SR0002 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0002 LRB095 04985 RCE 25051 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the following (which are the same as the Rules of the Senate of the 94th General Assembly except as indicated by striking and underscoring) are adopted as the Rules of the Senate of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

As used in these Senate Rules, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them in this Article I, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:

(Senate Rule 1-1)

1-1. Chairperson. "Chairperson" means that Senator designated by the President to serve as chair of a committee.

(Senate Rule 1-2)

1-2. Committee. "Committee" means a committee of the Senate and includes a standing committee, a special committee, and a special subcommittee of a committee. "Committee" does not mean a conference committee, and the procedural and notice requirements applicable to committees do not apply to conference committees.

(Senate Rule 1-3)

1-3. Constitution. "Constitution" means the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

(Senate Rule 1-4)

1-4. General Assembly. "General Assembly" means the current General Assembly of the State of Illinois.

(Senate Rule 1-5)

1-5. House. "House" means the House of Representatives of the General Assembly.

(Senate Rule 1-6)

1-6. Joint Action Motion. "Joint action motion" means any of the following motions before the Senate: to concur in a House amendment, to non-concur in a House amendment, to recede from a Senate amendment, to refuse to recede from a Senate amendment, and to request that a conference committee be appointed.

(Senate Rule 1-7)

1-7. Legislative Digest. "Legislative Digest" means the Legislative Synopsis and Digest that is prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau of the General Assembly.

(Senate Rule 1-8)

1-8. Legislative Measure. "Legislative measure" means any matter brought before the Senate for consideration, whether originated in the Senate or House, and includes bills, amendments, resolutions, conference committee reports, motions, and messages from the executive branch.

(Senate Rule 1-9)

1-9. Majority. "Majority" means a simple majority of those members present and voting on a question. Unless otherwise specified with respect to a particular Senate Rule, for purposes of determining the number of members present and voting on a question, a "present" vote shall not be counted.

(Senate Rule 1-10)

1-10. Majority Caucus. "Majority caucus" means that group of Senators from the numerically strongest political party in the Senate. "Majority caucus" also includes any Senator who is not from the numerically strongest or numerically second strongest political party in the Senate but who casts his or her final vote for Senate President for the person who is elected Senate President.

(Senate Rule 1-11)

1-11. Majority of those Appointed. "Majority of those appointed" means an absolute majority of the total number of Senators appointed to a committee.

(Senate Rule 1-12)

1-12. Majority of those Elected. "Majority of those elected" means an absolute majority of the total number of Senators entitled to be elected to the Senate, irrespective of the number of elected or appointed Senators actually serving in office. So long as 59 Senators are entitled to be elected to the Senate, "majority of those elected" shall mean 30 affirmative votes.

(Senate Rule 1-13)

1-13. Member. "Member" means a Senator. Where the context so requires, "member" may also mean a Representative of the Illinois House of Representatives.

(Senate Rule 1-14)

1-14. Members Appointed. "Members appointed" means the total number of Senators appointed to a committee.

(Senate Rule 1-15)

1-15. Members Elected. "Members elected" means the total number of Senators entitled to be elected to the Senate, irrespective of the number of elected or appointed Senators actually serving in office. So long as 59 Senators are entitled to be elected in the Senate, "members elected" shall mean 59 Senators.

(Senate Rule 1-16)

1-16. Minority Caucus. "Minority caucus" means that group of Senators from other than the majority caucus.

(Senate Rule 1-17)

1-17. Minority Leader. "Minority Leader" means the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(Senate Rule 1-18)

1-18. Minority Spokesperson. "Minority Spokesperson" means that Senator designated by the Minority Leader to serve as the Minority Spokesperson of a committee.

(Senate Rule 1-19)

1-19. Perfunctory Session. "Perfunctory session" means the convening of the Senate, pursuant to the scheduling of the President, for purposes consistent with Rule 4-1(c) or (d).

(Senate Rule 1-20)

1-20. President. "President" means the President of the Senate.

(Senate Rule 1-21)

1-21. Presiding Officer. "Presiding Officer" means that Senator serving as the presiding officer of the Senate, whether that Senator is the President or another Senator designated by the President, in his or her capacity as presiding officer.

(Senate Rule 1-22)

1-22. Principal Sponsor. "Principal sponsor" means the first listed Senate sponsor of any legislative measure; with respect to a committee-sponsored bill or resolution, it means the Chairperson of the committee.

(Senate Rule 1-23)

1-23. Secretary. "Secretary" means the elected Secretary of the Senate.

(Senate Rule 1-24)

1-24. Senate. "Senate" means the Senate of the General Assembly.

(Senate Rule 1-25)

1-25. Senator. "Senator" means any of the duly elected or duly appointed Illinois State Senators, and means the same as "member".

(Senate Rule 1-26)

1-26. Term. "Term" means the two-year term of a General Assembly.

(Senate Rule 1-27)

1-27. Vice-Chairperson. "Vice-Chairperson" means that Senator designated by the President to serve as Vice-Chairperson of a committee.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

(Senate Rule 2-1)

2-1. Adoption of Rules. At the commencement of a term, the Senate shall adopt new Rules of organization and procedure by resolution setting forth those Rules in their entirety. The resolution must be adopted by a majority of those elected. These Rules of the Senate are subject to revision or amendment only in accordance with Rule 7-17.

(Senate Rule 2-2)

2-2. Election of the President.

(a) Prior to the election of the President, the Governor shall convene the Senate, designate a Temporary Secretary of the Senate, and preside during the nomination and election of the President. As the first item of business each day prior to the election of the President, the Governor shall order the Temporary Secretary to call the roll of the members to establish the presence of a quorum as required by the Constitution. If a majority of those elected are not present, the Senate shall stand adjourned until the hour of 12:00 noon on the next calendar day, excepting weekends. If a quorum of members is present, the Governor shall then call for nominations of members for the Office of President. All such nominations shall require a second. When the nominations are completed, the Governor shall direct the Temporary Secretary to call the roll of the members to elect the President.

(b) The election of the President shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of those elected. Debate shall not be in order following nominations and preceding or during the vote, and Senators may not explain their vote on the election of the President.

(c) No bills may be considered and no committees may be appointed or meet prior to the election of the President.

(d) When a vacancy in the Office of President occurs, the foregoing procedure shall be employed to elect a new President; however, when the Governor is of a political party other than that of the majority caucus, the Assistant Majority Leader having the greatest seniority of service in the Senate shall preside during the nomination and election of the successor President. No legislative measures, other than such nominations and election, may be considered by the Senate during a vacancy in the Office of President.

(Senate Rule 2-3)

2-3. Election of the Minority Leader. The Senate shall elect a Minority Leader in a manner consistent with the Constitution and laws of Illinois.

(Senate Rule 2-4)

2-4. Assistant Leaders.

(a) The President and the Minority Leader shall appoint from within their respective caucuses the number of Assistant Majority Leaders and Assistant Minority Leaders as are allowed by law.

(b) These appointments shall take effect upon their being filed with the Secretary and shall remain effective for the duration of the term unless a vacancy occurs by reason of resignation or because an assistant leader has ceased to be a Senator. Successor assistant leaders shall be appointed in the same manner as their predecessors. Assistant leaders shall have those powers delegated to them by the President or Minority Leader, as the case may be.

(Senate Rule 2-5)

2-5. Powers and Duties of the President.

(a) The President shall have those powers conferred upon him or her by the Constitution, the laws of Illinois, and any motions or resolutions adopted by the Senate or jointly by the Senate and House.

(b) Except as provided by law with respect to the Senate Operations Commission, the President is the chief administrative officer of the Senate and shall have those powers necessary to carry out that function. The President may delegate his or her administrative duties as he or she deems appropriate.

(c) The powers and duties of the President shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) To preside at all sessions of the Senate, although the President may call on any member to preside temporarily.

(2) To open the session at the time at which the Senate is to meet by taking the podium and calling the members to order. The President may call on any member, or the Secretary in case of perfunctory session days, to open the session.

(3) To announce the business before the Senate in the order in which it is to be acted upon.

(4) To recognize those members entitled to the floor.

(5) To state and put to vote all questions that are regularly moved or that necessarily arise in the course of the proceedings, and to announce the result of the vote.

(6) To preserve order and decorum.

(7) To decide all points of order, subject to appeal, and to speak thereon in preference to other members.

(8) To inform the Senate when necessary, or when any question is raised, on any point of order or practice pertinent to the pending business.

(9) To sign or authenticate all acts, proceedings, or orders of the Senate. All writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by order of the Senate or one of its committees shall be signed by the President and attested by the Secretary.

(10) To sign all bills passed by both chambers of the General Assembly in order to certify that the procedural requirements for passage have been met.

(11) To have general supervision, including the duty to protect the security and safety, of the Senate chamber, galleries, and adjoining and connecting hallways and passages, including the power to clear them when necessary.

(12) To have general supervision of the Secretary and his or her assistants, the Sergeant-at-Arms and his or her assistants, the majority caucus staff, and all employees of the Senate except the minority caucus staff.

(13) To determine the number of majority caucus members and minority caucus members to be appointed to all committees, except the Rules Committee created by Rule 3-5.

(14) To appoint all majority caucus members of committees and to designate all Chairpersons, Co-Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of committees, except as the Senate otherwise orders in accordance with these Senate Rules.

(15) To enforce all constitutional provisions, statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to the Senate.

(16) To guide and direct the proceedings of the Senate subject to the control and will of the members as provided in these Senate Rules.

(17) To direct the Secretary during on regular session, veto session, special session, or perfunctory session days to read into the Senate record legislative measures and other papers.

(18) To direct the Secretary to correct non-substantive errors in the Journal.

(19) To assign meeting places and meeting times to committees.

(20) To decide, subject to the control and will of the members in accordance with these Senate Rules, all questions relating to the priority of business.

(21) To appoint a parliamentarian to serve at the pleasure of the President.

(d) The President, at his or her discretion, may designate from among those members serving in the statutorily created positions of assistant majority leader, no more than one member to serve as the Senate Majority Leader. The Senate Majority Leader shall serve at the pleasure of the President and shall receive no additional compensation other than that provided statutorily for the position of assistant majority leader.

(e) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 2-6)

2-6. Powers and Duties of the Minority Leader.

(a) The Minority Leader shall have those powers conferred upon him or her by the Constitution, the laws of Illinois, and any motions or resolutions adopted by the Senate or jointly by the Senate and House.

(b) The Minority Leader shall appoint to all committees the members from the minority caucus and shall designate a Minority Spokesperson for each committee, except as the Senate otherwise orders in accordance with these Senate Rules.

(c) The Minority Leader shall have general supervision of the minority caucus staff.

(Senate Rule 2-7)

2-7. Secretary of the Senate.

(a) The Senate shall elect a Secretary, who may adopt appropriate policies or procedures for the conduct of his or her office. Except where the authority is by law given to the Senate Operations Commission, the President shall be the final arbiter of any dispute arising in connection with the operation of the Office of the Secretary.

(b) The duties of the Secretary shall include the following:

(1) To have custody of all bills, papers, and records of the Senate, which shall not be taken out of the Secretary's custody except in the regular course of business in the Senate.

(2) To endorse on every original bill and each copy its number, names of sponsors, the date of introduction, and the several orders taken on it. When printed, the names of the sponsors shall appear on the front page of the bill in the same order they appeared when introduced.

(3) To cause each bill to be placed on the desks of the members as soon as it is printed, or alternatively to provide for a method that any Senator may use to secure a copy of any bill he or she desires.

(4) To keep the Journal of the proceedings of the Senate and, under the direction of the President, correct errors in the Journal.

(5) To keep the transcripts of the debates of the Senate and make them available to the public under reasonable conditions.

(6) To keep the necessary records for the Senate and its committees and to prepare the Senate Calendar for each legislative day.

(7) To examine all Senate Bills and Constitutional Amendment Resolutions following Second Reading and prior to final passage, for the purpose of correcting any non-substantive errors therein, and to report the same back to the President promptly; to supervise the enrolling and engrossing of bills and resolutions, subject to the direction of the President; and to certify passage or adoption of legislative measures, and to note thereon the date of final Senate action. Any corrections suggested to the President by the Secretary, and thereafter approved by the Senate, shall be entered upon the Journal.

(8) To transmit bills, other documents, and other messages to the House and secure a receipt therefor, and to receive from the House bills, documents, and receipts therefor.

(9) To file with the Secretary of State those debate transcripts and Senate documents as are required by law.

(10) To attend every session of the Senate; record the roll; and read into the Senate record legislative measures and other papers as directed by the Presiding Officer. Bills shall be read by title only. Upon initial reading, motions may be read by title and sponsor only.

(11) To supervise all Assistant Secretaries and other employees of his or her office, as well as all committee clerks in their capacity as committee clerks.

(12) To establish the format for all documents, forms, and committee records prepared by committee clerks.

(13) To perform those duties as assigned by the President.

(Senate Rule 2-8)

2-8. Assistant Secretary of the Senate. The Senate shall, in a manner consistent with the laws of Illinois, elect an Assistant Secretary, who shall perform those duties assigned to him or her by the Secretary.

(Senate Rule 2-9)

2-9. Sergeant-at-Arms. The Senate shall elect a Sergeant-at-Arms who shall perform those duties assigned to him or her by law, or as are ordered by the President or Presiding Officer. Such duties shall include the following:

(1) To attend the Senate during its sessions and execute the commands of the Senate, together with all process issued by authority of the Senate, that are directed to him or her by the President or Presiding Officer.

(2) To maintain order among spectators admitted into the Senate chambers, galleries, and adjoining or connecting hallways and passages.

(3) To take proper measures to prevent interruption of the Senate.

(4) To supervise any Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms.

(5) To perform those duties as assigned by the President.

(Senate Rule 2-10)

2-10. Schedule.

(a) The President shall periodically establish a schedule of days on which the Senate shall convene in regular and veto session, with that schedule subject to revisions at the discretion of the President. The President may also at his or her discretion schedule perfunctory sessions session days of the Senate. The President may establish deadlines for the following legislative actions:

(1) Final day to request bills from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

(2) Final day for introduction of bills.

(3) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to report Senate bills, except Senate appropriations bills.

(4) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to report Senate appropriation bills.

(5) Final day for Third Reading and passage of Senate bills, except Senate appropriation bills.

(6) Final day for Third Reading and passage of Senate appropriation bills.

(7) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to report House appropriation bills.

(8) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to report House bills, except appropriation bills.

(9) Final day for Third Reading and passage of House appropriation bills.

(10) Final day for Third Reading and passage of House non-appropriation bills.

(b) The President may establish additional deadlines for final action on conference committee reports and any categories of joint action motions.

(c) The foregoing deadlines shall become effective upon being filed by the President with the Secretary. The Secretary shall Journalize the deadlines.

(d) At any time, the President may schedule alternative deadlines for any legislative action pursuant to written notice filed with the Secretary.

(e) The President may schedule deadlines for any other action on any category of legislative measure as he or she deems appropriate pursuant to written notice filed with the Secretary.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

(Senate Rule 3-1)

3-1. Committees.

(a) The committees of the Senate are: (i) the standing committees listed in Rule 3-4; (ii) special committees created by resolution or notice under Rule 3-3; and (iii) special subcommittees created by standing committees or by special committees under Rule 3-3. Subcommittees may not create subcommittees.

(b) All committees shall have a Chairperson and Minority Spokesperson, who shall not be of the same caucus, except as provided in Rule 3-2. Committees of the whole shall consist of all Senators. The number of majority caucus members and minority caucus members of all standing committees, and all other committees unless otherwise ordered by the Senate in accordance with these Senate Rules, shall be determined by the President. The numbers of majority caucus and minority caucus members shall become final upon the President filing with the Secretary an appropriate notice, which shall be Journalized.

(c) The Chairperson of a committee shall have the authority to call the committee to order, designate which legislative measures shall be taken up, order the roll call vote to be taken on each legislative measure called for a vote, preserve order and decorum during committee meetings, assign legislative measures to special subcommittees of the parent committee, jointly sign and issue subpoenas with the President, and implement and supervise the business of the committee. The Vice-Chairperson of a committee may preside over its meetings in the absence or at the direction of the Chairperson.

(d) A vacancy on a committee, or in the Chairperson or Minority Spokesperson position on a committee, occurs when a member resigns from that position or ceases to be a Senator. Resignations shall be made in writing to the Secretary, who shall promptly notify the President and Minority Leader. Absent concurrence by a majority of those elected, or as otherwise provided in Rule 3-5, no member who resigns from a committee shall be reappointed to that committee for the remainder of the term. Replacement members shall be of the same caucus as that of the member who resigns, and shall be appointed by the President or Minority Leader, depending upon the caucus of the resigning member. In the case of vacancies on special subcommittees that were created by committees, the parent committee shall fill the vacancy by motion.

(e) The Chairperson of a committee shall have the authority to call meetings of that committee, subject to the approval of the President in accordance with Rule 2-5(c)(19) 2-5(c)(17). Except as otherwise provided by these Senate Rules, committee meetings shall be convened in accordance with Rule 3-11.

(Senate Rule 3-2)

3-2. Membership and Officers of Standing Committees.

(a) At the commencement of the term, the members of each standing committee shall be appointed for the term by the President and the Minority Leader, except as provided in subsection (c) of this Rule or in Rule 3-5. The President shall appoint the Chairperson and the remaining committee members of the majority caucus (one of whom the President shall designate as Vice-Chairperson), and the Minority Leader shall appoint the Minority Spokesperson and the remaining committee members of the minority caucus, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this Rule. The appointments shall become immediately effective upon the delivery of appropriate correspondence from each of the respective leaders to the Secretary, regardless of whether the Senate is in session. The Chairperson and Minority Spokesperson shall serve at the pleasure of the President or Minority Leader, as the case may be. The Secretary shall Journalize all appointments. A standing committee is empowered to conduct business when a majority of the total number of committee members has been appointed.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate Rules, the President may appoint any two members to serve as Co-Chairpersons of a standing committee. Co-Chairpersons shall not be of the same caucus and shall serve at the pleasure of the President. A standing committee with Co-Chairpersons shall not have a Minority Spokesperson. For purposes of Section 1 of the General Assembly Compensation Act (25 ILCS 115/1), one Co-Chairperson shall be considered "chairman" and the other shall be considered "minority spokesperson". Co-Chairperson appointments shall become immediately effective upon the delivery of appropriate correspondence from the President to the Secretary, regardless of whether the Senate is in session. The Secretary shall Journalize all appointments.

(c) To maintain the efficient operation of the Senate, a committee member may be temporarily replaced due to illness or an unforeseen absence. The temporary appointment is effective upon delivery of appropriate correspondence from the President or Minority Leader, depending upon the caucus of the member affected, and shall remain effective for the duration of the illness or temporary absence.

(Senate Rule 3-3)

3-3. Special Committee and Subcommittees.

(a) The Senate may create special committees by resolution adopted by a majority of those elected. The President also may create special committees by filing a notice of the creation of the special committee with the Secretary. The appointed members of a special committee shall be designated by the President and the Minority Leader in the same manner outlined in Rule 3-2 with respect to standing committees.

(b) A committee may create a special subcommittee by motion adopted by a majority of those appointed. The members of a special subcommittee shall come from the membership of the creating committee, and shall be appointed in the manner determined by the creating committee.

(c) The resolution, motion, or notice creating a special committee or special subcommittee shall specify the subject matter of the special committee or subcommittee and the number of members to be appointed thereto, and may specify a reporting date during the term (in which event the special committee or subcommittee is abolished as of that date). Unless an earlier date is specified by resolution, motion, or notice, special committees and subcommittees shall expire at the end of the term.

(d) When the Senate is not in session, Special Temporary Committees may be created and appointed by the President. The actions of the President and of a Special Temporary Committee shall stand as the action of the Senate unless the action is amended or modified on a roll call vote by a majority of those elected during the next day the Senate convenes.

(e) In accordance with Section 1 of the General Assembly Compensation Act (25 ILCS 115/1), no Chairperson or Minority Spokesperson of a committee created under this Rule shall receive additional compensation for such service.

(Senate Rule 3-4)

3-4. Standing Committees. The Standing Committees of the Senate are as follows:

AGRICULTURE AND CONSERVATION

APPROPRIATIONS I

APPROPRIATIONS II

APPROPRIATIONS III

COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

EXECUTIVE

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

HIGHER EDUCATION

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

INSURANCE

JUDICIARY - CIVIL LAW

JUDICIARY - CRIMINAL LAW

LABOR

LICENSED ACTIVITIES

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PENSIONS AND INVESTMENTS

PUBLIC HEALTH

REVENUE

STATE GOVERNMENT AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

TRANSPORTATION

(Senate Rule 3-5)

3-5. Service Committee.

(a) In addition to the standing committees, there is a permanent service committee known as the "Rules Committee". The Rules Committee shall have those powers and duties that are outlined in these Senate Rules, as well as those that may be periodically ordered in accordance with these Senate Rules.

(b) The Rules Committee shall consist of five members, three of whom shall be appointed by the President and two of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. Both the President and the Minority Leader shall be eligible to be appointed to the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee shall be empowered to conduct business when a majority of the total number of its members has been appointed.

(c) The majority caucus members of the Rules Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the President, and the minority caucus members shall serve at the pleasure of the Minority Leader. Appointments thereto shall be by notice filed with the Secretary, and shall be effective for the balance of the term or until a replacement appointment is made, whichever first occurs. Appointments shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary regardless of whether the Senate is in session. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate Rules, any Senator who is replaced on the Rules Committee may be reappointed to the Rules Committee without concurrence of the Senate.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate Rules, the Rules Committee may meet upon reasonable public notice. All legislative measures pending before the Rules Committee shall be eligible for consideration at any meeting thereof, and all such legislative measures shall be deemed posted for hearing by the Rules Committee for all of its meetings.

(e) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 3-6)

3-6. Referrals of Resolutions, Messages, and Reorganization Orders.

(a) All resolutions, after being initially read by the Secretary, shall be automatically referred to the Rules Committee unless the Presiding Officer determines that the resolution is a death resolution and orders that the resolution be placed on the Resolutions Consent Calendar. Resolutions determined by the Rules Committee to be of a non-substantive, commemorative, or congratulatory nature shall be returned to the principal sponsor for action pursuant to Rule 6-4. No resolution may be placed on the Resolutions Consent Calendar if any member objects.

(b) All messages from the Governor or any other executive branch Constitutional Officer regarding appointments that require confirmation by the Senate shall, after having been initially read by the Secretary, automatically be referred to the Executive Appointments Committee.

(c) All executive reorganization orders of the Governor issued pursuant to Article V, Section 11 of the Constitution, after being read into the record by the Secretary, shall automatically be referred to the Rules Committee for its referral to a committee, the latter of which may issue a recommendation to the Senate with respect to the executive order. The Senate may disapprove of any executive order only by resolution adopted by a majority of those elected; no such resolution is in order until a committee has reported to the Senate on the executive reorganization, or until the executive order has been discharged pursuant to Rule 7-9.

(Senate Rule 3-7)

3-7. Rules Committee.

(a) The Rules Committee may consider any legislative measure referred to it pursuant to Rules 3-6, 3-8 and 3-9, by motion or resolution, or by order of the Presiding Officer upon initial reading. The Rules Committee may, with the concurrence of a majority of those appointed, sponsor motions or resolutions; notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate Rules, any motion or resolution sponsored by the Rules Committee may be immediately considered by the Senate without reference to a committee.

(b) During even-numbered years, the Rules Committee shall refer to a committee of the Senate only appropriation bills implementing the budget and other legislative measures deemed by the Rules Committee to be of an emergency nature or to be of substantial importance to the operation of government. This subsection (b) applies equally to Senate Bills and House Bills introduced into or received by the Senate.

(Senate Rule 3-8)

3-8. Referrals to Committees.

(a) All Senate Bills and House Bills shall, after having been initially read by the Secretary, be automatically referred to the Rules Committee, which may thereafter refer any bill before it to a committee. The Rules Committee may refer any resolution before it to a committee. No bill or resolution may be referred to a committee except pursuant to this Rule or Rule 7-17. A standing or special committee may refer a matter pending in that committee to a special subcommittee of that committee.

(b) All floor amendments, joint action motions for final action, and conference committee reports shall, upon filing with the Secretary, be automatically referred to the Rules Committee. No such amendment, joint action motion, or conference committee report may be considered by the Senate unless approved for consideration by the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee may approve for consideration to the Senate any floor amendment, joint action motion for final action, or conference committee report that: (i) consists of language that has previously been favorably reported to the Senate by a committee; (ii) consists of technical or clarifying language; or (iii) consists of language deemed by the Rules Committee to be of an emergency nature, of substantial importance to the operation of government, or in the best interests of Illinois. The Rules Committee may refer any floor amendment, joint action motion for final action, or conference committee report to a committee for its review and consideration (in those instances, and notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate Rules, the committee may hold a hearing on and consider those legislative measures pursuant to one-hour advance notice). Any floor amendment, joint action motion for final action, or conference committee report that is not approved for consideration or referred by the Rules Committee, and is attempted to be acted upon by a committee shall be out of order, except as provided for under Rule 8-4.

(c) All committee amendments shall, upon filing with the Secretary, be automatically referred to the Rules Committee. No committee amendment may be considered by a committee unless the committee amendment is referred to the committee by the Rules Committee. Any committee amendment referred by the Rules Committee shall be referred to the committee before which the underlying bill or resolution is pending. Any committee amendment that is not referred by the Rules Committee to a committee, and is attempted to be acted upon by a committee shall be out of order.

(d) The Rules Committee may at any time re-refer a legislative measure from a committee to a Committee of the Whole or to any other committee.

(e) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 3-9)

3-9. Re-Referrals to the Rules Committee.

(a) All legislative measures, with the exception of resolutions to amend the State Constitution, that have failed to meet the applicable deadline established in accordance with Rule 2-10 for reporting to the Senate by a standing committee shall automatically be re-referred to the Rules Committee unless: (i) the deadline has been suspended pursuant to Rule 7-17, with re-referral to the Rules Committee to occur if the bill has not been reported to the Senate in accordance with the revised deadline; or (ii) the Rules Committee has issued a written exception to the Secretary with respect to a particular bill prior to the reporting deadline, with re-referral to occur, if at all, in accordance with the written exception. Should the President in accordance with Rule 2-10 establish deadlines for action on joint action motions or conference committee reports, the foregoing re-referral provisions and exceptions shall apply with respect to those legislative measures that fail to meet those deadlines.

(b) All legislative measures, with the exception of resolutions to amend the State Constitution, pending before the Senate or any of its committees shall automatically be re-referred to the Rules Committee on the 31st consecutive day that the Senate has not convened for session unless: (i) this Rule has been suspended in accordance with Rule 7-17; or (ii) the Rules Committee has issued a written exception to the Secretary prior to that 31st day.

(Senate Rule 3-10)

3-10. Reporting by Committees. Committees shall report to the Senate, and subcommittees shall report to their parent committees.

(Senate Rule 3-11)

3-11. Committee Procedure.

(a) A committee may consider any legislative measure referred to it and may make with respect to that legislative measure one of the following reports to the Senate or to the parent committee, as appropriate:

(1) that the bill "do pass";

(2) that the bill "do not pass";

(3) that the bill "do pass as amended";

(4) that the bill "do not pass as amended";

(5) that the resolution "be adopted";

(6) that the resolution "be not adopted";

(7) that the resolution "be adopted as amended";

(8) that the resolution "be not adopted as amended";

(9) that the floor amendment, joint action motion, or conference committee report "recommend do adopt";

(10) that the floor amendment, joint action motion, or conference committee report "recommend do not adopt";

(11) "without recommendation"; or

(12) that the legislative measure "be re-referred to the Rules Committee".

Any of the foregoing reports may only be made upon the concurrence of a majority of those appointed. All legislative measures reported "do pass", "do pass as amended", "be adopted", "be adopted as amended", or "be approved for consideration" shall be deemed favorably reported to the Senate. Except as otherwise provided by these Senate Rules, any legislative measure referred to a committee and not reported pursuant to this Rule shall remain in that committee. Pursuant to Rules 3-11(g) and 7-10, a committee may report a legislative measure as tabled.

(b) No bill that provides for an appropriation or expenditure of money from the State Treasury may be considered for passage by the Senate unless it has first been reported to the Senate by an Appropriations Committee, unless:

(1) the bill was discharged from an Appropriations Committee in accordance with Rule 7-9;

(2) the bill was exempted from this requirement by a majority of those appointed to the Rules Committee; or

(3) this Rule was suspended in accordance with Rule 7-17.

(c) The Chairperson of each committee shall keep, or cause to be kept, a record in which there shall be entered:

(1) The time and place of each meeting of the committee.

(2) The attendance of committee members at each meeting.

(3) The votes cast by the committee members on all legislative measures acted upon by the committee.

(4) All witness slips that may have been presented to the committee.

(5) Such additional information as may be requested by the Secretary.

(d) The committee Chairperson shall file with the Secretary, along with every bill or resolution reported upon, a sheet containing such information as is required by the Secretary. The Secretary may adopt forms, policies, and procedures with respect to the preparation, filing, and maintenance of these reports.

(e) Except as provided in Rule 3-5 or 3-8 or unless this Rule is suspended pursuant to Rule 7-17, no committee may consider or conduct a hearing with respect to a legislative measure absent notice first being given as follows:

(1) The Chairperson of the committee shall, no later than six days before any proposed hearing, post a notice on the Senate bulletin board, or electronically make the notice available, identifying each legislative measure that may be considered during that hearing. The notice shall contain the day, hour, and place of the hearing.

(2) Meetings of the Rules Committee may be called pursuant to Rule 3-5; meetings of committees to consider floor amendments, joint action motions, and conference committee reports may be called pursuant to Rule 3-8.

(3) The Chairperson shall, in advance of a committee hearing, notify all principal sponsors of legislative measures posted for hearing of the date, time, and place of hearing. When practicable, the Secretary shall include a notice of all scheduled hearings, together with all posted bills and resolutions, in the Daily Calendar of the Senate.

Irrespective of whether a legislative measure has been posted for hearing, it shall be in order for a committee during any of its meetings to refer that legislative measure pending before it to a subcommittee of that committee.

(f) Other than the Rules Committee, no committee may meet during any session of the Senate, and no commission created by Illinois law that has legislative membership may meet during any session of the Senate.

(g) Regardless of whether notice has been previously given, it is always in order for a committee to order any legislative measure pending before it to lie on the table when the principal sponsor so requests. When reported to the Senate, such committee action shall stand as the action of the Senate.

(h) When a committee fails to report a legislative measure pending before it to the Senate, or when a committee fails to hold a public hearing on a legislative measure pending before it, the exclusive means of bringing that legislative measure directly before the Senate for its consideration is pursuant to Rule 7-9.

(i) No bill or resolution may be called for a vote in committee in the absence of the principal sponsor, or the chief cosponsor when the committee so consents, without the approval of the principal sponsor.

(j) A committee may conduct a legislative investigation with regard to legislative measures pending before the committee.

(Senate Rule 3-12)

3-12. Committee Reports.

(a) All bills favorably reported to the Senate from a committee, or with respect to which a committee has been discharged, shall stand on the order of Second Reading unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, and may be amended only on Second Reading. Bills reported to the Senate from committee "do not pass", "do not pass as amended", "be not approved for consideration", or "without recommendation" shall lie on the table.

(b) All floor amendments, joint action motions, and conference committee reports favorably reported to the Senate from a committee shall be before the Senate and eligible for consideration by the Senate when it is on an appropriate order of business (floor amendments may be considered by the Senate only when the bill to be amended is on Second Reading). All floor amendments, joint action motions, and conference committee reports that are reported to the Senate from committee "recommend do not adopt" "be not adopted", "be not approved for consideration", or "without recommendation" shall lie on the table.

(c) All resolutions favorably reported to the Senate from a committee, or with respect to which a committee has been discharged, shall stand on the order of Resolutions. All resolutions that are reported to the Senate from committee "be not adopted", "be not adopted as amended", or "without recommendation" shall lie on the table. Floor amendments to resolutions shall be subject to the same procedure applicable to floor amendments to bills.

(Senate Rule 3-13)

3-13. Witnesses, Oaths, Affirmations, and Subpoenas.

(a) Standing committees may administer oaths (or affirmations) and may compel, by subpoena, any person or entity to (i) appear and give testimony as a witness before the standing committee, (ii) produce papers, documents, and other materials relating to a legislative measure pending before the standing committee, or (iii) do both (i) and (ii).

(b) Special committees may administer oaths (or affirmations) and may compel, by subpoena, any person or entity to (i) appear and give testimony before the special committee, (ii) produce papers, documents, and other materials relating to the subject matter for which the special committee was created or relating to a legislative measure pending before the special committee, or (iii) do both (i) and (ii).

(c) A committee of the whole may administer oaths (or affirmations) and may compel, by subpoena, any person or entity to (i) appear and give testimony before the committee of the whole, (ii) produce papers, documents, and other materials relating to the subject matter for which the committee of the whole was created or relating to a legislative measure pending before the committee of the whole, or (iii) do both (i) and (ii).

(d) Oaths may be administered under this Rule by the Presiding Officer or by the Chairperson of a committee or any person sitting in his or her stead.

(e) Subpoenas issued under this Rule must be issued and signed by the Chairperson of the committee and must comply with Rule 2-5(c)(9).

(f) A subpoena may specify terms and times of production other than at a meeting or hearing of the committee issuing the subpoena.

(g) A subpoenaed witness has all the rights and privileges afforded him or her under the rules, laws, and constitution of the State of Illinois.

(h) A witness who gives testimony under subpoena has a right to counsel of his or her own choosing.

(i) A witness who gives testimony under subpoena may be compensated for travel expenses to the same extent as legislators and legislative employees under the Rules of the Legislative Travel Control Board.

(j) The President and the Chairperson of the committee issuing a subpoena each have standing to enforce the subpoena in any court of competent jurisdiction within the State of Illinois, and seek enforcement remedies recognized under the rules, laws, and constitution of the State of Illinois.

(k) In the case of special committees with Co-Chairpersons from different political parties, the term "Chairperson" for purposes of this Rule means the Co-Chairperson from the majority caucus.

ARTICLE IV

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

(Senate Rule 4-1)

4-1. Sessions of the Senate.

(a) The Senate shall be deemed in session whenever it convenes in perfunctory session, regular session, veto session, or special session. Members shall be entitled to per diem expense reimbursements only on those regular, veto, and special session days that they are in attendance at the Senate. Attendance by members is not required or recorded during on perfunctory sessions session days.

(b) Regular and veto session days shall be scheduled with notice by the President in accordance with Rule 2-10. Special session days shall be scheduled in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Illinois.

(c) The President, at his or her discretion, may schedule perfunctory sessions session days during which the Secretary may read into the Senate record any legislative measure. Properly convened committees may meet and may consider and act upon legislative measures during a perfunctory session day, and the Secretary may receive and read committee reports into the Senate record during a perfunctory session day. Excepting any automatic referral provisions of these Senate Rules, no action may be taken by the Senate with respect to a legislative measure during a perfunctory session day.

(d) The President may also schedule perfunctory sessions session days for the purpose of affording those members designated by the President and Minority Leader an opportunity to negotiate with respect to any unfinished business of the Senate without necessitating the presence of all members and the related costs to Illinois taxpayers.

(Senate Rule 4-2)

4-2. Hour of Meeting. Unless otherwise ordered by the Presiding Officer or by a majority of those elected, the Senate shall regularly convene at noon.

(Senate Rule 4-3)

4-3. Entitled to Floor.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in these Senate Rules, only the following persons shall be admitted to the Senate while it is in session: members and officers of the General Assembly; elected officers of the executive branch; justices of the Supreme Court; the designated aide to the Governor; the parliamentarian; majority staff members and minority staff members, except as limited by the Presiding Officer; former Presidents of the Senate, except as limited by the President or prohibited under subsection (d); former members who served in the Senate at any time during the past four years, except as limited by the President or prohibited under subsection (d); and employees of the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Legislative Information System, except as limited by the President. Representatives of the press, while the Senate is in session, may have access to the galleries and places allotted to them by the President. No person is entitled to the floor unless appropriately attired.

(b) On days during which the Senate is in session, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the floor of all persons not entitled to access the floor a quarter hour before the convening time, and he or she shall enforce all other provisions of this Rule.

(c) The Senate may authorize, by motion adopted by majority vote, the admission to the floor of any other person, except as prohibited under subsection (d).

(d) No person who is directly or indirectly interested in defeating or promoting any pending legislative measure, if required to be registered as a lobbyist, is allowed access to the floor of the Senate at any time during the session.

(e) When he or she deems it necessary for the preservation of order, the Presiding Officer may by order remove any person from the floor of the Senate. A Senator may be removed from the floor only pursuant to Rule 11-1.

(Senate Rule 4-4)

4-4. Daily Order. Unless otherwise determined by the Presiding Officer, the daily order of business of the Senate shall be as follows:

(1) Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance.

(2) Reading and Approval of the Journal.

(3) Reading of Senate Bills a first time.

(4) Reports from committees, with reports from the Rules Committee ordinarily made at any time.

(5) Presentation of Resolutions, Petitions, and Messages.

(6) Introduction of Senate Bills.

(7) Messages from the House, not including reading House Bills a first time.

(8) Reading of Senate Bills a second time.

(9) Reading of Senate Bills a third time.

(10) Reading of House Bills a third time.

(11) Reading of House Bills a second time.

(12) Reading of House Bills a first time.

(13) Senate Bills on the Order of Concurrence.

(14) House Bills on the Order of Non-Concurrence.

(15) Conference Committee Reports.

(16) Motions in Writing.

(17) Constitutional Amendment Resolutions.

(18) Motions with respect to Vetoes.

(19) Consideration of Resolutions.

(20) Motions to Discharge Committee.

(21) Motions to Take from the Table.

(22) Motions to Suspend the Rules.

(23) Consideration of Bills on the Order of Postponed Consideration.

(Senate Rule 4-5)

4-5. Quorum.

(a) A majority of those elected shall constitute a quorum of the Senate, and a majority of those appointed shall constitute a quorum of a committee, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, or recess for less than one day, and compel the attendance of absent members. The attendance of absent members may also be compelled by order of the President.

(b) The question of the presence of a quorum in any committee may not be raised on consideration of a legislative measure by the Senate unless the same question was previously raised before the committee with respect to that legislative measure.

(Senate Rule 4-6)

4-6. Approval of the Journal. The President or his or her designee shall periodically examine and report to the Senate any corrections he or she deems should be made in the Journal before it is approved. If these corrections are approved by the Senate, they shall be made by the Secretary.

(Senate Rule 4-7)

4-7. Executive Sessions. The sessions of the Senate shall be open to the public. Sessions and committee meetings of the Senate may be closed to the public if, pursuant to Article IV, Section 5(c) of the Constitution, two-thirds of the members elected determine that the public interest so requires.

(Senate Rule 4-8)

4-8. Length of Adjournment. Pursuant to Article IV, Section 15(a) of the Constitution, the Senate shall not adjourn, without the consent of the House, for more than three days, nor to another place than that in which the two chambers of the General Assembly are sitting. The Senate shall be in session on any day in which it shall convene in perfunctory session, regular session, veto session, or special session.

(Senate Rule 4-9)

4-9. Transcript of the Senate. In accordance with Article IV, Section 7(b) of the Constitution, nothing contained in the official transcript of the Senate shall be changed or expunged except by written request of a Senator to the Secretary and Presiding Officer, which request may be approved only on a roll call vote of three-fifths of the members elected.

ARTICLE V

BILLS AND AMENDMENTS

(Senate Rule 5-1)

5-1. Bills.

(a) A bill may be introduced in the Senate by sponsorship of one or more members of the Senate, whose names shall be on the printed copies of the bills, in the Senate Journal, and in the Legislative Digest. The principal sponsor shall be the first name to appear on the bill and may be joined by no more than four chief cosponsors with the approval of the principal sponsor; other cosponsors shall be separated from the principal sponsor and any chief cosponsors by a comma. By motion, the sponsorship of a bill may be changed to that of another Senator (or Senators, as the case may be), or to that of the standing committee to which the bill was referred or from which the bill was reported. Such a motion may be made at any time the bill is pending before the Senate or any of its committees.

(b) The principal sponsor of a bill shall control the bill. A committee-sponsored bill shall be controlled by the Chairperson of the committee, who for purposes of these Senate Rules shall be deemed the principal sponsor. Committee-sponsored bills may not have individual co-sponsors.

(c) The House sponsor of a bill originating in the House may request substitute Senate sponsorship of that bill by filing a notice with the Secretary; that notice shall automatically be referred to the Rules Committee and deemed adopted if approved by the Rules Committee. If disapproved by the Rules Committee, the notice shall lie on the table. If the Rules Committee fails to act on any such notice, that notice may be discharged pursuant to Rule 7-9.

(d) All bills introduced in the Senate shall be read by title a first time, ordered printed, and automatically referred to the Rules Committee in accordance with Rule 3-8. When a House Bill is received, it shall be taken up, ordered printed, and placed on the order of House Bills on First Reading; after having been read a first time, it shall automatically be referred to the Rules Committee in accordance with Rule 3-8.

(e) All bills introduced into the Senate shall be accompanied by twelve copies. Any bill that amends a statute shall indicate the particular changes in the following manner:

(1) All new matter shall be underscored.

(2) All matter that is to be omitted or superseded shall be shown crossed with a line.

(f) No bill shall be passed by the Senate except on a roll call vote of a majority of those elected. A bill that has lost and has not been reconsidered may not thereafter be revived.

(Senate Rule 5-2)

5-2. Reading and Printing of Bills. Every bill shall be read by title on three different days prior to passage by the Senate, and the bill and all adopted amendments thereto shall be printed before the vote is taken on its final passage.

(Senate Rule 5-3)

5-3. Printing and Distribution. The Secretary shall, as soon as any bill is printed, deliver to the Sergeant-at-Arms sufficient copies to furnish each Senator with a copy, and the Sergeant-at-Arms shall at once cause the bills to be distributed upon the desks of the Senators. Alternatively, and pursuant to Rule 2-7(b)(3), the Secretary may establish a method any Senator may use to secure a copy of any bill he or she desires.

(Senate Rule 5-4)

5-4. Amendments.

(a) An amendment to a bill may be adopted either by a standing committee when the bill is before that committee, or by the Senate when a bill is on the order of Second Reading. The former shall be known as a "committee amendment" and the latter as a "floor amendment". All amendments must be in writing. All amendments still pending in a committee upon the passage or defeat of a bill on Third Reading shall automatically be tabled.

(b) Committee amendments may only be offered by the principal sponsor or a member of the committee while the affected bill is before the committee, and shall be adopted by a majority of those appointed. Floor amendments may only be offered by a Senator while the bill is on the order of Second Reading, and shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Senate. An amendment may be the subject of a motion to "do adopt" or "do not adopt", and may only be adopted pursuant to a successful motion to "do adopt".

(c) Committee amendments and floor amendments shall be filed with the Secretary, and shall be in order only when twelve copies have been filed. The Secretary shall provide copies of committee amendments to the Chairperson and Minority Spokesperson of the appropriate committee as soon as practicable.

(d) The Secretary shall have printed all adopted committee amendments that come before the Senate pursuant to Rule 3-12. The Secretary shall also have printed all adopted floor amendments. No floor amendment may be adopted by the Senate unless it has been first reproduced and placed on the members' desks.

(e) No floor or committee amendment shall be in order unless approved or referred by the Rules Committee in accordance with Rule 3-8 or brought before the Senate pursuant to Rule 7-9.

(f) Amendments that propose to alter any existing law shall set forth completely the statutory Sections amended, and shall conform to the requirements of Rule 5-1(e).

(g) If a committee reports a bill "do pass as amended", the committee amendments shall be deemed adopted by the committee action and shall be reproduced and placed on the members' desks before the bill may be read a second time.

(Senate Rule 5-5)

5-5. Fiscal and Other Notes. The Senate shall comply with all effective Illinois laws requiring notes on any bill, including without limitation the Fiscal Note Act, the Pension Impact Note Act, the Judicial Note Act, the State Debt Impact Note Act, the Correctional Budget and Impact Note Act, the Home Rule Note Act, the Balanced Budget Note Act, the Housing Affordability Impact Note Act, and the State Mandates Act, all as amended. All such notes shall be filed with the Secretary with a time stamp endorsing the date and time received, and shall then be attached to the original of the bill and be available for inspection by the members. As soon as practicable, the Secretary shall provide a copy of the note to the Legislative Reference Bureau, which shall provide an informative summary of the note in subsequent issues of the Legislative Digest.

ARTICLE VI

RESOLUTIONS AND CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION

(Senate Rule 6-1)

6-1. Resolutions.

(a) A resolution shall be introduced in the Senate by sponsorship of one or more members of the Senate, and the names of all sponsors shall be printed in the Senate Journal and in the Legislative Digest. Each resolution introduced shall be accompanied by twelve copies.

(b) Any resolution calling for the expenditure of State funds may be adopted only by a roll call vote of a majority of those elected.

(c) The Secretary shall periodically print a Resolutions Consent Calendar, which the Secretary shall periodically distribute prior to its consideration by the Senate (generally the last daily session of the week). No debate is in order regarding any resolution appearing on the Resolutions Consent Calendar. All resolutions appearing on the Resolutions Consent Calendar may be adopted in one motion; however, any Senator may vote "no" or "present" on any resolution appearing on the Resolutions Consent Calendar by providing written notice of that intention to the Secretary prior to the vote on the Resolutions Consent Calendar. Prior to the adoption of any resolution on the Resolutions Consent Calendar, if any three members file with the Secretary a written objection to the presence of a resolution thereon, that resolution shall be removed from the Resolutions Consent Calendar and is automatically referred to the Rules Committee.

(Senate Rule 6-2)

6-2. State Constitutional Amendments. All resolutions introduced in the Senate proposing amendments to the Constitution shall be printed in the same manner in which bills are printed. Every such resolution that originated in the House and is presented to the Senate shall be ordered printed in like manner unless the resolution has been similarly printed by the House in the same form in which it was presented to the Senate. No such resolution may be adopted unless read in full in its final form on three different days. Amendments to these resolutions may be in order on the initial First and Second Readings only.

(Senate Rule 6-3)

6-3. Federal Constitutional Amendments and Constitutional Conventions. The affirmative vote of three-fifths of those elected shall be required to adopt any resolution:

(1) requesting Congress to call a federal constitutional convention;

(2) ratifying a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States; or

(3) to call a State convention to ratify a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

(Senate Rule 6-4)

6-4. Certificates of Recognition. Any member may sponsor a certificate of recognition with the name and signature of the member, and attested by the Secretary with the State Seal attached to recognize any person, organization, or event worthy of public commendation. The form of the Certificate of Recognition shall be determined by the Secretary with the approval of the President and Minority Leader.

ARTICLE VII

PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE

(Senate Rule 7-1)

7-1. Voting within Bar. No Senator shall be permitted to vote on any question before the Senate unless on the floor before the vote is announced. No member of a committee may vote except in person at the time of the call of the committee vote. Any vote of the Senate shall be by roll call whenever two Senators so request or whenever the Presiding Officer so orders.

(Senate Rule 7-2)

7-2. Announcing a Roll Call Vote. When a roll call vote is requested, the Presiding Officer shall put the question and then announce to the Senate: "The voting is open.". While the roll call is being taken, the Presiding Officer shall state: "Have all voted who wish?". The voting is closed when the Presiding Officer announces: "Take the Record.". The Presiding Officer, unless an intervening motion to postpone consideration by the principal sponsor is made, shall then announce the results of the roll call. No Senator is permitted to vote or to change his or her vote after the Presiding Officer announces: "Take the Record.".

(Senate Rule 7-3)

7-3. Decorum and Debate.

(a) When any Senator is about to speak or deliver any matter to the Senate, he or she shall rise and address the Presiding Officer as "Mister President" or "Madam President", as the case may be. Upon being recognized by the Chair, the latter will address the Senator by name and thereupon, and not until then, the engineer in charge of operating the microphones in the Senate will give the use of the microphone to the Senator who has been so recognized. The Senator in speaking shall confine himself or herself to the subject matter under discussion and avoid personalities.

(b) The Presiding Officer may at his or her discretion, and with consideration for the efficient operation of the Senate, determine whether any member shall be afforded the floor for the purpose of introduction of guests in the gallery. Questions affecting the rights, reputation, and conduct of members of the Senate in their representative capacity are questions of personal privilege. A matter of personal explanation does not constitute a question of personal privilege.

(c) If any Senator in speaking (or otherwise) transgresses these Senate Rules, the Presiding Officer shall, or any Senator may, call him or her to order, in which case the Senator so called to order shall sit down, unless permitted to explain; and the Senate, if appealed to, shall decide on the case without debate. If the decision is in favor of the Senator called to order, he or she is at liberty to proceed. If otherwise, and the case requires it, he or she is liable to the censure of the Senate.

(d) If any Senator is called to order for words spoken in debate, the person calling him or her to order shall repeat the words excepted to, and they shall be taken down by the Secretary. No Senator shall be held to answer or be subject to the censure of the Senate for words spoken in debate if any Senator has spoken in debate or other business has intervened after the words spoken and before exceptions to them shall have been taken.

(e) If two or more Senators rise at once, the Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is to speak first.

(f) No person shall give any signs of approbation or disapprobation while the Senate is in session.

(g) No Senator shall speak more than five minutes on the same question without the consent of the Senate, nor more than twice on that question. No Senator shall speak more than once until every Senator choosing to speak has spoken. No Senator may explain his or her vote.

(h) While the Presiding Officer is putting a question, no Senator shall leave or walk across the Senate Chamber. When a Senator is addressing the Senate, no Senator or other person entitled to the floor shall entertain private discourse or pass between the speaker and the Presiding Officer.

(i) In case of any disturbances or disorderly conduct in the lobby, gallery, or hallways adjoining the chamber, the President shall have the power to order the same to be cleared.

(j) All material placed on the desks of Senators shall contain the name of the Senator requesting its distribution.

(Senate Rule 7-4)

7-4. Motions, Generally. The following are general rules for all motions:

(1) Every motion, except to adjourn, recess, or postpone consideration, shall be reduced to writing if the Presiding Officer desires it. Unless otherwise provided in these Senate Rules, no second shall be required to any motion presented to the Senate. The Presiding Officer may refer any motion to the Rules Committee.

(2) Before the Senate debates a motion, the Presiding Officer shall state an oral motion and the Secretary shall read aloud a written motion.

(3) After a motion is stated by the Presiding Officer or read by the Secretary, it shall be deemed in the possession of the Senate, but may be withdrawn at any time before decision by consent of a majority of the Senate.

(4) If a motion is divisible, any member may call for a division of the question.

(5) Any question taken under consideration may be withdrawn, postponed, or tabled by unanimous consent or, if unanimous consent is denied, by a motion adopted by a majority vote.

(Senate Rule 7-5)

7-5. Precedence of Motions.

(a) When a question is under debate, no motion may be entertained except:

(1) to adjourn to a time certain;

(2) to adjourn;

(3) to question the presence of a quorum;

(4) to recess;

(5) to lay on the table;

(6) for the previous question;

(7) to postpone consideration;

(8) to commit or recommit; and

(9) to amend, except as otherwise provided in these Senate Rules.

The foregoing motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are listed.

(b) During a roll call, no motion (except a motion to postpone consideration) shall be in order until after the announcement of the result of the vote.

(c) A motion to commit or re-commit, until it is decided, precludes all amendments and debate on the main question. A motion to postpone consideration, until it is decided, precludes all amendments on the main question.

(Senate Rule 7-6)

7-6. Verification.

(a) After any roll call vote, except for a vote that requires a specific number of affirmative votes and that has not received the required votes, and before intervening business, it shall be in order for any Senator to request verification of the results of the roll call.

(b) In verifying a roll call vote, the Presiding Officer shall instruct the Secretary to call the names of those Senators whose votes are to be verified. The Senator requesting the verification may thereafter identify those members he or she wishes to verify. If a member does not answer, his or her vote shall be stricken; however, the member's vote shall be restored to the roll if his or her presence is recognized before the verification is completed. The Presiding Officer shall determine the presence or absence of each member whose name is called, and shall then announce the results of the verification.

(c) While the results of any roll call are being verified, it is in order for any Senator to announce his or her presence on the floor and thereby have his or her vote verified.

(d) A request for a verification of the affirmative and negative results of a roll call may be made only once on each roll call.

(e) No Senator shall be permitted to vote or to change his or her vote on verification.

(Senate Rule 7-7)

7-7. Appealing a Ruling.

(a) If any appeal is taken from a ruling of the Presiding Officer, the Presiding Officer shall be sustained unless three-fifths of the members elected vote to overrule the Presiding Officer. The motion to appeal requires a second, and it shall not be in order if the Senate has conducted intervening business since the ruling at issue was made.

(b) If any appeal is taken from a ruling of a committee Chairperson, the Chairperson shall be sustained unless three-fifths of those appointed vote to overrule the Chairperson. The motion to appeal requires a second, and it shall not be in order if the committee has adjourned or recessed, so long as intervening business has occurred.

(c) In an appeal of a ruling of the Presiding Officer or Chairperson, the question is: "Shall the ruling of the Chair be sustained?".

(d) This Rule may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 7-8)

7-8. Previous Question.

(a) A motion for the previous question may be made at any time. The motion for the previous question is not debatable and requires approval of a majority of those elected.

(b) The previous question shall be stated in the following form: "Shall the main question now be put?". Until the previous question is decided, all amendments and debate are precluded. When it is decided that the main question shall not be put, the main question shall be considered as remaining under debate.

(c) The effect of the main question being ordered is to put an end to all debate and bring the Senate to a direct vote on the immediately pending motion. After a motion for the previous question has been approved, unless the vote on the motion suggests the absence of a quorum, it is not in order to move for adjournment or to make any other motion prior to a decision on the main question.

(Senate Rule 7-9)

7-9. Discharge of Committee.

(a) A committee may be discharged from further consideration of a legislative measure by a vote of three-fifths of the members elected. Upon concurrence of a majority of those appointed, the Rules Committee may advance any legislative measure pending before it to the Senate without referral to another committee; however, the Rules Committee shall not so report any bill that has never been before a standing committee of the Senate.

(b) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 7-10)

7-10. Tabling.

(a) A motion to lay on the table applies only to the particular proposition and is neither debatable nor amendable.

(b) A motion to table a bill or resolution shall identify the bill or resolution by number. The principal sponsor of a bill or resolution may, with leave of the Senate, table his or her bill or resolution at any time. A motion to table a committee bill that is before the Senate may be adopted only by a majority of those elected.

(c) The principal sponsor of a bill or resolution before a committee may, with leave of the committee, table the bill or resolution. Upon such tabling, the Chairperson of the committee shall return the bill or resolution to the Secretary, noting thereon that it has been tabled.

(d) A motion to table an amendment adopted by the Senate on a voice vote or by a committee is in order on Second Reading. A motion to table a committee amendment has priority over a floor amendment. Motions to table amendments are debatable and may be adopted by a majority.

(Senate Rule 7-11)

7-11. Motion to Take from Table.

(a) A motion to take from the table shall require a majority of those elected if the Rules Committee has previously recommended that action by written notice filed with the Secretary; otherwise, a motion to take from the table shall require a three-fifths vote of the members elected.

(b) A bill taken from the table shall be placed on the Daily Calendar on the order on which it appeared before it was tabled.

(c) This Rule may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 7-12)

7-12. Motion to Postpone Consideration. A motion to postpone consideration on a legislative measure may not be made more than once on the same bill or proposition. Unless otherwise provided by these Senate Rules, a motion to postpone consideration shall be granted as a matter of privilege; however, no motion to postpone consideration is in order if the involved legislative measure initially received a vote of fewer than two-fifths of the members elected.

(Senate Rule 7-13)

7-13. Motion on Different Subject. No motion or other legislative measure on a subject different from that under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.

(Senate Rule 7-14)

7-14. Division of Question. If the question in debate contains several points, any Senator may have the same divided. On a motion to strike out and insert, it is not in order to move for a division of the question. The rejection of a motion to strike out and insert one proposition does not prevent a motion to strike out and insert a different proposition.

(Senate Rule 7-15)

7-15. Reconsideration.

(a) A member who voted on the prevailing side of a record vote on a legislative measure still within the control of the Senate may on the same or following day move to reconsider the vote. The motion to reconsider may be laid on the table without affecting the vote to which it referred. When the motion to reconsider is made during the last three scheduled days of regular session, or any time thereafter during the regular session, or at any time during a veto or special session, any member may move that the vote on reconsideration be taken immediately. A question that requires the votes of a majority of those elected or more to carry requires a majority of those elected to reconsider.

(b) A motion to reconsider a record vote on the adoption of an amendment to a bill may be made only on Second Reading. An amendment adopted by the Senate on a record vote may not be tabled by motion until its adoption has been reconsidered.

(c) If a motion to reconsider is made pursuant to this Rule and the motion is later tabled, the question shall not be further reconsidered. This subsection (c) may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of the members elected.

(d) When a motion to reconsider is made within the time prescribed by these Senate Rules, the Secretary shall not allow the bill or other subject matter of the motion to pass out of the possession of the Senate until after the motion has been decided or withdrawn. Such a motion shall be deemed rejected if laid on the table.

(e) A Senator who voted "present" or failed to vote on a question shall not have the right to move for reconsideration.

(f) Upon a motion to reconsider the vote on the final passage of any bill, the affirmative vote of a majority of those elected shall be required to reconsider the same.

(Senate Rule 7-16)

7-16. Motion to Adjourn.

(a) A motion to adjourn is in order at any time, except when a prior motion to adjourn has been defeated and no intervening business has transpired.

(b) A motion to adjourn is neither debatable nor amendable.

(c) The Secretary shall enter in the Journal the hour at which every motion to adjourn is made.

(d) Unless the Presiding Officer otherwise orders, the standing hour to which the Senate adjourns is 12:00 noon.

(e) A motion to adjourn for more than three days is not in order unless both chambers of the General Assembly have adopted a joint resolution permitting that adjournment.

(Senate Rule 7-17)

7-17. Amendment to or Suspension of Rules.

(a) Rules may be proposed or amended only by resolution. Any such resolution shall show the proposed changes in the existing Rules by underscoring all new matter and by crossing out with a line all matter that is to be omitted or superseded.

(b) Any resolution proposing to amend a Senate Rule or any Joint Senate-House Rule shall, upon initial reading by the Secretary, automatically be referred to the Rules Committee. Resolutions for amendment of the Senate Rules or any Joint Senate-House Rules may be initiated and sponsored by the Rules Committee; these resolutions shall not be referred to a committee and may be immediately considered and adopted by the Senate.

(c) A resolution to amend the Senate Rules or any Joint Senate-House Rules that has been reported "do adopt" or "do adopt as amended" by a majority of those appointed to the Rules Committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of those elected for adoption by the Senate. Any other resolution proposing to amend the Senate Rules or any Joint Senate-House Rules shall require the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected for adoption by the Senate.

(d) No Senate Rule or any Joint Senate-House Rule may be suspended except by unanimous consent of the Senators present or upon a motion supported by affirmative vote of a majority of those elected unless a higher number is required in the Rule sought to be suspended. A committee may not suspend any Rule.

(e) This Rule may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of those elected.

(Senate Rule 7-18)

7-18. Motion to Commit or Recommit. No motion to commit or recommit a legislative measure to committee, being decided in the negative, shall again be allowed on the same day, or at the same stage of the legislative measure.

(Senate Rule 7-19)

7-19. Effective Date.

(a) A bill passed after May 31 of a calendar year shall not become effective prior to June 1 of the next calendar year unless an earlier effective date is specified in the bill and it is approved by a three-fifths vote of the members elected.

(b) If a majority of those elected, but fewer than three-fifths of the members elected, vote affirmatively for a bill on Third Reading after May 31, where the bill specifies an effective date earlier than the following June 1, the bill shall not be declared passed, and the principal sponsor shall have the right to have the bill automatically reconsidered and returned to the order of Second Reading for an amendment to remove the earlier effective date. The amendment, if offered and approved by the Rules Committee, shall be reproduced and placed on the desks of the members before the bill is taken up again on the order of Third Reading.

(Senate Rule 7-20)

7-20. Home Rule. No bill denies or limits any power or function of a home rule unit, pursuant to paragraph (g), (h), (i), (j), or (k) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Constitution, unless there is specific language limiting or denying the power or function and the language specifically sets forth in what manner and to what extent it is a denial or limitation of the power or function of a home rule unit. If a majority of those elected, but fewer than three-fifths of the members elected, vote affirmatively for a bill on Third Reading that requires a vote of three-fifths of the members elected to deny or limit a power of a home rule unit, the bill shall not be declared passed, and the principal sponsor shall have the right to have the bill automatically reconsidered and returned to the order of Second Reading for an amendment to remove those effects of the bill. The amendment, if offered and approved by the Rules Committee, shall be reproduced and placed on the desks of the members before the bill is taken up again on the order of Third Reading. The Rules Committee may also refer the amendment to a committee.

ARTICLE VIII

JOINT ACTION

(Senate Rule 8-1)

8-1. Concurring in or Receding from Amendments.

(a) If a bill or resolution is received back in the Senate with amendments added by the House, it shall be in order for the principal sponsor only to present a motion "to concur" or "not to concur and ask the House to recede" with respect to those amendments. Any two members may demand a separate roll call on any such amendment.

(b) When the House has refused to concur in amendments added to a bill or resolution by the Senate and has returned the bill or resolution to the Senate with a message requesting the Senate to recede from its amendments, it shall be in order for the principal sponsor only to present a motion "to recede" from the Senate amendments or "not to recede and to request a conference". Any two members may demand a separate roll call on any such amendments.

(Senate Rule 8-2)

8-2. Conference Committees.

(a) A disagreement between the Senate and House exists with respect to any bill or resolution in the following situations:

(1) when the House refuses to recede from the adoption of any amendment, after the Senate has previously refused to concur in the amendment; or

(2) when the Senate refuses to recede from the adoption of any amendment, after the House has previously refused to concur in the amendment.

In these cases of disagreement between the Senate and House, the Senate may request a conference. When a request for conference is made, both chambers of the General Assembly shall appoint a committee to confer with the other on the subject of the bill or resolution giving rise to the disagreement. The combined committees of the two chambers appointed for this purpose is the conference committee.

(b) The conference committee shall consist of an equal number of members of each Chamber of the General Assembly. The number of majority caucus members from each chamber shall be one more than the number of minority caucus members from each chamber. A conference committee shall consist of five members from each chamber.

(c) In addition to the House members thereof, each conference committee shall be comprised of five Senators, three of whom shall be appointed by the President and two of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. No conference committee report may be filed with the Secretary until a majority of the Senate conferees has been appointed.

(Senate Rule 8-3)

8-3. Conference Committee Reports.

(a) No subject shall be included in any conference committee report on any bill unless that subject matter directly relates to the matters of difference between the Senate and House that have been referred to the conference committee unless the Rules Committee, by a majority vote of the members appointed, determines that the proposed subject matter is of an emergency nature, of substantial importance to the operation of government, or in the best interests of Illinois.

(b) No conference committee report shall be received by the Secretary or acted upon by the Senate unless it has been signed by at least six conferees. The report shall be signed in duplicate. One of the reports shall be filed with the Clerk of the House and one with the Secretary. The report shall contain the agreements reached by the committee.

(c) If the conference committee determines that it is unable to reach agreement, the committee shall so report to each chamber of the General Assembly and request appointment of a second conference committee. In the event of agreement, the committee shall so report to each chamber.

(Senate Rule 8-4)

8-4. Prerequisites for Senate Consideration.

(a) No joint action motion for final action or conference committee report may be considered by the Senate unless it has first been referred or approved by the Rules Committee in accordance with Rule 3-8, or unless the joint action motion or conference committee report has first been discharged from the Rules Committee pursuant to Rule 7-9.

(b) No conference committee report may be considered by the Senate unless it has first been made available electronically or otherwise for not less than one hour.

(c) Prior to any conference committee report on an appropriation bill being considered by the Senate, that conference committee report shall first be the subject of a public hearing by a standing Appropriations Committee (the conference committee report need not be referred to an Appropriations Committee, but instead may remain before the Rules Committee or the Senate, as the case may be). The hearing shall be held pursuant to not less than one hour advance notice by announcement on the Senate floor, or one day advance notice by posting on the Senate bulletin board or other electronic means. The Appropriations Committee shall not issue any report with respect to any conference committee report following any such hearing.

(d) Any Senate Bill amended in the House and returned to the Senate for concurrence in the House amendment shall be made available electronically or otherwise for not less than one hour before being further considered. No Senate Bill that is returned to the Senate with House amendments shall be called except by the principal sponsor.

(e) The report of a conference committee on a non-appropriation bill or resolution shall be confined to the subject of the bill or resolution referred to the conference committee. The report of a conference committee on an appropriations bill shall be confined to the subject of appropriations.

(Senate Rule 8-5)

8-5. Action on Conference Committee Reports.

(a) Each chamber of the General Assembly shall inform the other by message of any action taken with respect to a conference committee report. Copies of all papers necessary to a complete understanding of any such action shall accompany the message. The original bill or resolution shall remain in the chamber of origin.

(b) If either chamber refused to adopt the report of the conference committee, or the first conference committee is unable to reach agreement, either chamber may request a second conference committee. When such a request is made, each chamber shall again appoint a conference committee. If either chamber refuses to adopt the report of a second conference committee, the two chambers have adhered to their disagreement, and the bill or resolution is lost.

ARTICLE IX

VETOES

(Senate Rule 9-1)

9-1. Recording of Vetoes. Upon the receipt by the Senate of any bill returned by the Governor under any of the provisions of Article IV, Section 9 of the Constitution, the Secretary shall enter the objections of the Governor on the Journal, and shall distribute copies of all veto messages to each member's desk, together with copies of the vetoed bill or item, as soon as practicable.

(Senate Rule 9-2)

9-2. Amendatory Vetoes.

(a) The Governor's specific recommendations for change with respect to a bill returned under subsection (e) of Section 9 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution shall be limited to addressing the Governor's objections to portions of a bill, the general merit of which the Governor recognizes, and shall not alter the fundamental purpose or legislative scheme set forth in the bill as passed.

(b) Any motion to accept the Governor's specific recommendations for change shall automatically be referred to the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee shall examine the Governor's specific recommendations for change and determine by a majority of the members appointed whether those recommendations comply with the standard set forth in subsection (a). Any motion to accept specific recommendations for change that the Rules Committee determines shall be in compliance with subsection (a) of this Rule are subject to action by the Rules Committee in the same manner as floor amendments, joint action motions, and conference committee reports under Rule 3-8(b).

(c) This Rule may not be suspended.

(Senate Rule 9-3)

9-3. Motions to Consider Vetoes. For purposes of this Article, the term "motions" shall mean those motions to accept or override a veto of the Governor. Motions with respect to bills returned by the Governor may be made by the principal sponsor, the committee chairperson in the case of a committee bill, or by any member who voted on the prevailing side on the vote on final passage of the bill in question. Every motion shall be filed in writing with the Secretary, prior to any consideration thereof by the Senate. If more than one motion is filed with respect to any bill, all such motions shall be heard at the time the bill is called; however, after such a motion is adopted, no other motion on that veto may be considered. The motion of the principal sponsor or chairperson, in the case of committee bills, shall be considered first and all other motions considered in the order filed. If the principal sponsor does not call a bill within eight calendar days after the Governor's objections to the bill are entered in the Journal, thereafter any person filing such a motion may call the bill.

(Senate Rule 9-4)

9-4. Consideration of Motions.

(a) The vote to override a bill vetoed in its entirety shall be by roll call vote and shall be entered on the Journal. The form of motion with respect to such bills shall be: "I move that ______ Bill _____ do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor."

(b) The vote to override an item veto shall be by roll call vote as to each item separately and shall be entered on the Journal. The form of motion with respect to such item shall be: "I move that the item on page _____, line _____, of _____ Bill ______ do pass, notwithstanding the item veto of the Governor."

(c) The vote to restore an item which has been reduced shall be by roll call vote as to each item separately and shall be entered on the Journal. The form of motion with respect to such items shall be: "I move the item on page _____, line _____, of _____ Bill ______ be restored, notwithstanding the item reduction of the Governor."

(d) A bill returned together with specific recommendations of the Governor may be acted upon in either of the following manners:

(1) By a motion to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor. The form of motion in this event shall be: "I move to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor as to _____ Bill _____ in manner and form as follows: (inserting herein the language deemed necessary to effectuate the specific recommendations)"; or

(2) By considering the bill as a vetoed bill and overriding the recommendation and passing the bill in its original form. The form of motion in this event shall be: "I move that _____ Bill _____ do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor."

(Senate Rule 9-5)

9-5. Vetoed Bills Considered in Entirety. If a bill is returned by the Governor containing more than one veto, reduction, specific recommendation, or combination thereof, the bill shall be acted upon in its entirety before the bill is released from the custody of the Senate.

(Senate Rule 9-6)

9-6. Disposition of Vetoes. When a bill or item has received the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members elected (as to overrides of outright vetoes, item vetoes, and specific recommendations for change) or the affirmative vote of at least a majority of those elected (as to overrides of reductions or acceptances of specific recommendations for change), the Presiding Officer shall declare that the bill or item has been passed or restored over the veto of the Governor, or that the specific recommendations for change have been approved, as the case may be. The bill shall then be so certified by the Secretary who shall note thereon the day the bill passed. The bill and the objections of the Governor thereto shall then be immediately delivered to the House. When specific recommendations have been accepted, then such accepting language shall be attached to the original bill and the bill shall be delivered to the House.

ARTICLE X

NOMINATIONS

(Senate Rule 10-1)

10-1. Nominations.

(a) Every nomination subject to confirmation by the Senate shall be referred to the Executive Appointments Committee in accordance with Rule 3-6; nominations may also be considered by other committees in accordance with these Senate Rules. Each nominee shall be required to appear in person before that meeting of a committee convened for the purpose of considering the qualifications of the person for the office to which he or she has been nominated. The appearance of the nominee may be waived by the committee by a vote of a majority of those appointed.

(b) The Executive Appointments Committee shall, six days prior to any of its meetings, post a notice on the Senate bulletin board or make the notice electronically available indicating the nominees to be considered at its next meeting and the time, date, and place of the meeting. The Chairperson of the committee shall provide a copy of the notice to the Governor's Office of Legislative Affairs, which shall be responsible for notifying each nominee scheduled to be considered of the date, time, and place of hearing.

(c) On considering the report of the Executive Appointments Committee on a nomination, the Presiding Officer shall put the following question: "Does the Senate advise and consent to the nomination just made?" Whenever a group of nominees has been submitted together, five or more members may request the question be put and the vote separately taken upon each of the individuals in that group. The Senate may determine, by a majority vote of those elected, after having voted upon the question of one or more of the nominees individually, to act upon the question of the remaining nominees in that group as a unit.

(d) While any nomination remains with the Senate, it is in order to reconsider any vote taken thereon, subject to the provisions of Rule 7-15 not related to the time for making such a motion.

ARTICLE XI

DISCIPLINE AND PROTEST

(Senate Rule 11-1)

11-1. Disorderly Behavior.

(a) In accordance with Article IV, Section 6(d) of the Constitution, the Senate may punish any of its members for disorderly behavior and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected, expel a Senator (but not for a second time for the same cause). The reason for the expulsion shall be entered upon the Journal with the names and votes of those Senators voting on the question.

(b) In accordance with Article IV, Section 6(d) of the Constitution, the Senate during its session may punish by imprisonment any person other than a Senator guilty of disrespect of the Senate by disorderly or contemptuous behavior in its presence. The imprisonment shall not extend beyond 24 hours at one time unless the person persists in disorderly or contemptuous behavior.

(Senate Rule 11-2)

11-2. Protest. Any two Senators shall have the right to dissent and protest, in respectful language, against any act or resolution that they may think injurious to the public or to any individual, and have the reason of their protest entered upon the Journal. When by motion a majority of Senators determine that the language of a protest is not respectful, the protest shall be referred back to the protesting Senators.

ARTICLE XII

FORCE AND EFFECT

(Senate Rule 12-1)

12-1. Applicability. The meetings and actions of the Senate, including all of its committees, shall be governed by these Senate Rules.

(Senate Rule 12-2)

12-2. Robert's Rules. The rules of parliamentary practice appearing in the 10th edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Senate in all cases to which they are applicable, providing that they are not inconsistent with these Senate Rules.

(Senate Rule 12-3)

12-3. Certification by President. With respect to any bill that has been passed by the Senate and has been certified by the President in accordance with Article IV, Section 8(d) of the Constitution, there shall be an irrebuttable presumption that all of these Senate Rules have been fully complied with in obtaining such passage.

(Senate Rule 12-4)

12-4. Effective Date. These Rules shall be in full force and effect upon their adoption, and shall remain in full force and effect except as amended in accordance with these Senate Rules, or until superseded by new Rules adopted as part of the organization of a newly constituted General Assembly at the commencement of a term.