Transcript PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURES
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PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES
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Three basic principles of
Parliamentary Procedures:
– MAJORITY RULES
– EQUAL RIGHTS OF ALL MEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE IN PROCEEDINGS
– ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF ALL
MATTERS WORTHY OF
CONSIDERATION (Operative Words
Highlighted)
NECESSARY OFFICERS
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Presiding Officer
– President
– Chairman
– Moderator
– Speaker
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Recorder
– Secretary
– Clerk
QUORUM
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The minimum number of members within a
society required in order to officially
conduct business.
Minimum number that must be present. A
quorum is different in various venues; i.e.,
the Region that is based on the number of
financial chapters, a Chapter on a number
or percentage of financial members, and
Delegates Assembly on the number of
authorized delegates (Majority).
CONDUCTING BUSINESS
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Business is brought before the assembly
by motion of a member or in the form of a
resolution. Greater formality desired on a
long complicated motion that is prepared
in advance).
Members must receive recognition from
the presiding officer before speaking, with
the exception of specific motions (Point of
Order, Order of the Day, and Previous
Question/Close Debate).
Motions are stated as “I move that…..”
FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES
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Only one subject may claim the
attention of the assembly at a time.
Each proposition presented for
consideration is entitled to full and free
debate.
Each member has rights equal to every
other member.
The will of the majority must be carried
out, and the rights of the minority must
be preserved.
The personality and the desires of each
member should be merged into the
larger unit of the organization.
MOTIONS
The process by which business or
a proposal is brought to the
assembly for action.
 Give thought to the motion and
put it in writing so that it can be
stated or read properly.
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MAIN MOTION
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The business of the organization is
carried out through the main motion.
– The object of the main motion is to
introduce new business for consideration
of the group.
– The main motion brings before the
members a proposed course of action, and
there can be only one main motion under
consideration at a time.
THE MOTION TO AMEND
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An amendment may be made by
anyone to modify an original motion.
– Amendments change or modify a motion
by striking out, adding or substituting
language to the original motion.
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Only two amendments may be
considered on any motion at any time.
REFER TO A COMMITTEE
This process is used to address
business which cannot or
should not be disposed of
immediately by the group.
 Standing vs. Ad Hoc
Committees.
 Appointment of Committees
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• Vote
• Appointment
• Volunteering
POSTPONE TO A DEFINITE
TIME
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This motion postpones or delays
action until a certain time.
– It is the proper way to delay action on a
motion until later in the agenda, or the
next business meeting, but not beyond
that meeting.
CLOSE DEBATE
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When members of a group continue
to discuss a motion until it becomes
tiresome or after the issues have
been presented, someone may
move to close debate and vote.
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The motion to close debate requires
a 2/3 majority vote of the assembly.
THE MOTION TO TABLE
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The motion to table is used to lay
aside an item of business
temporarily in order to attend to
more urgent business.
– It is NOT intended to kill a motion.
– Only to lay it aside in a way that its
consideration may be resumed as
easily as if it was a new motion.
THE MOTION TO ADJOURN
The business meeting is closed by a
motion to adjourn.
 This motion cannot be debated or
amended.
 The meeting is not adjourned until the
chairman announces “The meeting is
adjourned.”
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MOTION TO TAKE A RECESS
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The motion to recess allows for a
break in proceedings.
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The motion to recess is not
debatable, but it is amendable.
MOTION TO FIX TIME
IN WHICH TO ADJOURN
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The motion to fix time in which to
adjourn is to set the time, and
sometimes the place, for another
meeting to continue business of the
session, with no effect on when the
present meeting will adjourn.
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS
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Various types of incidental motions allow for
speakers to interrupt the activity at hand.
Point of Order
– Question concerning a breach of parliamentary
law.
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Call for the Order of the day
– Calls to the attention of the assembly a problem
in the agenda or procedure.
– To get back on the agenda or follow the
Standing Rules of Order.
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS (CON’T)
Questions of Privilege
(1) Those relating to the privileges of
the assembly as a whole;
– Motion that permits a request or main
motion relating to the rights and
privileges of the assembly or any of its
members.
(2) Questions of personal privilege
Point of Information
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- A request directed to the chair
or through the chair to another
officer or member to the
business at hand but not related
to parliamentary procedures.
Questions of Privilege
TYPES OF QUESTIONS 0F
PRIVILEGE. Questions of
privilege are of two types: (1)
those relating to the privileges
of the assembly as a whole; and
(2) questions of personal
privilege. If the two come into
competition, the former take
precedence over the latter. May
relate to its organization or
existence.
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS (CON’T)
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Point of Clarification
– Motion which allows the chair to explain
pending actions of the assembly prior to
a vote.
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Division of the House or Assembly
– Calling for a recount of the vote by an
alternative method other than voice
vote; i.e., standing, show of hands, a
count.
PRESIDENTAL VOTING
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The President, although not
prohibited, should avoid voting in
almost all instances, except when
his/her vote can directly impact the
outcome of a vote
– Voting to break a tie.
– Voting to make a tie (Motion is lost).
– Voting to create a required majority.
QUESTIONS
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QUOTATIONS
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THREE THOUGHTS
– To Every Purpose there is Time
and Judgment.
– Everything should be done in a
Fitting and Orderly Way (Let all
Things be done Decently and in
Order).
– I Hear and I Forget. I See and I
Remember. I Do and I Understand.