RULES AND JOINT RULES.




  It Is much more material that there should be a rule to go by, than what
that rule Is; that
  there may be a uniformity of proceeding in business, not subject to-the
caprice of the
  speaker, or captiousness of the members. It is very material that order,
decency, and reg-
ularity be preserved in a dignified public body. 2 Hats., 149.


                      RULES OF THE SENATE.



                            CALLING THE SENATE TO ORDER.
  1.- The Lieutenant Governor of the State, who, by the 8th section of the
5th article of
the Constitution, is constituted ex-officio President of the Senate, shall,
when present,
take the chair at the hour fixed for the meeting of the Senate, when he shall
immediately call
the Senators to order, who shall thdreupon take their seats, and continue
with their heads
uncovered, while the Senate remains in session; the clerk shall call the
roll of Senators at
the opening of the session on each day.
                                 DUTIES OF PRESIDENT.
  2.--The President shall preserve order and decorum; may speak to points
of order in
preference to Senators, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall
decide points of
order, subject to an appeal to the Senate by any Senator.
  3.-The President shall appoint all committees, unless otherwise directed;
he shall sign
all acts, memorials, addresses and resolutions; and all writs, warrants,
and subpcenas, that
may be issued by the Senate, shall be signed by him and attested by the Clerk.
                                 PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
  4.- The Senate shall elect a President pro tempore, for the session, who
shall possess all
the powers and prerogatives of the President of the Senate in the absence
of the President,
and in the absence or inability of the President pro tem. to preside, the
President shall have the
right to name any Senator to perform any of the duties of the Chair temporarily,
and who
shall be invested, during such time, with all the powers of the President;
but no Senator shall
be excused from voting on any question by reason of his occupying the chair;
nor shall such
substitute's authority as presiding officer, except to the President pro
tem., extend beyond
a day's adjournment of the Senate.
                              COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
  5.- Whenever the Senate determines to go into Committee of the Whole, the
President
shall name one of the Senators as Chairman, who shall, for the time being,
be invested with
all the authority of the presiding officer of the Senate.
                             DISTURBANCES IN THE LOBBY.
  6.- Whenever any disturbance or disorderly conduct shall occur in the lobby,
the Presi-
dent shall have power to cause the same to be cleared of all persons except
the Senators
and officers of the Senate.
                        QUESTIONS - HOW STATED AND DECIDED.
  7.- Questions may be stated by the President while sitting, but he shall
rise to put a queps-
tion, and shall use this form: "As many as are of the opinion that (as
the question may be)
will say aye;" and after the affirmative voice is expressed, "As
many as are of a different
opinion, will say no." If the President doubt as to the voice of the
majority, or a division be
called for, the Senate shall divide - those in the affirmative on the question
shall first rise
and be counted, or, if there still be a doubt, or a count be called for,
the President shall ap-