The Basics of Robert's Rules of Order Ed Blackman Local Officer's College January 2009

Why Learn Robert's Rules? Group decision making is hard, and it gets harder the more people there are in the group. Understanding Robert's Rules will help you: Run local board meetings fairly and efficiently Understand what is going on at State board meetings Participate effectively

The Purpose of Robert's Rules Facilitate the transaction of business Protect the rights of the absent Protect the rights of the minority Rule by the majority (not of the outspoken)‏ Allow all to be heard

What We'll Cover Take Action: Motions Change It Up: Amendments Express Yourself: Ways to Speak Save It For Later: Putting Off Discussion Enough Already: Calling the Question Early and Often: Voting The Chair Is Wrong!: Appeals

Take Action: Motions Required for any discussion States what action should be taken – to make a motion, say “I move that we...”, followed by the action you want the body to take. State just the action you want the board to take, not the reasons for it yet

Take Action: Motions Most motions require a second to start debate – this prevents the board's time from being taken up by something that only one person wants to do A second only means that you think the topic should be discussed, not that you agree that the motion should be carried.

Take Action: Motions The chair will recognize the maker of the motion to speak first, then go in order. Speeches should only talk about why body should or should not take this action

Change It Up: Amendments Motion to amend asks the body to change what action to take. You should have a good idea of what you want to change Must be ”germane”: you can't completely change the focus of the original motion Speeches should only talk about the difference between the original and the proposed change

Change It Up: Amendments Friendly amendments – not strictly correct, but used to keep discussion going in small societies Used to more correctly express the intent of the amendment Requires approval of mover and seconder Anyone can object

Express Yourself: Ways to Speak Speaking on motions – two speech rule: You are only allowed to speak twice on each motion Once unconditionally Once after everyone who hasn't spoken An amendment is a new motion If motion is successfully amended, it's a new motion, so limits reset

Express Yourself: Ways to Speak Two speech rule, continued: After you have spoken twice, chair should still recognize you, but should ask why You are allowed to make amendments, call for the question, etc You are not allowed to speak again

Express Yourself: Ways to Speak Other ways to speak Point of order Asks the chair to enforce the rules, usually to bring us back to what we are supposed to be discussing “Point of order: aren't we supposed to be discussing the amendment?

Express Yourself: Ways to Speak Point of information Used to ask a clarifying question, or interject a fact, without waiting for speaking order “Point of information: how many lifetime members do we have now?” “Point of information: we spent $400 on that project last year.” Do NOT use to make speeches.

Express Yourself: Ways to Speak Point of parliamentary inquiry Ask the chair or parliamentarian a question “Point of inquiry: do we need a majority or 2/3rds vote here?” Use this if you want to do something, but aren't sure how

Save It For Later: Putting Off Discussion If you think that there is not enough information to decide yes or no right now, make a motion to postpone: “I move that we postpone this discussion until...” Requires 2/3rds majority 99% of the time, using “table” is wrong: tabling postpones a discussion within a session, not until another session.

Enough Already: Calling for the Question If you think that everything has been said, you can ask the chair to call for the question “I call for the question” or “I call the question” Requires 2/3rds majority

Early and Often: Voting Ways to Vote: Unanimous consent (“without objection”)‏ Ayes and nays Division of the assembly (raising of hands)‏ Ballot

Early and Often: Voting Unanimous Consent For matters where a member thinks that there's a strong possibility that no one would object to the course of action to be taken “I'd like to ask for unanimous consent to...” or “If there is no objection...” If anyone objects, vote fails, but can move to another form of voting

Early and Often: Voting Ayes and nays Chair asks those in favor and those opposed to speak up in turn Chair makes a ruling on who he thinks carried the vote - “the chair rules that the ayes have it” Ruling may be appealed by calling for division

Early and Often: Voting Division of the assembly Can be done by standing, or raising hands Ballot

Early and Often: Voting Chair should announce what is being voted on There must be a majority (or 2/3rds) of members in favor: abstentions count as “nay” If there are 16 members present, and the vote is 7 to 5 in favor, the motion fails: majority requires 9 votes in favor Chair votes when done by ballot, or to break or create a tie

Early and Often: Voting A failed vote means the default action occurs. Most of the time (approving a motion, changing policy), the default action is to do nothing. There are situations where bylaws or policies set up a different default action. In that case, if the motion was to do some different action. If it fails, the original action still occurs.

The Chair is Wrong!: Appeals The chair makes rulings to speed discussion, but the body has the ultimate authority If you think the chair is wrong, bring it up as soon as possible with a point of order If the chair disagrees, you can overrule the decision: “I appeal the decision of the chair” The discussion turns to whether or not the chair's ruling is correct Chair may participate in discussion If a majority is in favor of the appeal, chair's decision is overruled.