Business Process 2009

Step 1: Framing the Question
a) Business Committee introduces Proposal, invites Presenters to present (3 min.)
b) President invites table group discussion.
c) President invites questions for clarification.
d) President: Are the members of the Court ready to consider this matter?

If “Yes”, then proceed to Step 2

If “No” , the Business Committee will present a motion to take no action. The President will say: We will now use Parliamentary Procedure. (to Step 5)

Step 2: Exploring the Question
a) Table group discussion: Is the proposed action an appropriate response? Can it be improved? Has it received full consideration? *
b) Comments made and recorded.
c) President: Are the members of the Court ready to proceed with the matter as it is currently stated?
* In Step 2, discussion on a Proposal to General Council will focus on whether or not the members of Conference concur with the Proposal, whether or not the Proposal should be transmitted to General Council, and if any recommendations should accompany it. Changes to the wording of the Proposal are not permitted.

If “Yes” then proceed to Step 3

If “No” then the President invites further comments and discussion, or seeks direction from the court on how much more time is needed.

Step 3: Pause
President: Let us take a moment of rest in preparation for making the decision.

Step 4: Offering a Proposal
a) President: We are now using Parliamentary Procedure.
b) Presenter puts the motion as reworked in Step 2.

Step 5: Parliamentary Procedure
Rules of Debate apply:

• The mover speaks first, and last to close the debate; all others speak once
• Amendments and procedural motions are in order
• The President may ask the Court if it wants to return to Table Group discussion