VII - CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Quorum

Rule 31

A majority of the members of the Governing Council shall constitute a quorum.

Powers of the President

Rule 32

In addition to exercising the powers conferred upon him elsewhere by these rules, the President shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the Governing Council, shall direct the discussion, ensure observance of these rules, accord the right to speak, put questions to the vote and announce decisions. He shall rule on points of order and, subject to these rules, shall have control of the proceedings of the Governing Council and over the maintenance of order at its meetings. The president may propose to the Governing Council the limitation of time to be allowed to speakers, the limitation of the number of times each representative may speak on any question, the closure of the list of speakers or the closure of the debate. He may also propose the suspension or the adjournment of the meeting or of Th. debate on the question under discussion.

Rule 33

The president in the exercise of his functions remains under the authority of the Governing Council.

Speeches

Rule 34

No person may address the Governing Council without having previously obtained permission of the president Subject to riles 35 and 36, the president shall call upon speakers in the order of which they signify their desire to speak. The president may call a speaker to order if his remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion.

Precedence

Rule 35

The Chairman, Vice -Chairman or Rapporteur of a sessional committee or working party, or a designated representative of any subsidiary organ, may be accorded precedence in speaking for the purpose of replying to questions.

Points of order

Rule 36

1. During the discussion of any matter, a representative may at any time rise to a point of order, and the point of order shall be immediately decided by the President in accordance with the rules of procedure. A representative may appeal against the ruling of the President. The appeal shall be immediately put to the vote, and the ruling of the President shall stand unless overruled by a majority vote of the members present and voting.

2. A representative rising to a point of order may not speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.

Time limit on speeches

Rule 37

The Governing Council may limit the time allowed to each speaker and the number of times each person may speak on any question, except on procedural questions, when the President shall limit each intervention to a maximum of five minutes. When debate is limited and a speaker has spoken his allotted time, the President shall call him to order without delay.

Closing of list of speakers

Rule 38

During the course of a debate the President may announce the list of speakers and, with the consent of the Governing Council, declare the list closed. The President may; however, accord the right of reply to any representative if, in his opinion, a speech delivered after he has declared the list closed renders this justified. When the debate on an item is concluded because there are no other speakers, the President, with the consent of the Governing Council, shall declare the debate closed.

Adjournment of debate

Rule 39

During the discussion of any matter, a representative may move the adjournment of the debate on the question under discussion. In addition to the proposer of the motion, one representative may speak in favour of and one against the motion, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote.

Closure of debate

Rule 40

A preventative may at any time move the closure of the debate on the question under dissuasion, whether or not any other representative has signified his wish to speak. Permission to speak on the closure of the debate shall be accorded only to two speakers opposing the closure, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote. If the Governing Council is in favour of the closure, the President shall declare the closure of the debate.

Suspension or adjournment of the meeting

Rule 41

During the discussion of any matter a representative may move the suspension or the adjournment of the meeting. Such motion shall not be debated, but shall be immediately put to the vote.

Order of procedural motion

Rule 42

Subject to rule 36, and regardless of the order in which they are submitted, the following motions shall have precedence in the following order over all other proposals or motions before the meeting.

(a) To suspend the meeting;

(b) To adjourn the meeting:

(c) To adjourn the debate on the question under discussion;

(d) For the closure of the debate on the question under discussion.

Proposals and amendments

Rule 43

Proposals and amendments shall normally be introduced in writing and submitted to the Executive Director, who shall circulate copies to the members. As a general rule, no proposal shall be discussed or put to the vote at any meeting of the Governing Council unless copies of it have been circulated to all members not later than the day preceding the meeting. Subject to the consent of Th. Governing Council, the President may, however, permit the amendments even though these proposals or amendments have not been circulated or have only been circulated the same day.

Decisions on competence

Rule 44

Subject to rule 42, any motion calling for a decision on the competence of the Governing Council to adopt any proposal or any amendment submitted to it shall be put to the vote before a vote is taken on the proposal or amendment is question.

Withdrawal of motions

Rule 45

Its proposer may withdraw a motion at any time before voting on it has commenced, provided that the motion has not been amended. Another member may reintroduce a motion, which has thus been withdrawn.

Reconsideration of proposals

Rule 46

When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered at the same session of the Governing Council unless the Governing Council, by a two-thirds majority of the representatives present and voting, so decides. Permission to speak on a motion to reconsider shall be accorded only to two speakers opposing the motion, after which it shall immediately be put to the vote.