SummaryofSenate’sRulesofOrder
October18,2014
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Senateadopted
ProceduresforMeetingsandOrganizations,
ThirdEditionbyProfessorsM.K.KerrandH.W.King
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Senateisregulatedfirstandforemostby:
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TheUniversityofSaskatchewanAct,1995
Senate’sbylaws
Senatereliesuponthemeetingproceduressetoutin
KerrandKinginallotherinstances.
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WherecanIfindacopyKerr&King?
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borrowacopyfromtheUniversitySecretary’soffice
borrowacopyfromtheUniversityLibrary(2nd
edition)
orderacopyfromCarswell,ThomsonProfessional
Publishing,ThompsonReuters
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WhyhaveRulesofOrder?
RulesofOrderpermit:
 orderlydebate
 fairness
 equality
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ThechairofSenatepresidesoverallmeetingsof
Senate.Thechair’sdutiesaretopreserveorderand
decorumand,subjecttoappeal,todecideallquestions
oforderandotherquestions.
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WhenaskingaquestionatSenate,directyourquestion
totheChair.
 AsktheChair’spermissiontorespondtoanother
speaker.
 TheChairmaintainsaneutralpositionin
determiningtheformatofdebate,timegivento
speakers,recognizingwhospeaksnext,andensuring
thateachpersononlyspeaksoncetothequestion,
unlessinresponsetoaspeaker.
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Motions
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Amotionisastatementofactiontakeninresponse
toaquestion.
Motionsenableameetingtomakecleardecisionsin
afairandeffectivemanner.
Onceamotionismade,themotionbecomesthe
propertyofthemeetingandthereforethemoverand
seconderhavenoproprietaryrightoverthemotion.
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Variousconditionsapplytomotions.
AsperKerr&King,dependingonthemotion,
themotionmayormaynot be:
 Amendable
 Debatable
 Requiremajorityapproval,two‐thirds
majority,orunanimousapproval
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KerrandKingoutlinefourtypesofmotions:
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Substantive
Procedural
Regulatory
Amendmentsandsubamendments
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Therecanonlybeonemotionofany
giventypeunderactiveconsideration
atanygiventime.
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Substantivemotions
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Substantivemotionscomprisethemainbusinessof
themeeting
CompriserequeststhatliewithinSenate’sauthority
toapproveandwhichareputtoSenatefordecision
Substantivemotionsareactionmotions;these
motionsadopt,accept,appoint,approve,establish,
confirm,concur,endorse,amend,etc.
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Examplesofsubstantivemotions:
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Approvetheminutes
Approvetheadditionofaprogram
Rescindapreviouslyapprovedmotion
Establishanadhoccommittee
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Proceduralmotions
Proceduralmotionsmodifyhowsubstantivemotions
arebeingaddressed
Examplesofproceduralmotions:
 Closedebate
 Divideacompoundmotion
 Refertoacommittee
 Votebywrittenballot
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Regulatorymotions
Regulatorymotionsregulatethescheduleofthe
meeting
Examplesofregulatorymotions:
 Motiontoapprovetheagenda
 Motiontoaddasubstantiveitemtotheapproved
agenda
 Motiontoadjourn
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Amendmentsandsubamendments
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Amendmentsandsubamendments permit
modificationofamotionthatisunderactive
considerationthroughtheaddition,deletionor
substitutionofcertainwords,butnottheentire
motion.
Theamendmentmustberelevanttothemain
motion.
Anamendmentmustnotconvertamotionintoits
directnegative.
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Anamendmentproposestomodifyamainmotion
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Asubamendment proposestomodifyan
amendment
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Asubamendment cannotbefurtheramended
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QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
Email:university.secretary@usask.ca
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