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RULES OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ALABAMA
Rules Relating to Members of the House
Rule 41.
No member shall absent himself or herself from the sessions of the House, unless he or she has leave, is sick, or is unable to attend.
Rule 42.
No member of the House or any person who has privileges of the floor, except television cameramen, shall be admitted upon the floor of the House while the House is in session unless properly attired.
Minimum standards of dress shall consist of the wearing of a coat and tie by males and the wearing of a suitable dress or an appropriate blouse and skirt or pants suit by females.
Minimum attire for pages shall be the same as for members. House pages shall be at least 10 years old and no older than 23 years of age.
Rule 43.
Only members shall sit in a seat assigned to a member except on the first day of any Regular or Special Session.
Rule 44.
No food shall be consumed on the floor of the House except from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Rule 45.
No lobbyist or lobbying group shall have food delivered to the House membership while the House is actually in Session.
Rule 46.
There shall not be any smoking or other use of tobacco on the floor of the House or in the halls of the fifth and sixth floors of the State House.
Rule 47.
Complimentary items, souvenirs, or gifts of food shall not be placed or distributed on the floor of the House.
Rule 48.
Personal computer printers, typewriters, and personal telephones shall not be used on the floor of the House.
Rule 49.
A majority of the House shall be a quorum to transact business and no business shall be transacted except on the appearance of a quorum. If those who vote are sufficient in number to show that a majority constituting a quorum so acted, those who thus voted only shall be counted as constituting the House for the purpose of that vote; but when any question is put to the House, and a quorum is not recorded as voting, the Speaker shall, before announcing the vote, instruct the Clerk to record as present a sufficient number of those members physically present in the House to constitute a quorum, though all present are not participating.
Rule 50.
Members shall particularly refrain from making personal comments about other members, and no member shall name another member or use profanity in comments or debate.
Rule 51.
When a member desires to speak he or she shall so indicate by pressing the speak button at his or her desk and respectfully request recognition from the Speaker.
When a member has been recognized by the Speaker the member shall be directed to speak from the podium, unless the member desires to make an inquiry of the Chair or to state a point of order. Desk microphones may be used for these purposes.
Rule 52.
No member shall speak more than ten minutes at any one time and no more than twice on the same question without leave of the House, unless the member is the mover proposing the matter pending, in which case the member shall be permitted to speak in reply.
Rule 53.
If a vote is taken viva voce, the names of members shall be called alphabetically and each member shall answer from his or her seat.
Rule 54.
When a vote is taken by recorded vote and a member who has been absent returns before the question is decided, he or she may make inquiry of the subject before the House and have his or her vote recorded without discussion.
Rule 55.
If any member transgresses the rules, in speaking or otherwise, the Speaker shall, or any member may, call him or her to order citing this rule by number, in which case the member called to order shall immediately sit down, unless allowed by the Speaker to explain; and the House shall, if appealed to, decide on the case without debate. If the decision is in favor of the member called to order, the member may proceed; if otherwise, and the case requires it, he or she shall be liable to censure.
Rule 56.
All correspondence or communications placed in members' mailboxes, offices or on desks shall have the author or sponsor identified. Anonymous correspondence or communications placed in the members' mailboxes or offices, or placed on the members' desks, shall be investigated by the House Clerk upon the receipt of a written complaint from any member. Any member found responsible for distributing anonymous correspondence or communications that are the subject of a complaint may be censured, and any other individual found responsible for placement of anonymous correspondence or communications may be banned from the fifth floor of the State House.
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