THE RULES OF THE SENATE OF ALABAMA General Rules of Order and Procedure Rules Relating to Senators Rules Relating to the Presiding Officer Rules Relating to Committees Rules Relating to the Secretary and the Journal Rules Relating to Senators RULE 37. No Senator shall absent himself or herself from the service of the Senate for as long as one day, without leave of the Senate first obtained. In case a lesser number than a quorum of the Senate shall convene, they are hereby authorized to send the Doorkeeper or some other person for any or all absent Senators, as the majority of the Senators present shall agree. The expense of sending for an absent Senator shall be paid by the absentee, unless an excuse for non-attendance shall be made, as a quorum of the Senate shall judge sufficient. In which event, the expense of securing the attendance of such absent Senator shall be paid out of funds appropriated for the Legislature. RULE 38. (a) When the yeas and nays shall be called for by three or more Senators, each Senator called upon shall, unless for special reasons be excused by the Senate, declare openly and without debate, his or her assent or dissent to the question. No member shall be permitted to vote after the decision is announced from the chair. In taking the yeas and nays, and upon the call of the Senate, the names of the Senators shall be called alphabetically. (b) Any six members present on a legislative day may file a notice in writing, without permission of the presiding officer, objecting to any votes except by roll call vote. This objection is effective for the entire legislative day on which it is filed. Any removal of the objection must be in writing signed by four of the members who filed the objection and may not be removed by a suspension of the rules. RULE 39. (a) No member shall speak more than twice on any question under debate and none shall, without leave of the Senate, speak for more than one hour at each time on motions for the adoption of an amendment to a bill or substitute, a substitute to a bill, the bill itself, motions to concur or nonconcur, or motions to adopt a resolution to confirm an appointment. Debate on resolutions and debatable motions (other than those above), shall be subject to a reasonable time limit not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes. The originator of the pending question, or the Chairperson of the Committee reporting the measure, shall have the right to conclude the debate. (b) Points of personal privilege by members shall be limited to ten minutes. RULE 40. Senators engaged in debate shall refrain from engaging in abusive and derogatory language in reference to other Senators and shall immediately be called to order by the Presiding Officer if such practice prevails. When a Senator shall be called to order by the President, he or she shall immediately sit down; however, the Senator will not lose his or her place and may resume the microphone at the direction of the Presiding Officer. Senators engaged in debate shall address each other by their official title and last name or reference their geographical district of representation. RULE 41. (a) Smoking shall be prohibited on the seventh floor except in private offices or restrooms. (b) The use of cellular telephones and pagers shall be permitted on the Senate floor only on silent or vibrating mode. (c) Any other electronic devices shall only be used in a manner as not to be disruptive to the Senate. (d) Assignment of offices and desks shall be made in accordance with agreement between the Secretary of the Senate and the President Pro Tempore or his or her designee.