Mason 39;s Manual Of Legislative Procedure 2020 Pdf
Karmen Mcarthun
Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, referred to as Mason's Manual, is the official parliamentary authority of most state legislatures in the United States.[1] The Manual covers motions, procedures, vote requirements, the rules of order, principles, precedents, and legal basis behind parliamentary law used by legislatures.
The NCSL assigned the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS) the task of editing and maintaining the manual for future printings. In 1984, the ASLCS created the Mason's Manual Revision Commission consisting of ASLCS members.[2] It is responsible for editing and revising the manual to keep pace with the modern challenges and developments in parliamentary procedures.
Procedural rules: In the Legislature, rules refer to the regulating principles or methods of procedure. The Minnesota Constitution, Minnesota Statutes, Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, and custom and usage are all guidelines which determine legislative procedure. Each body adopts the rules under which it operates and the joint rules which govern joint conventions.
Administrative rules: In the executive branch of state government, rules are operating principles or orders created by an office of the state under authority granted by the Legislature. These administrative rules have the force and effect of law.
Administrative rules are not enacted by the Legislature. Rather, the Legislature gives state agencies or units the authority to establish rules. For more information on the difference between rules and laws, visit the Web page About Minnesota Rules.
Minnesota Court Rules are rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, governing legal proceedings in the various courts in the state. Other documents that are included here are the Sentencing Guidelines, which are promulgated by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission and the Lawyer's Professional Responsibility Board Opinions.
The original Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure was authored by Paul Mason in 1935, and he subsequently updated it six times. Now, the National Conference of State Legislatures holds the book's copyright. NCSL follows Paul Mason's tradition of updating and reprinting the book approximately every 10 years. The American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries assists NCSL with its revisions.
Mason's Manual Commissions are created to oversee the revisions of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure. Each commission is named after the edition on which it will work. For example, the 2020 Mason's Manual Commission was responsible for developing the 2020 edition.
Initially, three subcommittees were created to perform most of the revision work. The Legal Citation Review Subcommittee was responsible for the review of existing legal citations and new case law. The Internal Integrity and Layout Subcommittee reviewed existing parliamentary manual citations and created a new index. The Substantive Review Subcommittee searched parliamentary manuals and legislative rules for supplemental material and reviewed the existing text for inconsistencies. Later in the revision cycle, a fourth subcommittee was formed to assist with the final review and editing of manual drafts.
The Revision Commission originally thought that its first revision would take a year or less, so it began going through the 1979 edition section by section. The commission soon realized that significant changes were needed. Subcommittees were created and assigned sections of the book to review. The full commission voted on the text changes recommended by each subcommittee. The commission also conducted an exhaustive search for new cases that might apply to legislative procedure and updated those that Paul Mason had cited.
After the 2000 edition was published, there was a serious discussion about the commission and its future. During the 2001 NCSL Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, the Revision Commission met and adopted a proposed standing order, which it submitted to the ASLCS Executive Committee. On Aug. 14, 2001, the ASLCS Executive Committee adopted an amended version of the standing order. The new standing order dissolved the Revision Commission, effective Aug. 15, 2001.
Such other officers as may be designated by the Majority and Minority caucuses; provided, the Majority Caucus shall designate one officer who shall serve as acting President Pro Tempore in the event that the President Pro Tempore vacates the office on a temporary basis. If the President Pro Tempore shall vacate the office on a permanent basis, the officer so designated by the Majority Caucus shall serve as acting President Pro Tempore until such time as the Senate shall elect a new President Pro Tempore;
A. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The President Pro Tempore shall be the chief executive officer of the Senate and shall prescribe all policies not otherwise provided by law or by the rules.
C. REFERRAL TO COMMITTEES. The President Pro Tempore may refer any matter concerning exercise of the Senate's discretionary powers and duties under Section 30 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution to a standing committee or select committee, as the President Pro Tempore deems appropriate.
H. SAFETY AND SECURITY. The President Pro Tempore is hereby authorized to take such actions as he or she may deem necessary to ensure the safety and security of the members and staff of the Senate and the public.
1. The Chief Operating Officer, under direction of the President Pro Tempore, shall be authorized to perform routine repairs, maintenance and upkeep on that property and facilities entrusted to the Senate for upkeep and maintenance.
2. The Chief Operating Officer, under direction of the President Pro Tempore, may issue credentials to representatives of the news media and may limit access to the Press Gallery to those members of the news media holding such credentials.
A. On the floor during session, appropriate business professional attire, including a suit jacket/blazer, shall be worn by all members of the Senate and other persons granted privileges of the floor, unless otherwise authorized by the President Pro Tempore or Majority Floor Leader. Male members shall wear a tie. Jeans are not considered appropriate business professional attire.
B. Complaints pertaining to employees should be made to the proper authority rather than to the individual. Under no circumstances should complaints pertaining to employees be made on the floor of the Senate, in committee meetings or in other public forums.
C. On the floor during session and in committee, members should endeavor to be congenial and complimentary. Members should avoid personal attacks and dealing in personalities. During public occasions away from the Capitol, members should endeavor to keep personalities out of their discussions and deal with programs, not personalities.
E. It is beneath the dignity of the Senate for members to consume food products in the chamber. Beverages may be consumed from cups of a solid color, and no larger than twenty ounces in size. Cups may reflect the seal of the State of Oklahoma but shall not include a logo.
G. While a Senator is speaking, no Senator should enter into any disturbing private conversation or pass between the speaking Senator and the Presiding Officer. Profane, obscene, or indecent language is discouraged in the Senate and in all standing or special committees of the Senate. The use of cellular telephones, pagers or other audible electronic devices during formal Senate proceedings, either on the floor of the Senate or in committee, is discouraged. No Senator shall record or broadcast, or allow any other person to record or broadcast, any Senate floor proceedings without the express approval of the President Pro Tempore or Majority Floor Leader.
I. No member shall be permitted to vote on any question unless said member is physically present on the floor of the Senate at the time the vote is taken, except as provided in subsection D of Rule 8-2 or as may be provided in subsection B of Rule 8-31.
J. The President Pro Tempore or the Majority Floor Leader shall designate those Senate employees who shall be granted privileges of the floor during any session of the Senate, said employees to be limited to those whose work requires their presence. Any member desiring to bring a guest to the floor of the Senate shall first notify the Majority Floor Leader. No such guest shall enter the chamber until privileges of the floor have been granted pursuant to Rule 8-7.
K. No person other than a member of the Senate shall cause materials to be distributed on each desk in the Senate chamber without first having obtained approval by the Majority Floor Leader. The sponsoring Senator will be identified. Any material so distributed shall be considered a public record from the time of such distribution.
L. No member shall display any sign, picture, photograph, placard, or similar item upon his or her desk in the Senate chamber which could be seen as making a statement to other members in the chamber, the public, or visitors in the gallery. Upon request of the Presiding Officer or the Majority Floor Leader, the Senator shall remove the item.
M. Any member who feels that the standards of the Senate are being violated by either a member of the Senate or the staff should seek redress by submitting a complaint to the President Pro Tempore concerning the violation.
While a Senate Bill, Senate Joint Resolution or Senate Concurrent Resolution is within the physical control of the Senate, the principal Senate author of the bill or resolution shall have full and complete discretion in determining who the principal House author of the bill or resolution shall be.
2. If a vote is taken on Third Reading or Fourth Reading and the measure fails to receive the required number of votes for passage, and
a. no notice is served to reconsider the vote,
b. a motion to reconsider the vote fails to prevail or expires, or
c. a motion to table the motion to reconsider prevails; or