Parliamentary Procedure Robert’s Rules of Order

Purpose Method of conducting meetings with speed and efficiency in an orderly manner Method of conducting meetings with speed and efficiency in an orderly manner

Principles 1. One thing at a time 1. One thing at a time 2. Courtesy to everyone 2. Courtesy to everyone 3. Rule of majority 3. Rule of majority 4. Rights of minority 4. Rights of minority

Voting Simple majority – over 50% Simple majority – over 50% 2/3 Vote 2/3 Vote Plurality – highest number of votes but less than a majority Plurality – highest number of votes but less than a majority Ways to Vote Ways to Vote Voice – aye or no Voice – aye or no Rising – standing or raise of hand Rising – standing or raise of hand Roll call – each member’s name is called Roll call – each member’s name is called Ballot – secret vote Ballot – secret vote

Steps in handing a motion 1. Stand and address chair 1. Stand and address chair 2. Recognition by chair 2. Recognition by chair 3. State motion 3. State motion 4. Second 4. Second 5. Chairman restates motion 5. Chairman restates motion 6. Chairman invites discussion 6. Chairman invites discussion 7. Vote 7. Vote 8. Chair announces results of vote 8. Chair announces results of vote

Common Terminology Motion – proposal for action Motion – proposal for action Second – shows approval for a motion Second – shows approval for a motion Chair – presiding official Chair – presiding official Floor – the right to speak without interruption Floor – the right to speak without interruption Germane – pertaining to subject at hand Germane – pertaining to subject at hand Question – motion under consideration Question – motion under consideration Quorum – number of members necessary to legally transact business Quorum – number of members necessary to legally transact business Debate – discussion Debate – discussion Pending – motion currently being considered Pending – motion currently being considered

Duties of Chairman Maintain order Maintain order Enforce rules Enforce rules Equalize debate Equalize debate Expedite business Expedite business Treat everyone with respect Treat everyone with respect Chair usually may not debate Can only vote to make or break a tie

Main Motions Purpose – to introduce ideas to the group Purpose – to introduce ideas to the group Only one main motion at a time Only one main motion at a time Requires a second Requires a second Amendable Amendable Can be changed Can be changed Debatable Debatable Can be talked about Can be talked about Majority Vote Majority Vote Can be voice vote Can be voice vote

Main Motion Continued Example : Mr. Chairman, I move to... or I move that...

Primary Amendments Purpose – to improve or modify a motion Purpose – to improve or modify a motion Must be germane Must be germane Can be amended in 4 ways Can be amended in 4 ways Inserting Inserting Adding Adding Striking out Striking out Striking out and inserting or substituting Striking out and inserting or substituting Requires a second Requires a second

Primary Amendments con’t Amendable Amendable Debatable Debatable Majority Vote Majority Vote Example: Mr. Chairman, I move to amend the motion by... (adding, substituting, striking out, or inserting)

Secondary Amendments Purpose Purpose To modify an amendment to make it more specific To modify an amendment to make it more specific Requires a second Requires a second Debatable Debatable Not amendable Not amendable Majority vote Majority vote Can not interrupt a speaker Can not interrupt a speaker Example: Mr. Chairman, I move to amend the amendment by...

Refer to Committee Purpose Purpose Used to send a pending question to a small group so that the question may be carefully investigated. Used to send a pending question to a small group so that the question may be carefully investigated. Requires a Second Requires a Second Amendable Amendable Debatable Debatable Majority Vote Majority Vote

Refer to Committee con’t Two ways to appoint a committee Two ways to appoint a committee Standing Committee Standing Committee Special Committee Special Committee Appointed by the chairman Appointed by the chairman Number of members can be 3 or more Number of members can be 3 or more Example: Mr. Chairman, I move to refer this motion to a committee.

Postpone Definitely Purpose Purpose Allow for the motion on the floor to be deferred to a different day, meeting, or until after a certain event. Allow for the motion on the floor to be deferred to a different day, meeting, or until after a certain event. Requires a second Requires a second Amendable Amendable Debatable Debatable Majority Vote Majority Vote Example: Madam President, I move to postpone this motion until the regular meeting in June.

Previous Question Purpose Purpose To force an immediate vote on the motion To force an immediate vote on the motion Requires a second Requires a second Not amendable Not amendable Not Debatable Not Debatable 2/3 Vote 2/3 Vote Can not interrupt another speaker Can not interrupt another speaker Examples: Madam Chairman, I move the previous question

To lay on the table Purpose Purpose To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or until the next meeting To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or until the next meeting Requires a second Requires a second Not amendable Not amendable Not debatable Not debatable Majority Vote Majority Vote Example: Mr. Chairman, I move to table the motion

To take from the table Purpose Purpose To take a motion from the table To take a motion from the table Requires a second Requires a second Not amendable Not amendable Not debatable Not debatable Majority vote Majority vote Can not interrupt another speaker Can not interrupt another speaker Example: I move to take from the table the motion pertaining to...

Division of the house Purpose Purpose To obtain a more accurate vote when an oral vote is in question To obtain a more accurate vote when an oral vote is in question Does not require a second Does not require a second Not amendable Not amendable Not debatable Not debatable No vote needed No vote needed

Division of the house con’t Can interrupt another speaker Can interrupt another speaker Proper form Proper form Can be made by saying “division” loud enough for the entire group to hear Can be made by saying “division” loud enough for the entire group to hear Or by standing and saying “I call for a division of the house” Or by standing and saying “I call for a division of the house” Wait until the chairman has announced the results Wait until the chairman has announced the results

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

Point of Order con’t Can interrupt another speaker Can interrupt another speaker Example: Mr. president, I rise to a point of order. President says, “State your point” After member states point, president says, “Your point is well taken” or ”Your point is not well taken.”

Adjourn Purpose Purpose To end the meeting To end the meeting Needs a second Needs a second Not amendable Not amendable Not debatable Not debatable Majority vote Majority vote Can not interrupt another speaker Can not interrupt another speaker Example: Mr. Chairman, I move to adjourn.

Question of Privilege Purpose Purpose This allows for people in the group to ask for changes in the temperature, for ideas to clarified, for motions to be explained, for others to repeat their discussion or motions, and anything that may help the meeting run more smoothly This allows for people in the group to ask for changes in the temperature, for ideas to clarified, for motions to be explained, for others to repeat their discussion or motions, and anything that may help the meeting run more smoothly Does not need a second Does not need a second Not amendable Not amendable Not debatable Not debatable No vote, Chairman’s decision No vote, Chairman’s decision

Question of Privilege (con’t) Can interrupt another speaker Can interrupt another speaker Example: Example: Madam President, I rise to a question of privilege. Madam President, I rise to a question of privilege. President says, “State your question.” Then the member asks for his privilege and the president decides on whether it will be allowed or not.

Parliamentary Inquiry Purpose Purpose To ask how to properly use parliamentary procedure To ask how to properly use parliamentary procedure Does not require a second Does not require a second Not debatable Not debatable Not amendable Not amendable Can interrupt a speaker Can interrupt a speaker

Parliamentary Inquiry (con’t) Chairman or parliamentarian explains proper procedure Chairman or parliamentarian explains proper procedure Example: Example: “Mr. Chairman, I rise to a parliamentary inquiry.” Chairman: “State your inquiry.”

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