MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Committee of the Whole

By: Representative Chism

House Resolution 3

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION PROVIDING THE METHOD AND MANNER OF ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the House of Representatives shall proceed to the election of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore and the Clerk of the House, as follows:

          (a)  Any candidate for the Office of Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore or Clerk who receives a majority of all votes cast in any ballot shall be declared elected to the office.  If, after the first ballot, there is not one (1) candidate who has received a majority of all votes cast, then the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped on each succeeding ballot until one (1) candidate receives a majority of all votes cast.  The vote for each office shall be by viva voce vote, with the roll  of members called by house district numbers in ascending order.

          (b)  In balloting for the Office of Speaker Pro Tempore and the Clerk, the Speaker shall not vote unless there is a tie vote.  If there is a tie vote on any ballot for those offices, the Speaker shall cast the deciding vote between the candidates having an equal number of votes.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in nominating candidates for the Offices of Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore and Clerk, the speeches shall be limited as follows:

          (a)  For the Office of Speaker, the speeches shall be limited to one (1) nominating speech and two (2) seconding speeches for each candidate, and no nominating speech shall be for more than five (5) minutes and no seconding speech shall be for more than three (3) minutes.

          (b)  For the Office of Speaker Pro Tempore, the speeches shall be limited to one (1) nominating speech and one (1) seconding speech for each candidate, and no nominating speech shall be for more than five (5) minutes and no seconding speech shall be for more than three (3) minutes.

          (c)  For the Office of Clerk, the speeches shall be limited to one (1) nominating speech and one (1) seconding speech for each candidate, and no nominating or seconding speech shall be for more than three (3) minutes.