commit, to postpone to a day certain, or to
5-21 postpone indefinitely has been decided, it must not be again entertained
5-22 on the same day.
5-23 2. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it must not
5-24 again be introduced during the special session.
5-25 3. There must be no reconsideration of a vote on a motion to
5-26 postpone indefinitely.
5-27 B. Particular Motions
5-28 Rule No. 22. To Adjourn.
5-29 A motion to adjourn shall always be in order. The name of the Senator
5-30 moving to adjourn, and the time when the motion was made, shall be
5-31 entered in the Journal.
5-32 Rule No. 23. Lay on the Table.
5-33 A motion to lay on or take from the table shall be carried by a majority
5-34 vote.
5-35 Rule No. 24. To Strike Enacting Clause.
5-36 A motion to strike out the enacting clause of a bill or resolution has
5-37 precedence over a motion to commit or amend. If a motion to strike out
5-38 the enacting clause of a bill or resolution is carried, the bill or resolution
5-39 is rejected.
6-1 Rule No. 25. Division of Question.
6-2 1. Any Senator may call for a division of a question.
6-3 2. A question must be divided if it embraces subjects so distinct that if
6-4 one subject is taken away, a substantive proposition remains for the
6-5 decision of the Senate.
6-6 3. A motion to strike out and insert must not be divided.
6-7 Rule No. 26. Explanation of Motion.
6-8 Whenever a Senator movGreen numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).es to change the usual disposition of a bill or
6-9 resolution, he shall describe the subject of the bill or resolution and state
6-10 the reasons for his requesting the change in the processing of the bill or
6-11 resolution.
6-12 VIII. DEBATE
6-13 Rule No. 27. Speaking on Question.
6-14 1. Every Senator who speaks shall, standing in his place, address
6-15 “Mr. or Madam President,” in a courteous manner, and shall confine
6-16 himself to the question before the Senate. When he has finished, he shall
6-17 sit down.
6-18 2. Except as otherwise provided in Senate Rules Nos. 10 and 45 of
6-19 the 18th Special Session, a Senator may speak only once on a question
6-20 before the Senate, for a period of not more than 10 minutes, unless he is
6-21 granted leave of the President to speak for a longer period or more than
6-22 once. If a Senator is granted leave to speak for a longer period or more
6-23 than once, the President may limit the length of additional time that the
6-24 member may speak.
6-25 3. Incidental and subsidiary questions arising during debate shall
6-26 not be considered the same question.
6-27 Rule No. 28. Previous Question.
6-28 The previous question shall not be put unless demanded by three
6-29 Senators, and it shall be in this form: “Shall the main question be now
6-30 put?” When sustained by a majority of Senators present it shall put an
6-31 end to all debate and bring the Senate to a vote on the question or
6-32 questions before it, and all incidental questions arising after the motion
6-33 was made shall be decided without debate. A person who is speaking on
6-34 a question shall not while he has the floor move to put that question.
6-35 IX. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
6-36 A. Generally
6-37 Rule No. 29. Mason’s Manual.
6-38 The rules of parliamentary practice contained in Mason’s Manual of
6-39 Legislative Procedure shall govern the Senate in all cases in which they
6-40 are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules and
6-41 orders of the Senate for the 18th Special Session of the Legislature, and
6-42 the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly for the 18th Special Session
6-43 of the Legislature.
7-1 Rule No. 30. Suspension of Rule.
7-2 No rule or order of the Senate for the 18th Special Session of the
7-3 Legislature shall be rescinded or changed without a majority vote of the
7-4 Senate; but, except as otherwise provided in Senate Rule No. 39 of the
7-5 18th Special Session of the Legislature, a rule or order may be
7-6 temporarily suspended for a special purpose by a majority vote of the
7-7 members present. When the suspension of a rule is called for, and after
7-8 due notice from the President no objection is offered, he can announce
7-9 the rule suspended and the Senate may proceed accordingly; but this
7-10 shall not apply to that portion of Senate Rule No. 39 of the 18th Special
7-11 Session of the Legislature relating to the third reading of bills, which
7-12 cannot be suspended.
7-13 Rule No. 31. Protest.
7-14 Any Senator, or Senators, may protest against the action of the Senate
7-15 upon any question, and have such protest entered in the Journal.
7-16 Rule No. 32. Privilege of the Floor.
7-17 1. To preserve decorum and facilitate the business of the Senate,
7-18 only the following persons may be present on the floor of the Senate
7-19 during formal sessions:
7-20 (a) State officers;
7-21 (b) Officers and members of the Senate;
7-22 (c) Employees of the Legislative Counsel Bureau;
7-23 (d) Attachés and employees of the Senate; and
7-24 (e) Members of the Assembly whose presence is required for the
7-25 transaction of business.
7-26 2. Guests of Senators must be seated in a section of the upper or
7-27 lower gallery of the Senate Chamber to be specially designated by the
7-28 Sergeant at Arms. The Majority Leader may specify special occasions
7-29 when guests may be seated on the floor of the Senate with a Senator.
7-30 3. A majority of Senators may authorize the President to have the
7-31 Senate Chamber cleared of all persons except Senators and officers of
7-32 the Senate.
7-33 4. The Senate Chamber may not be used for any business other than
7-34 legislative business during a legislative session.
7-35 Rule No. 33. Material Placed on Legislators’ Desks.
7-36 1. Only the Sergeant at Arms and officers and employees of the
7-37 Senate may place papers, letters, notes, pamphlets and other written
7-38 material upon a Senator’s desk. Such material must contain the name of
7-39 the Legislator requesting the placement of the material on the desk or a
7-40 designation of the origin of the material.
7-41 2. This rule does not apply to books containing the legislative bills
7-42 and resolutions, the daily histories and daily journals of the Senate or
7-43 Assembly, or Legislative Counsel Bureau material.
8-1 Rule No. 34. Petitions and Memorials.
8-2 The contents of any petition or memorial shall be briefly stated by the
8-3 President or any Senator presenting it. It shall then lie on the table or be
8-4 referred, as the President or Senate may direct.
8-5 Rule No. 35. Objection to Reading of Paper.
8-6 Where the reading of any paper is called for, and is objected to by any
8-7 Senator, it shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, and without
8-8 debate.
8-9 Rule No. 36. Questions Relating to Priority of Business.
8-10 All questions relating to the priority of business shall be decided
8-11 without debate.
8-12 B. Bills
8-13 Rule No. 37. Requests for the Drafting of Bills, Resolutions and
8-14 Amendments.
8-15 The Legislative Counsel shall not honor a request for the drafting of a
8-16 bill, resolution or amendment to be introduced in the Senate unless it is
8-17 submitted by the Committee of the Whole, a Conference Committee or
8-18 the Governor.
8-19 Rule No. 38. Introduction of Bills.
8-20 1. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, no bill or resolution may
8-21 be introduced in the Senate unless it is first approved by the Committee
8-22 of the Whole.
8-23 2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to a bill or resolution
8-24 that is:
8-25 (a) Required to carry out the business of the Senate or the
8-26 Legislature; or
8-27 (b) Requested by the Governor.
8-28 3. Skeleton bills may not be introduced.
8-29 Rule No. 39. Reading of Bills.
8-30 1. Every bill must receive three readings before its passage, unless, in
8-31 case of emergency, this rule is suspended by a two-thirds vote of the
8-32 members elected to the Senate.
8-33 2. The first reading of a bill is for information, and if there is
8-34 opposition to the bill, the question must be, “Shall this bill receive no
8-35 further consideration?” If there is no opposition to the bill, or if the
8-36 question to reject is defeated, the bill must then take the usual course.
8-37 3. No bill may be committed until once read, nor amended until twice
8-38 read.
8-39 4. The third reading of every bill must be by sections.
8-40 Rule No. 40. Second Reading File—Consent Calendar.
8-41 1. All bills or joint resolutions reported by the Committee of the
8-42 Whole must be placed on a second reading file unless recommended for
8-43 placement on the consent calendar.
9-1 2. The Committee of the Whole shall not recommend a bill or joint
9-2 resolution for placement on the consent calendar if:
9-3 (a) An amendment of the bill or joint resolution is recommended;
9-4 (b) It contains an appropriation;
9-5 (c) It requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate; or
9-6 (d) It is controversial in nature.
9-7 3. A bill or joint resolution must be removed from the consent
9-8 calendar at the request of any Senator. A bill or joint resolution so
9-9 removed must be immediately placed on the second reading file for
9-10 consideration in the usual order of business.
9-11 4. When the consent calendar is called, the bills remaining on the
9-12 consent calendar must be read by number and summary, and the vote
9-13 must be taken on their final passage as a group.
9-14 Rule No. 41. Reading of Bills—General File.
9-15 1. Upon reading of bills on the second reading file, Senate and
9-16 Assembly bills reported without amendments must be placed on the
9-17 general file.
9-18 2. Only amendments proposed by the Committee of the Whole or a
9-19 Conference Committee may be considered.
9-20 3. Amendments proposed by the Committee of the Whole and
9-21 reported with bills may be adopted by a majority vote of the members
9-22 present. Bills so amended must be reprinted, engrossed or reengrossed,
9-23 and placed on the general file. The file must be posted in the Senate
9-24 Chamber and made available to members of the public each day by the
9-25 Secretary.
9-26 Rule No. 42. Reconsideration of Vote on Bill.
9-27 No motion to reconsider a vote is in order.
9-28 C. Resolutions
9-29 Rule No. 43. Treated as Bills.
9-30 Resolutions addressed to Congress, or to either House thereof, or to
9-31 the President of the United States, or the heads of any of the national
9-32 departments, or proposing amendments to the State Constitution are
9-33 subject, in all respects, to the foregoing rules governing the course of
9-34 bills. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution
9-35 shall be entered in the journal in its entirety.
9-36 Rule No. 44. Treated as Motions.
9-37 Resolutions, other than those referred to in Senate Rule No. 43 of the
9-38 18th Special Session of the Legislature, shall be treated as motions in all
9-39 proceedings of the Senate.
9-40 Rule No. 45. Order of Business.
9-41 1. Roll Call.
9-42 2. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9-43 3. Reading and Approval of the Journal.
9-44 4. Reports of the Committee of the Whole.
10-1 5. Messages from the Governor.
10-2 6. Messages from the Assembly.
10-3 7. Communications.
10-4 8. [Reserved.]
10-5 9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices.
10-6 10. Introduction, First Reading and Reference.
10-7 11. Consent Calendar.
10-8 12. Second Reading and Amendment.
10-9 13. General File and Third Reading.
10-10 14. Unfinished Business.
10-11 15. Special Orders of the Day.
10-12 16. Remarks from the Floor; Introduction of Guests. A member may
10-13 speak under this order of business for a period of not more than 5
10-14 minutes each day.
10-15 Rule No. 46. Privilege.
10-16 Any Senator may rise and explain a matter personal to himself by
10-17 leave of the President, but he shall not discuss any pending question in
10-18 such explanation.
10-19 Rule No. 47. Preference to Speak.
10-20 When two or more Senators rise at the same time the President shall
10-21 name the one who may first speak—giving preference, when practicable,
10-22 to the mover or introducer of the subject under consideration.
10-23 Rule No. 48. Special Order.
10-24 The President shall call the Senate to order on the arrival of the time
10-25 fixed for the consideration of a special order, and announce that the
10-26 special order is before the Senate, which shall be considered, unless it be
10-27 postponed by a two-thirds vote, and any business before the Senate at the
10-28 time of the announcement of the special order shall go to Unfinished
10-29 Business.
10-30 20~~~~~02