REVISED
STANDING RULES OF
THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
SEVENTY-FIRST
SESSION, 2001
I. The precedence of parliamentary authority for the purpose of actions in this committee is set forth in Assembly Standing Rule (ASR) No. 100, except that the committee rules adopted here precede Mason’s Manual of Parliamentary Procedure.
II. A majority of the committee will constitute a quorum.
III. In accordance with ASR No. 42, definite action on a bill or resolution will require a majority vote of the entire committee.
IV. In accordance with ASR No. 42, a two-thirds majority of the entire committee is required to reconsider action on a bill or resolution.
V. In accordance with ASR No. 42, committee introduction of a bill or resolution requires a two-thirds vote of the entire committee, and does not imply a commitment to support passage.
VI. A. Duties of the Chairman
1. Prepare the agenda and distribute according to legally required notice;
2. Call Committee together;
3. Require minutes to be kept;
4. Prepare committee reports;
5. Notify members of meetings;
6. Preside over all meetings and maintain order and decorum during committee meetings;
7. All directions, assignments or requests on behalf of the committee must be communicated to its staff and to the personnel of the Legislative Counsel Bureau by the chairman of the committee. A member of the committee must submit any such requests to the chairman for transmittal to the staff of the committee or personnel of the Legislative Counsel Bureau;
8. In accordance with ASR No. 43, appoint sub-committees as deemed necessary;
9. Determine when final action is to be taken on bills;
10. On behalf of the chair, the committee secretary shall maintain all minutes and exhibits of the committee’s meetings until released to the custody of the Legislative Counsel Bureau;
STANDING
RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
SEVENTY-FIRST SESSION, 2001
PAGE 2
11. At the discretion of the chair, meetings may be held outside the regularly scheduled day(s) and time.
B. Committee procedures:
1. Committee members shall address the chairman for permission to be heard;
2. All questions concerning committee procedure shall be directed through the chairman.
VII. Attendance will be taken at every meeting. The secretary of the committee shall call the roll at the beginning of each meeting, with the chair being called last, noting members present. Committee members shall notify the chair of any absence and may request that an absence be excused. Excused absences will be noted at the direction of the chairman. Members not in attendance when a final action is taken on a measure will be marked absent for the vote.
VIII. Minority reports may be made per Mason’s Manual, Section 674.
IX. At the discretion of the chairman, all definite action of the committee will require a roll call vote which shall be recorded by the secretary.
X. In the absence of, or at the discretion of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall conduct the meeting of the committee.
XI. All meetings, deliberations and final voting action will not be taken on any measure before the committee until all witnesses testifying before the committee are questioned and dismissed. The chairman shall determine when a final action is to be taken.
XII. Unless a committee member advises the chairman before a vote is taken on the floor of the Assembly, it will be presumed that he or she will vote on the amendment consistent with his or her vote in the committee.
XIII. All motions require a second. Failure to have a second causes the motion to die.
STANDING
RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
SEVENTY-FIRST SESSION, 2001
PAGE 3
XIV. Subcommittees:
A. Unless otherwise authorized by the committee chair, attendance of all subcommittee members is required.
B. Subcommittee meetings will be scheduled by the subcommittee chair after consulting with the committee chair.
C. Sub-committees must follow the rules of the committee.
XV. Testimony and Witnesses:
A. Unless the chair determines otherwise, the following order of testimony shall be followed:
1. The primary sponsor of a measure shall testify first, followed by the chief spokesperson, if one exists, for the opposition;
2. Remaining testimony will alternate thereafter between proponents and opponents to the measure.
B. Questions from the committee will be restricted to relevant subject areas.
C. Witnesses will sign in and will address requests to testify to the chairman and will be recognized only by the chairman.
D. The committee may swear in persons appearing before the committee to give testimony, pursuant to NRS 218.5323 and 218.535.