Transcript Slide 1

Parliamentary Procedure
for Political Conventions
Richard D. Hayes
Attorney at Law
Professional Registered Parliamentarian
Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, LLP
512 W. Hickory Street, Suite 100
Denton, Texas 76201
[email protected]
(940) 387-3518
May 12, 2012
WHAT IS PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURE?
Way in which a group of people come
together for the purpose of making and
authorizing policy changes and
administrative decisions in an orderly way
RULES THAT GOVERN
• Texas Constitution
• Texas Election Code
• Texas Republican Party Rules
• Rules of Order
• Special Rules of Order
• Standing Rules
MANY PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITIES
RPT RULE 5 –
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
 Current edition of selected
authority is named
 Party may adopt special
rules of order as needed to
supplement the
parliamentary authority
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
The rules of parliamentary law are constructed on
certain basis rights:
 of the majority
 of the minority, especially a strong minority (greater
than one third) to be heard
 of individual members
 of absentees
 courtesy and justice
 consideration of one subject
at a time
While parliamentary procedure cannot
guarantee that every members of the Party is
pleased with the outcome of a decision, it
aims to ensure that every member is satisfied
by the manner in which the decision was
made, and that the Party makes decisions
efficiently but with consideration for every
member’s opinion
8 STEPS FOR HANDLING A MOTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
A member rises and seeks recognition
The Chair assigns the floor
A member makes a motion
Another member seconds the motion
The Chair states the question
Members debate the motion
The Chair puts the question to a vote
The Chair announces the result of the vote
1. SEEK RECOGNITION
 In S.D. Caucus:
 Member rises and addresses the chair
“Mr./Madam Chairman”
 The member remains standing and awaits
recognition by the Chair
 In General Session:
 Member goes to microphone
 Microphone worker activates
appropriate light for Parliamentary
Motion
 The member remains standing and awaits
recognition by the Chair
2. ASSIGNING THE FLOOR
 In SD Caucus:
 Chair recognizes the member
 Calls member by name or title
 Nods to the member (in a small assembly)
 The member gives name and county
 In General Session:
 The Chair identifies microphone # and type of Motion
 The member gives name, SD #, County and purpose for
which they seek recognition
 Chair recognizes the member
 To bring an interrupting motion to the attention of the
Chair, a delegate may use the microphone immediately
for the stated purpose
3. MAKE MOTION
A member makes
a motion:
“I move that (to)…”
or
“Resolved, That…”
4. SECOND

Another member seconds
the motion.
“I second the motion.”
or
“Second”


No recognition required
Do not have to stand
5. CHAIR STATES THE QUESTION
The chair states the question.
“It is moved and seconded that (to)…
6. MEMBERS DEBATE THE MOTION
 Discussion or debate is how an assembly decides whether a
proposed course of action should be followed
 Maker of the motion has right to speak first
 All remarks must be addressed to the chair (not to other
members)
 Debate must be confined to the merits of the pending question
 Debate may not exceed five minutes for a Main Motion nor
more than three minutes on Amendment or debatable motion
subsequently made without general consent of the convention.
RPT Rule 17
 Debate should alternate between those favoring and those
opposing a measure
 Debate can be closed by majority vote, or by the Chair if no one
seeks the floor for further debate. RPT Rule 16a
7. CHAIR PUTS THE QUESTION
 The chair asks, “Are you ready for the
question?”
 If no one rises to claim the floor, the chair
proceeds to take the vote.
 The chair says, “The question is on the
adoption of the motion that (to)…
[repeating the motion].”
 Voice Vote
“Those in favor of the motion, say aye. [Pause]
“Those opposed, say no. [Pause]”
 Delegation Voting Strength - T.E.C. 174.096 (a)
cast number of votes equal to as many delegates
entitled to
 Roll Call Vote – RPT Rule 7
• When ordered by a majority vote of the delegates
• When demanded in writing by at least 1/5 of
the District delegations
• When by decision of Convention Chairman
 Proxy Voting – Prohibited. RPT Rule 6
 Right to Abstain
8. CHAIR ANNOUNCES RESULT
THE CHAIR ANNOUNCES THE RESULT OF THE VOTE

Which side has it

Whether adopted or lost

Effect of the vote

Where applicable,
announcement of the
next item of business
PARLIAMENTARY
MOTIONS
NOMINATIONS




Nominations – naming a person as a candidate for
an office or position
Member making nomination should rise and be
recognized
No second is required, although a member may
second to show support
Motion to close nominations shall not be in order
until there has been a reasonable opportunity for
additional nominations. RPT Rule 16b
MAIN MOTION
If you want to bring
business before the
assembly, make a:
“I move to (that)…”
or
“Resolved, That…”
AMEND
If you want to change a motion, move to Amend by:
1. inserting or adding words or a paragraph
2. striking out words or a paragraph
3. striking out and inserting words or
substituting a paragraph
LIMIT DEBATE
If you want to change
the rules of debate,
move to:
Limit or extend the
limits of debate RPT
Rule 17d
PREVIOUS QUESTION
If you want to close and
end debate, move the:
Previous question
Rule 16a
To obtain information about
parliamentary law or rules of the
Party, make a:
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
To request information
relevant to the business at
hand, make a:
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
POINT OF ORDER
When inappropriate action has been taken by
the assembly or one of its members, a
member may enforce the rules by making a
Point of Order
APPEAL
When a member disagrees with a parliamentary
ruling made by the chair
ACTION ITEMS – SD CAUCUS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Elect permanent officers
Elect permanent committee members
Elect SREC Committeeman and
Committeewoman
Nominate State Chairman and Vice
Chairman
ACTION ITEMS – CD CAUCUS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Elect permanent officers
Elect National Nomination Committee
member
Nominate National Committeeman and
Committeewoman
Elect 3 Delegates/Alternates to National
Convention
Elect Elector
ACTION ITEMS – GENERAL SESSION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Receive and take action on Permanent Credentials
Committee Report
Receive and take action on Permanent Organization
Committee Report
Receive and take action on National Nomination
Committee Report
Receive and take action on Permanent Rules & Order
of Business Committee Report
Receive and take action on Permanent Platform &
Resoultions Committee Report
Elect State Chairman and Vice Chairman
Elect National Committeeman and Committeewoman
LIGHTS
At each microphone there is a control panel
with four colored lights
Blue light – motions
Green light – speak in favor of motion
Red light – speak against motion
– interrupting Motions
(e.g., Point of Order, Appeal, Request for
Information, Parliamentary Inquiry)
The last four letters in “American” = I Can
The last four letters in “Republican” = I Can
The last four letters in “Democrats” = Rats
End of Lesson. Test to follow in November.
November will be set aside as rodent
extermination month.