Article VIII: Bills

Section 1. Debate

a. Debate on bills shall last no less than three (3) days and no more than seven (7) days in committee or on the House Floor. Debate may be extended by the Speaker or Committee Chairs with members' approval.
b. Debate on amendments to bills shall last no less than two (2) days and no more than five (5) days in committee or on the House Floor. Debate may be extended by the Speaker or Committee Chairs upon members' request.
c. No legislation may be left on the table without debate if there is no other pending business before a Committee or the House.
d. Any amendments to AGS Rules shall have priority on the House Floor; an Organizing Resolution must be voted upon, without debate, when issued by the House Majority Leader.
e. No bill, resolution or other legislative business may be considered by the House that has not been agreed to by the appropriate committee, except for those outlined in Article IV, Section 3.
f. The Speaker may recommit legislation back to committee if it has been amended four times or more.
g. A bill that has been introduced in one House session may not be considered in following House sessions, unless the bill has been reintroduced.

Section 2. Votes

a. Votes on bills shall last no less than three (3) days and no more than seven (7) days in committee or on the House Floor.
b. Votes on amendments to bills shall last no less than two (2) days and no more than five (5) days in committee or on the House Floor.
c. Legislation must be put to a vote immediately upon closure of debate.
d. Votes cast by members who had not signed into a Committee or the House before the vote began shall not be counted.
e. The only votes that shall be counted will consist of Aye, Yea, Yes, No, Nay, Present or Abstain as well as identifying information for that Representative. Votes containing commentary, debate or other material other than the votes listed above and identifying information shall be disqualified. (Material included in a member's signature file or custom title shall be excluded from this provision.)
f. A two-thirds majority shall be required for the House to pass an amendment to AGS Rules.
g. A two-thirds majority shall be required for the House to pass an amendment to the Constitution; such amendments will then be subject to a simulation of the ratification process in state legislatures. The AB shall conduct such a simulation when necessary.

Section 3. Limitations

a. Bills or resolutions ("Acts"), and executive orders shall be in effect for one year, commencing immediately from the earliest date of legal effect:

1. For resolutions that do not require presidential approval, this shall be the date passed by the resolving body;
2. For acts passed and signed by the President, this shall be the date of signing;
3. For acts vetoed by the President, this shall be the date where the vote to override has been passed;
4. For executive orders, this shall be the date of promulgation.

b. The rule in (a) shall not apply to:

1. Acts or orders written to expire earlier, or is later amended to expire earlier.
2. Acts or orders struck down as unconstitutional or in violation of AGS Rules.
3. Acts or orders which have been repealed or revoked.
4. Acts or orders which properly amend the rules of the Simulation.'

c. No clause within an act or order extending the period of legal effect for that act or order, or any other act or order (except where excepted by (b)) shall have effective power.