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 the Presiding Officer RULE 42. In the absence of the President when the Senate convenes, the President Pro Tempore shall preside except as provided for in Rule 1; however, any other rule to the contrary notwithstanding, when the President of the Senate chooses not to preside, the President Pro Tempore shall preside. Should the President Pro Tempore not be in the chamber or choose not to preside, the President Pro Tempore shall designate in writing a member to preside until such time as the President or the President Pro Tempore, as the case may be, assumes or reassumes the presidential duties of the chair; provided, however, that such delegation may not continue to the next legislative day. RULE 43. All questions shall be put by the Chair, and members shall signify assent or dissent by answering yea or nay. 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 and a quorum is not recorded as voting, the Chair shall, before announcing the vote, on his or her own motion, instruct the Secretary to record as present a sufficient number of those Senators physically present to constitute a quorum, though all present are not participating in the vote. For purposes of ascertaining a quorum, an abstaining vote shall be counted as present. RULE 44. The Chair shall rule on all points of order considering the Constitution of the State of Alabama, Statutes of Alabama, the Alabama Legislative Joint Rules, the Senate Rules and historic precedents of the Senate. Such ruling shall be made, within a reasonable time not to exceed ten (10) minutes. Every question of order shall be decided by the Chair without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate, which appeal must be made the same legislative day. An appeal of the ruling of the chair shall be decided by roll call vote by a majority of the elected Senate membership. The Chair may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of order or on any other matter properly before the Senate. RULE 45. When more than one member rises seeking recognition, the presiding officer shall decide which member to recognize. The President Pro Tempore shall be recognized when rising for a point of order, House messages, executive messages, and other matters of serious import for the operation of the Senate. The Senate Floor Leader in the absence of the President Pro Tempore, shall have priority when seeking recognition. RULE 46. The Chair shall give notice at each reading of a bill whether it be the first, second, or third. RULE 47. (a) The President Pro Tempore shall appoint the position of Senate Floor Leader also known as the Majority Leader. (b) The Senate President Pro Tempore may designate the Senate Floor Leader to perform the duties of the Senate President Pro Tempore in his/her absence. (c) There shall be a Senate Committee on Assignments which shall be composed of the President Pro Tempore as Chairperson, the Lieutenant Governor and three additional members appointed by the President Pro Tempore. This committee shall appoint the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and membership of all Senate Standing Committees and Select Committees. The Committee may appoint the position of Deputy Chair. Said committee may reappoint the membership of the committees. Any such change in committee membership shall only be authorized by a unanimous vote of the membership of the Committee on Assignments. No removal or change in membership shall be allowed during a regular or special session of the legislature, or within thirty days thereof. The committee shall appoint the position of Dean of the Senate and may designate his/her duties. Actions of this committee shall be reported to the Senate by the President Pro Tempore as such appointments are necessary. (d) The Senate Floor Leader shall be a voting member of all Senate Standing Committees except the local legislation committees. Such membership on each committee shall be in addition to the committee members named in the rules. The Senate Floor Leader may designate in writing to the Secretary of the Senate the name of a member who is not already a member of the committee to represent him or her as a voting member under this rule. Such substitution shall be for a term of not less than one year unless such member so appointed dies or resigns from the Senate. (e) The Senate Floor Leader shall assist the Senate President Pro Tempore with the relationship between the Senate and House leadership, and any other matters which the President Pro Tempore may deem necessary. (f) A Senate conference committee on a Senate bill shall consist of three members appointed by the Committee on Assignments. A Senate conference committee on a House bill shall consist of three members appointed by the Committee on Assignments. (g) A Senate conference committee on a local bill shall consist of three members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, from the political subdivision affected, if possible. (h) A Senate conference committee on all resolutions shall consist of three senate members appointed by the Committee on Assignments. (i) There shall be the position of the Senate Minority Floor Leader, also known as the Minority Leader, elected by the members of the Minority Party. Notification of the name of the Minority Floor Leader shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Senate. The Minority Floor Leader shall have a separate budget allocation. The Minority Floor Leader shall be a voting member of all Senate standing committees in addition to those set out in Rule 48 except the local legislation committees. The Minority Floor Leader may designate in writing for a term of not less than one year a member who is not already a member of the committee to represent him or her as a voting member on the committees. (j) The Minority Floor Leader shall be a voting member of all Senate standing committees except the local legislation committees. Such membership on each committee shall be in addition to the committee members named in Rule 48.