§ 4. Order and decorum. a. Prior to the order of business, the
presiding officer shall ask those in the chamber to rise and pledge
allegiance to the flag. Those in attendance shall remain standing during
the daily invocation and until asked to take their seats by the
presiding officer. Senators shall not interrupt the business of the
Senate, or read any newspaper while the journals or public papers are
being read; or walk out of or across the Chamber when the Presiding
Officer is putting a question; or when a Senator is speaking, pass
between him or her and the Chair. Cellular telephones and audible pagers
shall not be used in the Chamber or in the Senate Galleries. No sign,
placard or prop shall be displayed, posted or carried in the Chamber.
Cellular telephones shall not be used in the lobby by members of the
general public. No person shall be introduced by a Senator during the
regular business of the Senate, except that it shall be permissible to
introduce a person who has served as a member of the New York State
Legislature or a person who is present in the Chamber for the purpose of
nomination to an office to be confirmed by the Senate. On the nomination
of any person to an office which is subject to the confirmation of the
Senate, nominating and seconding speeches shall be limited to fifteen
minutes per conference.

b. Members are expected to uphold the highest standards of civility in
dealing with other members. Debate should be dignified and lacking in
personal invective. A Senator rising to debate or present a paper, to
give a notice, to make a motion or report, shall address the Presiding
Officer and shall not proceed further until recognized by the Chair; he
or she shall speak on the same subject but twice the same day without
leave of the Senate; and when two or more Senators address the Chair,
the Presiding Officer shall name the Senator who is first to speak. A
Senator, while speaking after recognition by the Chair, may, upon
request of a Senator, yield to him or her temporarily without thereby
relinquishing his or her prior right to the floor and, thereafter, may
terminate such interruption and resume speaking at any time; provided,
however, that it shall not be in order for a Senator to rise and request
that a Senator, other than the one with the right to the floor, yield to
a question. Furthermore, it shall not be in order for a Senator, with
the right to the floor, to ask another Senator to yield to a question,
unless such Senator has previously spoken during the debate on the
matter. All questions and responses shall be directed through the chair,
and the presiding officer shall not be interrupted when speaking. After
completion of the order of business for the day, and with the unanimous
consent of the Senate, a Senator may make a statement, not exceeding
fifteen minutes in length, concerning a subject or matter not pending
before the Senate for consideration.

c. When a Senator shall be called to order, he or she shall take his
or her seat until the Presiding Officer shall have determined whether he
or she is in order or not; and if decided to be out of order, he or she
shall not proceed without the permission of the Senate; and every
question of order shall be decided by the Presiding Officer, subject to
an appeal to the Senate by any Senator. It shall require an affirmative
vote of a majority of all members elected to overrule a ruling of the
Chair. No second appeal shall be determined until the original appeal
shall be decided; and if a Senator shall be called to order for words
spoken, the words excepted to shall be immediately taken down in
writing.