Approved at the AGM in Siena, March 2003
1. SCOPE OF THESE STANDING ORDERS
1.1. The scope of these standing orders is defined in the Statutes
of ESN.
1.2. If the Statutes and the standing orders are not in compliance
with each other, the Statutes overrule the standing orders.
1.3. These Standing Orders come into effect as soon as they are approved.
2. MEMBERS' RIGHTS
2.1 All full member sections can send representatives to the AGM
2.2 All participants from member sections have the right to speak and vote at the AGM.
2.3 The chair can extend the right to speak to invited observers and other guests.
2.4 Sections can delegate their voting rights to another sections.
3. CHAIR
3.1 The person/persons actually chairing a session is referred to as “the chair”.
3.2 The responsibility for chairing the plenary sessions of an AGM rests with the board, which will recommend chairpersons at the beginning of the AGM. These will then be confirmed by the AGM.
3.2.1 Should the board’s proposed chairs be rejected, the board can make new proposals.
3.2.2 Members can also propose chairs. These will also be voted on by the AGM.
3.2.3 A vote to replace the chair may at any time be requested by any member. Such a vote must be carried by a two-thirds majority of the sections present.
3.2.4 If such a vote is carried, the board will recommend a new chair.
3.3 It is the chair’s responsibility to ensure that the procedures laid down in these Standing Orders are adhered to, and that the agenda is followed.
3.3.1 The chair may propose changes to the agenda.
3.3.2 Such a proposal must be voted on by the AGM.
3.4 The chair may at any time comment on procedural matters, but will otherwise be considered a normal speaker.
3.5 The chair may resign the post, in which case the board must propose a new chair.
4. SPEAKERS' LIST
4.1 During all discussions the chair keeps a speakers list, thus ensuring that all are heard.
4.1.1 A participant indicates his/her desire to speak by raising one hand.
4.1.2 If the chair wishes to participate in a discussion he/she must put his/her name on the speakers list like that of all other participants.
4.2 The chair or any member can propose to close the speakers’ list.
4.2.1 If there are objections, a vote is required.
4.2.2 Before the speakers’ list is closed, the chair must announce who is still left to speak.
4.2.3 Once the speakers’ list is closed, it cannot be reopened before a vote on the matter under discussion has been taken.
4.3 The chair may impose limits on speaking time, ensuring that this is applied fairly to all participants in the debate.
4.4 If there are no speakers, or once all speakers have been heard, the chair may call a vote on the tabled proposal.
5. AMENDMENTS TO PROPOSALS
5.1 During the AGM any member can propose amendments to all proposals made in the AGM documents.
5.2 If more than one amendment to a proposal is made, the chair will decide the order in which they shall be voted on.
5.3 Only when all amendments to a proposal have been debated and voted on, can a vote on the original proposal (amended or not) take place.
5.4 There can be no secret ballots when voting on amendments.
6. EXCLUSION OF PARTICIPANTS
6.1 Any three members may at any time propose the exclusion of any person from the AGM on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour.
6.2 Such a proposal will have to be carried by a two-thirds majority of all members present at the AGM.
6.3 On request, an excluded person must be informed if and when he/she can expect the decision of exclusion to be lifted.
6.4 A simple majority is required to lift the exclusion.
7. REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING
7.1 All decisions at the AGM are taken by a simple majority unless otherwise stated in the Statutes and Standing Orders.
7.1.1 A simple majority is defined as when the number of votes cast for or against a proposal is bigger than the number for the opposing view, regardless of the number of abstentions.
7.1.2 For a vote to be considered valid, 51% of all sections have to be present at the AGM.
7.2 At the beginning of the AGM all members will be given two voting cards. One green, to indicate a vote in favour, one red to indicate a vote against, one white to indicate a blank vote.
7.3 If an absent section has given their voting rights to a present section, these votes should be counted.
8. VOTING
8.1 A vote must be held if proposed by a full member. If required, the purpose of the vote may be explained with the proposal.
8.2 Before a vote is held, the chair will, in the following order:
8.2.1 Announce that a vote will take place;
8.2.2 Summarise the point to be voted on, stating clearly the meaning of votes in favour of and votes against the proposal.
8.3 Voting procedure
8.3.1 The chair asks for votes in favour of, and opposing the proposal. The members indicate their opinion by raising one card.
8.3.2 If the chair finds a clear majority in favour of or against the proposal, he/she may announce the result immediately, without the votes actually being counted.
8.3.3 If the chair does not find a clear majority for or against the proposal, a second vote will be held, in which all votes will be counted. Likewise if a full member wishes it.
8.3.4 The chair can decide to go straight to a counted vote
8.4 Secret voting.
8.4.1 Unless otherwise stipulated, any full member can request that a vote be made secret.
8.4.2 The chair will distribute ballot papers to all members present, and will oversee that they are collected when voting is completed.
8.4.3 The chair will count the votes and announce the result.
8.4.3.1 There should always be at least two people, of different nationality and from different sections, counting the votes.
8.4.3.2 If possible two participants, one from either side of the argument being voted on, should be present when the votes are being counted.
8.4.3.3 The votes will be recounted if any members have reasonable grounds for thinking a mistake has been made.
8.5 A vote will be considered invalid and will be repeated at once;
8.5.1 If the number of votes is greater than the number of members present;
8.5.2 If anybody participated in the voting without having the right to vote;
8.5.3 If anybody voted more than once;
8.5.4 If doubts about the procedural correctness are raised and cannot be refused;
8.6 If the outcome of a vote is even, the proposal voted on is not carried.
9. OMISSIONS / PROCEDURAL PROPOSALS
9.1 If a situation should occur that is not covered by these Standing Orders, the chair will propose an adequate procedure.
9.2 Any member may challenge that procedure, and a vote will be taken.
9.3 The following proposals are to be considered procedural ones, and will overrule both the speaker’s list and the agenda:
9.3.1 Proposals to change the agenda;
9.3.2 Proposals for closing the speaker’s list;
9.3.3 A request for a secret vote;
9.3.4 A proposal to exclude a participant;
9.3.5 A challenge to a vote, as laid down in article 7.5;
9.3.6 The resignation or replacement of the chair.
9.4 If more than one procedural proposal is made at the same time, the chair will decide the order in which they are heard.
10. CHANGING THE STANDING ORDERS
10.1 Changes to the Standing Orders must be carried by a two-thirds majority of the members present at the AGM.
10.2 Changes to the Standing Orders take effect as soon as they are voted through by the AGM.
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