Rules for Conducting a Common Hall

That a written request to the Freemen's General Committee from seven Freemen shall be sufficient to require the Committee to call a Common Hall providing Common Hall has not met within the previous twelve months. In the event of a Common Hall having been held within twelve months, a written request to the General Committee from no less than thirteen Freemen shall be required.

1. That the Lord Mayor be asked to continue the practice of posting a notice at the steps of the Town Hall and that the notice be placed in position at least 21 days before Common Hall meets.

2.  

   1. That Freemen be advised of a forthcoming Common Hall in their journal, The Oxford Freeman, providing  the journal can be despatched about 21 days before Common Hall meets. As well as within the main body of the journal, the notice should be given on a separate coloured slip. Or,

   2.  That Freemen be advised by post if it is not possible to advise them in The Oxford Freeman, and the posting of such notices should be approximately 21 days before Common Hall meets.

3. That the full agenda be included with any notice given.

That a Freeman, or Freemen, be positioned at the entrance to the debating chamber to record the names of those attending and ensure that only Freemen, and other persons appropriate to the business of Common Hall, enter the chamber. For this purpose, the doorkeeper(s) shall be supplied with an up-to-date list of Freemen.

That members of the public, and of the Press, seated apart from the assembly, may attend Common Hall. They may take no part in the proceedings and can be cleared from the debating chamber at the discretion of Common Hall.

That the Lord Mayor, or in the Lord Mayor's absence the Sheriff or the Deputy Lord Mayor in that order, be invited to preside at Common Hall. In certain circumstances, Common Hall will appoint its presiding officer from Freemen present.

That the Freemen's General Committee take a record of the proceedings of Common Hall. That this record be presented to the General Committee for approval and then deposited in the Freemen's archives.

That the agenda shall include the following items:-

1. The reading of the requisition calling Common Hall.

2. The Hon. Secretary's report (of events occurring since the last Common Hall).

3. The Hon. Treasurer's report.

4. The election of the General Committee.

5. Other business (of which notice was received by the Hon. Secretary of the General Committee not less than 24 hours from the commencement of Common Hall).

1. That the presiding officer should first recognize the mover of a proposition, or the member of a committee presenting a report, and should endeavour to alternate recognition between those favouring and those opposing a question.

2. That, in order to debate a proposal or amendment, or to ask a question, a Freeman must rise and address the Chair and be recognized by the presiding officer for that purpose.

3. That only Freemen may debate a question. If the presiding officer is a Freeman he, also, may speak. Any motion, or amendment to a proposal, should be moved and seconded.

4. That every Freeman may speak on each main question and on each amendment, and may speak more than once if there are no others waiting to speak.

5. That no Freeman may interrupt a speaker without first addressing the Chair who will enquire if the speaker wishes to yield.

6. That the proponent of a proposition or amendment should be allowed  to close the debate.

1.  That only Freemen present may vote and that each Freeman may have one vote only. That voting by proxy is not permitted.

2. That voting shall be by show of hands or, if requisitioned by a minimum of thirteen Freemen present, by ballot.

3. That if voting is by ballot, the votes shall be counted by two Freemen appointed by the presiding officer.

4. That a tie vote defeats an affirmative motion.

5. That no matters which would affect the constitution or the ordinances of the Freemen may be voted upon or otherwise resolved unless at least twelve months notice of such matters have been given to the Freemen's General Committee.

1. That all Committee members shall be elected individually.

2. That nominations from Freemen shall be invited by way of the notice convening the meeting.

3. That nominations for election to the General Committee shall be in the hands of the Hon. Secretary of the Committee not less than 72 hours before the commencement of Common Hall. (This clause was added by Common Hall on 17 May 1990)

That the Chairman of the Freemen and the officers of the General Committee shall be elected by the General Committee at its first meeting after Common Hall.