Act of Council Standing Orders of the Council of Aventura

[Town of Aventura]

ENACTED by the Council of Aventura on the 26th of December, 2025:

I. Legislative Process

(1) Proposal of Bills:
(a) Any Councillor may propose a Bill.
(i) This Bill shall be posted within the Aventura Council forum.
(ii) This Bill shall follow the format for Bills as provided by the Speaker.
(iii) This Bill shall have at least one sponsor.
(iv) Additional individuals may sponsor a Bill.
(b) The posting sponsor may inform the Speaker of their intent to table the Bill.
(i) The Speaker shall put the Bill up for voting within 24 hours of the posting of the sponsor’s request.
(i) Voting shall happen within the #council-voting channel.
(ii) The Speaker of the Council shall create a thread.
(iii) This thread shall be named following this format: “AC.[MOTION NUMBER].[COUNCIL NUMBER]
(iii) Councillors may vote:

• In Favour of a Bill;
• Against a Bill ;
• Abstain on a Bill.

(iv) Any Councillor who has a perceived Conflict of Interest may not vote on a Bill.
(c) After 24 hours, or if the required majority for it to pass and a quorum have been reached, the following shall happen:
(i) If the Bill has met the required majority and quorum to pass, it shall be presented to the Mayor, who may give Assent to, or Veto the Bill. If assented to by the Mayor, it shall be moved to the Acts of Council forum and shall be given the “Act of Council” tag.
(ii) If the Bill has failed to meet the required majority for it to pass, and a quorum, it shall be moved to the Archive forum and shall be given the “Bill: Rejected” tag.
Count for quorum.

(2) Proposal of Motions:
(a) Any Councillor may move for a motion.
(i) This Motion shall be posted within the “#council-floor” channel.
(ii) This Motion shall follow the format for Motions as provided by the Speaker.
(b) The Speaker shall put the Motion up for voting within 24 hours of the posting of the sponsor’s request.
(i) Voting shall happen within the #council-voting channel.
(ii) The Speaker of the Council shall create a thread.
(iii) This thread shall be named following this format: “AC.[MOTION NUMBER].[COUNCIL NUMBER]
(iii) Councillors may vote:

• In Favour of a Motion;
• Against a Motion;
• Abstain on a Motion.

(iv) Any Councillor who has a perceived Conflict of Interest may not vote on a Motion.
(c) After 24 hours, or if the required majority for it to pass and a quorum have been reached, the following shall happen:
(i) If the Motion has met the required majority and quorum to pass, it shall pass.
(ii) If the Motion has failed to meet the required majority for it to pass, and/or has failed to meet a quorum, it shall fail.

(3) Alternative Voting Methods and Proxy Voting
(a) Alternative Voting Methods
(i) A Councillor may submit their vote to the Speaker through forum messages, in-game messages, or any other written communication.
(ii) The Speaker shall record the vote in the appropriate voting thread and note that it was submitted via alternative method.
(iii) Alternative votes have the same validity as Discord votes.
(b) Proxy Voting
(i) A Councillor may designate another Councillor as their proxy to vote on their behalf.
(ii) To establish a proxy, the Councillor must submit written authorisation to the Speaker specifying the name of the proxy holder.
(iii) A proxy remains active until revoked by the Councillor or until the proxy holder ceases to be a Councillor.
(iv) A Councillor may revoke their proxy at any time by notifying the Speaker in writing.
(v) The proxy holder must clearly indicate when voting by proxy on behalf of another Councillor.
(vi) The Speaker shall maintain a public record of all active proxies.
(c) Limitations
(i) A Councillor may not hold more than one proxy at any given time.
(ii) A Councillor may not vote by proxy on matters where the proxy holder has a conflict of interest.
(iii) If a Councillor votes via an alternative method on a specific matter, their direct vote shall override and supersede any proxy vote already recorded on that matter.

II. The Speaker

(1) Maintaining Order:
(a) The Speaker may order the removal of any person from Council proceedings for disruptive behaviour.
(b) Sergeant-at-Arms shall execute such removal.
(c) Removal is temporary and limited to the session or until compliance is ensured.

(2) Authority Over Procedure:
(a) The Speaker may enforce parliamentary procedure impartially, including issuing warnings, issuing warrants to compel attendance, directing the Sergeant-at-Arms, and maintaining order in hearings or sessions.
(b) Where there is ambiguity within these Standing Orders, the Speaker’s interpretation shall prevail.

(3) Election of the Speaker:
(a) When there is a vacancy within the position of Speaker, the Mayor of Aventura shall begin the election process for the position.
(b) There shall be a nomination process for the position of Speaker lasting for 24 hours.
(i) The Mayor shall create a thread within the “#council-floor” channel asking for nominations.
(ii) A Councillor may nominate themselves or another Councillor.
(c) After the nomination process ends, voting shall begin.
(i) Voting shall last for 24 hours or until one candidate has reached a simple majority of votes.
(ii) If only one person has been nominated, that person shall immediately become the Speaker.
(iii) After the voting period has ended, the candidate who has reached a simple majority of votes shall become the Speaker.

(4) Term of the Speaker:
(a) The Speaker shall hold their office during good behaviour and shall serve until:
(i) Resignation; or
(ii) Removal through a Vote of No Confidence.