Rules and Decorum

Sections

• Rules and Decorum for the Simulation of the Senate
• Rules and Decorum for the Simulation of the House of Commons

Rules and Decorum for the Simulation of the Senate

• Senators must stand silently when the Speaker is entering or exiting the Chamber. Senators can only be seated after the Speaker has taken his or her seat.
• When the Speaker stands to make a ruling or to bring the Senate to order, all senators must be seated and remain silent until the Speaker is finished.
• When a senator desires to speak, he or she must stand and wait silently to be recognized by the Speaker.
• When the Speaker has recognized a senator, all other senators must sit down and be silent.
• Senators direct all their comments to the senators, saying: "Honourable Senators."
• Senators address one another using their surnames (i.e., "Senator surname").
• Senators must not use unparliamentary language (i.e., foul, profane or offensive language or words abusing the Senate, any of its members, the Monarch or any government official).
• Senators should not read their speeches. They can, however, refer to short notes written on cue cards. They can also read quotations from written sources.
• If after a voice vote a senator disagrees with the decision of the Speaker, he or she should stand. If two or more senators stand, the Speaker will call for a standing vote. The bells summoning senators to the Chamber for the vote will ring. The Speaker will then ask those senators in favour to stand. The table officers record the names. The Speaker then asks those senators opposed to stand. The table officers record the names. The Speaker then asks those senators who wish to abstain to stand. The table officers record the names. The Clerk then declares the result of the standing vote.
• If a senator breaks any of the rules above, any other senator may stand and say: "Honourable Senators, I rise on a Point of Order." A senator who is speaking and is interrupted by such an objection must immediately sit. The Speaker recognizes the senator raising the point and says: "Please explain your point." After the explanation is made, the Speaker decides whether the point is "well taken" or "not well taken." If the Speaker decides that the point is "well taken," this means that he or she agrees that the rules have been broken by the senator, and he or she must apologize to the Senate before continuing with his or her speech.

Rules and Decorum for the Simulation of the House of Commons

During the simulation, the Speaker should be ready to intervene if the proceedings head off in the wrong direction. The Speaker should also keep track of the time spent on each element to ensure that all components are covered.

• MPs must stand silently when the Speaker is entering or exiting the room. MPs can only be seated after the Speaker has taken his or her seat.
• When the Speaker stands to make a ruling or to bring the House to order, all MPs must be seated and remain silent until the Speaker is finished.
• When an MP desires to speak, he or she must stand and wait silently to be called by the Speaker.
• When the Speaker has recognized an MP, all other MPs must sit down and be silent.
• MPs direct all their comments to the Speaker, saying: "Mr./Madam Speaker."
• MPs must always refer to one another in the third person. When referring to backbenchers, their constituency is used to identify them (i.e., "the Member for [name of riding]"). When referring to ministers, the name of their ministry is used (i.e., "the Minister of [name of Cabinet position]").
• MPs must not use unparliamentary language (i.e., foul, profane or offensive language or words abusing the House, any of its MPs, the Monarch or any government official).
• MPs may not read their speeches. They can, however, refer to short notes written on cue cards. They can also read quotations from written sources.
• If after a voice vote an MP disagrees with the decision of the Speaker, he or she should stand. If more than five MPs stand, the Speaker then calls for a recorded vote. During a recorded vote, the Speaker asks all those in favour to stand. The Clerk then calls their names out and marks their names on a list as MPs in favour. The Speaker then asks all those opposed to stand and they are likewise counted. The Clerk then adds up the names of those for and those against, and announces the number to the House: "Those for, those against." The Speaker then announces the results of the standing vote: "I declare the motion carried/lost."
• If an MP breaks any of the rules above, any other MP may stand and say: "Mr./Madam Speaker, I rise on a Point of Order." An MP who is speaking and is interrupted by such an objection must immediately sit. The Speaker recognizes the MP raising the point and says: "Please explain your point." After the explanation is made, the Speaker decides whether the point is "well taken" or "not well taken." If the Speaker decides that the point is "well taken," this means that he or she agrees that the rules of the House have been broken by the MP, and he or she must apologize to the House before continuing with his or her speech.
• The Speaker may at any time require an MP to apologize for breaking the rules of the House. If the MP refuses to apologize, the Speaker may have the Sergeant-at-Arms remove him or her. When this happens, the Speaker calls the person by his or her name, rather than by title.