Parliamentary Procedure

Definition Correct rules for conducting or running a successful meeting

Goals Make meeting run smoothly Assure everyone gets heard Maintain order

Vocabulary Quorum – ½ member present in chapter plus 1 for legal transactions to be made. Majority – ½ members plus 1 at a meeting for a vote to pass 2/3 Majority – 2/3 or more of those voting Motion – A proposal by a member to take a particular action Nominate – To propose an individual for office

Motions Main Motion – Main motion brings business before the assembly. Can be made when no other motion is pending. Subsidiary Motion – Assist the assembly in considering or disposing of a main motion. Privileged motion – Do not relate to pending business, have to do with special matters of immediate and overriding importance. Incidental Motion – Questions of procedure arising out of other motions or business.

Main Motion Used to introduce ideas to a group. Cannot be in negative form Only one main motion presented at a time. Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Cannot interrupt another member

Main Motions Continued Motions that are not legal Person making motion cannot speak against it. Can be reconsidered Cannot interrupt another speaker

Steps to a Main Motion

Postpone Indefinitely To kill a main motion – Second – Not Amendable – Debatable – Majority Vote – Can be reconsidered only if passed. Subsidiary Motion

Amendments Used to modify a main motion. – Closely related to the original topic. – Amended in 4 ways Inserting in the middle Adding to end Striking out Striking out and inserting – Requires a second – Debatable – Majority Vote

Amendment to an Amendment To modify an amendment and make it more specific. Requires a second Debatable Not amendable Majority vote

Refer to Committee Used to send a pending question to a small group so that the question may be carefully investigated. (given full power to act) Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority vote Two committees – Standing Committee – POA – Special Committee – appointed by president, 3 or more members

Postpone Definitely Allow for the motion on the floor to deferred to a different day, meeting, or until after a certain event. Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote

Limit or Extend Debate To limit or lengthen the time allowed for discussion on a motion when it is clear that there will be an excessive amount of discussion or when the amount of time for the meeting is limited. Requires a second Debatable Amendable 2/3 majority vote Motion maker must specify – Amount of time – Number of speakers that can debate the motion.

Previous Question To force an immediate vote on the motion. Requires a second Not amendable Not debatable

To Lay on the Table To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or the next meeting. Requires a second Not amendable Not debatable Majority Vote

To take from the Table To take a motion that is on the table off the table Requires a second Not amendable Not debatable Majority Vote

Reconsider To reevaluate a decision that was made earlier. Requires a second Not amendable Debatable Majority Vote If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is handled, just as if it was never voted on. Only can be made by a person who voted on the winning side. If passed the motion is handled immediately.

Suspend the Rules Allows the chapter to break the rules of parliamentary procedure, or the current constitution for a short period of time. Requires a second Not amendable Not debatable 2/3 vote

Modify or Withdraw Allows for the maker of a motion to change a motion or completely take it off the floor for discussion. Not amendable Not debatable Automatic withdraw if motion is made prior to chair announcing motion. If chair states motion then. – Chair must ask if anyone objects to the withdraw If someone objects – Must be seconded and passed with a majority vote If no one objects – Motion automatically withdrawn

Divide a motion Motion allows a motion that has been made to be split in two different motions. Only for motions with two main ideas, not dependent on each other. Requires a second Amendable Not debatable Majority Vote

Object to the Consideration Used when a member thinks that the activity or action of the group is not appropriate. Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable 2/3 vote

Division of the House Forces an immediate revote by hand. Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable No vote needed

Point of Order Used when a member thinks that the rules of the group or the rules of parliamentary procedure are being violated. Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable Chair decides verdict.

Appeal To reverse the decision of the chair, after they have made an error. Requires a second Not amendable Debatable Majority Vote Most of the time you should support the decision of the chair.

Order of the Day Forces the group to return to the set agenda without finishing the current business Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable 2/3 vote against to fail. – Can only be made on motion that are not on the set agenda for the meeting.

Question of Privilege Allows for people in the group to ask for change in the temperature, for ideas to be clarified, motions to be explained, other to repeat their discussion or motions, anything allowing the meeting to run smoothly. Does not need a second Not amendable Not debatable No vote Chair Decision

Recess Allows for a short break Needs a second Amendable Debatable Majority vote Must specify length of time.

Adjourn To end the meeting Needs a second Not amendable Not debatable Majority Vote

Fix time to Reassemble Arrange time for next meeting Needs a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote