This document shall serve as the binding governing document of the American Government Simulation.

The American Government Simulation (henceforth referred to as �AGS,� �the simulation� or �the sim�) is a private organization which strives for a realistic simulation of American government and politics and aims to provide a forum for open, honest and thoughtful debate.

These rules (henceforth referred to as "AGS Rules" or "Sim Rules" are copyright 2004 by their respective authors, and may not be copied, republished or reused in whole or in part by non-authors without express written consent of the authors. AGS assumes no copyright ownership of member postings or contributions.

Article I: The Administrative Board

Section 1. Definement and Purpose

a. The Administrative Board, hereafter referred to as 'the AB', is the administrative body of AGS.
b. The AB is charged with maintaining a realistic, reasonable, and stable environment in AGS.
c. The Administrative Board shall be made up of no less than five (5) administrators and may bring in new administrators by a 3/4 vote. There shall be no more than ten (10) administrators at one time.
d. The Administrative Board may choose a Chief Administrator to coordinate AB activity by majority vote.

Section 2. Powers and Duties

a. The AB shall carry out the actions of the House, the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, and the individual members of the Simulation when such actions are within the legal scope of powers given to the individual or body making the request.
b. The AB shall be solely responsible for the layout and design of AGS; however, it may seek advice from the House on this issue if desired.
c. The AB shall assign moderator powers to members as needed.
d. The AB may expel any individual from AGS by a three-fourths (3/4) vote in favor of such expulsion. However, a notice of any expulsion must be posted in the 'Announcements' Forum. Such notice must include the reasoning behind the expulsion and why the action was necessary. (Expulsion may be overturned by the House Membership (see Sim Rule I(3)(a))
e. The AB may temporarily ban a member from posting for 48 hours in urgent circumstances. However, a notice of any expulsion must be posted in the 'Announcements' Forum. Such notice must include the reasoning behind the temporary ban and why the action was necessary. Such a ban may not last for more than 48 hours without an injunction from a Supreme Court Justice.
f. The AB may edit and/or delete postings from non-members or postings of unsolicited commercial e-mail (or �spam�)
g. The AB shall develop procedures and formulas for earning and losing Prestige Points.
h. The AB shall develop procedures and formulas for determining the outcomes of presidential primaries and elections, and, when applicable, elections for Governors and Senators.
i. With a 2/3rds vote, the AB may activate Article II, Section 10 and/or Article II Section 11 of AGS Rules, upon reaching a sufficient number of members. The AB may deactivate these modules if a sufficient number shall not be achieved.
j. The AB may introduce �events� into the sim for the purpose of debate and activity.
k. The AB may develop an Acceptable Use Policy in accordance with AGS Rules and Terms of Service of the service hosting AGS bulletin boards.

Section 3. Limitations and Restrictions

a. Any AB expulsion may be overturned by a simple majority on the House Floor.
(1) Any member of the House may introduce a 'Motion to Overturn Expulsion' on the House Floor, which upon two seconds, must be debated and voted upon. Neither the debate or subsequent vote shall last less than three (3) days or for more than five (5) days.
(2) Members of the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch shall be allowed one vote in such matters and shall be allowed to participate in debate of any 'Motion to Overturn Expulsion'.
b. The House may expel a member of the AB from the board by a three-quarters (3/4) vote, if it believes such expulsion if warranted.
(1) Any member of the House may introduce a 'Motion to Remove' a particular member from the AB. However, the motion will not be heard unless there are at least seven (7) seconds.
(2) Members of the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch shall be allowed one vote on the matter and shall be allowed participate in debate on the merits of any 'Motion to Remove' a member of the AB from that body.
c. The AB may not edit or delete member postings.
d. No member of the AB may participate as a candidate in a presidential election or primary, or election for Senator or Governor; nor provide information to any candidate about the procedures or formulas used in determining results of primaries and/or elections that would unfairly benefit or harm a candidate.
e. No member of the AB may participate as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
f. Supreme Court Justices may issue injunctions against AB activities in emergency circumstances, upon petition by a sim member.
g. As AGS is intended as a free and open forum, neither the AB nor any body of AGS may require a fee to join and/or participate in the sim.

Section 4. Amendments

Amendments to Article I of AGS Rules must pass the Committee on Rules and Ethics, the House and the AB, in that order, by a 2/3rds majority vote.


Article II: Offices and Powers

Section 1. President

a. The President shall serve a term of six months. Terms shall begin either January 5th or July 5th.
b. The President shall be chosen through an election process run by the AB, to conclude on AB-designated days in November (for terms starting in January) and May (for terms starting in July). All players who are not members of the AB shall be eligible to run for their party's nomination, or they may run as an independent. The election process shall be designed as a simulation of the American electoral process, including a primary campaign and ending with a simulated popular election and a vote in the Electoral College.
c. The President shall appoint an Attorney General and Supreme Court justices, which shall be approved by the House. The President may choose to appoint other Cabinet and executive officials, which shall be subject to House approval if their real-life counterparts are subject to Senate confirmation.
d. Any unannounced absence of more than fourteen (14) consecutive days by the President shall be considered a resignation on the part of the President.

Section 2. The Vice President

a. The Vice President shall be elected on a ticket with the President and shall be chosen through the election process outlined in Section 1(b).
b. Any unannounced absence of more than fourteen (14) consecutive days by the Vice President shall be considered a resignation on the part of the Vice President.

Section 3. The Speaker of the House

a. The Speaker shall be chosen in election by all sitting members of the House Majority.
b. The Speaker shall appoint a Speaker Pro Tempore and no less than four (4) Deputy Speakers, who shall assist the Speaker in the supervision of House activity and business, within ten (10) days of taking office or a vacancy.
c. The Speaker shall appoint a House Clerk within ten (10) days of taking office or a vacancy.
d. The Speaker shall have the power of ombudsman on the House Floor.
e. The Speaker shall formulate Rules of Decorum to govern behavior on the House Floor, in the Voting Booth and on House committees. The Speaker may call any member of the House to order for violating these Rules.
f. The Speaker shall enforce the AGS Rules of Order on the House Floor and the Voting Booth. The Speaker may call any member of the House to order for violating these Rules.
g. Any unannounced absence of more than ten (10) consecutive days by the Speaker shall be considered a resignation on the part of the Speaker.
h. The Speaker has discretion over which House business and activity the Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speakers may preside; however, the Speaker must let the Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speakers participate in some aspects of House management, as the Speaker cannot prohibit them from such duties completely.
i. All appointments made by a Speaker will expire at the end of his/her elected term, but shall remain in effect upon a resignation or removal until a new Speaker is elected.

Section 4. Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speakers

a. The Speaker shall appoint the Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speakers at the beginning of his/her term.
b. The Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speakers shall preside over House business and activity under the Speaker's authority.
c. Deputy Speakers may open new debate and voting threads and may preside over those threads. The Speaker or the Speaker Pro Tempore may assume the gavel and preside directly over a debate or voting thread opened by a Deputy Speaker, but Deputy Speakers may not assume the gavel over threads opened by other Deputy Speakers.
d. The Speaker Pro Tempore and Deputy Speakers may call members of the House to order for violations of decorum, AGS Rules or Rules of Order.
e. The Speaker Pro Tempore shall become Acting Speaker when the position of Speaker becomes vacant.
f. The House Majority shall elect a new Speaker no less than thirty (30) days after the Speaker Pro Tempore becomes Acting Speaker.


Section 5. The Clerk of the House.

a. The Clerk shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House at the outset of his/her term and upon a vacancy in that office.
b. The Clerk shall supervise the operation of the Office of the Clerk, whose duties include:

-welcoming and directing new members;
-updating the roster of House, Supreme Court and Executive Branch members no less than once each month;
-ensuring that no district is represented by multiple representatives and that all representatives represent existent districts;
-assign numbers to all proposed legislation and forward legislation to the appropriate committee in a timely fashion;
-opening, closing and supervising Roll Call;
-tabulating the total number of eligible representatives from each party who have signed into Roll Call;
-recording which parties and independent members have joined into House Coalitions;
-certifying a majority of eligible House members as a presumptive House Majority;
apportioning committee seats to the House Majority and Minority not less than seven (7) days after the presumptive House majority has been certified;
and recording the status of bills and the AGS Code in the Thomas legislative database forum.

c. The Clerk shall appoint one Deputy Clerk within ten (10) days of taking office, and shall assign duties to Deputy Clerks.
d. Any unannounced absence of more than ten (10) consecutive days by the Clerk shall be considered a resignation on the part of the Clerk.

Section 6. Deputy Clerks.

a. Each recognized political party (including the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus) shall provide the Office of the Clerk with one Deputy Clerk. The Clerk of the House shall also appoint one Deputy Clerk.
b. Deputy Clerks shall assist the Clerk of the House in performing his/her duties.
c. Any unannounced absence of more than ten (10) consecutive days by a Deputy Clerk shall be considered a resignation on the part of a Deputy Clerk.


Section 7. House Majority and Minority Leaders

a. The House Majority Leader shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the House Majority.
b. The House Majority Leader shall assign committee chairs and committee seats to members of the House Majority.
c. The House Minority Leader shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the House Minority.
d. The House Minority Leader shall assign committee chairs and committee seats to members of the House Minority.
e. The House Majority and Minority Leaders may appoint Deputy Floor Leaders and/or Whips to assist in their duties. The Majority and Minority shall each appoint at least one Deputy Floor Leader and one Whip.
f. Any unannounced absence of more than ten (10) consecutive days by the House Majority Leader or Minority Leader shall be considered a resignation on his/her part. The senior Deputy Floor Leader shall assume leadership duties and shall preside over leadership elections in no less than thirty (30) days.

Section 8. Representatives

a. Each member of the House shall have the title of United States Representative.
b. Unless specified as a restriction of office or of punishment, or as specified in AGS Rules, each Representative is entitled to vote on all questions before the House, and in all Committees to which they are duly assigned.
c. Representatives may introduce legislation or introduce amendments to legislation.
d. Representatives assume their duties upon signing in to the appropriate forum
e. Representatives shall serve until they sign out of the House, assume a position upon which concurrent House membership is prohibited, or fail to sign into Roll Call.

Section 9. Attorney General, Cabinet and Executive Branch

a. The President shall appoint an Attorney General to argue the government's position in cases before the Supreme Court.
b. Cabinet members may be removed at the discretion of the President, but nominees must be confirmed by the House.
c. Other Executive Branch positions, such as Press Secretary, Chief of Staff or National Security Advisor, may be appointed by the President, and are subject to House confirmation if their real-life counterparts are subject to Senate confirmation.
d. No member of the Executive Branch may concurrently serve as a Representative.

Section 10. Supreme Court Justices

a. Justices shall serve on the Court for one year, unless they are removed or fail to sign in during Roll Call. Justices may not be renominated for consecutive terms.
b. Justices may not vote or participate in House activity or business while a member of the Court.
c. Justices may not serve as Governors, Senators or Cabinet members while a member of the Court.

Section 11. Senators

a. This Section shall not be operative until AGS shall have achieved sufficient membership to support it and the AB activates it with a 2/3rds vote. It may be deactivated if AGS fails to maintain sufficient membership and 2/3rds of the AB votes to suspend it.
b. There shall be no more than one Senator in AGS for every twenty-five members of the House. The Clerk shall determine the number of total Senators after each Roll Call.
c. Senators shall serve terms of six months. Terms shall begin
either January 5th or July 5th.
d. Senators shall be chosen through an election process run by the AB, to conclude on AB-designated days in November (for terms starting in January) and May (for terms starting in July). The AB shall, through a simulation process, rank the X top vote-getting players, where X is the number of open Governor's seats as determined by the Clerk. Those players shall be elected to serve as Senators.
e. Senators shall have all the powers of Representatives, with a Senator's vote being counted five times for each vote in the full House.
f. Senators may not serve as Cabinet members or as Governors during their term.

Section 12. Governors

a. This Section shall not be operative until AGS shall have achieved sufficient membership to support it and the AB activates it with a 2/3rds vote. It may be deactivated if AGS fails to maintain sufficient membership and 2/3rds of the AB votes to suspend it.
b. There shall be no more than one State Governor in AGS for every thirty-five members of the House. The Clerk shall determine the number of total Governors after each Roll Call.
c. State Governors shall serve terms of six months. Terms shall begin on April 5th or October 5th.
d. Governors shall be chosen through an election process run by the AB, to conclude on AB-designated days in February (for terms starting in April) and August (for terms starting in October). The AB shall, through a simulation process, rank the X top vote-getting players, where X is the number of open Governor's seats as determined by the Clerk. Those players shall be elected to serve as Governor.
e. All players who are not members of the AB shall be eligible to run for governor in their state; primaries may be held if necessary.
f. Governors shall have all the powers of Representatives. Additionally, Governors may sign or veto any bill passed by their state's legislature in real life. They may exercise any powers given to them under their state's constitution, provided those powers do not conflict with AGS Rules.
g. Any unannounced absence of more than fourteen (14) consecutive days by a State Governor shall be considered a resignation on the part of that Governor.
h. Governors may not serve as Cabinet members or as Senators during their term.

Section 13: Media

a. Members may, upon approval by a majority of the AB, serve as members of the news media.
b. Media members may report on events taking place in AGS, but have no authority to introduce events into the sim.
c. Media members may not concurrently serve in any branch of the government.

Article III: Political Parties

Section 1. Administration

a. The Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus shall be recognized as political parties at all times.
b. Each party shall have a set of rules to govern their administration, which shall include:
-Procedures for electing party leadership;
-Rules of succession in cases of resignation or removal of party leadership;
-Procedures for electing or appointing a Deputy Clerk;
-Procedures for electing or appointing delegates to the Committee on Rules and Ethics;
-and procedures for amending the party rules.
Party rules may not be contrary to AGS Rules. AGS Rules supercede party rules.


Section 2. Party Creation and Dissolution

a. Additional parties may be formed via petition by a group of members to the higher number of the following:
1) a number equal to or greater than 20% of the total membership at the time of the most recent Roll Call, or
2) a total of 20 petitioners
b. All those signing a petition for a new party must join within ten (10) days of the party's creation.
c. Parties are dissolved if the party's membership comprises less than 15% of the total number of Representatives responding to Roll Call, or if the party should choose to dissolve in a manner consistent with their party rules.


Article IV: Roll Call, Elections and House Organization

Section 1. Roll Call
a. Roll Call shall occur the first seven days of May and November. All members shall sign into Roll Call by posting their name, state, district (where applicable), party and position in the Roll Call thread. Failure to sign into Roll Call shall be construed as a resignation or sign out by that member.
b. Only members who have signed into the simulation prior to the commencement of Roll Call will be eligible to respond to Roll Call.
c. Only members responding as Representatives shall count toward a party's membership.
d. The Clerk of the House shall tabulate the total number of eligible Representatives for each party, which will serve both as a basis for organizing a House Majority and for determining the number of seats for each committee.

Section 2. Elections

a. President and Vice President
1) The President and Vice President shall be elected through a simulation of the electoral campaign process as outlined in Article II, Section 1(b) of the AGS Rules.
2) Candidates for the presidential nominee of their parties shall participate in a primary campaign run by the AB.
3) Candidates must formally declare their intent to run in the Elections Commission before deadlines specified by the AB.
4) Nominees for Vice President are chosen according to a party's rules, or for independent campaigns, by the choice of the presidential candidate.

b. Senators and Governors
1) Senators and Governors shall be elected through a simulation of statewide campaign process as outlined in Article II, Sections 10 and 11 of the AGS Rules.
2) Candidates must formally declare their intent to run in the Elections Commission before deadlines specified by the AB.

c. Speaker
1) The House Majority shall designate an individual to supervise an election for Speaker.
2) Only members of the House Majority may vote for Speaker.
3) A signature consisting of the member's name, state and district will be required for an eligible vote.
4) A majority of votes is required to be elected Speaker. If necessary, a runoff between the top two vote-getting candidates may be held.

Section 3. Organization of the House

a. The House shall hold sessions commencing January 5th and July 5th.
b. Forming a House Majority
1) At the conclusion of Roll Call, the Clerk shall certify the numbers of eligible Representatives from each political party (including the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus).
2) The recognized political parties shall then attempt to form a House Majority, constituting a majority of House members, with a party leader posting an �Intent to form a Majority� thread in the Office of the Clerk. Leaders of any parties and members of the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus who choose to join that coalition shall post to that effect in the thread.
3) Members of a recognized political party must all join the same coalition, while each member of the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus is free to join a majority coalition if he/she chooses.
4) Once a majority of the eligible Representatives have pledged to join a coalition, the Clerk shall certify that coalition as the presumptive House Majority. The parties and Independent and Unaffiliated members who are not part of the House Majority shall be part of the House Minority.
5) The presumptive House Majority shall be able to introduce an Organizing Resolution at the commencement of the next House session.

c. Organizing Resolutions
1) At the commencement of a new House session, the presumptive incoming Majority Leader shall introduce an Organizing Resolution, which shall include the persons who shall assume the Speakership, the Majority Floor Leadership, the Minority Floor Leadership, the results of the committee draft and the incoming chairs of each committee. 2) The Organizing Resolution shall be the first order of business upon the commencement of a new House session. The incumbent Speaker must open a vote on the Organizing Resolution, without debate, once it is introduced by the presumptive incoming Majority Leader.
3) Organizing Resolutions shall take effect with a majority vote. No Representatives who were ineligible to sign into the most recent Roll Call may cast a vote for or against an Organizing Resolution. Voting shall last no less than (5) five days and no more than seven (7) days.
4) Upon passage of the Organizing Resolution, the persons named in the Resolution shall immediately assume their respective offices and duties.
5) Organizing Resolutions during a session
a) No Organizing Resolutions may be introduced from November 1-January 4 nor from May 1-July 5.
b) Organizing Resolutions may otherwise be introduced during a House session under any one of the following circumstances:
i) If one of the recognized political parties shall withdraw from the House Majority and join the House Minority, or vice versa.
ii) If a new political party is formed.
iii) If eligible members shall change party affiliations, or if members of the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus shall withdraw from the House Majority, in sufficient numbers so that the House Majority no longer consists of a majority of eligible members.
b) If any one of the conditions is met, the Speaker must open a vote on the Organizing Resolution, without debate, once it is introduced.

Article V: Committees

Section 1. Standing Legislative Committees

The House recognizes the following standing legislative committees:

Committee on Agriculture, Energy and Environment
Committee on Appropriations and Finance
Committee on Commerce and Small Business
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Committee on Government Reform
Committee on International Relations and Armed Services
Committee on the Judiciary

Section 2. Apportionment

a. The total membership of each committee shall be 10% of the total number of eligible Representatives responding to the most recent Primary Roll Call.
b. The Majority and Minority will each receive a proportion of the total seats on each committee equal to the proportion of members in each coalition.
c. The House Majority shall chair all standing legislative committees, unless agreed otherwise in the organizing resolution.

Section 3. Committee on Rules and Ethics

a. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall consist of two members of each recognized party (including the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus) and three members of the AB.
b. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall hear all rules amendments and may pass them with a 2/3rds majority.
c. The Committee on Rules and Ethics may, upon request, interpret rules and issue edicts of interpretation by a simple majority.
d. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall hear and investigate legitimate claims of wrongdoing and misuse of office.
e. The Committee on Rules and Ethics may, by a 2/3rds majority, suggest a punishment for consideration to the full House.

Section 4. Temporary Legislative Committees

a. The House may, by majority acclamation, establish temporary committees to research, debate and vote upon specific issues or pieces of legislation.
b. The membership of temporary committees shall be apportioned in the same manner as that of standing legislative committees.
c. If the committee chair is not appointed in the authorization of the temporary committee, the Majority Leader shall appoint the chair.
d. A temporary committee shall disband once its mandate has been fulfilled.

Section 5. Committee Chairs

a. Chairs of Standing Legislative Committees are appointed by the Majority Leader. The Chair of the Committee on Rules and Ethics shall rotate on a monthly basis among the recognized political parties and the Independent and Unaffiliated Caucus, in reverse alphabetical order. The chair shall rotate on the first of each month.
b. Each Committee Chair shall preside over their respective Committees, control and monitor debate and voting schedules, and report bills to the Clerk.
c. Each Chair shall notify the sponsors of legislation (via Majority or Minority offices or Party headquarters) concurrent to when such legislation comes up for debate.
d. Each Chair shall appoint a Vice Chair, who shall preside in the absence of the chair.
e. Each Chair shall set and enforce rules of decorum for the committee.
f. Each Chair shall enforce the AGS Rules of Order and these rules for the committee.

Article VI: Supreme Court

Section 1. Nomination Process

a. The President must nominate Justices in the event that the Court's membership falls below three (3) members. The President may not nominate new Justices if the Court consists of seven (7) Justices. The number of seated Justices may not increase by more than three (3) in a single presidential term.
b. Formal submission of nominees to the Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs may take place at any time during the President's term.
c. The Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs shall begin hearings on Court nominees no less than seven (7) days after their nomination, and shall vote no less than twenty-one (21) days after their nominations.
d. No Supreme Court nominee may sit on the Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs while the committee considers her/his nomination.
e. The House shall open a vote on a Supreme Court nominee, no debate being needed, no less than seven (7) days after the Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs concludes its confirmation vote.
f. A Justice may take office upon being confirmed by the House and having his or her commission signed by the President.

Section 2. Powers and Duties

a. The Supreme Court shall have full interpretive authority over the rules of the House and the AGS Rules, upon receiving a Petition for Interpretation from any member of the House or the Executive Branch.
b. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to settle disputes between members, upon receiving a petition from any member of the House or Executive Branch.
c. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to nullify legislation that is found to be unconstitutional, upon receiving a petition for a writ of certiorari outlining the specific legal (Constitutional or statutory) grounds for the appeal of legislation or government action and hearing a case regarding the Constitutionality of said legislation.
d. The Supreme Court shall appoint a defendant in cases involving preexisting legislation or other acts of government.
e. The Supreme Court shall reach its verdicts in secret by majority vote. Verdicts shall be posted along with a breakdown of each Justice's vote. The Court shall issue a majority opinion explaining its verdict and may also issue a dissenting opinion.
f. The Supreme Court will only hear arguments on the merits of a case from the plaintiff and the defendant, unless properly filed in the form of an amicus curiae brief.
g. Justices of the Court may not be lobbied outside of official Court arguments, nor leak deliberations in private Chambers.

Section 3. Officers

a. A Chief Justice shall be nominated by the President with the advice and consent of the House.
b. The Chief Justice shall be responsible for supervising the operations of the Court.
c. The Chief Justice shall be responsible for choosing Justices to write and deliver opinions.
d. The Chief Justice may resign from the position, whereby assuming her/his position as an Associate Justice, or may resign from the Court altogether.
e. A Clerk of the Courts may be appointed by the Chief Justice to carry out administrative tasks under the Court's direction. Deputy Clerks of the Court may also be appointed.

Section 4. Impeachment

a. A Justice shall be subject to impeachment if a member believes the Justice has shown malicious or incompetent disregard for the rules or of fellow members, or has made a habit of tardiness and absenteeism.
b. A member shall formally petition the Committee on Rules and Ethics to investigate the matter to determine the exact charges, if any, to be brought against the Justice. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall immediately consider any petition against a Justice.
c. The Committee on Rules and Ethics must vote no later than fourteen (14) days after receiving a petition against a Justice on whether or not to send charges to the full House for consideration, with a 2/3rds vote necessary for passage.
d. Upon receiving such charges, the Speaker shall immediately conduct a vote on whether or not to impeach the Justice. A 2/3rds vote is necessary for impeachment.
e. Impeachment of a Justice will take effect immediately upon passage by the House. No punishment other than removal from the Supreme Court may be passed as part of an impeachment vote, but further action may be taken through petition of the Committee on Rules and Ethics following impeachment.

Article VII: Censure

Section 1. Qualification

The House is expressly authorized to punish members of any branch for conduct that violates the AGS Rules, Rules of Order or the Constitution. The AB is expressly authorized to punish members of any branch for conduct that violates the AGS Acceptable Use Policy.

Section 2. Procedure.

a. Any member may file a motion to censure with the Committee on Rules and Ethics. The motion must explicity state any and all instances of alleged wrongdoing.
b. The investigation of the petitioner's claims shall last seven (7) days. No part of the investigation shall be withheld from the public unless deemed appropriate by the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Ethics.
c. The Committee shall draft a Finding of Facts report at the end of the investigation, explicitly stating which claims are with or without merit and recommending a punishment for the member.
d. A 2/3rds majority is required to send the censure motion to the full House. If the Committee reaches agreement on censure but not on a punishment, the Findings of Fact report shall be sent to the full House with all recommended punishments.
e. The Committee may, in lieu of approving censure for the full House's consideration, issue a Letter of Reproval for misconduct.
f. The Speaker shall, within 72 hours of receiving a censure motion from the Committee, open a debate considering the Findings of Fact for no less than five (5) and no more than ten (10) days. Upon conclusion of the debate a vote on censure shall be opened for no less than seven (7) and no more than fourteen (14) days.
g. A 2/3rds majority is required to pass a motion of censure in the House. If the Committee sends a range of punishments for the House to consider, the punishment receiving the most votes shall take effect as long as a 2/3rds majority votes for censure.

Section 3. Reinstatement

a. Any individual banned from AGS through a censure motion may request a hearing before the Committee on Rules and Ethics not more than twice a year, and not sooner than six months after the banning has commenced.
b. An individual may be reinstated following a 2/3rds vote of the Committee on Rules and Ethics, followed by a 2/3rds vote of the House.

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.

Article IX: House Rights and Members' Rights

Section 1. General Rights

a. Any rule that is in conflict with the rights enumerated in this section shall become void.
b. The House's expressed will is sovereign over its own affairs, provided its will does not violate the AGS Rules or the supreme law of the land.
c. AGS Rules shall supercede the U.S. Constitution when the two are in conflict.
d. All members of the sim shall have the right to fair and equitable treatment by the AB.

Section 2. Committee and Floor

a. Representatives shall have the right to speak in committee regarding legislation they have sponsored or cosponsored.
b. Members shall have the right not to be personally attacked in Committee or on the House Floor.
c. Representatives shall have the right to speak, make motions, propose amendments and conduct other business in Committee or on the House Floor within AGS Rules and AGS Rules of Order.
d. Representatives shall have the right to appeal to the whole House if called to order by the Speaker.
e. While the Clerk has the authority to assign bills to committee, they shall be assigned under the presumption of unanimous consent by the House. Members have the right to appeal to the Speaker to overrule a decision by the Clerk regarding bills.
f. All members have the right to rise to points of order in committee or on the Floor.
g. All members have the right to appeal, upon sufficient second, the rulings of presiding officers in committee or on the Floor. The chair or Speaker shall put the question in the following manner: �Shall the decision of the Chair/Speaker stand as the decision of the Committee/House?� A majority may overrule the chair or Speaker.