Delegation Language

The order of the day is the order in which bills will be presented within committees on Simulation day. Delegates may ask to "change the orders of the day" and, for example, present Bill 456 before Bill 453. The motion must be passed by a 2/3 vote.

Pillars are the main issues parties formed values on. For instance, there may be a pillar for education or another for ways and means. 

Each party has its own Party Platform. These are the set of beliefs and values a party holds on a specific issue. For instance, when referring to the pillar of basic rights, Republicans may be pro gun laws whereas Democrats may take a stance against it. The Party Platform is developed on Party Day through debates within delegates. 

An amendment is a requested change in legislation. Delegates may propose a change in writing before voting on the passage of the bill. The chair will read the bill with the amendment and ask the sponsor of the bill if they find the amendment to be friendly. If it is deemed friendly, the amendment will be added to the bill. If the amendment is deemed unfriendly, the delegate will be provided 1 minute to advocate for the amendment and a vote will take place. An amendment may pass by majority vote.

When a bill is presented, the chair asks for the sponsor of the bill to present their bill. If the sponsor is not present, another individual may speak in primary support of the bill. This will be followed by 3 more delegates speaking in primary opposition, secondary support, and secondary opposition of the bill. After the initial four speakers, the session may move onto general debate which allows delegates to speak more freely in opposition or support of the bill.

A delegate may announce a "point of query". This is a series of 2 to 3 questions that will be addressed by the chair if there are no points of inquiry on the floor.

A delegate may announce a "point of inquiry". This is a single question the delegate may have about the debate and will take precedence over any other queries on the floor.

A delegate may announce a "point of order". This is a question about the rules or procedures of the debate. The debate will be paused and the point of order will be addressed before moving on. 

A delegate may announce a "point of privilege". This is used to politely be excused from the room. 

Any delegate that is speaking has the option to yield any remaining time they have left to speak. They may yield their time to the chair and the chair will continue with the session or they may yield their time to the floor and answer questions anyone may have. 

A delegate may use this motion to bring a bill to final vote. The motion must be seconded and 2/3 of the room must approve it. 

A delegate may use this motion after structured debate to table a bill and return to it at a later time. The motion cannot be debated and requires a majority vote to be passed. 

A delegate who voted with the majority of the committee on the original vote may use this motion to reconsider past legislation. The chair may grant the motion’s sponsor one minute to explain the reasons for the motion, and one minute to a member who opposes the motion. This motion must be seconded, and approved by a majority of the present committee members. When a motion to reconsider is approved, the committee shall debate the legislation again, and take a new vote at the conclusion of the debate.

After a particularly close vote, or one in which the outcome is questioned, any delegate may call for a division of the chamber. No second is necessary. The chair shall then call for members to restate their votes, usually by standing. This motion is simply to clarify the outcome of a vote.