MALTA

 

 

STANDING ORDERS

OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

(Maltese version)

 

 

These Standing Orders as amended and adapted up to the 10th July, 1995, are reprinted under the authority of the Existing Laws (Reprint) Act,  Cap. 180.

 

 

                                                                        A. E. BORG BARTHET

                                                                        Attorney General


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

S.O. No.

1.     Interpretation

 

 

        I. - Proceedings on the Opening of a new Parliament or Session

 

2.     Proclamation to be read

3.     Election of Speaker

4.     Election of Deputy Speaker

5.     Members to take oath

6.     President of Malta's Speech

7.     Address in Reply to Speech

        Debate theron

 

 

II. - Sittings, Quorum, Adjournment and Closure

 

8.     Days of meeting

9.     Interruption of business

 10.     Proceedings after hour of interruption

 11.     Quorum

 12.     House failing to meet on appointed day

 13.     Adjournment on matters of definite urgent public importance

 14.     Restrictions on dilatory motions

 15.     Dilatory motions in abuse of Standing Orders

 16.     Closure

 

 

III. - Arrangement of Business of the House

 

 17.     Routine of business

 18.     Orders of the day to be read

 19.     Order of business on Government days

 20.     Orders of the day how disposed of

 21.     Questions to be decided by a majority of votes

 22.     Mode of giving notice

 23.     Notices etc. for next ensuing session

 24.     Revision of notices by Speaker

 25.     Same motion cannot be proposed again in same session

 26.     Questions may be put

           Time for asking questions

 27.     Rules regarding questions and answers

 28.     Questions for oral answers

 29.     Number of questions allowed

 30.     Questions may be asked by deputy

 31.     Mode of asking questions

 32.     Questions answered verbally or in writing

 33.     Motions may be moved for absent Members

 34.     No motion to be moved on day of notice

           When motion is to be considered as withdrawn

 35.     Motions without notice

 36.     Questions of privilege

 37.     Motions not requiring to be seconded

 38.     When motions lapse

 39.     Motions or amendements may be withdrawn

 40.     Motion withdrawn may be again offered

 41.     When motions are superseded

 42.     Debate interrupted or superseded may be revived

 43.     Mode of proposing and putting motion

 44.     Power of selection

 

 

IV. - Order in the House

 

 45.     Member to address himself to the Chair

 46.     When two or more Members rise to speak

 47.     Member not to read his speech

 48.     Members to speak to question

 49.     Time limit of speeches

 50.     Personal explanation

 51.     Reserved speech

 52.     Member may not speak twice to a question

 53.     When a reply is allowed

 54.     Debate ceases when question fully put

 55.     Reflections upon votes of House

 56.     Members to sit down when Speaker or Chairman rises during

             debate

 57.     Irrelevance or repetiton

 58.     Motion that Member be not heard etc.

 59.     Use of President of Malta's name forbidden

 60.     Offensive words against the House or a Member

 61.     Members not retracting, how dealt with

 62.     Proceedings upon questions of order

 63.     Disorderly conduct in House, how dealt with

           Speaker may name a Member

           Members suspended, to withdraw

 64.     Member named by the Speaker, how dealt with

           Member may apologize

 65.     Member to withdraw while his conduct is under debate

 66.     Contempt

 67.     Members guilty of contempt, how dealt with

 68.     Power of Speaker to adjourn House or suspend sitting

 


 

V. - Financial Business

 

 69.     Recommendation by President of Malta, when required

 70.     President of Malta's recommendation, how communicated

 

 

VI. - Financial Business - Supply

 

 71.     Redress of grievances may be considered

           When Speaker leaves the Chair without question put

           Financial Statement

           Motion to go into Committee of Supply

           Sittings allotted for consideration of Estimates

           No motions to be taken

           At 9 p.m. the Chairman reports progress

           At 9 p.m. on last day question put on all remaining votes

 72.     Procedure in Committee of Supply

 73.     Motion for largest reduction first put

 74.     Order in which motions are to be taken

 75.     No debate allowed on preceding items

 76.     Question on original or reduced vote

 77.     Destination of votes cannot be altered

 78.     Vote may be postponed

 79.     Manner in which reductions are moved

 80.     Vote or item agreed to cannot be debated

 81.     Report from Committee of Supply

 82.     Estimates reported

           Appropriation Bill

 

 

VII. - Divisions

 

 83.     Division may be demanded by a Member

 84.     Division, how taken

 85.     Votes shall be taken openly

 86.     In case of confusion or error House divides again

 87.     Mistakes cor