23. STANDING ORDERS 23.1 The Chair at all meetings shall be taken by the President or, in his/her absence, by the Vice President or, by such member as the meeting shall decide. 23.2 The working language of the Congress shall be English and the minutes of all meetings of the Congress shall be recorded and shall be published in English. 23.3 The business of meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the agenda, except when otherwise consented to by the meeting 23.4 No subject other than that appearing on an agenda shall be debated except where provision has been made for the inclusion of such an item under “Any Other Business”. Such items shall be notified to the meeting at the time the agenda is to be adopted. 23.5 Save with the express leave of the meeting, no speaker shall speak for more than once on any motion or subject nor, unless he/she is the mover of motion, for longer than five (5) minutes, provided that the mover of a motion shall have the right to reply to the debate. The time limit placed on the mover of a motion shall be notified to the meeting at the time the agenda is to be adopted. 23.6 No motion or subject shall be debated for a longer period than one and half hours, provided that any member of the meeting shall have the right to move a motion for an extension of time, such a motion shall be put without debate and shall not have effect unless carried by two thirds majority of the members present. 23.7 All members addressing the meeting shall first state whether they intend to speak for or against the motion being debated. 23.8 Except when otherwise stated, all questions shall be decided by a simple majority of votes expressed by a show of hands. The Chairperson shall have a deliberative and a casting vote in the event of a tie in voting on a motion. The Chairperson‟s casting vote shall determine the outcome, shall exercise his casting vote. 23.9 No motion or subject which has been debated and determined by the meeting shall be reopened at the same meeting, except on a motion carried by a two thirds majority. Such a motion shall be put without amendments or debate. 23.10 Nominations of candidates of officers shall be submitted to the Secretary General on nomination forms (14) days before election date. 23.11 A member may, with the consent of the prescribed meeting, withdraw any motion or amendment which he might previously have proposed at the meeting. 23.12 Any delegate refusing to obey the ruling of the Chairperson or who is guilty of misconduct shall be excluded from the meeting if a majority votes of the members so requires. Page 22 of 25