Chapter 18 - Divisions

98 Calling for divisions

  1. When the President states, on putting a question, that the "ayes" or the "noes" have it, that opinion may be challenged by senators calling "divide".
  2. A division may be called for only by senators who have given their voices against the majority as declared by the President.
  3. At any time before the tellers are appointed a call for a division may be withdrawn by leave of the Senate, the division shall not be proceeded with, and the decision of the President which was challenged shall stand.

99 Voting by President

  1. The President and the Deputy President and Chair of Committees shall in all cases be entitled to a vote.
  2. The President and the Deputy President and Chair of Committees when in the chair may vote by stating to the Senate or to the committee whether they vote with the "ayes" or with the "noes".

100 Voting in divisions

  1. A division may be called for only by 2 or more senators, but one senator calling for a division shall be entitled to have that senator's vote recorded in the Journals.
  2. A senator calling for a division shall not leave the chamber until the division has taken place.
  3. A senator shall vote in a division in accordance with that senator's vote by voice.
  4. A senator shall not be entitled to vote in a division unless the senator is present when the question is put with the doors locked.

101 Taking of divisions

  1. Before a division is taken the Clerk shall ring the division bells for 4 minutes.
  2. The doors shall be closed and locked as soon after the bells cease ringing as the President directs, and then no senator shall enter or leave the chamber until after the division.
  3. When successive divisions are taken, and there is no debate after the first division, the bells for each ensuing division shall be rung for one minute only.
  4. When the doors have been locked, and senators are in their places, the President shall state the question to the Senate, and then direct the "ayes" to proceed to the right of the chair, and the "noes" to the left, and shall appoint one teller for each side.
  5. Every senator present when the question is stated shall vote, except the President, or the Chair of Committees in the chair of a committee, for whom voting shall be optional.
  6. When a division has been called for, senators shall take seats on the side of the chamber on which they intend to vote, and shall not move from those seats after tellers have been appointed until the result of the division has been declared.

102 Recording of divisions

  1. The name of every senator voting shall be taken down by the clerks at the direction of the tellers, who shall sign their respective lists, and present them to the President, who shall declare the result to the Senate.
  2. If there is only one senator on a side on a division, the President, without completing the division, shall forthwith declare the decision of the Senate.
  3. Divisions in the Senate and in committee shall be recorded in the Journals.

103 Points of order

While the Senate is dividing senators may speak sitting to a point of order arising out of or during the division.

104 Correction of divisions

In case of confusion or error concerning the numbers reported, unless it can be otherwise corrected, the Senate shall proceed to another division.

105 Divisions in committee

Divisions shall be called for and taken in committee in the same manner as in the Senate.