House Rules and Governor's Powers

[SASA]

 

San Andreas State General Assembly

House Rules and Governor's Powers

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House Rules of the San Andreas State General Assembly

1. Legislative Sessions:

• Frequency: The General Assembly will convene for regular legislative sessions bi-weekly. Special sessions may be called as needed by the Governor or the Assembly leadership.
• Quorum: A majority of the members (7 out of 12) must be present to constitute a quorum and conduct official business.

2. Introduction of Bills:

• Sponsorship: Any member of the General Assembly may introduce a bill. Bills must be submitted in the appropriate format and include the required signatures if necessary.
• First Reading: Upon introduction, the bill will receive a first reading on the floor, after which it will be assigned to the relevant committee for review.
• Committee Review: The assigned committee will review the bill, hold hearings if necessary, and issue a report with recommendations to the full Assembly.

3. Debating Bills:

• Time Limits: Each member is allowed a maximum of 5 minutes to speak on a bill during debate. Additional time may be granted by a majority vote.
• Order of Debate: Debate will proceed with members speaking for or against the bill in alternating order. The member who introduced the bill will have the opportunity to speak first and last.

4. Voting on Legislation:

• Majority Vote: Most legislation requires a simple majority (7 out of 12) to pass. The Speaker of the Assembly will call for a vote after the conclusion of the debate.
• Tie-Breaking: In the event of a tie, the Governor has the authority to cast the deciding vote.

5. Amendments to Bills:

• Proposing Amendments: Amendments to a bill may be proposed by any member of the Assembly before the final vote. Amendments must be submitted in writing using the Amendment Proposal Form.
• Voting on Amendments: Amendments require a simple majority to be adopted.

6. Tabling and Reconsideration:

• Motion to Table: Any member may move to table a bill, postponing further consideration. A majority vote is required to table a bill.
• Motion to Reconsider: After a vote, a member who voted on the prevailing side may move to reconsider the bill. This motion must be made within the same session.

7. Public Hearings:

• Requesting Hearings: Public hearings on specific bills or issues may be requested by any member of the Assembly using the Public Hearing Request Form.
• Conducting Hearings: Hearings will be scheduled and conducted by the relevant committee, allowing public testimony and discussion.

8. Committee Formation:

• Standing Committees: The Assembly will have several standing committees (e.g., SAFE Committee, IED Committee) responsible for specific areas of policy.
• Special Committees: The Assembly may establish special committees as needed to address specific issues or investigations.

9. Codification and Law Submission:

• Submission to LAW: Any legislation that is amended or created on the floor must be submitted to the Legislative Affairs Office (LAW) within 24 hours for it to be deemed law. The legislation may not be effectuated as law until it is codified by LAW.
• Effectuation: Once codified by LAW, the legislation becomes enforceable law.

10. Code of Conduct:

• Respectful Debate: Members are expected to maintain decorum during debates, refraining from personal attacks or inflammatory language.
• Conflict of Interest: Members must disclose any personal or financial interests in legislation under consideration.

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Governor's Powers in Legislation

1. Veto Power:

• Veto Authority: The Governor has the power to veto any bill passed by the General Assembly. A vetoed bill is returned to the Assembly with the Governor’s objections.
• Override of Veto: The General Assembly may override the Governor’s veto with a two-thirds majority vote (8 out of 12 members).

2. Emergency Legislation:

• Passing Emergency Bills: The Governor has the authority to pass an emergency bill without a vote from the General Assembly. This power is reserved for urgent situations where immediate action is necessary.
• Legislative Veto: The General Assembly can veto an emergency bill passed by the Governor with a supermajority vote of 10 out of 12 members.

3. Executive Orders:

• Issuing Orders: The Governor has the authority to issue Executive Orders that have the force of law. These orders may address urgent matters, implement existing laws, or manage the state’s executive branch.
• Legislative Review: An Executive Order issued by the Governor can only be stopped by a supermajority vote of 10 out of 12 members of the General Assembly.

4. Judicial Appointments and Removals:

• Appointment of Judges: The Governor nominates judges to the state courts. These appointments must be confirmed by a vote of the General Assembly.
• Removal of Judges: State judges may be removed by a vote of the General Assembly, but only with the signature of the Governor to finalize the removal.

5. Legislative Initiatives:

• Proposing Legislation: The Governor may propose legislation to the General Assembly. While the Governor cannot directly introduce bills, they may work with members of the Assembly to sponsor and introduce proposed legislation.
• Budget Proposals: The Governor is responsible for submitting an annual budget proposal to the General Assembly. The Assembly reviews, amends, and votes on the budget.

6. Emergency Powers:

• Declaring Emergencies: In cases of emergency, the Governor may declare a state of emergency and take actions necessary to protect the state and its citizens. This may include issuing Executive Orders, deploying resources, and suspending certain regulations.
• Emergency Legislation: The Governor may request the General Assembly to pass emergency legislation to address the crisis. Such legislation is expedited and may be passed with a simple majority vote.