Key Facts H. The Rules of Debate

 The rules of debate at a meeting are designed to ensure that councillors have an opportunity to speak while respecting the speaking rights of others and their views. It is important all councillors are familiar with their council's standing orders and it is the responsibility of the Chair of the meeting to control debate.

NALC Model standing order 1 sets out the formal rules of debate.

1.           Rules of debate at meetings

a             Motions on the agenda shall be considered in the order that they appear unless the order is changed at the discretion of the chairman of the meeting.

b             A motion (including an amendment) shall not be progressed unless it has been moved and seconded.

c             A motion on the agenda that is not moved by its proposer may be treated by the chairman of the meeting as withdrawn.

d             If a motion (including an amendment) has been seconded, it may be withdrawn by the proposer only with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.

e             An amendment is a proposal to remove or add words to a motion. It shall not negate the motion.

f               If an amendment to the original motion is carried, the original motion (as amended) becomes the substantive motion upon which further amendment(s) may be moved.

g             An amendment shall not be considered unless early verbal notice of it is given at the meeting and, if requested by the chairman of the meeting, is expressed in writing to the chairman.

h             A councillor may move an amendment to his own motion if agreed by the meeting. If a motion has already been seconded, the amendment shall be with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.

i               If there is more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion, the amendments shall be moved in the order directed by the chairman of the meeting.

j               Subject to standing order 1(k), only one amendment shall be moved and debated at a time, the order of which shall be directed by the chairman of the meeting.

k             One or more amendments may be discussed together if the chairman of the meeting considers this expedient but each amendment shall be voted upon separately.

l               A councillor may not move more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion.

m           The mover of an amendment has no right of reply at the end of debate on it.

n             Where a series of amendments to an original motion are carried, the mover of the original motion shall have a right of reply either at the end of debate on the first amendment or at the very end of debate on the final substantive motion immediately before it is put to the vote.

o             Unless permitted by the chairman of the meeting, a councillor may speak once in the debate on a motion except:

i.             to speak on an amendment moved by another councillor;

ii.            to move or speak on another amendment if the motion has been amended since he last spoke;

iii.          to make a point of order;

iv.          to give a personal explanation; or

v.           to exercise a right of reply.

p             During the debate on a motion, a councillor may interrupt only on a point of order or a personal explanation and the councillor who was interrupted shall stop speaking. A councillor raising a point of order shall identify the standing order which he considers has been breached or specify the other irregularity in the proceedings of the meeting he is concerned by.

q             A point of order shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting and his decision shall be final.

r              When a motion is under debate, no other motion shall be moved except:

i.             to amend the motion;

ii.            to proceed to the next business;

iii.          to adjourn the debate;

iv.          to put the motion to a vote;

v.           to ask a person to be no longer heard or to leave the meeting;

vi.          to refer a motion to a committee or sub-committee for consideration;

vii.         to exclude the public and press;

viii.       to adjourn the meeting; or

ix.          to suspend particular standing order(s) excepting those which reflect mandatory statutory or legal requirements.

s             Before an original or substantive motion is put to the vote, the chairman of the meeting shall be satisfied that the motion has been sufficiently debated and that the mover of the motion under debate has exercised or waived his right of reply.

Excluding motions moved under standing order 1(r), the contributions or speeches by a councillor shall relate only to the motion under discussion and shall not exceed (   ) minutes without the consent of the chairman of the meeting.