Law:Procedural Rules of the Administrative Branch

**THE UNIVERSAL TRIUMVIRATE PROCEDURAL RULES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH**

**Amendments:**

1. **8.8.13:** Shortening maximum length of consideration period, deliberation period, extending privileges to the Administrative Liaison, allowing discussion during the deliberation period.
2. **4.24.14:** Adjusting procedure for the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker before the end of the trimester.
3. **4.30.14:** Adding rules for resolutions
4. **3.3.15:** Revision for Underspeaker name change, addition of associates, motion of no confidence rules, clarification on new Speaker and Underspeaker election procedure. Requiring of at least twelve hours of deliberation and raising standards for seconds of some motions.
5. **3.20.15:** Clarification on the process of amending the procedural rules, restricting discussion on such to only members and officers of the Administration.
6. **7.29.15:** Requiring three-fourths vote to amend procedural rules, new rules for debate period to allow all to debate.

**Introduction:**

The Procedural Rules of the Administrative Branch shall exist to define the nature of the Administrative Branch and to set proper routine for the activities of the Administrative Branch in order to allow for deviation of standard procedure in specific circumstances and to standardize how the Administrative Branch conducts business. Provided that the Constitution grants the Administrative Branch the power to “determine the Rules of its Proceedings”, these rules are so ordained and established.
These Rules should be followed to the fullest extent possible, as it is important for a well defined order to exist in the government of the Universal Triumvirate.
These rules shall enter effect with the opening of trimester II of 2013 and the Administration coinciding.
## **Section 1: Primary Definitions and Amendment of the Procedural Rules**

**Rule 1: Amendment of the Procedural Rules of the Administrative Branch**

These Procedural Rules may be amended by desire of three-fourths of the Administrative Branch.
An amendment to the Procedural Rules of the Administrative Branch must be tabled by the Speaker or Underspeaker and shall follow general procedure but neither the Administrative Liaison nor any other individual who is not an Administrator or an officer of the Administration shall be able to speak on the matter or participate in the proposal to alter the rules.
**Rule 2: Voting**

A Vote shall be defined as it is within the Constitution, a matter before the Administrative Branch set to the rules established in the Constitution, subsequent laws, and these procedural rules, which requires the Administrative Branch to make a decision on it.
During a vote of any kind an Administrator must clearly indicate their vote, if there is reasonable doubt as to how an Administrator has voted then their vote shall not be counted and they must recast their vote more clearly in order for it to be legitimate. Primary statements indicating favor of a measure are “Yea” or “In favor”, whereas primary statements indicating a negative vote for a measure are “Nay” or “Not in favor”. An Administrator may not change their vote after it has been cast unless otherwise noted.
**Rule 3: Motions**

A Motion shall be defined as an exact call by an Administrator that must be seconded by the appropriate amount of supporters to be determined by the rule applying, to make a deviation or extend a specific rule of procedure to what is on table.
A motion is made by an Administrator (not the Speaker or Underspeaker) by stating “I move for ‘motion type’” or something of equivalent indication towards the intent for a motion. Motions often require seconding in order for them to be approved.
Motions may only be made during specific circumstances and times in the Administration as these rules may determine. Motions may only be made during law proposals, constitutional amendments, accessory matters not defined by these rules, and adjustments in the procedural rules.
**Rule 4: Seconding**

A Second shall be defined as a statement of support by an Administrator in support of a motion.
To second a motion an Administrator must state “Second” after a motion has been brought forth. If multiple motions were brought forth, the Administrator seconding should specifically indicate which motion(s) they second. If it says it must be seconded by a majority of the Administrators it means that, including the original motion maker but excluding the Speaker, a majority of Administrators must approve of the motion. A second cannot be withdrawn once made except with specific permission from the Speaker of the Administration.
**Rule 5: Measures**

A measure is any matter before the Administration, be it a bill, resolution, constitutional amendment, declaration of war, impeachment, award nomination, or any other matter to which a floor vote is required to have any effect on the outcome of the matter.
For measures that are not required to be tabled before the Administration, such as bills, award nominations, rule changes, release of funds, or impeachments, the Speaker and Underspeaker shall have the authority as to if it shall go to the floor. For measures that are required such as a constitutional amendment proposal or declaration of war, the Speaker must table so.
## **Section 2: General Rules of the Administrative Branch**

**Rule 6: Order of Seniority**

1. Current Speaker of the Administration
2. Current Underspeaker of the Administration
3. Associate Speaker of the Administration
4. Associate Underspeaker of the Administration
5. Administrators who have received the Triunity High Honor Emblem (in order of who received the emblem first)
6. Previous Speakers of the Administration (in order of who was Speaker first)
7. Previous Underspeakers of the Administration (in order of who was Underspeaker first)
8. Administrators who have received the Intelligence Emblem (in order of who received the emblem first)
9. Other Administrators (in order of total time in the Administrative Branch)

Administrators should defer and give due respect to those who rank above them, while keeping their own political integrity and independence. Rank is also utilized for seniority with regards to committees and occasions. When formally listing or naming Administrators it should be done in the order of seniority.
**Rule 7: Addressing the Administration**

Members of the Administrative Branch, as well as the Administrative Liaison, shall primarily address the Speaker when discussing matters, making motions, and commenting on the floor. Individual members of the Administration, excepting the Speaker and Underspeaker, should not be addressed distinctly except when off the floor of the Administration.
**Rule 8: Archiving Discussions**

All major discussions within the Administrative Branch should be archived and kept by the Speaker of the Administration to be published on the wiki archive after the end of the trimester. Discussions pertaining to or containing confidential information should not be released.
**Rule 9: Absence**

In the absence, by any means, of an Administrator, their vote shall be subtracted from the total vote count. In the absence of the Speaker, to which they must inform the Administration of, the Associate Speaker shall temporarily assume all responsibilities of the Speaker including scheduling of measures and negotiation. In the absence of the Underspeaker, to which they must inform the Administration of, the Assocaite Underspeaker shall temporarily assume all responsibilities of the Underspeaker.
**Rule 10: Resignation**

If an Administrator leaves the Administrative Branch during the middle of a trimester, it shall be known as a resignation, and they must submit a letter as to why they are doing so to the Speaker of the Administration prior.
## **Section 3: General Scheduling of Matters**

**Rule 11: General Schedule Setting, Management of Measures**

Any measure, resolution, or bill passed by the Executive Branch shall be sent by the Administrative Liaison to the Speaker of the Administration, who shall accept or reject it. Should the Speaker reject the measure (providing it is a measure they are permitted to reject, noting that the Speaker must table any constitutional amendment proposal or declaration of war), they shall transmit so to the Administrative Liaison that they have done so. The Speaker must respond to the measure within three days after receiving it by either setting a schedule for the measure or communicating their rejection of the measure to the Administrative Liaison.
Should the Speaker reject a measure, the Administrative Liaison may then transmit the measure to the Underspeaker who may either accept or reject it. Should the Underspeaker reject the measure too, they shall transmit so to the Administrative Liaison that they have done so. The Underspeaker must respond to the measure within three days after receiving it by either communicating to the Administrative Liaison that they have rejected it or by communicating to the Speaker that they have accepted it.
If a measure is forced to be tabled by a one-third resolution by the Administration, which must be done within two weeks of the measure being passed by the Executive Branch if it is a matter coming from the Executives, the Speaker shall have the general discretion as to the schedule and action of the measure. Should it not be tabled by any of the two principle officers, the measure shall fail.
The Speaker of the Administration shall, anytime a measure is to be tabled, have general discretion as to the schedule and action of the measure unless otherwise noted in these procedural rules.
All measures delivered from the Executive Branch such as declarations of war, bills for consideration, or constitutional amendments, may not be altered in any way from the exact form that the Executive Branch approved them in. If they were a separated series of connected measures (not packaged), the Administration may vote on them together individually. If they were a packaged series of measures, the Administration must vote on the entire package as one. Should a package contain a constitutional amendment, war declaration, or other matter requiring it to be tabled to the Administration along with content not required to be tabled, the Speaker or Underspeaker may refuse to table it unless separated.
Once one of the two principle officers accepts or is forced to accept the measure, the Speaker shall have up to three days to determine the schedule for the measure. If they do not set a schedule within three days, the measure shall immediately be tabled for a full and uninterrupted floor vote by the Administration. The schedule for the measure, once determined by the Speaker managing the measure, shall be announced to the Administration and the measure, in full form, shall be presented to them for consideration.
These rules shall also extend to any measure that is solely developed by the Administration, such as alterations to the procedural rules or impeachment proceedings. The Speaker shall have general discretion in these too as to the schedule and action of the measure.
**Rule 12: Consideration Period**

Once a measure is tabled before the Administration and the Speaker announces the schedule for it, the first segment of time scheduled for the measure shall be the consideration period, where no floor discussion is held on the matter and where Administrators view and peruse the proposed measure. The Speaker may authorize up to three days for the consideration period, which they must do so when they first set the schedule for the measure. At least one day of consideration must be granted for any measure before a floor vote that would elicit moderate controversy unless otherwise noted.
Motions shall be permitted during the consideration period.
**Rule 13: Debate**

After the consideration period, the Speaker may have scheduled a floor debate, in which all Administrators shall be able to discuss and debate the matter at hand.
The Administrative Liaison shall be entitled, regardless of what side they stand for personally, to speak for the Executive Branch during the debate period at whatever point the Speaker assigns them during the debate.
Motions shall not be permitted during a floor debate.
A debate may only be held if the Speaker gave at least twenty-four hours in the consideration period for the measure
**Rule 14: Deliberation Period**

If a floor debate is to be held, a deliberation period must be granted in the original scheduling for the measure by the Speaker. A deliberation period of at least twenty-four hours must be given for every single matter that falls before the Administration except in extraordinary circumstances wherein the Speaker, Underspeaker, and Administrative Liaison concurrently agree to waive such requirement. Up to five days may be given to deliberation at the discretion of the Speaker.
Motions shall be permitted during the deliberation period and the floor shall be generally left open to all including the Speaker, Underspeaker, and Administrative Liaison, to make last comments. The Administrative Liaison, Underspeaker, and Speaker - in that order - shall be entitled to make the final comments on a matter in deliberation.
**Rule 15: Floor Vote**

A floor vote will be the seventy-two hour period in which, after consideration and any other scheduled events for a measure, every member of the Administration shall be able to vote on the measure.
The Speaker shall be the last to vote, and if not every Administrator shall have voted within the seventy-two hour period, the Speaker shall cast their vote when they close the floor. From there, all votes cast will be tallied and if the necessary amount of the votes cast are in favor of the measure, the measure shall pass.
If a measure shall have passed or failed before every Administrator has voted, the Speaker shall have discretion as to whether voting shall be continued, in which case after the seventy-two hour period the Speaker will transmit back to the Administrative Liaison that the measure has been either failed or approved. If the measure has passed or failed during the floor vote before every Administrator has voted, the Speaker may close the vote and transmit to the Administrative Liaison that the measure was passed or approved.
During a floor vote, no interruption for commentary, motion, or other matter besides management by the Speaker shall be made.
## **Section 4: Matters for Consideration**

**Rule 16: Constitutional Amendment Proposal**

Per the Constitution, the Speaker of the Administration must table any proposal for a constitutional amendment. Per these procedural rules, the Speaker is still entitled to lay a schedule for the proposal.
**Rule 17: Impeachment**

Per the Constitution, the Speaker or Underspeaker must initiate impeachment proceedings, or be so ordered to by one-third of the Administration. They shall set the schedule for such proceedings but must grant the target of impeachment the opportunity to speak before a floor vote is held.
**Rule 18: Declaration of War Proposal**

In the event the Executive Branch passes a proposal for a declaration of war, the Speaker shall immediately table it to the Administrative Branch. No debate, deliberation, consideration, or motions shall be entertained and an immediate, uninterrupted floor vote shall commence.
**Rule 19: Censure**

By a two-thirds vote of the Administrative Branch excluding the subject, the Administrative Branch may censure an Administrator for a period not exceeding the end of the trimester, but determined at the initiation of the censure. A censured Administrator may not cast a vote on any measures and a censure should be documented on their résumé. A censure may be dismissed prematurely if a majority of the Administrative Branch approves so.
**Rule 20: Recess**

Should the Speaker of the Administration, Underspeaker, or one-third of the Administration if they, by resolution, force it to the floor, table a measure for Administrative recess which names the duration of such recess (not exceeding two weeks), it shall be voted on by the Administrators by an immediate floor vote and must achieve a majority in favor of the recess along with both the Speaker and the Underspeaker.
The Administrative Branch must make it clear to the public when they are in recess. They may not declare themselves in recess if the Triumvirate is currently at war, there is a severe threat to the Triumvirate, there is a vacancy in any of the three highest offices of the Administration, or the opening of a trimester is within two weeks prior or after.
All matters of the Administration shall be held until the recess has concluded unless otherwise dictated by these rules.
The Administrative Liaison shall have the power to call the Administrative Branch back from the middle of a recess in the event of a matter of urgent importance to the Triumvirate.
**Rule 21: Accessory Matters**

Any matter which has a process not specifically discussed in these Procedural Rules or via the Constitution or any law or guideline in the Triumvirate shall fall subject to a general rule of tabling of measures as set forth by these procedural rules. Such matters may include the nomination for a lower office, issuing of awards, or any other matter.
## **Section 5: Officers of the Administration**

**Rule 22: Election of the Speaker and Underspeaker**

In any circumstance where there is a vacancy in the office of Speaker and/or Underspeaker, or for an upcoming Administration, an election must be held for both. The Administrative Liaison shall preside over the election of the Speaker and Underspeaker and shall break any split votes therein.
To initiate an election for Speaker and Underspeaker, the Administrative Liaison shall open the floor to nominees for Speaker, and no candidate may nominate themselves. The Administrators shall all vote for whom they desire to be Speaker and a series of run-off elections in which the candidate with the lowest votes is removed each time until there are two candidates left, one with a majority of votes, and one with a minority of votes. The candidate with the majority shall be named Speaker and the candidate with the minority shall be named Underspeaker.
The Speaker and Underspeaker for the upcoming trimester shall be selected by the Administrators who have been elected to take office at the start of the new trimester, done outside of the current Administration. The Administrative Liaison shall initiate the process in the last two weeks of a trimester by assembling a meeting of only the incoming Administration.
**Rule 23: Associate Speaker**

The Associate Speaker, appointed by the Speaker and serving at their pleasure, shall take over for the Speaker whenever the Speaker is away or temporarily incapacitated. They shall be the third highest officer of the Administration.
**Rule 24: Associate Underspeaker**

The Associate Underspeaker, appointed by the Underspeaker and serving at their pleasure, shall take over for the Underspeaker whenever the Underspeaker is away or temporarily incapacitated. They shall be the fourth highest officer of the Administration.
## **Section 6: Motions**

**Rule 25: Motion to Suspend Motion**

A Motion to Suspend Motion shall be made to suspend another motion after the other motion has been approved (such as stopping a Motion for Cloture or Motion for Postponement), It may be made by any Administrator and must be seconded by a majority of the Administration.
**Rule 26: Motion for Sequester**

An Administrator may, during the consideration period of a measure should there be one, make a motion for sequester, which must be approved by both the Speaker and Underspeaker and must be seconded by at least two other Administrators. If successfully enacted, a sequester shall enter effect, in which a group of at least three Administrators to be determined, if they be agreeable, by the Speaker, is presented with the measure and confined to deliberate on it until a majority of them agree that the measure is ready for consideration by the Administrative Branch. Once they have determined it is ready for consideration, they shall send a message to the Speaker that the next steps for the measure are to be taken up. Should they not cease deliberation before either the trimester ends or the Administration enters a recess, the measure shall fail.
**Rule 27: Motion for Postponement**

An Administrator may make a motion for postponement which shall, if approved, suspend the next step on the schedule for a measure for one week. Acceptable reasons for postponement may be impeachment, election, or if more important matters must be given priority. It must be approved by the Speaker of the Administration and must be seconded by at least one other Administrator.
**Rule 28: Motion for Cloture**

A Motion for Cloture shall, if approved, require that no more consideration, debate, or sequester be held on a measure and that the deliberation period is immediately moved to. It must be seconded by at least two other Administrators and approved by the Speaker; or alternatively, seconded by at least three Administrators and approved by the Underspeaker.
**Rule 29: Motion for Testimony**

A Motion for Testimony shall, if approved, require that an opinion is heard from a person who is not a member of the Administrative Branch before a floor vote is made. It must be approved by the Speaker of the Administration and seconded by at least two other Administrators. If successful, the Speaker shall organize the testimony into the schedule appropriately.
**Rule 30: Motion of No Confidence**

An Administrator may give a motion of no confidence in the leadership of the Administration through a letter as to why which is signed by at least two other Administrators and presented to the Speaker and the full Administration. On such, the Administrative Liaison shall preside and the Speaker and Underspeaker shall both give a statement defending themselves. Following that, a period of comment and debate against and for the Speaker and Underspeaker (which must go on until each Administrator has had at least two opportunities to speak, gone through alphabetically) will occur, after which the Administrative Liaison will call for a vote. If a majority of the Administration is for removal of the leadership in conjunction, they will be removed and the Administrative Liaison will preside over the election of new leadership. This shall not prohibit the former leadership from being nominated as is standard, nominations may be conducted normally without exclusion.
## **Section 7: Committees**

**Rule 31: Appointment Process**

The Speaker of the Administration shall have ultimate authority as to placement of Administrators into committees, but must appoint each Administrator who desires a seat in a committee a seat before appointing any person into two seats. The Speaker shall be given first choice, and Underspeaker shall be given their first choice should it not conflict with the Speakers, and if it does, they shall be given another choice.