BLACKS
	IN
	GOVERNMENT

NATIONAL DELEGATES ASSEMBLY

STANDING RULES OF THE DELEGATES ASSEMBLY

1. The general authority controlling the Blacks In Government National Delegates Assembly shall be the BIG National Constitution, these Standing Rules of the Delegates Assembly, and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised Tenth Edition.

2. The presiding official shall be responsible for maintaining order and decorum at all times to assure that the business of the organization is transacted fairly and judiciously. The presiding official shall also select individuals to tabulate the vote of delegates on any issue before the Delegates Assembly, except for the election of officers, which shall be handled by the Election Committee, pursuant to the Constitution. Only certified voting delegates shall be allowed to make motions, speak in debate, or cast a vote.

3. The Credentials Committee shall report the total number of authorized and certified voting delegates at the opening of the Delegates Assembly. This committee shall also submit supplementary credentials reports at the beginning of each session when requested by either the presiding official or a delegate.

4. Delegates representing a simple majority of delegates or their alternates certified at the opening of the Delegates Assembly shall constitute a quorum. A majority of all certified delegates must be present to conduct business at any and all subsequent sessions. If, at any time after the assembly has been called to order and is in session, and less than a majority of the certified delegates are present, the Parliamentarian shall notify the presiding official that the body fails to have a quorum and any and all actions of the body are unofficial and non-binding on the assembly.

5. Delegates addressing the assembly after being recognized by the presiding official shall first state his or her name, chapter, and region.

6. Each delegate/speaker may speak up to two (2) minutes on any issue. No delegate shall speak more than twice on any issue. Discussion on any one issue shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes with the exception of the Treasurer’s Report and the auditor’s report.

7. Upon request of the presiding official, a motion shall be submitted in writing signed by the maker of the motion, and hand-carried to the Secretary of the Delegates Assembly.

8. The election of all National Officers shall be determined by a majority vote. If a majority is not obtained on the first ballot, the two candidates with the highest number of votes shall have a runoff election. The other candidates shall not appear on the ballot.

9. The election of the Nominating and Election Committees shall be determined by a plurality vote. The Nominating and Election Committees shall select their chairperson immediately following the adjournment of the Delegates Assembly.

10. All candidates (1^st and 3^rd Vice-Presidents, the Secretary, and the Assistant Treasurer) for National office other than the National President shall present their platform to the Delegates Assembly within a two (2) minute time span. All candidates for the office of National President shall present their platform within a three (3) minute time span.

11. These rules require a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote by the certified delegates present and voting for adoption. These rules may also be suspended by a majority vote of the certified delegates present and voting.

12. Unless the Constitution provide otherwise, the assembly itself is the judge of all questions arising which are incidental to seating of Delegates or opening and closing the sites for Credentials and Elections.

13. All electronic devices (Blackberries, Cellular phones, Computers with Music or Chimes, and Pagers) shall be turned off or placed on vibrate or silent while the Delegates Assembly is in session.

14. Delegates are requested to abide by all of the above for order and decorum.

Presented By

Ramsey Alexander, Jr.

Ramsey Alexander, Jr.

Chair, Standing Rules Committee