STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION CONST.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ORDER
16th March, 1962
LEGAL NOTICE 23 of 1962 as adapted by the Malta Independence
Order, 1964, and as amended by Legal Notice 46 of 1965, Act LVIII of
1974, Legal Notice 148 of 1975 and Act XIII of 1983.
Title.
Representatives.
Standing Orders of 
the House of 
Representatives.
2. The Standing Orders of the House of Representatives
established by the Malta (Constitution) Letters Patent, 1947, as in
force on the first day of January, 1958, as amended from time to
time, are reproduced in the Schedule hereto. 
SCHEDULE
(Article 2)
STANDING ORDERS 
OF THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Issued pursuant to the provisions of article 7 (3) 
of the Malta Independence Order, 1964.
Interpretation. 
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
1. (1) In these Standing Orders, unless the context otherwise
requires -
"the chairman of committees" means the Deputy Speaker acting
in that capacity;
"the Consolidated Fund" means the Consolidated Revenue Fund
established by article 105 of the Constitution;
''Constitution'' means the Constitution of Malta;
"the deputy chairman" means the deputy chairman of committees
appointed pursuant to standing order 154;
"the Deputy Speaker" means the Deputy Speaker and chairman
of committees of the House;
"dilatory motion" means a motion for the adjournment of the
House or of the debate or in committee that the chairman do report
progress or do leave the Chair;
"the Gazette" means the Malta Government Gazette;
"the House" means the House of Representatives established by
article 52 of the Constitution;
"Malta" has the same meaning as is assigned to it by article 124
2 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
of the Constitution;
"member" means a member of the House;
"Minister" means a member appointed as such pursuant to the
provisions of article 81 of the Constitution;
"motion" includes amendment;
"session" means the sittings of the House commencing when the
House first meets after being constituted under the Constitution, or
after its prorogation or dissolution at any time, and terminating
when the House is prorogued or is dissolved without having been
prorogued;
"sitting" means a period during which the House is sitting
continuously without adjournment and includes any period during
which the House is in committee;
"the Speaker" means the Speaker of the House.
(2) Where a certain number of days’ notice is required in order
to permit of any business being transacted, in computing that
number, Sundays and public holidays shall not be included and the
day on which the notice is given shall be counted but not the day on
which the business is to be transacted.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
I. - Proceedings on the Opening of a new Parliament or Session
Proclamation to be 
read.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
2. On the first day of the meeting of a new Parliament for the
despatch of business pursuant to the President of Malta’s
Proclamation, members having met at the time and place appointed,
the Clerk of the House shall read the Proclamation summoning
Parliament.
Election of 
Speaker.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
3. When the House first meets after any general election and
before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business it shall
elect a person to be the Speaker of the House; and, if the office of
Speaker falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of
Parliament, the House shall, as soon as practicable, elect another
person to that office.  
Election of Deputy 
Speaker.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
4. When the House first meets after any general election and
before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business except the
election of the Speaker, the House shall elect a member of the
House who is not a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary to be the
Deputy Speaker of the House; and, if the office of Deputy Speaker
falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of Parliament,
the House shall, as soon as convenient, elect another member to the
office. 
Members to take 
oath.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965;
L.N. 148 of 1975.
5. No member of the House shall be permitted to take part in
the proceedings of the House (other than proceedings necessary for
the purposes of article 69 of the Constitution) until he has made
before the House an oath or affirmation of allegiance in the form
set out in the Third Schedule to the Constitution:
Provided that the election of the Speaker and Deputy
Speaker may take place before the members of the House have
made such oath or affirmation. 
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 3
 (2) If such oath or affirmation a made before the election of the
Speaker, the members shall elect one of their number to preside
during the making of such oath or affirmation.
President of 
Malta’s speech.
6. (1)  A Minister shall then inform the House at what time
and place the President of Malta will declare the causes of his
calling the House together; and the sitting shall without question
put be suspended until that time.
 (2) Upon the sitting being resumed the President of Malta will
declare to the House the reasons for which it has been summoned.
Address in reply to 
speech.
7. (1) Notice of motion for an Address to the President of
Malta in reply to His Excellency’s speech shall then be given, and
the motion shall be placed on the Orders of the Day for the next
sitting. 
(2) Not less than two days’ notice shall be given of any
amendment to the Address in Reply.
Debate thereon.
amendment thereon, shall be limited to three full sitting days, the
debate on each of such days terminating at 9 o’clock p.m. If a
speech be not concluded at 9 o’clock p.m., it shall be within the
discretion of the Speaker to permit the member speaking to
complete his speech, notwithstanding that the hour of 9 o’clock
p.m. has arrived.
Unless the business has been sooner concluded, at 9 o’clock
p.m., on the last of the days allotted, the Speaker shall, without any
further amendment or debate, put forthwith the question on each
amendment proposed, if any, and finally shall put the question for
the adoption of the Address:
Provided that, on any of the days so allotted, formal
business, the first reading of bills, or the asking and answering of
questions may be taken up to 6 p.m. After 9 p.m., other business
may be proceeded with as usual: 
Provided further that until the Address in Reply is disposed
of, no private business shall intervene.
Business under consideration at 6 p.m. on any of such
allotted days shall be adjourned to another sitting day, unless
disposed of after 9 p.m.
  Nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be construed to
prevent the interruption of the debate on the Address in Reply by
the passage of any financial business; provided always that the time
as above allotted for the consideration of the Address in Reply shall
in no case be curtailed.
II. - Sittings, Quorum, Adjournment and Closure
Days of meeting.
meet at 5 o’clock in the afternoon on Monday and Thursday in each
week (except upon public holidays) and on such other days and at
such other hour as the House may from time to time determine, or
as the Speaker may upon grounds of urgency appoint.
4 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
(2) Subject to the provisions of standing order 7 (3) private
members’ business shall have precedence over government
business on every alternate Thursday upon which the House sits.
Interruption of 
business.
9. The hour appointed for the interruption of business shall be
9 o’clock in the afternoon unless the House has otherwise ordered.
Proceedings after 
hour of 
interruption. 
10.  (1) Any opposed business not disposed of at the time for
interruption of business shall stand over until the next sitting or
until such other sitting day as the member in charge thereof may
appoint. If any dilatory motion has been proposed at that time, it
shall lapse without question put. If the House has been in
committee the chairman shall leave the Chair and make his report
to the House.
 (2) Provided always that on the interruption of business the
closure may be moved; and, if moved, or if proceedings under the
closure are in progress, the Speaker or the chairman shall not leave
the Chair until the questions consequent thereon, and on any further
motion as provided in standing order 16 (closure of debate) have
been decided.
(3) No opposed business shall be transacted after the hour
appointed for the interruption of business.
(4) At the hour appointed for interruption of business or so
soon thereafter as the business permitted under the foregoing
provisions of this standing order has been disposed of, the
adjournment of the House shall be moved, and if the House is still
sitting at the expiration of half an hour after the interruption of
business, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without putting any
question.
Quorum.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
11. (1) A quorum of the House shall consist of fifteen
members besides the person presiding at the siting.
(2) If at any sitting of the House any member who is present
draws the attention of the person presiding at the sitting to the
absence of a quorum and, after an interval of five minutes, the
person presiding at the sitting ascertains that a quorum of the
House is still not present, the House shall be adjourned without
question put until the next sitting day. 
House failing to 
meet on appointed 
day. 
12. In case the House from any cause whatever shall fail to
meet upon any day appointed for its meeting, it shall thereupon
stand adjourned until the next sitting day.
Adjournment on 
matters of definite 
urgent public 
importance.
13. (1) No motion for the adjournment of the House on a
definite matter of urgent public importance shall be made unless a
member at the commencement of business (i.e., after questions and
before motions or orders of the day, as the case may be) rises in his
place and states that he asks leave to move the adjournment of the
House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent
public importance, whereupon he shall state the matter and deliver
to the Speaker a written statement of the subject to be discussed.
 (2) The Speaker shall thereupon desire the members who
support the motion to rise in their places, and if not less than ten
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 5
rise accordingly, the motion stands over until seven o’clock on the
same day. If, however, fewer than ten and not less than five have so
risen, the member may, if he thinks fit, claim a division upon
question put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate,
to determine whether such motion may be made.
(3) No motion for adjournment under this standing order may
be made during any debate.
(4) No discussion may be raised by this means upon matters
under notice for discussion or standing as an order of the day or
upon a matter of privilege, or upon a matter which cannot be
debated save upon a specific motion.
(5) No motion may be moved under this standing order on a
day allotted for the business of supply.
(6) No second motion under this standing order may be moved
on any day.
Restrictions on 
dilatory motions.
14. When a motion is made for the adjournment of a debate or
of the House during a debate, or that the chairman of a committee
do report progress or do leave the Chair, the debate thereupon shall
be confined to the matter of such motion and no member having
moved or seconded any such motion shall be entitled to move or
second any similar motion during the same debate. 
Dilatory motions in 
abuse of Standing 
Orders.
15. If the Speaker or the chairman of a committee of the whole
House, shall be of the opinion that a motion for the adjournment of
a debate, or of the sitting during any debate, or that the chairman do
report progress or do leave the Chair is an abuse of the rules of the
House, he may forthwith put the question thereupon from the Chair
or he may decline to accept such motion.
Closure. 
less than an hour a member may claim to move "That the question
be now put", and, unless it shall appear to the Chair that such
motion is an abuse of the rules of the House, or an infringement of
the rights of the minority, the question "That the question be now
put" shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or
debate.
(2) When the motion "That the question be now put" has been
carried, and the question consequent thereon has been decided, any
further motion may be made (the assent of the Chair as aforesaid
not having been withheld) which may be requisite to bring to a
decision any question already proposed from the Chair; and also if
a clause be then under consideration, a motion may be made (the
assent of the Chair, as aforesaid, not having been withheld), that the
question that certain words of the clause defined in the motion
stand part of the clause or that the clause stand part of, or be added
to, the bill, be now put. Such motions shall be put forthwith, and
decided without amendment or debate.
(3) Provided always that this rule shall not be put in force -
( a ) in the House, unless the Speaker or the Deputy
Speaker is in the Chair; or
( b ) in committee of the whole House unless the chairman
6 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
or deputy chairman is in the Chair.
III. - Arrangement of Business of the House
Routine of 
business.
17. Unless the House otherwise directs and subject to the
provisions of standing order 8 (2) relating to the reservation of time
for private members’ business, the business of each sitting shall be
transacted in the following order:
1. Prayers.
2. Minutes.
3. Oath of Allegiance of new members.
4. Petitions.
5. Questions.
6. Presentation of papers and of reports from select
committees.
7. Request for leave to make a motion under standing
order 13.
8. Motions in the name of a Minister relating to the
business of the House.
9. Motions for the appointment of select committees and
for the nomination of members to serve thereon.
10. Motions for leave to introduce bills.
11. Orders of the day and notices of motions.
Orders of the day 
to be read.
18. At the time fixed for the commencement of public
business, on days on which orders have precedence over notices of
motions, and after notices of motions have been disposed of on all
other days, the Speaker shall direct the Clerk at the Table to read
the orders of the day without any question being put.
  An order of the day is a stage of a bill or any motion which
has been set down for any particular day in pursuance of an order of
the House.
Order of business 
on government 
days.
19. On days reserved for government business the Government
may arrange such business, whether orders of the day or notices of
motions, in such order as they may think fit.
Orders of the day 
how disposed of.
20. Except by leave of the House, to be decided without
amendment or debate, the orders of the day shall be disposed of in
the order in which they stand upon the paper.
Questions to be 
decided by a 
majority of votes.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
21. (1) Save as otherwise provided in the Constitution, all
questions proposed for decision in the House shall be determined
by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.
(2) The Speaker shall not have an original vote, but, if upon
any question before the House the votes are equally divided, he
shall have and exercise a casting vote.
(3) Any other person shall, when presiding in the Assembly,
retain his original vote as a member and, if upon any question
before the House the votes are equally divided, shall also have and
exercise a casting vote.  
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 7
Mode of giving 
notice.
22. Notice of a question or motion shall be given by delivering
a copy thereof to the Clerk at the Table. Such copy shall be fairly
written, and shall bear the signature of the member who will bring
it on. At least three days’ notice shall be given for a question or for
a motion. 
Notices etc., for 
next ensuing 
session.
23. When the House is prorogued, notices of motion or other
business which any member shall intend to bring before the House
at the next ensuing session thereof, may be delivered or transmitted
by such member to the Clerk for publication as hereinafter
mentioned.
Revision of notices 
by Speaker.
24. Any notice which contains unbecoming expressions or
offends against any standing order of the House may be amended or
disallowed by the Speaker before it appears on the order paper.
Same motion 
cannot be proposed 
again in same 
session.
25.   No motion shall be proposed which is the same in
substance as any motion which during the current session has been
resolved in the affirmative or negative. 
Questions may be 
put.
26. (1) Questions may be put at the commencement of public
business to any Minister relating to public affairs or to any other
member relating to any business of the House for which such
Minister or member is responsible.
Time for asking 
questions.
(2) No question shall be taken after one hour has elapsed from
the time appointed for the commencement of the sitting: 
  Provided that no question shall be taken after 6 o’clock in
the afternoon.
Rules regarding 
questions and 
answers.
27. The proper object of a question shall be to obtain
information on a matter of fact within the special cognizance of the
member to whom it is addressed.
 The right to ask questions shall be governed by the following
rules: 
(1) a question shall not publish any name or statement not
strictly necessary to make the question intelligible;
(2) if a question contains a statement, the member asking
it shall make himself responsible for the accuracy of
the statement;
(3) a question shall not contain any argument, opinion,
inference, imputation, epithet or ironical expression;
(4) a question shall not be asked about proceedings in a
committee which have not been placed before the
House by a report from the committee;
 (5) a question shall not ask for an expression of opinion or
for the solution of an abstract legal question or of a
hypothetical proposition;
(6) a question shall not be asked as to the character or
conduct of any person except in his official or public
capacity;
(7) a question reflecting on the character or conduct of any
person whose conduct can only be challenged on a
substantive motion shall not be asked;
8 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
(8) a question making or implying a charge of a personal
character shall be disallowed;
(9) a question fully answered cannot be asked again.
Questions for oral 
answer.
28. Any member desiring an oral answer to his question shall
distinguish it by an asterisk.
Number of 
questions allowed.
29. Not more than six questions for oral answer shall be given
notice of by the same member for the same day: 
Provided that any questions left unanswered through no
fault of the questioning member shall not debar the same member
from giving notice of six other questions for the same day to which
the unanswered questions shall have been postponed.
Questions may be 
asked by deputy.
30. A question shall be asked by the member in whose name it
stands or by some member deputed on his behalf.
Mode of asking 
questions.
31. When the time for asking questions arrives the Speaker
shall call successively each member in whose name a question
appears on the Notice Paper. The member so called shall rise in his
place and ask the question by referring thereto by its number on the
order paper.
Questions 
answered verbally 
or in writing.
32. If any member does not distinguish his question by an
asterisk, or if he or any other member deputed by him is not present
to ask it or if it is not reached by the time appointed in standing
order 26 (2) the member to whom it is addressed shall cause a
written answer to be delivered to the member in whose name the
question stands and such answer shall be printed in the official
report of the parliamentary debates, unless the member in whose
name the question stands shall have signified his desire to postpone
the question.
Motions may be 
moved for absent 
members.
33. A member may, if so authorised by another member not
then present, postpone or move a motion or an order of the day in
the absence of the member in charge thereof.
No motion to be 
moved on day of 
notice.
34. (1) No motion shall be moved on the same day on which
the notice is given except as provided by standing order 13.
When motion is to 
be considered as 
withdrawn.
(2) A motion shall be considered as withdrawn if it is to be
considered not moved within one month from the day on which the
notice was given, unless the notice be renewed.
Motions without 
notice.
35. Every motion requires notice unless it falls within one of
the following excepted cases:
(1) a motion by way of amendment to a question already
proposed from the Chair;
(2) a motion for the adjournment of the House or of the
debate, or that the question be put or be not now put or
a motion in committee to report progress or that the
chairman leave the Chair;
(3) a motion raising a question of privilege;
(4) a motion for discharging a member from attendance on
a committee;
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 9
(5) certain motions of a formal or uncontentious character,
namely:-
( a ) for the postponement, revival or discharge of an
order of the day;
( b ) for the appointment of a committee of the whole
House on a future day; 
( c ) for the consideration of a message from the
President of Malta;
(6) cases in which objection is not taken by any member: 
Provided that the Speaker or the chairman of committees
may refuse to accept a substantive motion of which notice has not
been given: 
Provided also that the terms of a substantive motion of
which notice has not been given shall be handed to the Clerk at the
Table in writing signed by the proposer before it is moved.
Questions of 
privilege.
36. A motion on a matter of privilege arising during the sitting
of the House is entitled to precedence over all other business. 
  A motion on a matter of privilege not arising during the
sitting of the House shall be made on the earliest opportunity and
may be made before the commencement of public business.
Motions not 
requiring to be 
seconded.
37. A motion in committee or an order of the day or a motion
of a formal character does not require a seconder. 
When motions 
lapse.
38. If a member be not in his place when the motion which
stands in his name is called on, or should he fail to rise and move
the same when called upon by the Speaker, the same shall lapse,
unless some other member duly authorised by him moves it in his
stead.
Motions or 
amendments may 
be withdrawn.
 39.   A member who has made an amendment or a motion may
withdraw the same by leave of the House to be decided without
amendment or debate. When an amendment has been proposed to a
motion, the original motion cannot be withdrawn until the
amendment has been first disposed of.
Motion withdrawn 
may be again 
offered.
40. A motion which has been withdrawn by leave of the House
or is to be considered as withdrawn under standing order 34 (2)
may be made again during the current session on notice given. 
When motions are 
superseded.
41.  A motion may be superseded by - 
( a ) a motion "That the House do now adjourn"; 
( b ) the previous question, that is to say a motion "That
that question be not now put"; 
( c ) a motion "That the House do proceed to the Orders of
the Day":
  Provided that the previous question cannot be moved in any
committee, or on any amendment, or on a motion relating to the
transaction of public business or the meeting of the House;
provided also that if the previous question be resolved in the
negative the original question shall be put forthwith without any
amendment or debate. 
10 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
Debate interrupted 
or superseded may 
be revived.
42. The debate upon a question interrupted or superseded
whether in the House, or in committee of the whole House, may be
revived, and the motion or order returned to the order paper for a
future day on motion upon notice.
Mode of proposing 
and putting 
motion.
43. (1) When a motion has been made, and, if necessary
seconded, the Speaker or the chairman proposes the question for
consideration, and, after debate (if any), puts it for the decision of
the House or the committee.
(2) If a motion embodies two or more separate propositions,
those propositions may be proposed or put by the Speaker or the
chairman as separate questions.
Power of selection. 44. In respect of any motion or in respect of any bill under
consideration in committee the Speaker or the chairman of
committees shall have power to select the amendments or new
clauses to be proposed, and may call upon any member who has
given notice of an amendment to give such explanation of the
subject of the amendment as may enable him to form a judgment
upon it.
 IV. - Order in the House
Member to address 
himself to the 
Chair.
45.   Every member desiring to speak shall rise in his place and
address himself to the Speaker or the chairman as the case may be. 
When two or   more 
members rise to 
speak. 
46. When a member rises to speak he shall be called by the
Speaker or the chairman as the case may be, and if more than one
member rise at the same time the member who is so called shall be
entitled to speak. Members whilst speaking shall address
themselves to the Chair.
Member not to 
read his speech.
47. A member shall not read his speech, but may refresh his
memory by reference to notes.
Members to   speak 
to question.
48. Debate must be relevant to the matter or question before
the House or the committee and, where more than one question has
been proposed, the debate must be relevant to the last question
proposed until it has been disposed of:
Provided that a member may rise to speak on a point of
order, or on a question of privilege suddenly arising.
Time limit   of 
speeches.
49. No member shall speak for more than forty minutes at a
time in any debate in the House except on a direct motion of want
of confidence, when a member shall be at liberty to speak for one
hour:
Provided that this rule shall not apply to a Minister
delivering the statements, or to the Leader of the Opposition or any
member deputed by him to speak first in reply to such a statement,
who shall each be at liberty to speak for one hour and a half:
  Provided also that this rule shall not apply to a member
moving the second reading of a bill, or to the Prime Minister or to
the Leader of the Opposition or any member deputed by them
respectively to speak first in reply to such motion, who shall each
be at liberty to speak for one hour and a half:
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 11
Provided also that the speech in reply, when such reply is
permitted, of a member who has moved a motion shall not exceed
half an hour:
Provided further that with the consent of the House, to be
determined without debate, a member may be heard for a further
period not exceeding thirty minutes:
Provided however that nothing in the foregoing provisions
shall be construed to suspend any of the Standing Orders of the
House relative to the closure or irrelevance and repetition.
Personal 
explanation. 
50. With the permission of the Speaker, a member may explain
matters of a personal nature, although there be no question before
the House, but such matters may not be debated and he must
confine himself strictly to the vindication of his own conduct.
Reserved speech. 
motion for adjournment or an amendment) before the House
without speaking to it, may address the House upon the subject of
such motion at any subsequent period of the debate.
Member may not 
speak twice to a 
question.
52. Except in committee, or in exercise of a right of reply, a
member may not speak more than once to the same question. 
When a reply is 
allowed.
53. A right of reply is only allowed to a member who has
moved a substantive motion, not including an amendment to such a
motion, or who has moved an order of the day, or who has
presented the financial statement.
No member shall speak after the reply of the mover of a
motion. 
Debate ceases 
when question 
fully put.
54. No member may speak on a question after it has been fully
put, that is to say, after the Speaker or the chairman has collected
the voices both of the Ayes and the Noes thereon.
Reflections upon 
votes of House.
55. No member shall speak against or reflect upon any vote of
the House except for the purpose of moving that such vote be
rescinded on due notice.
Members to sit 
down when 
Speaker or the 
chairman rises 
during debate.
56. Whenever the Speaker or the chairman rises during a
debate, any member then speaking or offering to speak shall sit
down, and the member shall be silent so that the Speaker or the
chairman, as the case may be, may be heard without interruption. 
Irrelevance or 
repetition.
57. The Speaker or the chairman after having called the
attention of the House or of the committee to the conduct of a
member who persists in irrelevance or tedious repetition, either of
his own argument or of the arguments used by other members in
debate, may direct him to discontinue his speech.
Motion that 
member be not 
heard, etc.
58. A motion may, however, be made that a member who has
risen "be now heard"; or that a member who is speaking "be not
heard" or "be not further heard". 
This motion if accepted by the Speaker or the chairman of
committee shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment
or debate.
12 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
Use of President of 
Malta’s name 
forbidden.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
59. No member shall use the name of the President of Malta or
that of the Acting President of Malta disrespectfully in debates, nor
for the purpose of influencing the House in its deliberations.
Offensive words 
against the House 
or a member.
60. No member shall use offensive or unbecoming words
against the character or proceedings of the House or in reference to
any member thereof. No bad motive shall be attributed to any
member.
Members not 
retracting, how 
dealt with.
61.   Any member, having used objectionable words and not
retracting the same, or offering apologies for the use thereof, to the
satisfaction of the House, shall be censured or otherwise dealt with
as the House may think fit, and any member called to order shall sit
down unless permitted to explain.
Proceedings upon 
questions of order.
62.   Upon a question of order being raised in the House, the
member called to order shall resume his seat and after the question
of order has been stated to the Speaker by the member rising to the
question of order, the Speaker shall give his ruling thereon and
such ruling shall not be questioned during that sitting; provided
that it shall be competent for any member by motion made after
notice and within two days of the giving of such ruling, to move
that such ruling of the Speaker be reviewed and reported upon by
the House; such report shall be entered in the minutes of the
proceedings of the House.
Disorderly conduct 
in House, how 
dealt with.
63.   (1) The Speaker or the chairman may order any member
whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from
the House during the remainder of that day’s sitting; and the
Serjeant-at-Arms or other officer authorised by the Speaker shall
act on such orders as he may receive from the Chair in pursuance of
this standing order.
Speaker may name 
a member. 
(2)  If however on any occasion the Speaker or the chairman
deems that the powers conferred under this standing order are
inadequate to deal with the offence, he may in accordance with the
next following standing order name such member; or he may call
on the House to adjudge upon his conduct. Before the House
adjudges on the conduct of a member he may be allowed to make a
brief statement of the grounds on which he relies to exculpate
himself.
Members 
suspended to 
withdraw.
(3) Members ordered to withdraw in pursuance of this standing
order, or who are suspended from the service of the House in
pursuance of the next following standing order, shall forthwith
withdraw from the precincts of the House.
Member named by 
the Speaker, how 
dealt with.
64. (1) Whenever any member shall have been named by the
Speaker or the chairman immediately after the commission of the
offence of disregarding the authority of the Chair or of abusing the
rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the
business of the House or otherwise, then, if the offence has been
committed by such member in the House, the Speaker shall
forthwith put the question, on a motion being made, no amendment,
adjournment or debate being allowed, "That such member (naming
him) be suspended from the service of the House"; and if the
offence has been committed in a committee of the whole House, the
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 13
chairman shall forthwith suspend the proceedings of the committee
and report the circumstances to the House; and the Speaker shall
thereupon put the same question on a motion being made, without
amendment, adjournment or debate, as if the offence had been
committed in the House itself. If any member be suspended under
this order, his suspension on the first occasion shall continue for a
week, on the second occasion for a fortnight and on the third or any
subsequent occasion for one month.
Member may 
apologize.
(2) Provided that on receiving from the member so suspended a
written and approved expression of regret, to be entered in the
minutes of the proceedings of the House, the Speaker shall lay the
same before the House and on motion made forthwith put the
question for the discharge of the order of suspension without
amendment or adjournment, whereupon, if the question passes in
the affirmative, the order shall be discharged and the member re-
admitted; provided always that suspension from the service of the
House shall not exempt the member so suspended from serving on
any select committee to sit on which he may have been appointed
previous to his suspension; provided also that not more than one
member shall be named at the same time, unless several members,
present together, have jointly disregarded the authority of the
Chair.
Member to 
withdraw while his 
conduct is under 
debate.
65. Every member against whom any charge has been made
having been heard in his place, shall withdraw while such charge is
under debate.
Contempt.
of the House, and any member who shall wilfully or vexatiously
interrupt the orderly conduct of business of the House shall be
guilty of contempt.
Members guilty of 
contempt, how 
dealt with.
67.   Any member guilty of contempt as contemplated in the
preceding standing order may be ordered by the House to quit
immediately the Chamber and may be prohibited from entering it
during the whole sitting. The Serjeant-at-Arms or other officer
authorised by the Speaker, shall act on such orders as he may
receive from the House, in pursuance of this standing order.
Power of Speaker 
to adjourn House 
or suspend sitting.
68.   In the case of great disorder arising in the House the
Speaker may, if he thinks it necessary to do so, adjourn the House
without question put or suspend any sitting for a time to be named
by him. 
V. - Financial Business
Recommendation 
by President of 
Malta, when 
required.
Added by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
69. Except on the recommendation of the President of Malta
signified by a Minister, the House shall not - 
( a ) proceed upon any Bill (including any amendment to a
Bill) that, in the opinion of the person presiding in the
House, makes provision for imposing or increasing
any tax, for imposing or increasing any charge on the
revenues or other funds of Malta, or for altering any
such charge otherwise than by reducing it, or for
compounding or remitting any debt due to Malta;
( b ) proceed upon any motion (including any amendment
14 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
to a motion) the effect of which, in the opinion of the
person residing in the House, would be to make
provision for any of the purposes aforesaid; 
( c ) receive any petition which, in the opinion of the
person presiding in the House, requests that provision
be made for any of the purposes aforesaid.
President of 
Malta’s 
recommendation, 
how 
communicated.
70. Every recommendation by the President of Malta shall be
communicated by a Minister in the following terms: "His
Excellency the President of Malta, having been informed of the
subject matter of the proposed Bill (or vote or resolution)
recommends it to the consideration of the House", and the same
shall be so entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the House.
VI - Financial Business - Supply
Redress of 
grievances may be 
considered.
71. (1) On the occasion of a motion that the House do resolve
itself into a committee of supply for the consideration of the
general estimates or of any supplementary estimate (whether
consisting of one or more heads) redress of grievances may be
considered and general discussion of the policy of the Government
may take place and amendments may be moved to the formal
question that the Speaker should leave the Chair.
When Speaker 
leaves the Chair 
without question 
put.
(2) On all other occasions whenever the committee of supply
stands as an order of the day for the continuation of the discussion
of an estimate, the Speaker shall leave the Chair without question
put and the House shall forthwith resolve itself into a committee of
supply to consider such estimate.
Financial 
Statement.
(3) ( a ) On the day the general estimates are laid on the Table,
the Minister in charge shall make his financial
statement and move that the House do consider the
estimates in committee of supply.
The debate shall then be adjourned for not less than a
week.
Motion to go into 
committee of 
supply.
( b ) The debate on the motion to go into committee of
supply shall not exceed two days (not including the day
on which the financial statement is delivered).
Sittings allotted for 
consideration of 
estimates.
( c ) Not more than seven sittings shall be allotted for the
consideration of the general estimates in committee of
supply.
The days so allotted shall not include any day on which
the business of supply does not stand as the first order
of the day. 
On motion made after notice, to be decided without
amendment or debate, additional time, not exceeding
three days, may be allotted for the business of supply.
No motions to be 
taken.
( d ) On the days allotted for the business of supply no
motion (other than formal motions) shall be taken until
after the consideration of supply, and no motions under
standing order 13 shall be entertained.
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 15
At 9 p.m. the 
chairman reports 
progress.
( e ) On the days allotted for the business of supply, at 9
o’clock p.m. the chairman shall leave the Chair without
question put, and make his report to the House;
provided that if a question on any vote is then being
decided, by division, or a motion of closure has been
moved on any question, the chairman shall not leave
the Chair till such division has been taken or the
motion of closure and any subsequent questions that
may arise thereon have been decided.
At 9 p.m. on last 
day question put on 
all remaining 
votes.
( f ) At 9 o’clock p.m. on the last of the days so allotted,
the chairman shall forthwith put the question then
under consideration and shall then proceed to put the
question on the remaining votes of the estimates one
by one, all such questions to be decided without
amendment or debate. He shall then leave the Chair,
without question put, and make his report to the
House.
Procedure in 
committee of 
supply. 
72. When a motion is made in committee of supply to omit or
reduce any item of a vote, the question is proposed from the Chair
for omitting or reducing that item accordingly, and members shall
speak to that question only, until it has been disposed of; but in the
debate reference may be made to other items in the estimates in
order to explain or illustrate the question under discussion.
Motion for largest 
reduction first put.
73. When more than one reduction is moved in any vote, or
item of a vote, the question shall first be proposed from the Chair
on the largest reduction.
Order in which 
motions are to be 
taken.
74. When several motions are offered they shall be taken in the
order in which the items to which they relate appear in the printed
estimates.
No debate allowed 
on preceding 
items.
75. After a question has been proposed from the Chair for
omitting or reducing any item, no motion shall be made or debate
allowed upon any preceding item.
Question on 
original or reduced 
vote.
76. When it has been proposed to omit or reduce items in a
vote, the question shall be afterwards put upon the original vote, or
upon the reduced vote, as the case may be.
Destination of 
votes cannot be 
altered.
77. The committee cannot attach a condition or an expression
of opinion to a vote nor alter its destination. 
Vote may be 
postponed.
78. It shall be in order, at any time during the discussion of a
vote or item in a vote, to move the postponement of such vote,
provided such postponement be only until the remainder of the
votes of the Estimates in question shall have been disposed of.
Manner in which 
reductions are 
moved.
79. An amendment including more than one item cannot be
proposed by way of reduction of an item, but must be moved as a
reduction of the whole vote. 
Vote or item agreed 
to cannot be 
debated.
80. When an item or vote has been disposed of, it shall not be
competent again to debate the same on a new or subsequent item
then under consideration, except for the purpose of explaining or
illustrating the question under discussion.
16 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
Report from 
committee of 
supply.
81.   When all the supply grants necessary for the service of the
year have been voted by the committee of supply, a resolution is
moved in that committee authorising the chairman to report
accordingly.
Estimates reported.  82. On the Speaker resuming the Chair the chairman shall
report that the committee has agreed to the estimates with or
without amendment. 
Appropriation Bill. A resolution shall then be moved authorising the grant out
of the Consolidated Fund of the money, or the balance of the
money, required, and ordering the Minister of Finance or other
Minister to bring in the Appropriation Bill. When such Bill is
presented it shall be deemed to have been read a first time and shall
be printed.
 VII. - Divisions
Division may be 
demanded by a 
member.
83.   After the Speaker or the chairman in a committee of the
whole House shall have declared the result of the putting of any
question, any member who has given his voice with those who are
according to such declaration in the minority, may demand a
division of the House upon that question, whereupon a division
shall without debate take place unless it shall appear to the Chair
that such a demand is unnecessarily claimed.
Division how 
taken. 
84. After the lapse of twenty minutes the Speaker or chairman
thereupon puts the question a second time and declares whether in
his opinion the "Ayes" or the "Noes" have it. If his decision is
challenged and if he thinks that a decision is unnecessarily claimed,
he may take the vote by calling successively upon the members
who support and upon the members who challenge his decision to
rise in their places. He may thereupon either declare the
determination of the House or the committee, or order the division
to proceed whereupon the doors shall be locked:
Provided that the time occupied in taking divisions shall be
added to the time appointed for the interruption of business.
Votes shall be 
taken openly.
85. A member is not obliged to vote. Votes shall be taken
openly and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the House.
The Speaker or the chairman, as the case may be, shall forthwith
declare to the House the result of the division and shall state the
number of the "Ayes" and of the "Noes".
In case of 
confusion or error 
House divides 
again.
86. In case of confusion or error occurring concerning the
numbers reported, the House shall proceed to another division
unless the same can be otherwise corrected.
Mistakes corrected 
in report.
87. If the numbers have been inaccurately reported or an error
occurs in the names on the division report, the House on being
informed thereof shall order the report to be corrected.
Member may not 
vote unless present 
when question is 
put.
88. No member shall be entitled to vote in any division unless
he is present in the House when the question is put for the second
time.
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 17
No member 
precunarily 
interested may 
vote.
89. No member shall be entitled to vote in the House or in
committee of the whole House or appointed by the House upon any
question in which he has a direct pecuniary interest.
On a motion of which notice has been duly given it shall be
lawful for the House to suspend any member who has voted upon
any such question from attending its sittings for the rest of the
session.
Every member, however, shall be entitled to vote upon any
question relating to personal emoluments or parliamentary
allowance to which he might be entitled.
 VIII. - Bills
Enactments in 
Maltese and 
English.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
90. Every law shall be enacted in both the Maltese and the
English languages and, if there is any conflict between the Maltese
and the English texts of any law, the Maltese text shall prevail.
Introduction of a 
Bill.
91.   Subject to the provisions of standing order 82 every Bill
shall be brought in upon motion made and question put "that leave
be given to bring in such a Bill", unless it be brought up by a
committee appointed to draft the same in accordance with a
resolution of the House.
First reading and 
printing.
92. Should leave be given to bring in any Bill, the Bill shall be
deemed to have been read the first time, and upon a fair copy being
given to the Clerk shall be printed.
Stages of Bills. 
shall more than one stage of a Bill be taken at the same sitting if
any member shall object thereto:
  Provided that Bills of an urgent nature may, by leave of the
House, be passed with unusual expedition through their several
stages.
Publication of Bills 
in Gazette.
94. When a day has been fixed for the second reading of any
Bill the Clerk of the House shall transmit or deliver to each member
of the House a printed copy of such Bill and shall also cause it to be
published in the Malta Government Gazette if not already so
published.
Amendments to 
second reading.
95. (1) Motions may be made to amend the motion for the
second reading of a Bill by leaving out all or some of the words
after "that" and substituting words which state some special reason
against the second reading of the Bill, or by leaving out "now" and
adding at the end of the motion "upon this day six months" or other
time.
Principle of Bill 
discussed on 
second reading.
(2) Only the principle of a Bill, as distinguished from its
details, shall be discussed on the motion for second reading, or on
any amendment thereto. 
Bill committed 
after second 
reading. 
96. When a Bill has been read a second time it shall stand
committed to a committee of the whole House, unless the House on
motion which may be moved without notice and which shall be
decided without amendment or debate orders it to be referred to a
select or standing committee.
18 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
House resolves 
itself into a 
committee on Bill.
97. On the order of the day being read for the committee on a
Bill the Speaker shall leave the Chair without question put, and the
House shall thereupon resolve itself into committee.
Clauses read in 
committee.
98. The chairman upon seating himself at the Table will
proceed to read the number and the marginal note of each clause in
succession. The preamble of the Bill stands postponed until after
the consideration of the clauses and schedules, if any, without
question put.
What amendments 
admissible.
99. It shall be an instruction to all committees of the House to
which Bills may be committed that they have power to make such
amendments therein as they shall think fit, provided they be
relevant to the subject matter of the Bill; but that if any such
amendments shall not be within the title of the Bill they do amend
the title accordingly, and do report the same specially to the House.
Principle not 
discussed in 
committee.
100. The principle of the Bill shall not be discussed in
committee but only its details. 
New clauses in 
committee.
101. Upon a new clause being moved in committee the Clerk at
the Table shall read the marginal note of the clause and it is then
deemed to have been read the first time. The question is then
proposed that it be read a second time.
Report of progress. 102. If the consideration of a Bill in committee of the whole
House is not completed by the time at which business is required to
be interrupted the chairman shall report progress and ask leave to
sit again.
The chairman may also, on motion made, be ordered to
report progress at any previous time.
Report of Bill. 103. At the close of the proceedings of a committee of the
House on a Bill, the chairman shall be directed to report the Bill to
the House with or without amendment; and in case such Bill shall
be reported with amendments the House may order that the Bill be
forthwith reprinted with all amendments thereto, and that a copy
thereof be delivered to every member.
Recommittal. 104. When a Bill has been reported with or without
amendments, it shall be ordered to be read a third time on such day
as may be appointed by the House, unless the member in charge
thereof shall desire to postpone its consideration or a motion shall
be made to recommit the Bill either wholly or only in respect of
particular provisions or proposed provisions which shall be named
by the member responsible in his motion.
When re-committal 
is opposed.
If a motion to recommit a Bill be opposed the Speaker shall
permit a brief explanatory statement of the reasons for such re-
committal from the member who moves and from a member who
opposes any such motion respectively, and shall without further
debate put the question thereon.
Amendments on 
recommittal or 
third reading.
105.   No amendment not being merely verbal shall be made to
any Bill on the third reading, but the Bill may be re-committed on
motion made or the same amendments may be offered as on the
second reading (see standing order 95 "Amendments to second
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 19
reading").
No discussion on 
third reading.
No discussion shall be allowed on the third reading stage of
any Bill except for proposing verbal amendments.
Reading   of Bills.
Bill, the Clerk shall read only the title thereof and no more.
Same Bill not to be 
twice offered in 
same session.
107. When a Bill is ultimately passed, or has been rejected, no
Bill of the same substance shall be introduced again during the
current session.
IX. - Committees of the Whole House
Chairman of 
committees.
108. The Deputy Speaker shall be the chairman of committees
of the whole House. In his absence the deputy chairman, or such
other member as the House may appoint, shall take the Chair.
House resolves 
itself into 
committee.
109. A committee of the whole House is appointed by resolution
"That this House do now resolve itself into a committee" except in
the cases provided for in standing orders 71 (2), 97 and 102.
Quorum.
of the same number of members as shall be requisite to form a
quorum of the House.
Absence of 
quorum.
111. If objection is taken by any member present or if it shall
appear upon a division in committee of the whole House that a
quorum of members is not present, the presiding member shall
leave the Chair and the Speaker shall resume the Chair.
Report of no 
quorum to Speaker.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
112. When the chairman of a committee of the whole House
shall report that fifteen members, exclusive of himself, are not
present the Speaker shall resume the Chair and shall, at the
expiration of five minutes, count the House, and if fifteen
members, exclusive of the Speaker, be not present, he shall adjourn
the House, without question first put, till the next sitting day, and
the hour of such adjournment and also the names of the members
present shall be entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the
House, and if sixteen members, exclusive of the Speaker, be
present the House shall again resolve itself into committee, but if
fifteen members, exclusive of the Speaker, be present, the House
may proceed with other business.
Procedure in 
committee. 
113. Except as otherwise provided the rules as to procedure in
committee of the whole House are those which apply to procedure
when the Speaker is in the Chair, except that - 
(1) a motion need not be seconded;
(2) the previous question cannot be moved;
(3)  a member may speak more than once on the same
question. 
Committee may 
only consider 
matters referred to 
it.
114. A committee of the whole House shall only consider such
matters as shall have been referred to it by the House. 
Motion to report 
progress.
115.   A motion may be made during the proceedings of a
committee of the whole House "That the chairman do report
progress and ask leave to sit again", or "That the chairman do now
20 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
leave the Chair", but if the chairman shall be of the opinion that the
motion is an abuse of the rules of the House he may forthwith put
the question thereupon from the Chair, or he may decline to
propose the question thereupon to the committee.
Report to the 
House.
116. Subject to the provisions of standing order 103, when all
matters referred to a committee of the whole House shall have been
considered, the chairman shall leave the Chair without question put
and shall report the same to the House.
Report of progress. 117. When all such matters have not been considered the
chairman shall report progress and ask leave to sit again.
Report how 
brought up.
118.   Every report from a committee of the whole House shall be
brought up without any question being put.
In case of disorder 
Speaker resumes 
the Chair.
119. If any disorder shall arise in committee of the whole House
the Speaker shall resume the Chair without any question being put.
Speaker to resume 
the Chair in case of 
message from 
President of Malta.
120. The Speaker shall also resume the Chair if a message be in
announced from His Excellency the President of Malta.
X. - Select Committees
Appointment of 
select committees.
121.   The House may appoint a select committee of its members
for the purpose of investigating any subject. It shall be competent
for the Speaker to be appointed a member of any select committee
of the House.
Number of 
members.
122. No select committee shall be moved for without notice, nor
shall it without leave of the House consist of more than seven
members; such leave shall not be moved for without notice. In the
case of members proposed to be added or substituted after the first
appointment of the committee the notice shall include the names of
the members proposed to be added or substituted; in no case shall a
select committee consist of an even number of members.
Notice of names of 
members.
123. At least one day’s notice shall be given of the names of
members proposed to serve upon a select committee, but provided
such notice has been given the appointment may be made
immediately after the motion for the setting up of the committee.
Manner of 
ballotting for 
committee.
124. If upon any motion for a select committee it shall be
resolved that such committee shall be chosen by a ballot, the
following procedure shall be observed: 
  Each member shall deliver to the Clerk of the House a list
of the members whom he wishes to be appointed on such
committee not exceeding the number proposed in such a motion,
and if any such list contains a larger number of names it shall be
rejected, and the Speaker shall appoint two members to be
scrutineers who, with the Clerk, shall ascertain the number of the
votes for each member, and members who shall be reported to have
the greatest number of votes shall (subject to the provisions of
standing order 129) be declared by the Speaker to be the members
of such committee, and in any case of two or more members having
an equality of votes, this procedure shall be repeated with reference
to such members.
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 21
Willingness of 
members to attend 
to be ascertained.
125. Every member proposing to nominate another member to
serve upon a select committee shall first ascertain whether such
other member is willing to serve.
First meeting of the 
committee to be 
notified to Clerk.
126.   Notice of meetings of select committees shall be given to
the Clerk of the House before two o’clock of the day previous to
that appointed for the meeting; the first notice to be given by the
member who moved for the committee and subsequent notices by
the chairman of the committee.
List of members 
serving.
127. Lists of all members serving on each select committee shall
be affixed in a conspicuous place in the office of the House of
Representatives or such other place or places as may be chosen by
the Speaker.
Quorum.
House, three members of the committee shall form a quorum. No
committee shall proceed to business unless a quorum be present
and if a quorum be not present within ten minutes of the appointed
hour, or any less time at the pleasure of the member or members
attending, the chairman or in his absence any other member
present, shall appoint a day and hour for the next meeting of the
committee, provided that such next meeting shall be held within the
next seven days.
Mover of 
committee may be 
a member thereof.
129. Any member who shall move for and obtain the
appointment of a select committee shall be entitled to be a member
of such committee if he so desires. 
Election of 
chairman.
130. Every select committee previous to the commencement of
business shall elect one of its members to be chairman, who besides
his vote as a member, shall in case of an equality of votes have a
casting vote.
Proceedings of 
committee to be 
recorded.
131. An entry shall be made of the proceedings of such
committee, of the names of the members attending each meeting,
and of every motion or amendment proposed in the committee
together with the names of the movers thereof; and if any division
takes place in the committee, the committee clerk shall take down
the names of the members voting in any such division,
distinguishing on which side of the question they respectively vote,
and all such entries or minutes shall be recorded and reported to the
House on the report of such committee.
Power to send for 
witnesses, papers 
and records.
132. Any select committee may be authorised by the House to
take evidence and call for papers and records. Witnesses may be
ordered to attend by means of a warrant issued by order of the
House and signed by the Clerk; any oath or affirmation taken or
made by any witness may be administered by the chairman or by
the Clerk attending such committee.
Proceedings and 
report to be signed.
133. The minutes of the proceedings of the committee on each
day and also the report of such committee shall be signed by the
chairman thereof. 
Bills amended to 
be reprinted.
134. A Bill referred to a select committee and reported with
amendments shall be forthwith reprinted with all amendments
thereto, and a copy of the same shall be distributed to every
member of the House.
22 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
Proceedings, etc., 
not to be published 
until tabled.
135. The proceedings of, or evidence taken by, or the report of,
any select committee, or the summary of such proceedings,
evidence or report, shall not be published by any member of such
committee or by any other person, except with the permission of
the House, until the report of such committee has been laid on the
Table.
Report brought up. 136. The report of a select committee shall be brought up by the
chairman and may be ordered to be laid on the Table, or may be
otherwise dealt with as the House may direct.
Strangers. 137.   No stranger shall be present during any of the proceedings
of any select committee (not being a select committee on a Bill),
except by special leave of such committee on motion made; but
under no circumstances whatsoever can a stranger be allowed to
remain in the committee room when the committee is deliberating.
Not to sit while 
House is sitting.
138. Except by order of the House, no select committee shall sit
during the sittings of the House.
Counsel to 
conform to rules 
made by chairman.
139. Counsel, when appearing before a select committee, shall
be bound to observe such directions and conform to such rules in
the conduct of matters before such committee as shall be required
by the chairman thereof.
 XI. - Petitions
Form of petition. 140.   Every petition shall be free from interlineations or erasures
and in the form shown in the appendix to these Standing Orders.
No application for 
grant of money, 
etc.
141. No applications may be made by petition for grants of
public money, for compounding sums of money due to the Republic
of Malta, nor for the remission of duties payable by any person.
This rule, however, shall not be construed so as to prevent any
person from praying the House to take his case into consideration
for the purpose of obtaining for him such relief as he shall appear to
the House to be entitled to.
To be in Maltese or 
English.
142. Every petition shall be written in the Maltese or English
language and shall be signed by the petitioner. In case of incapacity
by illness or otherwise to write, petitioners shall affix their marks
and have them legally certified.
Reference to 
debate or intended 
motion.
143. No reference shall be made in a petition to any debate in
the House, nor to any intended motion, unless a notice of such
intended motion stands upon the order paper of the House.
Petitions must be 
presented by 
members.
144. Petitions can only be presented to the House by a member
and it shall not be competent for a member to present a petition
from himself, but the same may be presented by some other
member.
To be deposited 
with Clerk for one 
day.
145.   Every petition shall, before it is presented, be signed at the
beginning thereof by the member in charge of it, and deposited for
at least one clear day with the Clerk of the House, who, after
examining the same, shall submit it for the Speaker’s approval and
no petition shall be presented to the House until such approval has
been obtained. Such approval shall be conveyed by the petition
being certified by the Clerk of the House as follows: "House of
Representatives, Passed by the Speaker".
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 23
Number of 
signatures to be 
ascertained.
146. Any member before presenting a petition shall ascertain
the number of signatures to the petition, and shall write the same
number at the head of the petition.
To be perused by 
member in charge.
147. It shall be incumbent on every member presenting a
petition to acquaint himself with the contents thereof and to
ascertain that it does not contain language disrespectful to the
House.
Procedure for 
member in charge.
148. Every member offering to present a petition to the House,
shall confine himself to a statement of the parties from whom it
comes, of the number of signatures attached to it, of the material
allegations contained in it, and to the reading of the prayer of such
petition.
No debate on 
presentation.
149. Every petition not containing matter in breach of the
privileges of the House, and which, according to the rules or usual
practice of the House, can be received, shall be brought to the Table
by the direction of the Speaker, who shall not allow any debate, or
any member to speak thereon or in relation to such petition; but it
may be read by the Clerk of the House, if required.
Reference of 
petitions to select 
committee.
150. When a member in charge of a petition intends to move
that it be referred to a select committee he shall, when depositing
the petition with the Clerk of the House, declare in writing on the
petition and above his aforesaid signature, his request that the
petition be referred to a select committee, or to a particular select
committee which may have been already appointed to deal with
matter similar or cognate to that contained in the petition; and no
petition not so endorsed shall be referred to any committee except
upon notice duly given notwithstanding any other standing order to
the contrary.
 XII. - The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and deputy chairman
Presiding in 
Assembly.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
151. (1) There shall preside at any sitting of the House the
Speaker or, in his absence, the Deputy Speaker or, in their absence,
a member of the House (not being a Minister or a Parliamentary
Secretary) elected by the House for the sitting.
 (2) References in this standing order to circumstances in which
the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is absent include references to
circumstances in which the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker is
vacant.
The Speaker 
relieved by the 
Deputy Speaker.
152. The chairman of committees shall take the Chair as Deputy
Speaker whenever requested to do so by the Speaker for short
intervals during a sitting of the House without any formal deputy
communication to the House.
Vacancy in office 
of Speaker or 
Deputy Speaker 
153. When a vacancy has occurred in the office of Speaker or
Deputy Speaker, the Clerk of the House shall report the same to the
House and the House shall forthwith proceed to the election of a
new Speaker or Deputy Speaker in the manner hereinbefore
provided.
Appointment of 
deputy chairman of 
committees. 
154. The House may appoint a deputy chairman of committees
who shall take the Chair, whenever requested to do so by the
chairman of committees or when the chairman of committees is
24 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
absent and who shall be entitled to exercise all the powers vested in
the chairman of committees including his powers as Deputy
Speaker.
 XIII. - Members and Privileges of the House
Members to leave 
address with Clerk. 
155. Every member shall at the commencement of each session
or as soon as he shall have taken his seat, enter his name and
address and also his address during the session in a book to be kept
by the Clerk of the House.
Attendance of 
members. 
156. It is the duty of every member of the House to attend its
service and that of any select committee of which he may be a
member.
Leave of absence. 157. The seat of a member of the House shall become vacant if
he shall absent himself from the sittings of the House for a period
of two months during any session thereof, provided that a member
shall not have been deemed to have been absent from any sitting if
his absence therefrom shall have been approved by the Speaker
within a period of two months from such sitting.
Members on leave 
of absence.
158. A member shall be excused from service in the House or on
any committee thereof so long as he has leave of absence. 
Members absent 
without leave.
Amended by:
XIII. 1983.5.
159. (1) If a member shall be absent during the whole of a
sitting without leave the sum of one lira shall be deducted from his
member’s allowance.
(2) If a member shall be absent during the whole of a sitting of
a select committee without previous permission of the committee or
without just cause to the satisfaction of the chairman the sum of
one lira   shall be deducted from his member’s allowance, unless he
shall have leave of absence from the House for a period including
the day in question.
Members entering 
or leaving the 
House. 
160. Every member shall be uncovered when he enters or leaves
the House or moves to any part of the House during a debate, and
shall make obeisance to the Chair in passing to or from his seat or
across the House. No member shall pass between the Chair and any
member who is speaking nor between the Chair and the Table nor
shall he stand in any of the passages.
Privileges. 
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
Cap. 113.
161. The House of Representatives and the members thereof
shall enjoy all the privileges, immunities and powers defined in the
House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance.
XIV. - Officers of the House
Clerk of the House 
and other officers.
162.   There shall be a Clerk of the House and such other officers
and as may from time to time be appointed to assist him.
Absence of the 
Clerk of the House. 
163. In the case of the unavoidable absence from any cause of
the Clerk of the House his duties shall be performed by the Clerk
Assistant.
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 25
 XV. - Witnesses
House may 
summon persons to 
give evidence.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
Cap. 113.
164. The House shall have power and authority to summon
before the House itself or before any committee thereof any person
to give evidence or advice with regard to any matter within the
jurisdiction of the House, subject to the provisions of the House of
Representatives (Privileges and Powers) Ordinance.
 XVI. - Strangers
Admission of 
strangers. 
165. Strangers may be present at the sittings of the House in the
places set apart for them but must withdraw when called upon to do
so by the Speaker, or, if the House is in committee, by the
chairman.
No strangers are admissible as of right.
Strangers shall 
keep silence, etc.
166. Strangers in the House shall stay uncovered and be silent
and shall abstain from expressing any approval or disapproval. 
Tickets of 
admission.
167. Every member of the House may obtain for each sitting
two tickets for the admission of strangers from the Clerk of the
House, and on each of such tickets he may insert the name of one
person, signing also his own name thereon, such ticket to be
available for the sitting of the day of which it shall bear date, and
no person shall be admitted who does not deliver to the doorkeeper
his ticket of admission.
Power of Serjeant-
at-Arms.
168. The Serjeant-at-Arms attending the House shall remove, or
cause to be removed, any stranger who may have entered the House
without a ticket of admission, or who may be in any part of the
House appropriated to the members of the House; and also any
stranger who, having been admitted into any part of the House,
shall misconduct himself or shall not withdraw when ordered to do
so or when strangers are directed to withdraw from the House.
Where strangers 
cannot be 
admitted. 
169. No member of the House shall bring any stranger into any
part of the House appropriated to the members of the House while
the House or a committee of the whole House is sitting.
Withdrawal of 
strangers.
170. On a motion from any member that strangers do withdraw,
the Speaker or the chairman (as the case may be) shall forthwith put
the question "That Strangers be ordered to withdraw" without
permitting any debate or amendment; provided that the Speaker or
the chairman may, whenever he thinks fit, order the withdrawal of
strangers from any part of the Chamber.
XVII. - Records of the House: Duties of the Clerk
Minutes of 
proceedings.
171. Every vote and proceeding of the House shall be noted by
the Clerk and recorded in the Maltese and English languages. Such
votes and proceedings after being signed by the Clerk of the House,
and after having been confirmed by the House, shall be
countersigned by the Speaker and shall constitute the minutes of
the proceedings of the House.
Custody of 
records.
172. The Clerk shall have the custody of all the minutes, records
or other documents belonging to the House, and he shall neither
take nor permit to be taken any such minutes, records or other
documents from the chambers or offices without the express leave
26 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
or order of the House.
Journals of the 
House.
173. All debates and discussions in the House of
Representatives shall be taken down by officers appointed to this
effect, and after having been perused and signed by the Clerk and
by the Speaker, shall be printed and shall constitute the journals of
the House.
Sittings behind 
closed doors. 
In the case, however, of sittings held behind closed doors,
the House may order that the debates and discussions be not taken
down, or alternatively, although taken down as stated above, be not
printed or reproduced in the journals of the House.
Members may take 
extracts from 
papers tabled.
174. Every member of the House shall be entitled to read, and if
he shall so desire, take extracts from or copies of all papers laid
upon the Table of the House.
Duties of the Clerk 
of the House.
175. The Clerk of the House, to whom all correspondence shall
be addressed, shall be responsible to the House under the direction
of the Speaker, for the regulation of all matters connected with the
business of the House, and shall have the direction and control over
all the officers and clerks employed by the House subject to such
orders as he may from time to time receive from the Speaker.
Office hours 
during recess.
176.   The Office of the Clerk shall be open during the period
when the House is not in session, daily, Sundays and public
holidays excepted, during such hours at the Speaker may appoint.
 XVIII. - Enactment of Laws
Acts: assent and 
enrolment. 
Substituted by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
Amended by:
L.N. 148 of 1975.
177. The Clerk of the House shall present to the President of
Malta for his assent a fair copy in the Maltese and English
languages of any Bill passed by the House of Representatives; and,
after any such Bill shall have been assented to by the President of
Malta, it shall without delay be published in the Government
Gazette.
Clerical error 
discovered in any 
Bill.
Amended by:
L.N. 148 of 1975.
178. Upon the discovery of any clerical error in any Bill which
shall have passed and before the same be presented to the President
of Malta for his assent thereto, the Speaker shall report such error
to the House, and the House shall thereupon deal with the same
forthwith.
Words of 
enactment.
179. Repealed by Legal Notice 46 of 1965 .
Rules observed in 
the enactment of 
laws.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
180. In the enactment of laws the following rules and
regulations shall be observed, that is to say:
(1) Repealed by Legal Notice 46 of 1965 .
(2) All Acts are to be distinguished by titles and shall be
divided in successive clauses or paragraphs
consecutively numbered, and to every such clause
there shall be annexed in the margin a short summary
of its contents. The Acts of each year shall be
distinguished by consecutive numbers, commencing in
each year with the number one.
(3) Each different matter is to be provided for by a
different Act without intermixing in one and the same
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 27
Act such things as have no proper relation to each
other, no clause is to be inserted in or annexed to any
Act which shall be foreign to what the title of such Act
imports.
XIX. - Accounts, Papers and Printing
Reports, etc., 
ordered to be 
tabled.
181. The House may request that accounts, returns, reports and
papers shall be laid before the House, provided that no
departmental file of a confidential character need be laid before the
House. 
Reports, etc., 
presented by 
command.
182. Accounts, returns, reports and papers may also be ordered
to be laid before the House by command of the President of Malta. 
Delivery of papers 
to members.
183. A copy of every paper ordered to be printed by the House
shall be delivered to each member of the House. 
XX. - Messages from the President of Malta
Messages from the 
President of Malta.
184. A message from the President of Malta shall be brought to
the House by a Minister but not during a debate. The Minister shall
inform the Speaker that he has a message from the President of
Malta to the House, and then, on being so desired by the Speaker,
he shall bring the message to the Chair and deliver it to the Speaker
who shall then read it to the House.
How dealt with.
into consideration, or motion may be made without notice to take
the same into consideration in the same sitting as soon as the
business before the House shall have been concluded
Verbal messages.
verbally to the House, on behalf of the President of Malta, by a
Minister. 
Amended by:
L.N. 148 of 1975.
XXI. - Addresses to the President of Malta
How proposed.
Amended by:
L.N. 148 of 1975.
187. Whenever it be deemed proper to present an Address to the
President of Malta, the same shall be proposed on motion after
notice in the usual manner.
Address to Her 
Majesty.
188. Omitted under Act IX of 1980.
Address to 
President of Malta. 
189. Any communication or request which the House shall have
to submit to the President of Malta shall be offered by way of
respectful Address, and all Addresses shall be signed by the
Speaker and the Clerk of the House.
Presentation of 
Address to the 
President of Malta.
190. Addresses to the President of Malta shall be presented or
forwarded by the Speaker unless the House otherwise directs. 
When presented by 
the whole House.
191.   When an Address is ordered to be presented by the whole
House, the Speaker with the House shall proceed to such place as
the President of Malta may appoint. The Speaker shall read the
Address to the President of Malta, the members who moved and
seconded such Address being on his left hand.
President of 
Malta’s reply.
192. The President of Malta’s answer to any Address presented
by the whole House shall be reported by the Speaker to the House. 
28 ġ S.L.Const.02
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES
Messages how 
acknowledged. 
193. Every message from the President of Malta to the House
shall be acknowledged by an Address of the House or in such other
way as the House shall determine.
XXII. - Miscellaneous
Suspension of 
standing orders 
upon motion 
without notice.
194. Any standing order of the House may be suspended upon
motion made without notice, provided that no objection is taken by
any member present.
Suspension of 
standing orders 
upon motion after 
notice.
195. However, any standing order of the House may be
suspended upon motion made after notice, such motion being
carried by a majority of those present and voting.
Limitation of 
suspension of 
standing orders. 
196. The suspension of standing orders is limited in its
operation to the particular purpose for which such suspension has
been sought.
Usages of   House 
of Commons 
when to be 
followed.
Amended by:
L.N. 46 of 1965.
197. In all cases not provided for by these Standing Orders,
resort shall be had to the rules, forms, usages and practice of the
Commons’ House of Parliament of the United Kingdom, which
shall be followed as far as they can be applied to the proceedings of
the House with due regard to the special nature of the Constitution.
STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES ġ S.L.Const.02 29
APPENDIX
Form of petition to the House of Representatives
To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of
Representatives of Malta
The humble Petition of:
(here insert names and addresses of Petitioners together with the indication of
the town or village wherein they reside, or if a great number of Petitioners, the
petition of the electors of or of N.N., farmer, and eighty others, etc.)
Respectfully sheweth that
(here set forth the statement of grievance to be brought to the notice of the
House)
Wherefore your petitioners (or petitioner) humbly pray that your
Honourable House will be pleased to
(the particular relief expected being here stated)
and your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray
(Signatures to immediately follow)
