Transcript Parliamentary Procedure Official Reference Robert, Henry M. III, William J. Evans, Daniel H.

Parliamentary Procedure
Official Reference
Robert, Henry M. III, William J. Evans, Daniel H. Honemann, and
Thomas J. Balch. Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 10th
Edition.
DA CAPO PRESS
Pat Dennison, Academic Consultant
What is Parliamentary Procedure?
 Parliamentary procedure is a set of rules for
conduct at meetings
 Parliamentary procedure is based on
democratic philosophy
 Parliamentary procedure allows for free and
open discussion of ideas.
 Parliamentary procedure helps to transact
business, quickly, efficiently, and in keeping
with the will of the majority
Basic Principles
 Promotes order, cooperation, and harmony
 Only one item of business or question is
handled at a time
 All members have equal rights and privileges.
 The rights of the absentee members are
protected by the establishment of a quorum
 The majority determines the course of action
 The minority will abide by the will of the
majority once it is established
The Order of Business or Agenda
 The presiding officer determines that a
quorum is present and then calls the meeting
to order by standing and clearly stating,
“The meeting will come to order.”
Standard Order for Business Meetings
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Call To Order
Opening Ceremonies (optional)
Reading and Approval of Minutes
Reports:
Officer
Standing Committee
Special Committee
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Unfinished Business
New Business
Program (optional)
Adjourn
How Business is Introduced and
Conducted
 Business is brought before the group in the
form of a motion. The purpose of a motion is
to get something done, whether to take
certain action or to express itself as holding
certain views.
Before a subject is open for discussion
it must be:
 Made by a member who has obtained the
floor
To obtain the floor a member rises, addresses the presiding
officer and is recognized.
To make a motion the member states, “I move that…” He/she
then states the action proposed.
 Seconded by a member
To second a motion, a member says, “second the motion.”
He/she does not need to rise or be recognized.
 Stated by Chair and placed before the group
The chair must state the question and indicate that it is open for
discussion or rule it out of order.
Basic Rules of Debate
 The member making the motion is allowed to speak first is so
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desired.
All comments must be directed to the Chair.
Comments should be courteous.
The speaker should avoid being influenced by personalities.
Comments are permitted only with reference to the pending
motion.
The speaker should keep to the time limit set for speaking
(usually 10 minutes)
The member may speak only twice on the same question on the
same day (he/she cannot make a second speech so long as any
member who has not spoken on that question desire the floor.)
Handling a Motion
Chair: Is there any new business?
Member A (after obtaining the floor): I move
that (or to)…
Member B: I second the motion. (or second)
If no member seconds the motion
Chair: Is there a second to the motion?
If there is still not second
Chair: Since there is no second, the motion is
not before this meeting. Is there any further
business?
Handling a Motion continued
Chair: It is moved and seconded that…(repeating the
exact wording of the motion). Are you ready for the
question? (Turns toward the maker of the motion to
see if he/she wishes the floor first in debate)
Member A: (after obtaining the floor) Gives reasons for
the motion
Chair: Is there further debate?
(Members now obtain the floor, one at a time, to
speak in debate. Chair can ask, “Is there further
debate?” to indicate that debate is still in order.
Handling a Motion continued
When debate seems to have ended
Chair: Are you ready for the question? The
question is on the adoption of the motion that
(or to)…(repeating the motion)
As many as are in favor of the motion, say
“Aye” (pause for the vote)…Those opposed
say “No” (pause for the vote)…The ayes
have it and the motion is adopted. Or
The noes have it and the motion is lost.
Classes of Motions
 Main
 Original
main motions
 Incidental main motions
 Subsidiary motions
 Privileged motions
 Incidental motions
 Motions that bring a question again
before the assembly (Restoratory)
Main Motions
 A main motion is a motion that brings business before
the assembly
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An original main motion is a motion that introduces a
substantive question as a new subject.
An incidental main motion is a main motion that is
incidental to or relates to the business of the assembly,
or its past or future business.
 Example: A motion to adopt recommendations a
committee has prepared upon instructions, or a motion
to ratify emergency action, or a motion to recess
when no business is pending, or to place a special
limit on the length of speeches throughout the
meeting.
Main Motion Characteristics
 Takes precedence of nothing
 Can be applied to no other motion
 Is out of order when another has the floor
 Must be seconded
 Is debatable
 Is amendable
 Requires a majority vote
 Can be reconsidered
Subsidiary Motions
 Subsidiary motions assist the
assembly in treating or disposing of
a main motion
 Subsidiary motions have ranking
order within the class
Subsidiary Motions in Ranking Order
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Lay on the Table
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Previous Question
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Sends a pending question to a committee so the question can be investigated
and put into better condition for the assembly to consider
Amend
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Allows action on a pending question to be put off to a certain time
Commit or Refer
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Means of which an assembly can exercise control over debate on a pending
question or on a series of pending questions
Postpone Definitely
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Used to bring the assembly to an immediate vote on one or more pending
questions
Limit/Extend limits of Debate
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Enables the assembly to lay the pending question aside temporarily when
something of immediate urgency has arisen
Modifies the wording of a pending motion before that motion is acted upon
Postpone Indefinitely
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Drops the main motion without a direct vote on it
Privileged Motions
 Privileged motions do not relate to the
pending business, but have to do with special
matters of immediate and overriding
importance which, without debate, should be
allowed to interrupt, the consideration of
anything else.
 Privileged motions have ranking order within
the class and all of them take precedence
over motions of any other class.
Privileged Motions in Ranking Order
 Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn
 Sets 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
 Adjourn
 Closes the meeting
 Recess
 A short intermission
 Raise Question of Privilege
 Permits interruption of pending business to state and
urgent request or motion
 Call For Orders of the Day
 To demand to take up the proper business in order
Incidental Motions
 Incidental motions are related to the main
question in such a way that they must be
decided immediately, before business can
proceed. Most incidental motions are
unbeatable.
 Incidental motions have no ranking order
within the class
Incidental Motions
 Point of Order
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Member thinks rules are being violated and calls on chair for a ruling
and enforcement
 Appeal
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Requires the assembly to vote on the ruling of the chair
 Suspend the Rules
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Consider something that violates the regular rules but is not in conflict
with the bylaws or parliamentary law
 Objection to Consideration of the Question
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Enables the assembly to avoid a particular original main motion
altogether
 Division of the Assembly
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Member doubts the result of a voice or show of hands vote, and
requires a rising vote
 Requests or Inquiries
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Request for information
Motions That Bring a Question Again
Before the Assembly
 These motions allow an assembly to reopen
a completed question or take up one that has
been temporarily disposed of.
 These motions have no ranking order within
the class
Motions That Bring a Question Again
Before the Assembly
 Take from the Table
 Make pending again a motion that was previously laid
on the table
 Rescind or Amend Something Previously
Adopted
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Rescind cancels a previous action or order
Amend something previously adopted is used to
change a part of the text
 Reconsider
 Enables a majority in an assembly, within a limited time
and without notice, to bring back for further
consideration a motion which has already been voted
on
Use of the Gavel
 Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, does
not address the use of the gavel when calling
a meeting to order
 If a member commits a slight breech of order,
the chair simply raps lightly, points out the
fault, and advises the member to avoid it.
 Recess and adjournment may be signaled by
a single rap of the gavel, if desired.