skip to content

[ Home - Latest News - Films - Join - Suggestions - Links - ]

Standing Orders of the ANU Film Group Inc.

Name

1. These rules shall be known as "The Standing Orders of the ANU Film Group", made under the constitution and, subject to the provisions of that constitution, shall regulate proceedings at all general meetings, meetings of the Committee, and meetings of any sub-committee.

Definitions

2. In these standing orders, unless the contrary intention appears :

- "the constitution" means the ANU Film Group Inc. constitution,

- "meeting" means any meeting, whether general, Committee, or sub-committee,

- all majorities shall be simple majorities, and

- the definitions in Section 2 of the constitution shall be adopted.

Chairperson

3. A member wishing to speak shall address the chairperson. Any questions asked shall be asked through the chairperson.

4. When more than one member desires to speak at the same time, the chairperson shall decide who shall be heard and in which order.

5. The chairperson shall allow equal time to speakers supporting and opposing any motion or amendment to address a meeting.

6. Whenever the chairperson addresses a meeting, all other members shall cease speaking. The chairperson may direct members of a meeting not to speak unless specifically called upon.

7. The chairperson may vacate the chair to participate in the debate on any topic provided that he or she nominates a member to take the chair until the chairperson resumes it.

8. A question arising at a meeting shall be put to the meeting by the chairperson and his or her decision as to the wishes of the meeting shall be conclusive, unless on giving his or her decision it be challenged by two or more members of the meeting properly present and entitled to vote thereat, in which case a vote shall be taken by a show of hands.

Motions

9. Each proposal put forward at a meeting shall be in the form of a motion. Each motion shall have a mover and a seconder (unless stated otherwise in these standing orders), and the names of each shall be recorded in the minutes. The mover and seconder need not necessarily vote in favour of a motion when the vote is taken.

10. Each member shall have the right to speak once for up to five minutes on any motion, with the exception of the mover who in addition shall also have the right of reply for up to five minutes. The chairperson may exercise discretion to allow a member to speak more than once.

11. The mover's right of reply shall be exercised at the close of debate immediately before the motion is voted upon, but if an amendment is moved and debated, the mover may exercise his or her right of reply immediately before the amendment is voted upon, such right of reply being in addition to any speech he or she may have made during debate on the amendment.

Amendments

12. An amendment to a motion may be moved by a member and seconded by another member. Such an amendment shall not be a direct negation of the motion.

13. Each member shall have the right to speak once for up to five minutes on any amendment. The mover of an amendment has no right of reply. The chairperson may exercise discretion to allow a member to speak more than once.

14. A member shall move or second only one amendment to a motion, but may speak to any other amendments to it.

15. Only one amendment shall be considered at the one time and no further amendment shall be moved until an amendment which is before the meeting has been voted on and thus disposed of. However, the chairperson may permit one or more amendments to be foreshadowed by members without any discussion at the time. If several amendments are foreshadowed, the chairperson may direct all proposed amendments be placed in writing and submitted to him or her, and may determine the order in which they shall be moved.

16. If an amendment is carried, the motion is thereby amended and, embodying the amendment, becomes the substantive motion. This shall then be open to discussion and further amendment. If the amendment is lost, the motion shall remain open to discussion and further amendment.

General

17. No motion or amendment shall be moved which is the same in substance as a motion or amendment already lost at the same meeting.

18. The wording of all motions and amendments shall be accurately recorded in the minutes together with the outcome of the vote on each.

19. A member may request that his or her vote (whether for, against or abstention) on any motion or amendment be recorded in the minutes of the meeting and where such a request is made, the member’s vote shall be so recorded.

20. The chairperson shall permit an earlier speaker to give a personal explanation of what he or she said previously but this shall be limited to overcoming some misunderstanding or misinterpretation. Such an explanation shall not interrupt another speaker.

21. A member who is dissatisfied with the chairperson's ruling on any matter may move a motion of dissent, whereupon the chairperson shall vacate the chair and appoint a deputy to take the chair. The mover shall speak briefly in support of his or her motion and the chairperson shall then explain why he or she gave the particular ruling. The acting chairperson shall put the motion "that the chairperson's ruling be dissented from" to the vote. If carried, such motion shall have the effect of overturning the chairperson's ruling. If lost, such motion shall have no effect. In either case, the chairperson may retake the chair after the motion has been decided.

22. A member who is speaking shall not be interrupted except by the chairperson or as provided in these standing orders.

Procedural Motions

23. A Point Of Order shall be raised immediately that a breach of these standing orders or the constitution occurs or is noted by the member who wishes to bring it to attention. A Point Of Order may interrupt the current speaker.

24. If a member rises to a Point Of Order, any member who is speaking at the time shall cease speaking. The member raising the Point Of Order shall state his or her reason concisely. The chairperson without any further discussion shall give his or her ruling.

25. A motion "that the speaker no longer be heard" may interrupt the current speaker. It requires a seconder. There shall be no discussion. The motion shall be put to the meeting and a vote taken. The motion, if passed, silences the speaker on the current motion or amendment. If lost, it has no effect. The chairperson shall ensure members present understand the nature of this motion before a vote is taken.

26. A motion "that the question be now put" may be moved during debate on a motion or an amendment. It may interrupt the current speaker. It may not be moved by a member who has moved or seconded or spoken during the debate on the motion or amendment, as the case may be. It requires a seconder. It shall not be debated. The chairperson has discretion in accepting this motion and may choose not to accept it. If moved on an amendment, it relates only to the amendment. If carried, the motion or amendment being debated shall be put to the vote immediately subject only to the right of reply by the mover of the original motion if applicable. If lost, it has no effect. The chairperson shall ensure members present understand the nature of this motion before a vote is taken.

27. A motion "that the meeting proceed to the next business" may be moved during debate on a motion or an amendment. It may not interrupt the current speaker. It requires a seconder. It shall not be debated. The chairperson has discretion in accepting this motion and may choose not to accept it. If carried, the motion and any amendment being debated is disposed of and no further discussion on it shall take place. If lost, it has no effect. The chairperson shall ensure members present understand the nature of this motion before a vote is taken.

Adjournment/Closure

28. A member may move a motion that the motion being debated or the meeting itself be adjourned to a specific time and place. It requires a seconder. The motion may be debated. The mover shall have no right of reply.

29. At an adjourned meeting, no business shall be transacted other than the business left unfinished at the meeting at which the adjournment took place.

30. A motion "that the chairperson leave the chair", if passed, shall have the effect of immediately closing the meeting.

Ambiguity

31. Should any question arise at any meeting with regard to these standing orders or to matters not covered in these standing orders, the chairperson, after conferring with members of the Executive Sub-Committee (if present), shall give a ruling.

Suspension

32. To facilitate discussion in unusual or urgent circumstances, the operation of parts of these standing orders may be suspended during a meeting by a resolution carried by a two-thirds majority of the members properly present and entitled to vote thereat.

Alteration of these standing orders

33. These standing orders may be amended, altered or revoked only by special resolution.

[ Home - Latest News - Films - Join - Suggestions - Links - ]