CHARLESTON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
LOCAL #61
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1
NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Local 61 Charleston Firefighters Association, affiliated with International Association of Firefighters.
Section 2. Reference in this Constitution and By-laws to "local" or "local association" shall refer to the Local as set forth in Section 1 above, and reference to "Association" or "International" shall refer to the International Association of Firefighters.
Section 3. This local union, it's officers, representatives, and members, shall recognize, observe and be bound by the provisions of the Constitution and By-laws of the International Association and the interpretations rendered by the International President, the resolutions, decisions and directives of the Executive Board or officers of the Association when made in conformity with the authority granted by the Constitution and By-laws of the Association, and the resolutions adopted and policies established by the delegates at conventions. Article 13 of the Constitution and By-laws of the Association is recognized as providing the basic rules governing this Local.
ARTICLE 2
JURISDICTION
Section 1. Jurisdiction shall be as follows: All persons engaged in Firefighting, Fire Alarm Operations, Fire Prevention, Inspection, Arson Investigation and office personnel appointed from the Fire Department, in the following classification: Captain, Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Firefighter.
ARTICLE 3
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active - Any person of good moral character who at the time of making application is engaged in service within the jurisdiction of this Local, as given in Article 2, will be eligible for active membership.
Section 1.1Anyone eligible for membership in this local shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, and sexual orientation or by reason of disability.
Section 2. Honorary - For meritorious service to this Local or for distinguished public service, persons may be elected honorary members by majority vote. Honorary members shall not pay initiation fees, dues, or other charges and shall have no vote in the Local. Such membership may be revoked for just cause.
Section 3. Maintenance of Good Standing - Membership in good standing includes any person who have fulfilled the requirements for membership in this Local and who has not voluntarily withdrawn, become ineligible for continued membership, or been suspended or expelled as provided in the Constitution of By-laws of the International Association of Firefighters or the Constitution of this Local.
Section 4. Separation - When any member in good standing is separated from the service, such member, upon his request, shall be issued a withdrawal card. A member who is elected as an officer of the International, or who is elected or appointed as a representative of or to an affiliated organization, shall retain his active membership in this Local.
Section 5. Delinquent Members - Members who fail to pay their dues or assessments within the periods prescribed by the International Constitution and By-laws, or as required by this Constitution, shall be notified by the Treasurer and one other member of the Executive Board, that they are delinquent and will automatically be terminated if payment is not made within sixty days following such notice. Delinquent members are not entitled to voice or vote in the International or in the affairs of the local association. Any member 60 days over due shall be considered delinquent.
Section 6. Any member who resigns from the local association shall sign a paper stating the reason for resignation or shall refuse to sign the paper in front of 1 Executive Board member and 1 regular member in good standing.
Section 7- Retired persons - Retired persons shall be able to apply for membership in the local. Anyone retired from the Charleston F.D. having the rank of Captain, Engineer, Assistant Engineer or Firefighter shall be eligible. No retired Chiefs shall be accepted. Retired members shall have a voice and vote in the Local. Dues will be ˝ the regular members monthly dues.
Section 8 – Any active member of this Local that has received a promotion to a Chief position, shall be able to remain a member of this Local and enjoy all the benefits of the Local, with the following exceptions: This member can not hold a position to the following offices, President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant of Arms, Trustee or Chair Person on any Committee. This members dues will be the same as a regular member. If this member chooses to resign from the Local he/she cannot be reinstated as a member in this Local at a later date.
Section 9 - New Members – Applicants of New Members will be processed by the President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer.
Section 10 - Reinstatement of Members – A person that wishes to rejoin Local 61 will be processed by the President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer.
Section 1. Regular meetings of this Local shall be held at a prescribed time, date and place voted on by a majority of the members present at any monthly meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by a vote of a majority of the Executive Board or can be arranged by the Association in session or be called by the President whenever petitioned by ten percent (10%) of the members in good standing. All members in good standing shall be notified in writing of such special meeting at least seven days prior to the same. The notice shall state the business to be considered at such meeting, and no other business than stated shall be in order at such meeting.
Section 3.Quorum - The quorum for any meeting of this local, whether regular or special shall be a member of the executive board and 10% of the members in good standing.
Section 4. Rights of Members - Every member in good standing shall have the right to attend any meeting and to participate in such meeting in accordance with the recognized rules set forth in the manual of parliamentary procedure adopted by this Local. Members shall conduct themselves in such a manner as not to interfere with the legal or contractual obligations of the International or of this Local.
Section 5. Rules for Meetings - The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the meetings of this local in all cases that are not in conflict with this constitution and by-laws or the constitution and by-laws of the International or the interpretation of these documents.
Section 6 – For Executive Session meetings or Executive Board meetings with 1 retiree attending, a quorum of 4 members is required to conduct business. If 2 retirees are in attendance, a quorum of 5 is needed to conduct business.
ARTICLE 5
Section 1. The officers of this Local shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms, and 2 Trustees. The offices of President, Vice President and Secretary, Treasurer shall serve for two years. The Sergeant at Arms and Trustees shall serve for one year. All officers will remain in such office for its full term unless removed from office as provided in these By-laws or in the International Constitution and By-laws. Newly elected officers of the Local shall be sworn in and take office as soon as possible after the official ballots have been tallied. The President and Secretary shall be elected in the odd year. The Vice President and Treasurer shall be electedin the even year.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms and 2 Trustees.
Section 3. Standing Committees shall be as follows - City Council Committee. Nine members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to officially attend a City Council Meeting.
Section 4. All Committees shall hold office for a term of one (1) year beginning for the first regular meeting in January.
Section 5. Officers shall be nominated at the regular meeting in November. To be eligible for an office, a member must be in good standing and have attended at least four (4) regular meetings during the twelve (12) month period prior to the night of his/her nomination. For the purpose of this section and for Article 7 Section 4, if a member cannot attend a meeting that his/her shift is off for, due to being on sick leave, out on workman’s compensation, a death in the family or attending a fire department training class, the member may contact the President or Vice President before the meeting in question and request to be included on the attendance roster. Should a member have any unforeseen circumstances arise not covered under this section, the member may appeal to the President or Vice President before the meeting to be included on the attendance roster. The President or Vice President will have the authority to approve or deny such request. No member shall be included on the attendance roster after any meeting has closed.
Section 6. Use of Local Funds in Elections - No funds received by this Local through initiation fees, dues or assessments or otherwise, shall be contributed to promote the candidacy of any person in election of officers. This section does not prevent the expenditure from Local funds for notices and other necessary expenses to conduct elections so long as they do not involve promotion of any candidate.
Section 7. Candidate for Office - Candidates shall be nominated at the regular November meeting, their names shall be printed on the official ballot for the office to which they have been nominated. The Secretary shall mail the names of candidates and the office to which they have been nominated to all voting members in good standing. All balloting is to be conducted on printed ballots at one central location on the designated December meeting. All ballots are to be counted by the tellers and overseen by the inspector. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast for each office shall be declared elected to that office.
Newly elected officers of this Local shall be sworn in and take office as soon as possible after the vote have been tallied. The results of the voting must then be forwarded to the shift representatives by the end of the first week in January. No member can be a candidate for more than one office.
Section 8. Election Committee - The President shall appoint one Inspector and two Tellers, none of whom are candidates. Their duty shall be to keep a true record of the votes cast at election. When the votes are received and counted, the Inspector shall report the total number of votes cast and the number cast for each candidate. Certifying the sum by his/her signature along with those of the tellers, the ballots shall be sealed in an envelope bearing these signatures across the flap. The sealed ballots will be turned over to the Secretary for filing. The candidate receiving the majority of the votes shall be declared elected.
Section 9. Ballot Preserved - The ballots and all records of an election shall be preserved by the Secretary until the re-election of that position.
Section 10. Vacancies in Office - When an office becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, or removal of the incumbent, the members shall elect a successor by majority vote, no later than thirty (30) days from the date of the office was vacated. Should any elected officer be absent from two (2) consecutive monthly meetings without reasonable excuse, the President will remove such officer and appoint a member in good standing to serve out the remainder of such officer's term.
ARTICLE 6
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Local and at meetings of the Executive Board.He shall be the Executive Head of the Local. He shall be member ex officio of all committees. He shall appoint such committees as may be provided for in this Constitution and By-laws and such special committees as may be authorized by the Local. Together with the Treasurer, he shall sign all orders and checks lawfully and properly drawn. He shall enforce strict observance of the Constitution and By-laws of the International as this document relates to the Local. He shall have general supervision of the activities of the other officers and chairman of committees.
The President shall discharge on behalf of the Local such duties as may be imposed upon him by applicable law including the execution and filing of any reports to federal and state authorities, and he shall cause to be maintained by the Local such records as the law requires to be kept in support of reports filed.
The President, by virtue of his election, shall be a delegate of this Local to all conventions and conferences.
Section 2. The Vice President shall assist the President in such manner as the President may determine. In the absence of the President, he shall preside at meetings of the Local and of the Executive Board. If the office of the President at meetings becomes vacant, The Vice President shall be acting President until the office of the President is filled by election by the Members.
Section 3. The Secretary shall have custody of all documents, records, books and papers belonging to the Local, except as may be otherwise provided by this Constitution and By-laws. He/she shall keep an accurate record of meetings of the Local and of the Executive Board, of which he/she shall be secretary. He/she shall attest all official documents with his signature and the seal of the Local. He shall maintain the official list of members in good standing, which shall be kept accurate and on a current basis.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall have custody of all financial record keeping, maintaining records of income from dues, investments, interest on bank accounts, all receipts etc. In fact, all receipts. It includes a complete accounting of expenditures such as per capita tax to the IAFF and S.C. Professional Firefighters Association. Accurate and appropriate records are a requirement of your International Constitution and By-laws. The federal laws, the IRS and good business practice.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive all money due the Local, from whatsoever source, and shall disburse the same only by voucher signed by the President in conformity with a vote of the Local. Such disbursement shall be by check or money order which shall also be signed by the President. He shall maintain and keep current a record of members with their dues payments, assessments, and all financial transactions promptly and accurately entered. He shall be prepared to exhibit receipts and vouchers upon the audit of his books. He shall forward the annual audit of the Local to the International Secretary/Treasurer, over the seal of the Local not later than June first of each year.
Section 6. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant at Arms and 2 Trustees. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to exercise general supervision and control of the invested funds and property of the Local. It shall have the authority to act in the name of the Local during intervals between meetings, such acts being subject to confirmation by the membership at the next regular meeting of the Local. It shall provide for an annual audit of the Treasurer's books. It shall meet at the call of the President or on call signed by a majority of the members. A majority shall constitute a quorum.
Section 7. The Trustees shall act in an advisory capacity on all matters pertaining to the welfare of this Local. They shall have charge of all property of the Local other than the funds in the treasury and shall audit the books of the Treasurer, immediately after January 1st of each year or in a change of Treasurer and report to the Local at the next regular meeting. They shall require all officers and employees of the local who handle funds and/or property of the local to be bonded in such amounts as is required by the International General Secretary/Treasurer, in compliance with applicable law. The local shall have sufficient bond to cover at least 10% of its current assets.The expense of the first $2500.00 of such bonds shall be borne by the International and the cost of any additional bond that may be necessary is to be borne by the local.
Section 8. The Sergeant at Arms, shall have charge of the door, shall assist the President in preserving order when called upon to do so. He shall introduce all new members and visitors. He shall have charge of the property of the Local not otherwise provided by the Constitution and By-laws, and other such duties as may be assigned to him. He shall be nominated on and voted on by majority of membership. When Sergeant at Arms is not present at regular meeting the President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer may appoint a member to fill in for Sergeant at Arms.
Section 9. Shift Representatives shall visit or call sick members in their jurisdiction and report at the next monthly meeting as to their welfare. They shall assist with verbal notifications relative to Local actions and activities. The Executive Committee will appoint Shift Representatives. There will be one Shift Representative for east side and one for west side.
ARTICLE 7
DELEGATES
Section 1. The President, by virtue of his election, shall be a delegate of this Local to all conventions and conferences.
Section 2. If in accordance with Article 4, Section 2, of the International Constitution and By-laws, this Local is entitled to delegates in addition to the President, and if delegates are to be sent to the State Conference and International Convention, they shall be elected by secret ballot.
Section 3. Candidates shall be nominated by the body for the year of such state conference or international conventions.
Section 4. Candidates must be in good standing and must meet the attendance requirements set forth in Article 5, Section 5 of this Constitution and By-Laws.
Section 5. Alternates shall be the candidates receiving the most votes following the delegate or delegates elected.
ARTICLE 8
INITIATION FEES, DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. Initiation fee shall be $30 plus one month's due at inception of the By-laws.
Section 2. Dues shall be $20 per month per member, by either payroll deduction or lump sum of $240. New members may sign payroll deduction cards or pay the balance due.
Section 2.1 All members who are utilizing payroll deduction for the purposes of dues payment to the local shall forward a copy of their last pay stub of the year to the treasurer.The treasurer will use this record to verify the member’s contributions for the year.Members may blank out all fields on the pay stub except the name; check date, period ending, and the line in the banking information field that indicates union dues deposits.This shall be done no later than January 15 of each year.
Section 3. Increases in rates of initiation fees, reinstatement fees, dues or assessments, shall require notice of such proposed increases to be given to the members in good standing at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the date of which the vote for such increases occur. The proposed increase shall become effective upon a majority vote of the members in good standing, by secrete ballot, at a regular or special meeting.
Section 4. Reinstatement fees shall be $60 plus one month's dues.
ARTICLE 9
MISCONDUCT, TRIALS AND APPEALS
Section 1. Misconduct shall consist of the following.
A. Refusal or failure without justifiable cause to comply with or abide by the provisions of this Constitution and By-laws of the International, the valid decision of any officer or officers thereof, or the valid decisions of the International Executive Board or those of the International Convention, or the valid provisions of this Constitution and By-laws, or of the State of Provincial or Joint Council Constitution and By-laws.
B. Committing any act of fraud, embezzlement, larceny, or misappropriation of any funds or property or other thing of value belonging to the Local or International, or refusing, failing, or neglecting to comply with the provisions of the International Constitution and By-laws requiring a full and accurate account of all funds, property, books, and records for examination and audit.
C. Libeling or slandering or cause to be libeled or slandered any officer or member of the Association or of any local union or other subordinate body thereof, except in the form of charges of misconduct properly filed against an officer or member as provided by the International Constitution and By-laws.
D. Failing, refusing, or neglecting to appear without proper cause as a prosecuting witness after filing charges against a member or officer of the Association.
E. For advocating or encouraging any labor or other rival organization or acquiring membership in such organization.
F. Maintaining membership in the Community Party or advocating or encouraging Communism.
G. Acquiring membership by fraud, false restoration or deceit.
H. Filing false charges against any officer or member of the Association or of any local union or other subordinate body of the Association, provided, however, that it is understood that for the purposes of this provision, false charges are not merely charges of which an officer or member is acquitted but rather charges which are filed recklessly or in bad faith without substance, foundation or reasonable basis of support.
I. Committing any physical assault upon any officer, member, representative or employee of the association or any subordinate body thereof while such person is engaged in the performance of his/her duties of the International or subordinate unions.
J. Engaging in conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Association or its subordinate unions which place or tend to place them in disrepute with other organizations, employers or the public.
K. Failure or refusal to abide by the rules of order or parliamentary procedure established for the conduct of meeting of the Association, a local union or other subordinate body of the Association or at International conventions.
L. Conduct unbecoming a member of the Association, provided however, that utilization of this provision shall be valid only when charges are set forth in specific terms, specifying the act or acts of conduct alleged to be unbecoming a member.
Section 2. Charges. Any member in good standing may prefer charges of misconduct as defined in Section 1, against any officer or member of the Association or any of its subordinate unions.
Section 3. All charges shall be preferred in the following way:
A. They must be in writing.
B. They must be signed by the party or parties preferring the same.
C. They must contain a statement of the facts out of which such charges originated and set forth the specific act or acts alleged to constitute misconduct, the dates, place and persons involved.
D. They must state the nature of violation or violations alleged.
E. They must refer to the Articles and Sections of the International Constitution and By-laws, the constitution and by-laws of the subordinate union, the established policies, decisions, rules or regulations or other governing laws which it is alleged have been or being violated
Section 4. Notice of charges against any officer or member of a local union or other subordinate organization of this Association shall be sent by the officer or member preferring the charges by registered mail to the local union, Association or Joint Council with which the accused is affiliated, and a copy sent by registered mail to the accused.
Section 5. Trials. Whenever charges are preferred against any officer or member of a local union or an officer or individual member of a state or provincial association or joint council, the accused shall be tried within thirty (30) days by a Trial Board of three members to be selected and appointed by the President of the subordinate union with which accused is affiliated. If the President is the accused, the Secretary of the subordinate union shall appoint the members of the Trial Board. The President shall submit the names of seven (7) members in good standing to the accused of which the accused may reject four (4). The remaining three (3) shall be appointed as the Trial Board.
Section 6. No names submitted for the selection as member of a Trial Board shall be that of anyone directly or indirectly involved as a party, witness or otherwise in the conduct giving rise to the charges, and in the event any of the members are so involved they shall be disqualified to sit as a member of the Trial Board, and the appointing officer shall submit three additional names from which the accused shall select one to sit as a substitute member.
Section 7. Chairman of Trial Board. Prior to proceedings with the trial, the members of the Trial Board shall elect one of their groups as chairman. The Chairman shall preside at the trial and rules upon all questions and points of order.
Section 8. Absence of Trial Board Member from Session. It shall be the duty of each member of the Trial Board to attend all sessions of the trial. In the event that a member is unavoidably absent from a session of the trial, it may proceed provided a majority of the Trial Board members are present. Thereafter, the absent member shall remove himself from the Trial Board and may not participate in any further proceedings or in the finding or decision of the Trial Board.
Section 9. Rules for Trials. Except as otherwise provided in this section, Trial Boards may establish their own rules for conduct of the trial, which shall be in writing and a copy given to the accused and to the party preferring charges, in advance of the date set forth commencement of trial. Additional rules of procedure may be determined by a Trial Board during the course of the trial if situations not covered by the rules adopted should occur.
Unless otherwise agreed by the accused, the trial shall be held at the city or town in which the accused is employed. It shall be held within thirty (30) days after receipt of charges by the accused and not less than two (2) weeks after notification to the accused of the composition of the Trial Board and the date and place of trial.
Each party to the case shall have the privilege of designating any person, including any member in good standing of the Association, except a member involved in the proceeding, to act as his counsel in the trial proceedings.
For good cause shown, the accused or party preferring the charges may request a postponement of the date set for trial. Such motion shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Trial Board and shall be subject to approval or rejection within the discretion of the members of the Trial Board.
Each Trial Board shall select a certified court reporter to take the official transcript of the trial proceedings. All documents or other items offered as exhibits shall be preserved by the Trial Board. A copy of the official minutes or transcript shall be furnished to each party without cost and a copy filed with the International Headquarters.
Should the accused fail to appear for trial after due notice, or should he appear but refer to comply with the rules for conduct of the trial prescribed in the International Constitution and By-Laws or formulated by the Trial Board, or should he engage in conduct designed to obstruct his trial, then in that event the Trial Board shall proceed to conduct the trial in his absence. The accused, the party preferring the charges, consel for either party, or any witness or spectators who are guilty of misconduct before the Trial Board, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Trial Board, shall be excluded thereafter from the trial proceedings and the trial shall continue in their absence.
After all evidence has been presented and arguments made by all parties or their counsel, the Trial Board shall conclude the trial as soon as may be practicable, assemble for consideration of its decision.
Section 10. Decision of the Trial Board. The decision of the Trial Board shall be by majority vote of its members, shall be put in writing, and shall contain a statement of the pertinent facts involved, the violations charged reference to all relevant Articles and Sections of the International Constitution and By-Laws or other governing laws involved, a pronouncement of the guilty or innocence of the party charged, and the penalty to be imposed in the event the verdict is one of guilty, which shall be reprimand, fine, suspension from office, or suspension or expulsion from membership.
Section 11. Decisions of the Trial Board members shall be submitted by the Trial Board to the Secretary of the Local and shall be read at the next majority vote, either approve or reject the Trial Board’s decision and pronouncement of guilty or acquittal. In the event the membership sustains the Trial Board pronouncement of guilty, the penalty imposed by the Trial Board shall be submitted for separate approval or rejection by a majority vote of the membership. Should the Trial Board’s imposition of penalty be rejected by the membership, then the members by motion and majority vote shall determine which of the penalties specified in Section 10 of this Article shall be imposed.
Section 12. Copies of the decision of all Trial Boards shall be sent by registered mail to the parties involved, by the Secretary.
Section 13. Further Proceedings. Either party to a case may appeal from the decision of any subordinate union Trial Board in accordance with Section 14 of this Article.
Section 14. Appeal.
A. Except in the case of automatic suspension of members for failure to pay dues, or automatic forfeiture of subordinate union charters for failure to pay per capita taxes, an order of decision of a local union or of the officers thereof or of a legally constituted tribunal thereof, or any decision or order of an International officer of officers of the Executive Board or any legally constituted tribunal of the Association, shall be appealable.
B. Any member in good standing or any local union or other subordinate union of the Association, adversely affected by an order or decision as aforesaid, may take an appeal as provided in Article 18 of the International Constitution and By-Laws. Such appeal is first to the International President, then to the International Executive Board and finally to the International Convention.
C. Compliance Pending Appeal. No appeal shall be recognized or considered unless the party filing the appeal has accepted and compiled with which an appeal is taken; provide, however, if the International President or Executive Board concludes that compliance in a particular case would constitute a substantial bar to the exercise of the right of appeal, such compliance may be waived or modified by the International President with respect to appeals submitted to him or by the Executive Board with respect to appeals submitted to it or to the International Convention. And provided further, that in all disciplinary cases where fines in excess of fifty dollars imposed, no more than fifty (50) dollars shall be required to be paid as a condition of any proper appeal from the decision under which such fine as imposed.
D. No officer or member of other civil authority for the purpose of securing an opinion or decision in connection with any alleged grievance or wrong concerning any case arising within the Association or any of its subordinate unions until such party shall have first exhausted all remedies by appeal or otherwise, as provided in the International Constitution, not consistent with applicable law for the settlement and disposition of such alleged rights, grievances or wrongs.
Section 1. The books and accounts of this Local shall be audited annually, and the last such report of audit shall be forwarded to the International Secretary-Treasurer over the seal of the Local not later than the first of June annually.
Section 1. This Constitution and By-Laws made under its provisions, may be amended by a majority vote at 3 consecutive meetings provided that each member in good standing is notified of the proposed amendment at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting at which the vote will be taken.
Section 2. A proposed amendment to this constitution or any by-laws made under its provisions shall be submitted for approval to the I.A.F.F. General President prior to it’s printing or issuance, after it has first been adopted by the membership.
Section 1. A motion to be entertained by the presiding officer must be seconded, and the mover, as well as the seconder, must arise and be recognized by the Chair.
Section 2. In presenting a motion, a brief statement of its objective may be made but no discussion of its merits shall be admitted until the question is stated by the Chair.
Section 3. If a motion has been amended, the question on the amendment shall be put first. If more than one amendment has been offered, the question shall then be put as follows:
(1) Amendment to the amendment,
(2) Amendment, and
(3) Original motion.
Section 4. Any member having made a motion and withdraw it by consent of his second, but a motion once debated can be withdrawn only by a majority vote.
Section 5. A motion shall not be subject to debate until it has be stated by the Chair.
Section 6. When a member wishes the floor, he shall raise hand and respectfully address the Chair, and if recognized by the Chair, he shall be entitled to the floor.
Section 7. If two or more members rise to speak at the same time, the Chair shall decide who is entitled to the floor.
Section 8. Each member when speaking, shall confine himself to the question under debate, and avoid all personal and indecorous language.
Section 9. No member shall interrupt another while speaking, except to a point of order, or request an explanation from the speaker, provided the speaker consents, and he shall definitely state the point, and the Chair shall decide the same without debate.
Section 10. If a member while speaking be called to order, he shall take his seat until the point of order is declined, when if decided in order, he may proceed.
Section 11. No member shall speak more than once on the subject until all members desiring the floor shall have spoken, no more than twice without the consent of the body, nor over five (5) minutes at a time.
Section 12. The presiding officer shall not speak on any subject except the points of order and appeals from the decision of the Chair. He shall have the deciding vote on all questions before the meeting, in case of tie vote.
Section 13. When a question is before the Body, no motion shall be in order except:
(1) to adjourn,
(2) to lay on the table,
(3) for the previous questions,
(4) to postpone to a given time,
(5) to refer or commit,
(6) to amend,
and these several motions shall have precedence in order herein arranged.
Section 14. The following motions are not debatable:
(1) to adjourn,
(2) to lay on the table, or
(3) to read a document or paper.
Section 15. A motion to adjourn shall be in order except:
(1) when a member has the floor, or
(2) when the members are voting.
Section 16. When the previous question has been moved and recommended, it shall be put in this form – “shall the debate cease?”. If this carries, all futher motions, amendments, and debate shall be excluded and the question put without delay.
Section 17. Before putting a question to vote, the presiding officer shall ask, “Is the Body ready for the question?”. If no member rises to speak, the presiding officer shall put the question, after the vote is taken he shall immediately announce the result.
Section 18. When the presiding officer has commenced taking a vote, no further debate or remarks shall be allowed, unless a mistake has been made, in which case the mistake shall be rectified, and the presiding officer shall commence taking the vote.
Section 19. Before the presiding officer declares the vote on a question, any member may ask for a division of the house, then the Chair is duty bound to comply with the request and a standing vote shall be taken.
Section 20. A roll call vote may be had at the request of five (5) members.
Section 21. Every member present shall vote on all questions before the Body unless personally interested or excused by the President.
Section 22. When a question has been decided, it can be reconsidered only at the same meeting, or at the next regular meeting night.
Section 23. A motion to reconsider must be made and seconded by two (2) members who voted with the majority.
Section 24. When a question is postponed indefinitely, it shall not come up again except by two-thirds consent.
Section 25. Any conversation by whispering or otherwise, which is calculated to disturb a member while speaking or hinder the transaction of business, shall be deemed a violation of order.
Section 26. Any member who shall use disrespectful language, or refuse to obey the Chair when called to order, or neglect to attend to any duty imposed upon him, and which he shall be debarred after fair trial if convicted.
Section 27. If a member shall feel himself personally aggrieved by a decision from the Chair, he may appeal to the Body from the decision.
Section 28. When an appeal is made from the decision of the Chair, said appeal shall be stated by the Vice-President to the meeting in these words, “Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained as the decision of this Body?”. The member then will have the right to state the grounds of his appeal and the Chair will give the reasons for his decision thereupon. The Body will proceed to vote on the appeal without further debate.
Section 29. On motion, the regular order of business may be suspended by two-thirds vote of the Body, at any time, to dispose of any urgent business.