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Rules Governing Organization and Conduct of Business

  1. The Chairman of the Teller’s Committee shall report the number of voting members registered at the opening of each session.
  2. The Chairman of the Teller’s Committee shall report the number of voting members present immediately prior to the election of officers.
  3. A quorum of the Council of States shall be half of the membership of the Council of States plus one. Unless specified otherwise in the bylaws.
  4. Voting members must sign in upon entrance to the Council of States assembly room.  They shall wear their badge at all times while attending the business meeting.
  5. At the discretion of the Chair, only voting members shall be permitted to sit in the sections reserved for them.
  6. Any representative of a member facility certified as an alternate representative can be reassigned as a voting member at any time during the continuance of that annual meeting.
  7. Only those eligible to vote in the Council of States may introduce motions or offer amendments to motions.  However, the presiding officer may recognize others who wish to address the Council of States.
  8. The Chair of AHCA shall be the presiding officer at the meeting unless he or she delegates the responsibility to the Vice Chair or Immediate Past Chair. *
  9. Council of States representatives shall be in their seats at least two minutes before the scheduled time the session is to begin and the meeting shall come to order promptly at the call of the presiding officer.
  10. Voting members wishing to address the Council of States shall approach the nearest microphone, and upon recognition by the presiding officer, state their name, affiliation and the reason they wish to be recognized.
  11. Members shall speak no more than once on any issue until all who wish to speak on the issue have been heard; and then no more than twice without the majority approval of the Council of States -- or at the discretion of the presiding officer.
  12. A voting member who makes a motion shall be entitled to speak first in support of the motion and in closing debate -- that is, to speak last -- if he or she so desires.
  13. Debates on any issue shall be limited to twenty (20) minutes, provided that in the opinion of the presiding officer each position has been adequately represented in the discussions.  Speakers shall be limited to remarks of three (3) minutes or less.  A timekeeper, appointed by the presiding officer, shall insure that speakers honor these time limits.
  14. All motions, except those incidental to the conduct of business, shall be represented in writing to the presiding officer.
  15. Resolutions and recommendations published in the official Council of States document book shall be considered regular business at that meeting.
  16. Other resolutions submitted in accordance with the bylaws may be considered by the Council of States.
  17. There shall be no proxy voting. *
  18. No individual shall have more than one vote in the Council of States by reason of dual capacity.
  19. The Tellers shall be responsible for counting all secret ballots and shall assist in the tally of roll call votes, when appropriate.
  20. Roll call votes shall be taken only if it is found necessary by either the presiding officer or by majority vote of the Council of States members present and voting.
  21. The Chair of the Teller’s Committee shall report the written vote results to the presiding officer immediately at the conclusion of the tally.  Rules Governing the Conduct of Nominations and Elections shall be those presented separately under that title as adopted by the assembly.
  22. Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the deliberations of the Council of States where they are applicable and not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association or these standing rules, as adopted by the Council of States.
  23. With the exception of those rules marked with an asterisk, which are provisions of the AHCA Constitution and Bylaws, any of these rules may be amended, rescinded, or suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council of States members present and voting.  A quorum must be present.

* Constitution and Bylaws requirement.
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