Texas AgriLife Extension Service & The Land Grant System
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Transcript Texas AgriLife Extension Service & The Land Grant System
Parliamentary Procedure
Improving Lives. Improving Texas.
What is Parliamentary Procedure?
Set of proven “rules” used to move
business along during a meeting
Guidelines – not laws
System that allows an
organization to conduct business
in a fair and democratic manner
Why use Parliamentary Procedure?
Handle only one item of business at
a time
All participants have an opportunity
to participate in discussion
Observe the rule of the majority
Protect the rights of the minority
Using the Parliamentary
Procedure Lingo
Motion
Main Motion
Motion to Lay on
the Table
Motion to Take
from the Table
Point of Order
Previous Questions
Friendly
Amendment
Motion to Adjourn
Majority Vote
Quorum
Importance of the Agenda
An agenda is a formal listing of business
that is to be conducted at a meeting
Usually developed by the chair and
distributed to the members in advance
Must be approved by the membership at
the beginning of the meeting
A well planned agenda is critical to a well
run, organized meeting
Sample Agenda
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
Call to Order
Roll Call (if appropriate)
Adoption of the Agenda
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting
Reports of Officers
Reports of Committees
Unfinished Business
New Business
Announcements
Adjournment
Role of Meeting
Participants
It is the participants responsibility to
establish and maintain effective meeting
structure
All participants have the right and
responsibility to participate in meetings
and in parliamentary procedure
Participants should know the Constitution
and By-Laws of the organization
Be involved in discussion!
Keys to Effective Meetings
Parliamentary procedure is based on
motions
The key to parliamentary procedure is
learning and understanding these motions
Don’t become overwhelmed by the list of
motions -- concentrate on those that will
be used on a regular basis
REMEMBER – using parliamentary
procedure takes patience, practice, and a
lot of effort!!!!
Use of the Gavel
The gavel allows the chair to obtain
attention quickly
One tap – signals for members
(participants) to be seated and follows the
completion of an item of business or
announces adjournment
Two taps – calls a meeting to order
Three taps – signals for members to stand
Series of taps – restores order of the room
Methods of Voting
There are 4 common methods of voting:
Voice Vote
Rising Vote
Secret Ballot
Roll Call
Quorum
Simple Majority
Two-thirds Vote
Motions
Main Motions
Privileged Motions
Subsidiary Motions
Incidental Motions
Unclassified Motions
Main Motions
Introduces a principal subject. Only one main
motion may be considered at a time and must be
disposed of before another can be considered.
The only way to start a motion is to say… “I
move…”
Example: “Mr./Madame President, I move that we
attend the County Leadership Camp.”
Main motions require a second and they are
debatable and amendable
A majority vote is required
Seconding a Motion
Seconding a motion Shows support by other members
Puts the motion to a vote
Debating a Motion
Members can raise any concerns they
may have about the motion
Others can be persuaded to vote one
way or another
Further information about the motion
can be provided to the group
Amending a Motion
Allows for changes to be made to the motion
No more than 2 amendments can be considered
at one time
Requires:
Second
It is debatable and amendable
Majority vote
Main motion can be altered by:
Addition
Subtraction
Substitution
Privileged Motions
Do not relate to a pending question,
however they are of such great
importance that they take precedence
over all other motions
Include:
Fix time to which to adjourn
Adjourn
Recess
Raise a question of privilege
Call for the orders of the day
Subsidiary Motions
Applied to other motions for the purpose
of appropriate disposal
Include:
Lay on the table
Call for the previous question
Postpone definitely
Refer to a committee
Amend
Postpone indefinitely
Incidental Motions
Correct ill-advised actions
Correct improper use of parliamentary
procedure
Include:
Object to the consideration of question
Appeal from the decision of the chair
Rise to a point of order
Withdraw a motion
Suspend the rules
Call for the division of the house
Rise to parliamentary inquiry
Unclassified Motions
Have a definite purpose but are not
classified as any other type of motion
Usually pertain to actions taken at
previous meetings
Include:
Reconsider
Rescind
Take from the table
Final Thoughts…
Don’t get overwhelmed – mastering
parliamentary procedure takes a lot of
practice and patience
Modify parliamentary procedure to fit the
needs of your group – not all motions need
to be memorized – only focus on those
you’ll use on a regular basis
Educate members of your organization
about parliamentary guidelines
Putting it all Together
Using the handouts provided, rate
yourself as a participant at
meetings
Using the handout provided, rate
yourself as the leader of a meeting
How did you do?
What will you change?