Parliamentary Procedure Basic Principles Patricia Palm International Parliamentarian

Facilitate Transaction of Business Parliamentary rules exist to facilitate the transaction of business and to promote cooperation and harmony democratic and orderly rules purpose is to help an organization carry out business not intended to confuse structure developed to expedite business

Vote of Majority Decides Majority Rules What is “majority”? Majority: “more than half” Not 50% Not 51% Not one more than half 11 votes 50% = ½ 51% is 5.61 One more than half is 6 ½ Majority is 6 votes

All Members Have Equal Rights, Privileges and Obligations Right to propose motions Right to discuss motions Right to oppose Right to persuade Right to nominate Right to be nominated Right to vote Presiding Officer is responsible to see that equality of rights, obligations, and duties is maintained

Minority Rights must be Protected Parliamentary Rules Protect Right to be heard Right to protest Right to seek to convince Right to understand fully the questions to be decided

Full and Free Discussion of Every Proposition is an Established Right Every member has the right to hear and be heard Member who has the floor has the right to speak without interruption Right to speak once to question Right to speak within time limit

Simplest and Most Direct Procedure Should be Used Presiding officer should insist that procedures be direct and simple. Indirect tactics complicate conduct of business Unfavorable amendments Confusing technicalities Devious approaches

Rules of Precedence Govern Introduction and Disposition of Motions Important motions have priority Main motions are the basic tool for conduct of business Subsidiary motions apply to main motion Amend Refer to Committee Previous Question Privileged Motions Recess Adjourn Incidental Motions Point of Order Division of the Assembly Suspend the Rules

Only one Question can be Considered at a Time Only one substantive question on the floor Objective is to prevent chaos Each item of business is considered separately and individually Amendments are usually substantive in nature Procedural motions relate to how matters should be handled Limit/Extend limits of debate Previous question

Every Members has the right to know what the Question means before she votes Presiding officer needs to keep the motion clear for members of the assembly Any member has the right to request information necessary to understand the motion “Parliamentary Inquiry” is an incidental motion which can be used to ask questions of the presiding officer

The membership Retains the Right of Final Decision Many duties delegated to officers Some duties delegated to committees Unless officers/committees are given the authority to make a decision, the delegates are those who decide

Parliamentary Rules must be Administered Impartially Presiding officer must be impartial Presiding officer does not take part in discussion Presiding officer usually does not vote unless there is a tie or secret ballot Presiding officer should not favor her friends Presiding officer must keep out of disagreements among the members Presiding officer must treat all members alike

Summary Parliamentary Rules facilitate the transaction of business in a fair and impartial manner Majority Vote is the basis for decision All members have equal rights to propose, debate, understand, and vote on motions Simple, Direct, Logical procedures should be used in a meeting The membership retains the right of final decision