Senate of the Lakes/Rules of Procedure

These are the rules of procedure for the Senate of the Lakes, as last amended on 10.XI.1746.

Section 1: Presiding officer

1. Presiding officer does not vote unless there is a tie.
2. Presiding officer is Chancellor of the Order of the Holy Lakes.
3. In the absence or recusal of the Chancellor, the Commander of the Order of the Holy Lakes presides.
4. In the absence or recusal of both the Chancellor and the Commander, the most senior Senator presides.
   1. The longer a Senator has served in the Senate, the more senior the Senator is.
   2. If two senators have equal length of service, the older of them is the senior one.

Section 2: Debate Procedure

1. A proposal or motion shall not be debated unless a motion to open debate has been made and seconded by a second Senator.
2. Upon a valid motion to open debate, the presiding officer shall declare the beginning of the debate period, which shall last no fewer than 48 hours and no more than 72 hours, unless otherwise extended in accordance with section 1.3.
3. During the debate period, a motion to extend debate may be submitted and seconded. If seconded, debate shall continue for the additional period specified in the motion, subject to approval by the presiding officer.
4. All motions to amend the proposal must be submitted during the debate period. After the debate period concludes, no further amendments may be introduced. Motions to amend may only refer to the main proposal.
5. Following the close of debate, senators may make motions to adopt or motions to reject the proposal. Voting shall proceed only upon either or both such motions having been made and seconded.
6. Voting on amendments shall precede voting on the main proposal. The presiding officer shall set the order in which amendments are voted upon, subject to that order being seconded and thirded by other Senators.

Section 3: Voting Duration and Thresholds

1. Except where otherwise specified, voting on any motion or amendment may conclude as soon as a majority of all present Senators have voted either in favour or against.
2. For the purposes of this rule, present Senators are defined as those:
   1. who have access to the official seat (OOC: server) of the Senate, and
   2. who have not declared a leave of absence longer than the total voting period.
3. Minimum voting durations shall apply to the following matters, regardless of when a majority is reached:
   1. Resolutions to induct individuals into the Order of the Holy Lakes, amend the rules of procedure of the Senate and to certify senatorial elections or referendums: a minimum of 72 hours, unless all present Senators have voted earlier.
   2. Amendments to the Charter of the Order of the Holy Lakes: a minimum of 120 hours, unless all present Senators have voted earlier.

Section 3: Interpretation of Seconding

1. A motion may only be seconded or thirded by a Senator whose real-life controller is not the same as the proposer (and, when thirding, also the seconder). That is, no individual may second their own proposal by using another character they control.