TSA Bylaws
RULES OF ORDER FOR THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

1.01 PURPOSE

These Rules of Order are set forth to govern all the deliberations of the House of Delegates and its committees.

2.01 MEETINGS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

The House of Delegates shall meet as required by Section 5.4, Article 5 of the Bylaws of this organization.

3.01 SUBSIDIARY COMMITTEES

Credentials Committee 

The Credentials Committee shall examine the credentials of all who seek admission to the House of Delegates, and rule on the seating of members and proposed substitutions for absentees.  All those whose credentials as furnished by the Secretary are found to be in order shall be registered and seated as official members of the House of Delegates.

An appeal on any ruling of the Credentials Committee may be entered by the individual whose credentials are in question or by any voting member in such individual’s behalf.  Such motion to appeal must be entered immediately following the report of the Credentials Committee to the House that a quorum exists and a majority vote by the House will decide the issue.

The Credentials Committee shall report to the House, when requested by the Speaker, on the following:

  1. Total number of members of the House eligible to vote at this session.
  2. Number of such members registered and officially seated.
  3. Announcement of quorum.

Reference Committees

Reference Committees appointed by the President may be constituted at any session of the House of Delegates for the purpose of considering any items which the House desires to refer for further study.

4.01 HOUSE OF DELEGATES HANDBOOK

A Handbook containing all reports submitted to the House of Delegates before the first session of the House of Delegates shall be published and distributed to all members of the House of Delegates.  The Handbook shall contain the minutes of the previous session of the House, the reports of all committees, the reports of the District Directors, all minutes of Board of Directors meetings held since the last session of the House, the Secretary’s report, the Treasurer’s report with proposed budget, the report of the Director of ASA District 19, and any unfinished business from the previous House.  The publication in the Handbook will constitute introduction into the business of the House.

5.01 ANNUAL SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Two sessions of the House of Delegates shall be held.

5.02 ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Two sessions of the House of Delegates shall be held.

  1. Registration and seating of members of the House of Delegates.  Non-voting members shall be seated in a section apart and clearly separated from voting members.
  2. Report of the Credentials Committee.
  3. Call to order by the President.
  4. Institution of the Speaker as the presiding Officer.
  5. Introductory remarks by the Speaker.
  6. Approval of the minutes of the last session of the House.
  7. Report of the President.
  8. Nominating Committee Report and nominations from the floor.
  9. Recognition of Nominees for office and optional remarks by candidates in disputed elections not to exceed three minutes each candidate.
  10. New Business.
  11. Announcement of Reference Committee Hearings.
  12. Recess of the first session.

5.03 ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Two sessions of the House of Delegates shall be held.

  1. Registration and seating of members of the House of Delegates.
  2. Report of the Credentials Committee.
  3. Call to order by the Speaker.
  4. Reports of the Reference Committees with appropriate action on all matters of business placed before the House.
  5. Election of Officers.
  6. Resumption of the chair by the President.
  7. Installation of the incoming President.
  8. Address of the Incoming President.
  9. Adjournment.

6.01 MOTIONS

Only members of the House of Delegates are privileged to make motions, except that the duly appointed Chair of any Committee may make motions pertaining to any matter which has been referred to and considered by his or her committee, whether he or she be a member of the House or not, and further, except that any voting member of a committee may make motions incident to the introduction of and debate on minority reports.

All resolutions shall be submitted in writing.

The Speaker may, at his or her discretion, direct that complicated motions or amendments be submitted in writing.

A motion to take any tabled motion from the table is in order either during the same session at which it was tabled or during the next session, even if sessions are held no more often than annually.  In this reference the term “session” shall be understood to include the total number of meetings which are held between the initial convening of the House of Delegates and its final adjournment.

7.01 DEBATE

Discussion and debate on any matter before the House shall be carried on according to standard parliamentary procedure as outlined in the official parliamentary authority of this Society.

Any voting or non-voting member of the House of Delegates has the right to discussion of any matter before the House.

Any duly appointed member of a Committee shall be accorded the privilege of discussing any matter which was considered and is being reported by that Committee.

Any consultant or technical assistant shall be accorded the privilege of discussing any matter before the House, if invited by the Speaker, or if such request is made by any member, provided, however, that this privilege may be denied such individual by a motion duly entered and passed by a majority of the voting members of the House.

The President shall be granted the floor without regard to the customary limitations of debate, insofar as this can be done without depriving any other member of his or her parliamentary rights, and further provided that the President shall be bound by the usual rules of parliamentary decorum, as well as any special rules to limit debate which are in effect at the time.

8.01 VOTING

Voting shall be carried on according to standard parliamentary procedure as outlined in the official parliamentary authority of this Society.

The method of voting shall be at the option of the Speaker, except when the method is stipulated in the Bylaws of this Society or the House adopts a motion to vote in a specific way.  The Speaker shall state the method of voting when the question is put to vote.

If the Speaker is in doubt as to the outcome of any vote, he or she shall retake the vote by some method which will indicate that exact number voting on each side.  Likewise and under the same circumstances any voting member of the House may request a retake of the vote.

If any election to office results in a tie vote, the winner shall be determined by drawing lots.

9.01 APPEALS, CHALLENGES AND CLAIMS OF ILLEGALITY

An appeal, challenge or claim of illegality may be entered only by voting members of the House, except that an appeal from a decision of the Credentials Committee may be entered by the individual whose credentials are in question.

Appeals from a decision of the Chair must be raised immediately after the decision is rendered and before other business has intervened.

Appeals from a decision of the Credentials Committee must be raised immediately following the announcement of a quorum and before other business has intervened.

All other appeals, challenges or claims of illegality must be raised at the same session at which the action under question occurred.

10.01 UNANIMOUS CONSENT

The House may, by unanimous consent, grant any motion, action, or request which is not in violation of any provision in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., even if such action is adjudged to be out of order according to the official parliamentary authority of this Society, or these Rules of Order.

11.01 AMENDMENT AND SUSPENSION

These Rules of Order may be amended, or any provision thereof temporarily suspended by a two-thirds majority vote of the House of Delegates at any legal meeting of the House.

No provisions of these Rules of Order shall be effective and no amendment to, nor suspension of the provisions thereof shall be permitted if such provision or action is in violation of the Articles of Incorporation or By­laws of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists.

12.01 PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The latest edition of Sturgis’ Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall govern all matters not covered by the Rules of Order or the Bylaws of this Society.

Those situations not so covered shall be decided by the Speaker, with the consent of the House of Delegates.

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