INTERNAL RULES

INTERNAL RULES OF THE YOUTH CONGRESS 2008

 

PREAMBLE

 

            We, the members of the Youth Congress of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, in order to fulfill our constitutional duties to propose, amend and enact laws to respond to the needs of our people and fulfill their aspirations for a just and humane society where every Filipino can enjoy the blessings of freedom and democracy under a government strengthened by the rule of law, social justice and people empowerment, hereby promulgate and pledge faithful obedience to these rules.

 

ARTICLE I

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES

 

I.                   The Youth Congress is the Congress of the PUPians. The involvement and participation of the people in the process of enacting, proposing and amending laws shall be encouraged, guaranteed and sustained.

 

II.                The continuing development of the capabilities of members to craft and secure the passage of socially relevant bills is imperative. Continuing educative programs in disciplines relating to legislative work and its effective management shall be implemented for the members. Cooperative and coordinative networks with academic communities and the private sector for the purpose shall be established and strengthened.

 

ARTICLE II

CONVENING AND ORGANIZING THE CONGRESS

 

Section 1. First meeting and organization of the Congress – On the day agreed by the convention following their appointment, at the place designated for the holding of their sessions, the members shall meet and proceed to the organization of the Congress.

 

Section 2. Convening the Congress – The convention shall hold its committee hearings on 14^th to 28^th of September and the plenary session on the 3^rd to 5^th of November 2008.

 

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. Composition – The membership of the Congress shall be composed of PS 170 and PS 145 students and others accepted for the purpose of holding the simulation activity.

 

Section 2. Term – Members of the Youth Congress shall serve for six months, unless otherwise provided by law, on the 13^th of June, 2008 following their appointment.

 

Section 3. Duties – The primary duties of Members is to propose, amend and pass bills. In order to fulfill this duty, members shall:

 

1. Prepare, introduce and present bills that will effectively address the social, political and economic needs and concerns of the people;
2. Actively participate in the deliberation of bills;
3. Faithfully articulate the demands and interests of their constituents as well as those of other sectors that are affected by proposed bills or by conditions, issues and concerns requiring legislative action; and
4. Perform such other actions as may be provided by law and necessary to ensure swift passage of amendments needed to effectively address social, political and economic needs and promote national development

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

Section 1. Officers – The officers of the house namely Speaker of the House, the three (3) Deputy Speakers, the Majority Floor Leader, the Assistant Majority Floor Leader, the Senior Majority Floor Leader and Junior Majority Floor Leader, Minority Floor Leader and Assistant Minority Floor Leader, the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General for Administration and Deputy Secretary General for Finance, and the three (3) Sergeants-at-arms shall be elected at large.

 

Section 2. Absence or temporary incapacity – In case of absence or temporary incapacity of any of the officers to perform the function of their office, the following rules shall apply;

            The Deputy Speakers shall assume the duties and the powers of the Speaker when the latter is absent or temporarily incapacitated. Should a day lapse without a Speaker, they shall proceed to choose an Acting Speaker by lot from among the members of the Congress;

            The Speaker shall designate the Deputy Secretary General as an acting Secretary General who will assume the duties of the Secretary General until such time that the latter returns to the performance of his/her duties.

            The Speaker shall designate an acting Sergeant-at-Arms from among the members of the Youth Congress who will assume the duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms until such time that the latter returns to the performance of his/her duties.

 

ARTICLE V

THE PRESIDING OFFICER

 

Section 1. Duties and Powers – The Speaker as the political and administrative head of the Youth Congress, is responsible for the overall management of the proceedings; activities and resources of the assembly.

The Presiding Officer shall:

1. Prepare agenda for every regular session and establish systems and procedures to ensure full and exhaustive deliberation and swift approval of amendments included therein with the assistance of the Majority Floor Leader, heads of the Standing Committees and other members of the Youth Congress as he/she may choose;
2. Exercise general supervision over all committees and, in furtherance thereof, conduct regular weekly meetings with the heads and assistant heads of all standing committees to set enactment targets, to review performance in attainment of such targets, to ensure that the priority bills and resolutions of committees are attuned to the agenda of the Youth Congress, and to discuss and resolve issues and concerns that affect the operations and performance of the committees;
3. Establish an efficient and effective system to monitor and evaluate the performance of the Youth Congress, its members and its committees of their mandatory tasks and duties.
4. Presides over the sessions of the Youth Congress and decide all questions of order subject to appeal by any member who may explain the appeal in not more than five (5) minutes. Provided that, no explanation of vote shall be allowed in case of nominal voting;
5. Designates a member as temporary Presiding Officer, after informing the Floor Leaders, in case he/she is temporarily unable to do so. Provided that, such designation shall be effective for one session day only;
6. Take appropriate measures as he/she may deem advisable or as the Youth Congress may direct to preserve order and decorum in the session hall, the galleries, lobbies, chambers, offices, corridors and premises of the Youth Congress;
7. Performs administrative functions attached to his/her office that include, among others:
   1. Appointing the personnel of the Youth Congress with authority to delegate this power;
   2. Suspending, dismissing or in any manner imposing necessary disciplinary measures on Youth Congress personnel in accordance with the Internal Rules. Provided that the suspension or dismissal of the Secretary General and the Sergeant-at-Arms shall take effect only upon the concurrence of the majority of all the members;

 

Section 2. Right to Vote – On question of rules, the Presiding Officer shall not be compelled to vote except in case of a tie; otherwise he/she is allowed to vote on other matters brought before the Youth Congress.

 

ARTICLE VI

THE FLOOR LEADER

 

Section 1. Duties and Powers – The duties and powers of the Floor Leader are:

1. To preside over the session when, even if present, the Presiding Officer does not preside, or has not designated any other member as temporary Presiding Officer. To recommend to the Presiding Officer appropriate policies, strategies and programs of action to improve the pace and quality of bills/resolutions and to effectively address issues and concerns of Members on matters affecting them, their constituents, and the overall operations and integrity of the Youth Congress.
2. To appoint personnel of the Youth Congress when so authorized by the Presiding Officer and to perform such duties and functions as may be assigned and/or delegated by the Presiding Officer.

 

ARTICLE VII

THE DEPUTY SPEAKERS

 

Section 1. Duties and Powers – The duties and powers of the Deputy Speakers are:

1. To assume the duties and powers of the Speaker when so chosen by a majority vote when the Speaker is absent or temporarily incapacitated, until such time that the Speaker returns to the performance of his/her duties; and in case of resignation, removal or permanent incapacity of the Speaker until such time that a new Speaker is elected and qualified to appoint personnel of the house when so authorized by the Speaker and;
2. To perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned and/or delegated by the Speaker.

 

Section 2. There shall be three Deputy Speakers elected by the assembly.

 

ARTICLE VIII

THE SECRETARY GENERAL

 

Section 1. Duties and Powers – The duties and powers of the Secretary General are:

1. To call the members to order and preserve order and decorum.
2. Enforce orders and decisions of the house which he/she is mandated to enforce.
3. To prepare and distribute the calendar of business of the House.
4. To attend all sessions of the house, call the roll of the members and read resolutions, messages, communications, memorials, positions and other documents which shall be reported by him/her to the house or the reading of which shall be printed at the close of each session for the use of the members as appendix to the journal of such session; to keep and to certify the journal of each session which shall be clear and succinct account of business conducted and actions taken by the house, provided, that journals of executive sessions shall be recorded in a separate book and kept confidential;
5. To attest and to affix the seal of the house on all writs and warrants issued by or upon order of the house, to certify and affix the seal of the house on all approved measures, orders, acts and resolutions;
6. To ensure that the employees of the house perform their duties competently, efficiently and effectively, and in furtherance thereof, to impose, when necessary, disciplinary measures and rules; and to recommend to the Speaker policies and programs on recruitment and hiring of competent professionals, the improvement of the capabilities of house personnel to provide needed technical and other support services to the members, and the acquisition of necessary facilities and equipments;
7. To appoint personnel of the house when authorized by the Speaker;
8. To ensure that the employees of the Youth Congress perform their duties competently, efficiently and effectively and in furtherance thereof, to impose, when necessary, disciplinary measures and recommended dismissal of erring employees to the Speaker in accordance with civil service rules; and to recommend to the Speaker policies and programs on recruitment and hiring of competent professionals, the improvement of capabilities of the youth and the acquisition of the necessary facilities and equipment;
9. To appoint personnel of the Youth Congress when authorized by the Speaker.
10. To act as custodian of the property and records and all government property within the Youth Congress premises and to make an inventory of all the properties within the Youth Congress premises, and to make an inventory of all these properties and records at the beginning and end of each regular session and;
11. To perform other duties that may be assigned or ordered by the Speaker of the House or the Presiding Officer.

 

ARTICLE IX

THE SERGEANTS-AT-ARMS

 

Section 1. Duties and Powers – The duties and powers of the sergeants-at-arms are:

1. To be personally present in all sessions of the House unless excused by the Speaker or the Presiding Officer and personally or through his designees, in all meetings of the committees;
2. To strictly enforce rules relating to admission to the session hall, the galleries, offices, corridors and premises of the house building;
3. To ensure that employees under his supervision observe proper behavior and faithfully perform their duties;
4. To implement orders and serve all processes issued by authority of the House or by the Speaker;
5. To be responsible for the security and maintenance of order in the session  hall, galleries, offices, corridors and premises of the building during sessions, and during the conduct of meetings of committees and other proceedings or activities of the House whether the House is in session or not;
6. To be responsible for the safety of the members while in the House premises or, as the Speaker may direct, in any other place;
7. To be responsible for the security of the properties of the House;
8. To recommend to the Speaker, and to implement upon the direction of the Speaker, security management systems, policies and programs that will ensure security and maintenance of the order of the House and its premises, protect the safety of the Members and Employees, visitors and other persons who are within the premises of the House on official business, and the preservation of properties, equipments, facilities, documents and records of the House; and
9. To act as custodian of the Mace.

 

ARTICLE X

THE COMMITTEES

 

Section 1. Duties and Functions – Committees shall study and act upon all measures inclusive of bills, resolutions and petitions referred to them and recommend for approval of the House those that, in their judgment, advance the interest and promote the welfare of the people.

 

Section 2. Kind – The house shall have standing committees. Standing committees shall have jurisdiction over needs, concerns, issues and interests affecting the general welfare and/or which require continuing and/or intensive legislative study, attention and action. Within the scope of the jurisdiction of a standing committee, but which the standing committee concerned is unable to act upon with needed dispatch.

 

Section 3. Standing Committees – The House shall organize the following standing committees, the membership and jurisdiction of which shall be hereinafter stated:

1. Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization – All matters directly and principally relating to the organization, operation, management, rules and regulations of the civil service; the status, welfare and benefits of government officers and employees; and the regulation of admission to and the practice of professions. All matters directly and principally relating to the reorganization of the government or any of its branches, departments and instrumentalities, excluding government-owned or controlled corporations, and the creation, abolition or change of the principal functions of any government department, agency, commission or board.
2. Committee on Education – All matters relating to education, schools, colleges, universities; implementation of the provisions of the Constitution regarding the establishment of free public elementary and secondary education, scholarship grants, studies and incentives to deserving students; non-formal, informal, indigenous learning systems and adult education; the preservation, enrichment and evolution of Filipino arts and culture; establishment and maintenance of libraries, museums, shrines, monuments and other historical sites and edifices; training programs and cultural and artistic programs of international institutions and organizations operating in the Philippines, such as the UNESCO; and special commemorative events such as the observance of the centennial of the Philippine Independence.
3. Committee on Energy – All matters directly and principally relating to the exploration, development, utilization or conservation of energy resources, and entities involved in energy or power generation, transmission, distribution and supply.
4. Committee on Environment and Natural Resources – All matters relating to the conservation and protection of the environment, the regulation of the impact of human activities on the same, the promotion of environmental awareness of our citizens, the renewal of resources in damaged ecosystems and other environmental-related issues; and all matters relating to the administration, management, development, protection, exploration, storage, renewal, regulation and licensing and wise utilization of the country’s national reserves including, but not limited to, forest, mineral, public land, off-shore areas and the development of industries based on these resources.
5. Committee on Foreign Relations – All matters relating to the relations of the Philippines with other nations generally; diplomatic and consular service; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; the United Nations Organization and its agencies; multilateral organizations; all international agreements, obligations and contracts; and overseas Filipinos.
6. Committee on Justice and Human Rights – All matters relating to the organization and administration of justice, civil courts, penitentiaries and reformatory schools; probation; impeachment proceedings against constitutional officers and other officers legally removable by impeachment; registration of land titles; immigration and naturalization; the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution on human rights; and all matters pertaining to the efficiency and reforms in the prosecution service.
7. Committee on Local Government – All matters directly and principally relating to autonomous regions,    provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays including their revenues and expenditures.
8. Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs – All matters relating to peace and order; the Philippine National Police; the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; the Bureau of Fire Protection; private security agencies; the use, sale, acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture and distribution of prohibited and regulated drugs and other similar substances as provided for under pertinent laws, and the prosecution of offenders, rehabilitation of drug users and dependents, including the formulation of drug-related policies.
9. Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations – All matters directly and principally relating to youth development including the development of their leadership potentials and the promotion of their moral, physical, intellectual and social well-being; and sports development and the rights and welfare of women and female children and youth inclusive of their education, employment and working conditions and their role in nation building.
10. Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Officers – All matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety, dignity, integrity and reputation of the Youth Congress and its Members.
11. Committee on Rules, Officers – All matters affecting the Rules of the Youth Congress; the calendar as well as parliamentary rules and the order and manner of transacting business and the creation of committees. The Chairman of the Committee shall be the Majority Leader of the Congress. The Vice-Chairmen shall be the Assistant Majority Leaders.

 

Section 5. Members and Officers. Membership in each standing committee shall be by appointment.

            Every standing committee shall have a chairman and at least a vice-chairman. The Member elected whose name appears first on the list of committee members shall be the committee head and the members whose name appears successively thereafter shall be the vice-chairman.

            A member who is the author of a bill or a resolution referred to a committee or, if here be several authors, the first two authors of a bill or a resolution referred to a committee, or their duly designated co-authors, shall be considered as member or members, as the case may be, of such committee of referral for the purpose and for the duration of the consideration of said bill or resolution, but shall have no vote in the committee.

 

Section 6. Absence – In case of absence or temporary incapacity of the committee chairman, the highest ranking vice-chairman or the Member whose name is next succeeding to the head in the list of committee members shall automatically assume the duties of the chairman until such time that the latter returns to the performance of his/her duties. In case of absence or temporary incapacity of the highest ranking vice-chairman, the Member next succeeding to him/her in the list of committee members shall automatically assume the duties of chairman and so on.

 

Section 7. Limitations – No member of a committee shall participate in committee deliberations or vote on any matter regarding which he/she has direct or indirect business, financial or pecuniary interest.

 

Section 8. Rules of Standing Committees – Standing committees may adopt their own rules by a majority vote of all their members, provided, that these are consistent with these rule and will not expand or in any way alter their jurisdiction as provided herein.

 

Section 9. Time and Notice of Meetings – All committees and subcommittees shall conduct their meetings, conferences or hearings at such time they may determine in the house building or, whenever necessary, in any government office or facility. They may, however, be held in any other place when authorized by the Speaker or when authorized by the House. No committee, except the Committee on Rues and such committees, to which it has granted permission, may meet while the House is in plenary session, has adjourned, or is in recess.

            No bill, resolution or petition shall be set for hearing unless it has been officially referred to an appropriation committee. No initial hearing on any bill, resolution or petition shall be conducted unless written notice thereof has been issued to the members of the concerned committee or sub-committee at least five (5) calendar days before such hearing.

            Three (3) calendar days before a regularly scheduled committee or sub-committee meeting, conference or hearing, written notice thereof shall be given to all Members specifying therein the subject matter and the names of the resource persons invited together with copies of measures to be discussed and, as far as practicable, fact sheets, research data and other information materials relayed thereto.

            The committees or sub-committees, through the Committee Secretariat, shall undertake measures to ensure that public notices and/or announcements regarding the conduct of any of its meetings or public hearings are issued at least three (3) days before said meeting, conference or hearing. They shall also undertake such measures and/or establish systems to ensure that constituents, sectors or groups whose welfare and interest are directly affected by measures to be discussed are able to participate in these meetings or public hearings subject to the reasonable regulations in the interest of security, order and the safety of persons in attendance.

            The committees and/or sub-committees, as far as practicable, shall schedule bills, resolutions or petitions of similar or related subject matter for the same meeting or hearing.

 

Section 10. Committee Meetings – The committees shall hold regular meetings at least twice a month.

 

Section 11. Committee Report and Orders – Committee reports and orders on any bill, resolution, speech, message, memorial or petition shall be considered in formal meetings. A committee report, once approved, must be signed by a majority of the members of the committee. When a quorum is present, a majority of those present may act on a committee report. The signatures of the majority of the members of the committee on the repot may, thereafter, be secured.

            In case of joint referrals; quorum must be present in each of the committees concerned, and majority of the members present in each committee, there being such a quorum, is required to act upon and/or approve a committee report. The committee report shall be signed by a majority of the members of the committees concerned.

            Once a committee report is approved, the report and corresponding measure it covers shall no longer be subject to change, amendment or alteration, except to corrections to typographical errors.

            Technical working groups may be conducted in order to ensure that measure and their corresponding committee reports are carefully crafted and faithfully express the ideas, sentiments and consensus of the committee relative to said measures and reports.

            When a committee submits a report, a member thereof shall be presumed to have concurred with the report and shall be precluded from opposing the same during plenary debate unless he/she files his/her objections and/or dissenting vote with the Secretary General in writing within seven (7) calendar days from the inclusion thereof in the Order of Business, or he/she is allowed to do so by the Speaker upon satisfactory explanation in writing made by the Member within the same period.

 

Section 12. Reconsideration – When a measure is adopted or lost, a member of the committee who voted with the majority may move for its reconsideration on the same or succeeding day. Only one (1) motion for reconsideration shall be allowed.

 

ARTICLE XI

BILLS, RSOLUTIONS, MESSAGES, MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS

 

Section 1. Bills and Resolutions – Bills and resolutions shall be signed by their author/s and filed with the Secretary General who thereafter transmits the same to the Committee on Rules which shall determine the referral thereof to the appropriate committee(s).

 

Section 2. Referral to Committee – As a general rule, a resolution/bill should be referred to one (1) committee.

            Whenever a resolution/bill cover subject matters that relates to the jurisdiction of more than one (1) committee, it should be referred to the committee within whose jurisdiction the subject matter directly and principally relates to. The committee which acquires original jurisdiction over a measure that is recommended for adoption or approval shall be principally responsible for submitting a report to the Committee on rules which would then be reported to the plenary.

 

Section 3. Change Referral – A committee to which a bill or resolution is referred, though its Chairperson may make a written and/or oral request for a change of referral of such bill or resolution to the Committee on Rules shall decide on the same within three (3) days from receipt of the request, and shall inform the requesting committee in writing of its decision hereon within the same period.

 

Section 4. Consolidation or Substitution – A committee nay decide to approve a resolution/bill with or without amendments or a substitute or a resolution/bill.

            In case of two (2) more resolutions on the same subject matter with conflicting provisions, the author of the measure from which the provision were substantially adopted in the consolidated or substituted measure shall be considered the principal author thereof.

 

Section 5. Resolution/Bills Favorably acted upon – When a committee action on a resolution/bill is favorable, the resolution/bill and the corresponding report together with other supporting documents and information materials shall be transmitted to the plenary in such number of copies as required.

 

Section 6. Resolutions/Bills not favorably acted upon – When a committee action on a resolution/bill is unfavorable, the deliberation on the resolution/bill shall be postponed indefinitely. The author/s shall be notified of the action within two (2) days after the resolution/bill has been laid on the table stating the reason(s) therefore.

 

Section 7. Second Reading and Debate – On second reading of the bill or resolution, it shall be read in full, unless copies thereof have been distributed to the members so that such reading is dispensed with thereafter, it shall be subject to debate and pertinent motions. Debate shall begin with the sponsorship speech of the chairperson/members of the committee recommending its approval and the authors depending on the arrangements made by the committee.

 

Section 8. Motion to Close Debate – In the plenary discussion of any measure, a motion to close the debate shall be in order after four (4) speeches for and three (3) against or after one (1) speech for and if none entered against.

 

Section 9. Closure – When matter under consideration has bee sufficiently discussed by a member who has the floor and there are several members who have signified their intention to speak on the same matter but have not been able to do so, the Presiding Officer may order, motu propio or upon motion of a Member having the floor desist from speaking further so that other Members may not be deprives of their opportunity to speak.

 

Section 10. Amendments – After the close of the debate, the Congress shall proceed to the consideration of committee amendments subject to the five-minute rule. A member who desires to speak against a committee amendment shall be considered and shall likewise be subject to the five-minute rule. The five-minute rule shall also be applied in the consideration of an amendment to an amendment, or of an amendment by substitution.

 

Section 11. Approval of Resolution on Second Reading – After the amendments are acted upon and the period for amendments is closed; the bill shall undergo voting on Second Reading.

 

Section 12. Third Reading – A resolution/bill approved on Second Reading shall be included in the Calendar of Proposed Amendments for Third Reading. On the Third Reading of a bill or resolution, no amendment thereto shall be allowed. The vote thereon shall be taken immediately and the ayes and nays entered in the Journal.

 

ARTICLE XII

THE SESSION

 

Section 1. Commencement of the Sessions – Sessions shall be held on the 14^th to 28^th of September and the plenary session on the 3^rd to 5^h of November 2008 unless the Congress decides otherwise, upon written notification to the Secretary General by the concerned committee secretariat director or secretary.

 

Section 2. Attendance in Sessions – Every Member shall be present in all sessions of the Congress unless prevented from doing so by sickness or other unavoidable circumstances duly reported to the House through the Secretary General.

 

Section 3. Call to Order – The Speaker of the House or the Presiding Officer (one of the Deputy Speakers) shall open the session by calling the House to order. At the start of every session, a one-minute or so prayer shall be uttered or sung by one of the members designated by the Speaker, followed by the National Anthem.

 

Section 4. Roll Call – The names of the Members shall be called out alphabetically by surnames upon every roll call. When two or more members have the same surnames, the full name of each should be called.

 

Section 5. Motion to Adjourn Vacates Call – At any time after the roll call is complete, a motion to adjourn shall be in order and if approved by a majority of those present, all proceedings under the preceding section shall be vacated unless a fixed time is set to adjourn.

 

Section 6. Approval of the Journal – The Journal shall be submitted to the House for approval. Prior to approval, the Journal shall be read in full unless copies thereof have been distributed to the Members. The Journal for the last day of a regular or special session shall be approved in the manner determined by the Congress.

 

Section 7. Calendar of Business – The Calendar of Business shall be determined by the Committee on Rules composed of the House Speaker, Deputy Speakers and Floor Leaders.

 

Section 8. Voting – Every member present shall vote on every question put up. The name of the members who abstain, inhibit themselves or opt not to vote shall be entered in the Journal of the Congress.

 

Section 9. Sessions Open to the Public – Sessions shall be opened to the public but when the security of the State or the dignity of the Congress or any of its member are affected by any motion or petition being considered, the House may hold executive sessions.

 

Section 10. Suspension and Adjournment of Sessions – Sessions shall not be adjourned except by direction of the Congress, but the Presiding Officer in his discretion may declare a suspension or recess of short interval at any time.

 

ARTICLE XIII

PRIVILEGE HOUR

 

Section 1. Privilege Hour – After the First Reading and Referral to Committees of bills, proposed resolutions, messages, communications, petitions and memorial, there shall be, without extension, a Privilege Hour. Upon the unanimous consent of the House, the Privilege Hour may be continued on the same day after the consideration of the Business for the Day. On any other day, upon the unanimous consent of the House, there shall be a Privilege Hour after the consideration of the Business for the Day.

            Any member may speak on any matter of general interest. If more than one Member desires to make use of this privilege, the first to apply, either in writing in the office of the Majority Leader or verbally in open session, shall be given precedence. If, after a Member has finished, sufficient time is left of the hour, the second Member who has asked to speak may do so, and so on successively until the full hour is consumed. If the requests to make use of the one-hour privilege remain recorded at the expiration of the hour, they shall be recorded in the same order for the next session, or for such other day that a Privilege Hour is conducted, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE XIV

QUESTION HOUR

 

Section 1. Standards Set for Questions – Questions shall be based on facts and asked to obtain information or press for actions. No question shall:

1. contain arguments;
2. suggest its own answer;
3. include offensive or unparliamentary language or expressions;
4. pertain to subjudice matters;
5. seek an opinion on a question of law;
6. include names or statements other than what s strictly necessary to make question intelligible;
7. relate to matters directly under the responsibility of another department head;
8. refer to an item of the agenda of the current month’s session or to proceedings of a committee not yet reported;
9. suggest amendments to bills before the House; or
10. repeat a question previously asked and answered.

 

Section 2. Form of Questions and Answers – In form, questions and answers for excessive length are not in order.

 

Section 3. Written Questions Not Conforming to Standards – If the questions do not conform to the foregoing standards, the Speaker shall return them to the Member concerned and the latter may modify or restate the questions to make them conform to the said standards or appeal the action of the Speaker of the House. Said appeal shall be resolved like all other appeals from the rulings of the Speaker,

 

Section 4. Classification and Disposition of Questions – Questions may be classified according to the order of the priority laid down hereof and grouped together by subject matter by the Speaker who shall decide the order in which the said questions are to be dealt with. During the appearance of the department head, the Speaker shall direct the Secretary General to read the questions according to their precedence, the name of the proponent(s) and the department head to which the question is directed.

 

Section 5. Standards for Answers – Answers should be directly related to the questions propounded without need for discussing general policies or programs, concise, responsive and should not be argumentative. They should conform to the standards set for the questions where these are applicable.

 

ARTICLE XV

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

 

Section 1. Constituting the Committee – The Congress may resolve itself into a committee of the whole to act upon a bill or resolution on motion of the Floor Leader. When the Congress resolves itself to a committee of the whole, it functions as one committee acting upon a bill or resolution and conducting its proceedings like a regular committee, with its membership composed of all the members of the Congress. If a motion to resolve the Congress into a committee of the whole is lost, a similar motion shall not be represented within the same session day.

 

Section 2. Proceedings – The Speaker of the House shall appoint a Chairperson to preside over the Committee and shall leave the chair.

            The committee can conduct business only when there is a quorum. Absence of a quorum shall be reported by the Chairperson and move that the committee immediately rise and suspend its proceedings. The Speaker of the House and all the Members shall vote on all questions before the committee.

            Documents and papers in the possession of the Congress may be called for by any Member and read by the Secretary General for the information of the committee unless the committee orders otherwise. The chairperson shall have the power to clear the session hall in any case of any disturbance. The committee, however, cannot punish disorderly conduct of its Members but must report the same to the Congress for action thereon.

            If any time during the proceedings of the Committee, it shall be desired to close the debate, or to limit the time allowed Members for speaking, the Committee may rise and report its desire to the Congress, and the Committee, for want of time, fails to complete any matter under consideration at any sitting, it may, on motion at any time, recess and convene. A motion that the Committee rise, report progress and asks to leave to sit again, may be made at any time, and shall take precedence over all other motions. The motion shall be decided without debate. When it prevails, the Committee shall immediately rise.

            When the Committee has disposed of proposed amendments, resolutions and other measures before it, on motion, shall be instructed to report the action of the Committee to the Congress. At this point, the Speaker of the House shall resume the chair, and the Chairperson shall thereafter, make a report to the Convention. Matters reported shall then be before the Convention for action as though reported by any other committee.

 

ARTICLE XVI

DECORUM AND DEBATE

 

Section 1. Manner of Addressing the Chair – When a Member desires to speak; he/she shall rise and respectfully address the Chair “Mr. Speaker” or “Madam Speaker” as the case may be.

 

Section 2. Recognition of the Member – The Chair shall recognize every Member who rises to speak. When two or more Members rise at the same time, the Chair shall recognize the Member who shall speak first, provided that as far as practicable, members of the majority and minority on an issue shall be allowed to speak alternately on the floor.

 

Section 3. Time Limit – No Member shall speak for more than three (3) minutes in debate on any question or more than once on any question without leave of the Congress.

 

Section 4. Sponsor to Open and Close the Debate – The Member reporting a measure may open and close the debate. If the debate extends beyond one (1) hour without being closed, he/she shall be entitled to an additional ten (10) minutes to close.

 

Section 5. Decorum – The Member who has the floor shall confine himself to the question under debate, avoid personalities in all cases and refrain from indecorous words or acts. The Chair, motu propio or as the Congress may direct, may declare statements, remarks or words unparliamentary and order that these be stricken off the record. If the Member is called to order by another for words spoken in debate, the latter shall indicate the words objected to. The Secretary General shall note and read aloud said words. However, the Members called to order shall not be held to answer nor be subject to censure by the Congress if further debate of other business intervenes.

 

Section 6. Conduct and Attire during Sessions and Committee Hearings – During sessions and committee hearings, Members shall wear corporate attire and observe proper decorum.

            No Members shall stand or be near the Secretary General’s desk during the roll call or counting of votes, pass between the Chair and another member who has the floor, and use cellular phones or any other similar devices in the session hall. While the Speaker of the House is addressing the convention or putting a question, no member hall walk out of or walk across the session hall.

 

Section 7. Smoking Prohibited – Smoking is prohibited inside the session hall.

 

ARTICLE XVII

VOTING

 

Section 1. Manner of Voting – The Speaker shall rise and state in clear, precise and simple language the proposition that is being put to a vote. Thereafter, he shall say “As many as are in favor, (as the question may be) say “aye” and, after the affirmative vote is counted, “As many are as opposed, say “nay”. This shall not apply on Election of the President and the final report of the Youth Congress where nominal voting shall apply.

            If the Speaker doubt the result of the voting of a motion to divide the Congress is carried, the Youth Congress shall divide. Those in favor shall first rise, to be followed by those against. If the Speaker still doubts the outcome or a count by tellers is demanded, he shall name one (1) from each side of the question to count the Members in the affirmative and the negative. After the count is reported, the Speaker shall rise and announce the result.

            An abstention shall not be counted as a vote. Unless otherwise provided by these rules, a majority of those voting, a quorum being present, shall decide the issue.

 

Section 2. Nominal Voting – The ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’ on any question shall be entered in the Journal at the request of one fifth (1/5) of the Members present.

 

Section 3. Second Call on Nominal Voting – After the Members have voted ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’ in nominal voting, the Secretary General shall call, in alphabetical order, the names of those who did not vote so they may vote. After the second call, no Member shall be allowed to vote.

 

Section 4. Explanation of Vote – A member may explain his vote in not more than one (1) minute during nominal voting.

 

Section 5. No Interruption during Voting – The voting shall not be interrupted except on a question of quorum.

 

Section 6. Tie Vote – In case of a tie, the Speaker shall vote. A tie on an appeal from the ruling of the Chair sustains the decisions of the Chair.

 

ARTICLE XVIII

MOTIONS AND THEIR PRECEDENCE

 

Section 1. Recording of Motions – Every motion shall be entered in the Journal with the name of the Member making it unless it is withdrawn on the same day.

 

Section 2. Reading and Withdrawal of Motions – The Speaker shall state the motion or, if in writing, shall cause it to be read by the Secretary General before being debated.

 

Section 3. Rider Prohibited – No motion or proposition on a subject matter different from that under consideration shall be allowed under the guise of amendment.

 

Section 4. One Motion of One Subject Matter – A motion shall cover only one (1) subject matter.

 

Section 5. Ruling as Precedents – Rulings on questions raised by Members shall form part of the parliamentary practice of the House.

 

Section 6. Suppletory Provisions – The parliamentary practices of the Philippine Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Senate of the Philippines and the Batasang Pambansa shall be suppletory to these rules.

 

Section 7. THE ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER WILL APPLY ON QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

 

ARTICLE XIX

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES

 

Section 1. Who can Move – Any member can move for the suspension of these rules.

 

Section 2. No rule shall be suspended except by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present constituting the quorum.

 

Section 3. When a motion to suspend the rules is pending, one (1) motion to adjourn may be entertained until the vote is taken on the motion to suspend the rules.

 

Section 4. Debate, Effect of Suspension – A motion to suspend the rules for the passage of a measure may not be debated on for one (1) hour, which shall be divided equally between those in favor and those against.

            If the Congress votes to suspend the rules, it shall, forthwith, proceed to consider the measure, A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present constituting a quorum shall be necessary for the passage of said measure.

 

ARTICLE XX

DISCIPLINE

 

Section 1. Cause – Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Ethics to be created by the assembly, the Congress may punish its members for disorderly behavior.

 

Section 2. Votes Needed – The Congress may censure or reprimand an erring Member with the concurrence of the majority of its Members. It may suspend or expel such erring Member with the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of all its Members, provided, that a penalty of suspension shall not exceed one (1) day.

 

ARTICLE XXI

PAPERS, BOOKS AND RECORDS

 

Section 1. Delivery of Papers to Archives – All papers and records relating to the completed business of the Congress shall be delivered to, kept by and preserved in the Archives.

 

Section 2. Duty of Committee Secretariat Directors/ Secretaries – Committee Secretariat Directors or, in their absence, Committee Secretaries shall, within two (2) days after the enactment of proposed amendments or joint resolutions, and one (1) day after final adjournment of Congress, deliver to the Archives all proposed amendments, resolutions, petitions and other papers referred to their respective committees together with the records of proceedings, reports of investigations conducted and all evidence taken by such committees.

            Upon neglect or failure of the Committee Secretariat Director/ Secretaries to comply with the rule, the Secretary General shall, within seven (7) days thereafter take the custody of all such papers. Disciplinary action may be taken against erring Committee Secretariat Director/ Secretaries.

 

ARTICLE XXII

SESSION HALL, SEATS AND ROOMS

 

Section 1. Use of the Session Hall shall only be for sessions, caucuses and meetings of Members except when the Congress directs otherwise. Communications, documents and other information materials written by or prepared under the direction of a Member may be distributed in the session hall by such Member, personally or through facilities or employees of the congress, provided that the author or source thereof is properly identified in such communications, documents, and other information materials.

 

Section 2. Space Reserved for Members – The Sergeant-at-Arms shall not permit persons other than Members and authorized Congress personnel to enter or stay within the space designated in the session for the Members and Congress personnel needed therein while the Congress is in session.

            Fifteen (15) minutes before the session, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear said space of all other persons and it shall also be kept until recess or adjournment. This section shall not be suspended except with respect to resource person(s) or technical assistant(s) needed by the reporting committee or by the movant of a motion under consideration.

 

Section 3. Assignment of Seats and Rooms – Except those assigned to the Floor Leaders and the 2^nd and 3^rd Members who may choose to retain the rooms previously assigned to them, rooms in the Congress building shall be assigned by lot to the Members. The Secretary General shall schedule the date and designate the place for the drawing of lots for room assignments and shall ensure that all Members are given due notice thereof at least seven (7) days before the scheduled date. Seats in the session hall shall be assigned in accordance with the instructions of the President.

 

Section 4. The Mace – The Mace shall be the symbol of authority of the House and shall be displayed at the Speaker’s rostrum when the House is in session. It shall serve as a warrant of the Sergeant-at-Arms in enforcing order in the House.

 

Section 5. Official Seal – The House shall adopt its own official seal.

 

ARTICLE XXIII

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 1. Amendments. Any provision of these rules, except those that are also embodied in the Constitution, may be amended by a majority vote of all the Members of the Congress.

 

ARTICLE XXIV

EFFECTIVITY

 

Section 1. Effectivity. The rules shall take effect immediately upon ratification.

 

 

 

Approved by the Members of the Youth Congress in Regular Session on September 28, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attested by:

 

 

 

 

 

HANNA B. ABAD

Secretary General