How a bill becomes a law

Remember your ninth grade civics lessons?  Some of the same principles apply at General Convention. Here's an overview:

Constitutional changes must pass two successive General Conventions to become effective. The top level rules: the national canons must comply with the Constitution, and diocesan canons and constitutions must comply with those of the national Church. The Book of Common Prayer is part of the Constitution.

Canons - the laws of the Church - can be changed at one Convention.

Resolutions are positions or opinions, not binding, but they express where the Episcopal Church stands on certain matters.  Resolutions must pass both houses to be adopted.

Resolutions may be introduced by:

• Standing Commissions of the Church
• Bishops
• Deputies
• Diocesan councils or conventions

They are initially received by the presiding officer of one house or the other and are:

• sent to a legislative committee.

There they are debated and can be:

• accepted and sent back to the originating house
• or amended and sent back to the originating house.

The committee can also recommend non-concurrence or ask to be discharged from any responsibility. Usually, similar resolutions on a subject are blended into one.

The originating house

• votes on the resolution and, if passed,
• refers it to the other house.

The second house then debates it and can

• concur
• not concur
• amend it and send it back to the originating house where it is further debated and voted upon again.

Voting in the House of Bishops is one bishop one vote. In the House of Deputies it is also one deputy one vote except when a vote by orders is called for. Then legislation must have a majority of votes in a majority of clergy deputations and a majority of votes in a majority of lay deputations. A tie is considered a no vote.