Transcript Texas 4-H Faculty Presentation by: Kevin Chilek & Cody Stone

Parliamentary Procedure
Building
Connections:
Community
Leadership Program
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 Parli Pro 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
take 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?