Rule 1. General provisions.

(a) Failure to follow the Rules of Procedure. A Council action that is otherwise valid does not become invalid because the Council or any person did not follow these Rules or Robert's Rules of Order.

(b) Robert's Rules of Order. In all matters not provided for in these Rules, the latest published edition of Robert's Rules of Order governs.

(c) Definitions.

(1) Meeting. A meeting is a convening of a quorum of the Council as defined in the State law open meetings law. A meeting includes a legislative session, a session of the District Council, a meeting as the County Board of Health, a nonlegislative session, and a worksession.

(2) Quorum. A quorum of a Council meeting is the presence of a majority of the Councilmembers in office. A quorum of a Committee meeting is the presence of a majority of the members of that Committee. A quorum of a joint Committee meeting is the presence of a majority of the members of each Committee that makes up the joint Committee.

(3) Majority. Unless otherwise specified in law or these Rules, a majority of the Council, a Council Committee, or a joint Comittee, means a majority of the Councilmembers present who vote in the affirmative and in the negative on a matter. For the purpose of determining a majority, an abstention is not a vote.

(d) Closed meetings. At the direction of a majority of the Council, a meeting may be closed to the public only for any reason allowed in the State open meetings law. Any closed meeting, except a meeting that is closed to discuss a personnel issue, may be attended by any Councilmember, confidential aide to a Councilmember, Council staff attorney, and other appropriate Council professional staff member unless the Council expressly further restricts attendance. A Councilmember or authorized Council staff member must not be required to sign a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement as a condition of attending a closed Council meeting.

(e) Roll call vote. When a roll call is required by law or these rules or requested by a Councilmember, Councilmembers vote in an order decided by the President with Council concurrence. The President votes last.

(f) Media coverage of meetings and public hearings. Radio, television, and press coverage of Council meetings, Council committee meetings, and public hearings is allowed, unless the meeting is otherwise closed under these Rules. Members of the electronic and print media must observe order and decorum in keeping with the dignity of the governmental process, and must refrain from interfering with this process. The President or a majority of the Council may regulate the use of radio and television equipment to minimize interference with the meeting or hearing.

(g) Election of Council officers. The Council elects a Council President, a Council Vice- president, and other officers as the Council desires.

(h) Presiding officer.

(1) Presiding and points of order. The President presides at Council meetings and decides all points of order.

(2) Appeal. All presidential decisions provided for in these Rules and Robert's Rules of Order can be appealed, and on appeal may be reversed by majority vote.

(3) Delegation of authority. Unless any law or these Rules specify otherwise, the President may delegate any function assigned to the President under these Rules to another Councilmember or the Council staff. The President by a memorandum to the Council Clerk may designate one or more Councilmembers in succession as acting President to sign any legislation enacted by the Council when the President and Vice-President are not available.

(i) Absence of presiding officer. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President presides. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, and if the Council has not previously elected a President pro tempore, the most recent past President in attendance presides. If no past President is available, the Councilmembers present must select a President pro tempore to preside at that meeting.

(j) Recognition of Councilmembers. A Councilmember must not speak on a matter until recognized by the President. The President must recognize a Councilmember who desires to speak unless recognition is improper under these Rules. If 2 or more Councilmembers seek to be recognized at the same time, the President must select the member who will speak first. After each Councilmember has had a reasonable opportunity to speak on a matter, the President may limit further discussion as necessary to conform to the Council’s agenda.

(Res. No. 11-54; Res. No. 12-83; Res. No. 13-49; Res. No. 14-53; Res. No. 16-59; Res. No. 17-40; Res. No. 18-49.)