Parliamentary Procedure Bryce Woldt- Parliamentarian Parliamentary Procedure

Typical Meeting Call to Order Minutes Reports Committees Reports of Special Committees Unfinished (Old) Business New Business Announcements Adjournment

Motions Motions are used to propose any action “I move that…” I move that we accept the minutes I move that we adjourn the meeting Clear and concise Motion is made Motion is seconded “I second the motion” Debate period All who wish to debate will raise placard Only one person will speak at a time Cannot speak again until all have spoke once Motion is voted upon

Types of Motions Privileged Motions Subsidiary Motions A motion that does not relate to the question pending, but is of such great importance that it takes precedence Motions that relate to the question pending Ex: Modify main motion Postpone an action Refer to a committee Incidental motions Main motions Motions that are incidental to the pending question, but must decided upon before continuing Proposed a new action be taken Lowest order of precedence

Main Motion Lowest order of precedence “I move that…” Five Main Motions Main motion Motion to reconsider Motion to rescind Motion to make a special order of business Motion to take from the table

Main Motion Cont. Used to revote on a previous motion Motion to reconsider Motion to rescind Used to revote on a previous motion Must have been on the winning side of the vote Used to void a previously accepted motion Cannot take place during the same meeting the motion was passed Motion to make a special order of business Motion to take from the table Used to set a special time to consider a special question Used to discuss a motion that has been previously laid on the table

Subsidiary Motion Can be applied to any main motion Take precedence over main motions Seven Subsidiary Motions (in order of precedence) Lay on the table Previous question Limit or extend debate Postpone definitely Refer to a committee or committee of the whole Amend Postpone indefinitely

Subsidiary Motion Cont. Lay on the table Previous question Used to discuss more urgent business first Can be taken from the table at any time Used to take an immediate vote on a question Limit or extend debate Postpone definitely Used to set a time limit on debate of a question Can either limit or extend the debate time Used to delay action on a main motion until a specific time The specific time must be stated in the motion

Subsidiary Motion Cont. Refer to committee or committee of the whole amend Used to create a committee to investigate a question further Committee information can be given in the motion Whole: discuss the question informally as a group Used to modify another motion First and second degree Postpone indefinitely Used to dispose of a main motion Motion cannot be brought up in the same meeting if postponed indefinitely

Privileged Motion Does not relate to pending question Takes precedence over subsidiary and main motions Five Privileged Motions (in order of precedence) Motion to fix the time to which to adjourn Motion to adjourn Motion to recess Question of privilege Orders of the day

Privileged Motion Cont. Motion to adjourn Motion to fix the time to which to adjourn Used to end the meeting permanently Used to change the time of the next meeting Question of privilege Motion to recess Used to create comfort (too hot, too cold, etc.) Used to adjourn a meeting temporarily Must state the length of a recess Order of the day Used to keep order of business

Incidental Motion Incidental to the question pending Should be disposed of first (highest order of precedence) Eight incidental motions (no precedence) Point of order Appeal from the decision of the chair Suspend the rules Object to consideration Call for a division Parliamentary inquiry Point of information Withdraw a motion

Incidental Motion Cont. Point of order Appeal from the decision of the chair Used to bring error of procedure to attention Can be used on procedure or business Used to appeal a decision that the chair has made In order every time the chair makes a decision Suspend the rules Object to consideration Used to suspend the rules of the organization temporarily Cannot go against the constitution or by-laws Used to dispose of a motion Motion must be made prior to debate, but after the second has been made

Incidental Motion Cont. Call for a division Parliamentary Inquiry Used to check the results of a vote Used on voice votes or when numbers are close Used to check parliamentary procedure Point of information Withdraw a motion Used to gain more information on the question at hand Directed at the chair Used to withdraw your own motion Can only be used by the person who made the main motion