EXPATRIATE PARLIAMENT'S STANDING ORDER

1 §

The Expatriate Parliament will assemble in session every second or third year.

2 §

The Finland Society will send an invitation to all registered Finnish organizations no later than six months before the session.

3 §

The Finnish organizations are to inform the Finland Society of their participation no later than three months before the session. The motions which each community wishes to be considered are also to be submitted at the same time. The Finland Society should also be given the names of the representatives and any possible observers no later than six weeks before the session.

4 §

The Finland Society will send the registrants the agenda for the session, including all motions as well as requested expert opinions by officials and other parties, no later than one month before the session. A report on the procedures carried out to execute the decisions of the previous session is to be issued at the same time.

5 §

At the beginning of the session, all the registered organizations, a list of representatives and an agenda including all the issues discussed during the session will be approved. Observers present are to be noted as well.

6 §

Parliamentary sessions are led by the Speakers' Council.

7 §

At the beginning of each session, the parliament will decide on the size of the committees, elect members of the standing committees, decide on etablishing other possible committees and elect their membership. The speaker will appoint summoners for the committees. The committees will elect the necessary officials by themselves. The committee sessions are closed.

8 §

After coming to order, the parliament s work will proceed with a general debate on the Finland Society s report. At the same time, the discussion will act as the preliminary debate on the motions. The decisions on referring the bills to proper committees will be made at the end. During the general debate, every representative is entitled to state his or her opinion on any issue related to Finnish expatriates or expatriatism, regardless of whether there has been a motion made on the matter. Permissions to speak are to be requested in writing and allotted in the order received. By the parliament s permission, the speaker can limit the length of the allotted speaking times, digress from the agenda or declare the discussion finished. Short counter-statements or rebuttals are allowed in connection with each statement. In regard to the general debate, a decision can be made on including an urgent matter in the agenda and its referral to the appropriate committee.

9 §

Standing and temporary committees will draw up a report on each referred bill which will include a draft resolution. This can be either a stand on the matter or a decision not to take a stand on the issues mentioned in the bill. Committees may consult experts if they wish.

10 §

In the final session, the committees representatives will present the committees 'bills for the parliament s approval. The motions are to be issued to all of the representatives in writing before the final decision. Possible counter-statements presented in the session, except for those related to a rejection, are also to be issued in writing before the resolution.

11 §

The parliament will make its resolutions either by consensus or by voting. Votes are to be carried out by a show of hands. As to the election of individuals, a closed ballot is to be carried out if required. At least half of the representatives are to be present when taking a vote. The Parliament s deputy speakers will act as vote-counters.

12 §

The Finland Society will draw up the minutes of the parliamentary session, to be inspected by the speakers. No later than two months after the session, the minutes are to be sent to all of the representatives as well as the communities which they represent.

13 §

In other respects, the parliament will follow the Finnish law governing associations.

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