Procedure and Order of Business in the Senate and Assembly

The Senate and the Assembly function in accordance with constitutional provisions and judicial decisions thereon; adopted standing rules; custom, usage, and precedents; the Nevada Revised Statutes; Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure; and parliamentary law.

The Senate and Assembly rules stipulate that Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern in all cases in which it is not inconsistent with the Standing Rules and orders and the Joint Rules of the two houses.

Under the Standing Rules of the Senate, precedence of authority is outlined within Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, Sec. 4.2. The precedence of parliamentary authority for the Assembly is outlined in its standing rules.

The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly serve as parliamentarians for their respective houses.

Under the rules of the Senate, the President calls the chamber to order at 11 a.m. each day of sitting unless the Senate has adjourned to some other day and hour. The Assembly meets daily at 11:30 a.m., unless it has previously adjourned to some other hour.

Quorum

The Nevada Constitution states that a majority of all members elected to each house constitutes a quorum to transact business. However, a number smaller than this quorum may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members.

Order of Business

Each house has an official order of business incorporated into its Standing Rules. In the Senate, the order of business for the 2011 Session was as follows:

1. Roll Call.
2. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
3. Reading and Approval of the Journal.
4. Reports of Committees.
5. Messages from the Governor.
6. Messages from the Assembly.
7. Communications.
8. Waivers and Exemptions.
9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices.
10. Introduction, First Reading and Reference.
11. Consent Calendar.
12. Second Reading and Amendment.
13. General File and Third Reading.
14. Unfinished Business.
15. Special Orders of the Day.
16. Remarks from the Floor; Introduction of Guests. A Senator may speak under this order of business for a period of not more than 10 minutes.

On the Assembly side, the 2011 order of business varied slightly:

1. Call to Order.
2. Reading and Approval of Journal.
3. Presentation of Petitions.
4. Reports of Standing Committees.
5. Reports of Select Committees.
6. Communications.
7. Messages from the Senate.
8. Motions, Resolutions and Notices.
9. Introduction, First Reading and Reference.
10. Consent Calendar.
11. Second Reading and Amendment.
12. General File and Third Reading.
13. Unfinished Business of Preceding Day.
14. Vetoed Bills and Special Orders of the Day.
15. Remarks from the Floor, limited to 10 minutes.

Each item in the official order of business is considered as the house progresses through the day's program of business. From time to time, however, members may request that the presiding officer turn to items of business that are out of the usual order.

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Last updated 1/28/2013