The Constitution of the Diocesan Conference of the Diocese of Monmouth as adopted on 13th October 2001
Appendix One — Standing Orders
- All meetings of the conference shall open and close with prayer.
- All notices of motion shall be received by the secretary not less than twenty-one days before the annual meeting and if allowed by the President shall be placed on the agenda paper. Any business may be brought forward at the annual general meeting by the President or with his consent.
- The business to be transacted at the annual meeting shall be included on the agenda paper which shall be sent to all the members of the conference at least ten days before the meeting.
- All motions and amendments shall be in writing, signed by the mover. Unless given to the secretary prior to the meeting, two copies thereof must be handed in by the mover, one to the President and the other to the secretary.
- Amendments on motions on the agenda paper of the annual meeting, sent to the secretary not later than five days before such meeting, shall take precedence of all other amendments, except motions of adjournment, or of the previous question.
- No amendment on an amendment shall be in order unless when an amendment shall have become a substantive motion.
- A motion from the floor for the suspension of standing orders shall not be in order unless a majority of the members present rise in support.
- (i) A motion which is set out in full on the agenda paper or its accompanying papers need not be read before being put , unless the President, or ten members (the latter signifying their intention by rising in their places) so require.
(ii) All other motions or amendments shall be read immediately before the vote thereon is taken. - Any member may move the previous question, and if this is carried, the next business shall be immediately proceeded with.
- Speeches shall not exceed five minutes with the exception of those made by the mover and seconder of a resolution, who shall be allowed ten minutes each. An amendment is not a resolution within the meaning of this order. The President may with the leave of the meeting extend the time for a speech.
- No member shall be allowed to speak more than once on the same question, except in explanation, or to order, provided that the mover of any resolution not being an amendment shall be allowed the liberty of reply.
- A member shall address the conference only for a position which is within range of a microphone and shall give his or her name, office (if any) and the parish or benefice from which he or she comes.
- If, during a debate, thirty members rise in their places and demand that a vote be now taken, the President shall put that question to the meeting for a decision by show of hands. If the meeting decides such question in the affirmative, a vote shall thereupon be taken on the question before the meeting provided that before such vote is taken the mover of a resolution, not being an amendment, shall be allowed the liberty of reply.
- Whenever the President rises during a debate, any member speaking or offering to speak shall immediately sit down.
- When the President shall have taken the chair, no member shall continue standing up, except when addressing the chair.
- If any member after due warning persists in being out of order or in speaking off the question, the President shall forthwith move that the said member be no longer heard. If such motion be carried and be disregarded by the said member, the President may suspend the member or at his discretion suspend the sitting of the conference.
- When a division is called, tellers of both the orders of clergy and laity shall be appointed by the President.