Articles XVII-XIX
Voting Procedures

Article XVII - Parliamentary Procedure
A) The Residence Hall Association shall follow the RHA voting procedures as outlined in this document.
B) A motion is a proposal upon which the General Assembly takes a stand or takes action. In addition to making a proposal, a General Assembly or Executive Board member can express support for another's motion by "seconding" it. Depending on the type of motion, discussion or debate may be in order. After this, a vote on the motion may be needed, usually requiring a simple majority.
C) A main motion is usually a programming or policy proposal that needs to be discussed and approved by the General Assembly for it to take effect. During Old or New Business, any General Assembly or Executive Board member, after being put on the agenda and being recognized by the President, may make a motion. Main motions require a second before discussion can begin. A Main Motion must be presented in written or typed format, before the President will recognize it.
D) Amending a Motion
    1) If a General Assembly or Executive Board member wishes to change part of a motion (main or otherwise) that is on the floor, that member should be recognized by the President and then present that amendment by saying "I move to amend this motion by..." Amendments require a second before discussion can begin if necessary.
    2) If an amendment is presented and seconded, the General Assembly or Executive Board member making the original motion and the second for that motion will be asked if they accept the amendment. If they do accept, the member making the original motion will be asked to restate the motion as amended, and it will become the original motion for purposes of the minutes and voting.
E) RHA Voting Procedure
    1) Week One:
        (a) Proposal brought to the floor.
        (b) Question and answer time for five (5) minutes, which can be extended by five (5) minutes.
    2) Week Two:
        (a) Motion written and seconded.
        (b) Motion read to the General Assembly
        (c) Question and Answer time for the motion writer, lasts three (3) minutes, which can be extended by three (3) minutes
        (d) Debate on the topic
            i Consists of reasons to vote for or against the proposal
            ii If an amendment is made, this is the time:
                (i) Friendly amendments have to be accepted by the motion writer
                (ii) Regular amendments go to question and answer for the amendment writer for two (2) minutes, which can be extended by two (2) minutes
                    1. Debate the amendment
                    2. Call to vote
                        a. Ask for dissent
                            If dissent exists, continue debate. This can only occur three (3) times before moving to a vote
                        b. If there is no dissent move into a vote.
                (iii) Go back to debate of the motion after the amendment passes or fails
        (e) Call to vote
            i Ask for dissent
                If dissent exists continue debate, this can only occur three (3) times before moving into a vote
            ii If there is no dissent move into a vote
    3) For money, support, program, or position votes it needs to be approved by a majority of the Assembly.
    4) To change the constitution or bylaws, changes must be approved by two-thirds of the Assembly.

Article XVI - Voting
A) The President or advisors may call for a non-binding "straw vote" of all members present (including non-voting members) on certain issues. This will normally be done by show of hands.
B) A general consent may be sought when a motion is not likely to be opposed, the President will say "If there is no objection..." Members show their agreement by their silence. If someone says "I object" the matter must be put to a vote.
C) Binding Votes
    1) By Voice- the President asks those in favor to say "aye" and those opposed to say "nay." Any member may move for an exact count by rising and saying "Division." This means that the President will call for a vote in one of the following voting manners so that an exact count may be obtained.
    2) By Show of Placards- members raise their placards as sight verification of the exact count of "ayes," "nays," and abstentions.
    3) By Roll Call- if a record of each person's vote is needed, each member answers "aye," "nay," or "abstain" as his or her name is called.
    4) By Ballot- members write their vote on a slip of paper, to be counted by an advisor, Parliamentarian, or other member thereby appointed by the President.

Article XIX - Approving Changes to the Bylaws and Constitution
All changes and amendments to the constitution and bylaws must be approved by the General Assembly, Residence Life, the Office of Student Activities and Student Government Association.