1. Stephen M. Levine, PT, DPT, MSHA, RP
The APTA House of Delegates: Democracy in Action The Basics of Parliamentary Procedure Based on Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 10th Edition
Stephen M. Levine, PT, DPT, MSHA, RP
Speaker of the House
APTA Board of Directors
Revised, February 2008

2. The APTA House of Delegates: A Professional Democracy
In a democratic society, rules ensure freedom and respect for all
The APTA House of Delegates (HOD) is analogous to other legislative bodies such as Congress or your state legislature
The HOD, formally deliberates policy, has the power to charge the Board of Directors to carry out activities on behalf of the Association

3. APTA Governance = Democracy
The governance process of our Association is a fascinating example of democracy at work
Allows for the ability for those with differing viewpoints to come together, discuss and debate an issue, often with passion, in an arena that allows for the majority to rule, but which requires the rights of the minority be protected.

4. The HOD: A Deliberative Assembly
Operates according to bylaws which can only be revised (known as amending) by giving “notice” and by a 2/3 vote of the body
Must follow Special Rules of Order, Rules of Order, and the Parliamentary authority

5. The Parliamentary Authority
The most commonly used is Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised), 10th Edition, 2000 (RONR)
There are several parliamentary authorities including Robert, Sturgis, Demeter, and others
All APTA components (Chapters, Sections, and Assemblies) use RONR X

6. Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR)
Purpose:
“To enable the overall membership of an organization to establish and empower an effective leadership as it wishes, and at the same time to retain exactly the degree of control over its affairs that is chooses to reserve to itself.”
RONR (10th ed.) p. XLVII

7. Know the Rules!! Sporting events have rules and referees
Deliberative Assemblies have RONR and parliamentarians!
Knowing the rules gives you knowledge, confidence, and power
When you know how to negotiate the system, making an impact is possible
You can select strategies from the Rules to achieve your goals

8. Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR)
Ultimately, it is the majority of delegates in the HOD who decide the general will, but only following the opportunity for a deliberative process of full and free discussion.
RONR is not concerned with the wisdom of a specific decision, but with the process by which the group arrives at the decision.

9. Parliamentary Procedure RONR: The Basics
Ranking Motions
Main Motion
Subsidiary Motions
Privileged Motions
Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
Process of Amending
Incidental Motions
Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly
Motions Arising out of Committee Reports
Forms of Voting
Previous Notice
Bylaws
Standing Rules
Meeting vs. Session

10. RONR: Ranking Motions Thirteen (13) Ranking Motions
So named because they have rank and are the only ones with rank
A lower ranking motion may not be made when a higher ranking motion is pending
Pending is the term used when a motion has been stated by the chair and is being discussed
Lowest rank: Main Motion
Highest Rank: Fix The Time To Which To Adjourn

11. RONR: 13 Ranking Motions Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn Adjourn
Recess
Raise a Question of Privilege
Call for the Orders of the Day
Lay on the Table
Previous Question
Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate
Postpone to a Certain Time (Postpone Definitely)
Commit or Refer
Amend
Postpone Indefinitely
Main Motion

12. RONR: Main Motion Rank = 13
Lowest Ranking motion
Original Main Motion: Introduces new business
Incidental Main Motion: Relates to or is incidental to business of the assembly, but does not mark the beginning of a particular involvement of the assembly in a substantive matter
Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted
Adopt recommendations of a committee
Ratify action taken at a meeting where no quorum was present

13. Questions to be Addressed for Main Motions, Incidental Motions, and Motions that bring a question again before the assembly
Can someone wishing to make this motion interrupt someone who already has the floor?
Does this motion require a second in order to be heard?
Is this motion debatable?
Is this motion amendable?
What kind of vote does it take to pass this motion?
Can the motion, as passed or failed, be reconsidered at a later time?

14. RONR: Main Motion Rank = 13
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: Yes
Amendable: Yes
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Exceptions: Main motions that require a 2/3 vote
Motion to adopt or suspend rules of order
Amend something previously adopted without notice
Amend bylaws
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes

15. RONR: Subsidiary Motions
A subsidiary motion assists the assembly in treating or disposing of a main motion and sometimes of other motions
A form of secondary motion

16. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Postpone Indefinitely Rank: 12
Purpose: To kills the main motion and avoid a direct vote on the question
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: Yes
Debate can go into the merits of the main question
Amendable: No
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes
Only if the vote was in the affirmative

17. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Amend Rank: 11
Purpose: To modify the wording and (somewhat) the meaning of a pending question
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: Yes
Only when the question to which it applies is debatable
Amendable: Yes
Unless pending question is a secondary amendment
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes

18. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Commit or Refer Rank: 10
Purpose: To send a pending question to a relatively small group (Board, Committee, etc.) so that the question may be carefully investigated and put into better condition for the assembly to consider
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: Yes
Amendable: Yes
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes
Only if the committee has not begun consideration of the question referred

19. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Postpone to a Certain Time (Postpone Definitely) Rank: 9
Purpose: To put off action on a pending question, within limits, to a definite day, meeting, or hour, or until after a certain event
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: Yes
Amendable: Yes
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes

20. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Limit or Extend Limits of Debate Rank: 8
Purpose: To exercise special control over debate on a pending question or in a series of pending questions
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: No
Amendable: Yes
Vote required for adoption: Two-Thirds (2/3)
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes

21. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Previous Question Rank: 7
Purpose: 1) To bring the assembly to an immediate vote; 2)To close debate, and 3)To stop amendment of the immediately pending question and such other questions as the motion may specify
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote required for adoption: Two-Thirds (2/3)
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes
Can be reconsidered before any vote has been taken under the order for the previous question

22. RONR: Subsidiary Motions Lay on the Table Rank: 6
Purpose: To lay the pending question aside temporarily when something else of immediate urgency has arisen
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: No

23. RONR: Privileged Motions
A privileged motion deals with special matters of immediate importance. It does not relate to the pending business.
A form of secondary motion

24. RONR: Privileged Motions Call for the Orders of the Day Rank: 5
Purpose: To require the assembly to conform to its agenda, program, or order of business
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: Yes
Requires a Second: No
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote required for adoption: Demand
On demand as a request, but a 2/3 vote by the assembly can set them aside
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: No

25. RONR: Privileged Motions Raise a Question of Privilege Rank: 4
Purpose: To bring up for immediate consideration a request or motion relating to the rights and privileges of the assembly or any of its members
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: Yes
Requires a Second: No
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote required for adoption: Chair Rules on request
If motion is required, it is an incidental main motion and requires a majority vote
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: No

26. RONR: Privileged Motions Recess Rank: 3
Purpose: To begin a recess immediately
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: No
Amendable: Yes
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: No

27. RONR: Privileged Motions Adjourn Rank: 2
Purpose: To close the meeting immediately
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: No
Amendable: No
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: No

28. RONR: Privileged Motions Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn Rank: 1
Purpose: To set the time, and sometimes the place, for another meeting to continue business of the session, with no effect on when the present meeting will adjourn
Criteria:
In order when another has the floor: No
Requires a Second: Yes
Debatable: No
Amendable: Yes
Vote required for adoption: Majority
Can the vote on this motion be reconsidered: Yes

29. RONR: Incidental Motions
An incidental motion is related to the parliamentary situation in such a way that it must be decided before business can proceed.
A form of secondary motion

30. RONR: Incidental Motions No Rank
Appeal
To challenge a ruling by the chair and have the assembly make the final decision
Division of the Assembly
Whenever a member doubts the results of a voice vote, a Division is used to require the vote to be retaken by standing
Objection to the Consideration of the Question
To avoid a motion altogether
Can be raised only before there has been any debate or before any subsidiary motion has been stated by the chair

31. RONR: Incidental Motions No Rank
Point of Information
A request directed to the chair, or through the chair to another officer or member, for information relevant to the business at hand but not related to parliamentary procedure
Point of Order
When a member thinks the rules of the assembly are being violated, this is used to call upon the chair for a ruling enforcing the rules
Request for Permission to Withdraw a Motion
Required after the motion to which it pertains has been stated by the chair as pending

32. RONR: Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly
Take from the Table
To bring a “tabled” motion back before the assembly
Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted
To change an action previously taken or ordered
Discharge a Committee
To take a matter out of a committee’s hands after referring it to the committee and before the committee has made a final report
Reconsider
To bring back for further consideration a motion which already has been voted on. The motion must be made, but not necessarily taken up, no later than the meeting after the one at which the vote to be reconsidered was taken.

33. RONR: Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
Obtaining and assigning the floor
A member rises when no one else has the floor and addresses the chair
The Chair recognizes the member by announcing his name or title

34. RONR: Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
How the motion is brought before the assembly
The member makes the motion
(“I move that…..”)
Another member, without needing to rise, seconds the motion
(“I second the motion”, or “second”)
The chair states the question on the motion
(“It is moved and seconded that…”)

35. RONR: Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
Consideration of the motion
Members can debate the motion
Before speaking in debate, members obtain the floor
The maker of the motion has first right to the floor if he claims it promptly
All remarks must be addressed to the chair
Debate must be confined to the merits of the motion
Debate can be closed only by order of the assembly (2/3 vote) or by the chair if no one seeks the floor for further debate

36. RONR: Procedure for Handling a Main Motion
Consideration of the motion
The chair puts the question (puts it to a vote)
The chair asks: “Are you ready for the question?”
If no one rises to claim the floor, the chair proceeds to put the question
The chair states:
“The question is on the adoption of the motion that….”
“As many as are in favor, say ‘Aye’
“Those opposed say ‘No’.”
The chair announces the result of the vote

37. RONR: Process of Amending
The adoption of the motion to amend does not adopt the motion thereby amended; that motion remains pending in its modified form
A member’s vote on an amendment does not obligate him to vote on a particular way on the motion to which the amendment applies
An amendment must always be germane—that is, closely related to or having a bearing on the subject of the motion to be amended

38. RONR: Process of Amending
There are three basic processes of amendment, the third of which is an indivisible combination of the first two:
To insert or add
To insert words, or if they are placed at the end of the sentence or passage being amended, to add words (or a paragraph)
To strike out
To strike out words or a paragraph
To strike out and insert, or to substitute
To strike out and insert applies to words
To substitute applies to striking out an entire paragraph, or the entire text of a main motion, and inserting another

39. RONR: Forms of Voting Voice Vote The most commonly used form of voting
Chair puts the question and calls for the “Aye” votes and “No” votes
Rising Vote
The normal method of voting on motions requiring a two-thirds vote for adoption.
Used to verify a voice vote
Can be ordered by the chair, or by a single member who calls for a “Division” of the assembly
Counted Vote
Can be ordered by the chair or ordered by a majority vote of the assembly

40. RONR: Previous Notice
Requirement of previous notice means the announcement that the motion will be introduced, including its exact content, must be included in the call of the meeting
Motions that have the effect of changing or nullifying the previous action of the assembly require previous notice if they are to be adopted by only a majority vote
The adoption or amendment of bylaws or special rules of order require previous notice and a two-thirds vote
The notice becomes invalid if the motion is amended beyond the scope of the notice

41. RONR: Bylaws
Bylaws have an important bearing on the rights and duties of members within the organization, and on the degree to which the general membership is to retain control of, or be relieved of detailed concern with, the society’s business.
Except as the rules of a society may provide otherwise, its assembly has full and sole power to act for the entire organization, and does so by majority vote
Any limitation or standing delegation of the assembly’s power with respect to the society as a whole can only be by provision in the bylaws
Bylaws should be made no more restrictive nor more detailed in specification than necessary

42. RONR: Bylaws
Bylaws and special rules of order (which deal with parliamentary procedure) contain the provisions of a society that are expected to have stability from session to session, and to represent the judgment of the whole society as distinguished from the members voting at any one session
These bylaws and rules require both
Previous Notice, and
Two-Thirds vote for amendment
Rules of order require a two-thirds vote for suspension
Bylaws cannot be suspended

43. RONR: Meeting vs. Session
Each event of the members’ being assembled to transact business constitutes a separate meeting
The complete unit of engagement in proceedings by the assembly is a session, which consists of of one or more connected meetings
One session cannot tie the hands of the majority at any later session

44. RONR: Standing Rules
Standing Rules usually contain both parliamentary rules relating to the conduct of business, and non-parliamentary rules
Although Standing Rules can be adopted by a majority vote at any session and continues in force until it is rescinded or amended, such a rule does not interfere materially with the freedom of a later session, since it can be suspended for the duration of any session (but not for longer) by a majority vote
The effect of Standing Rules expires at the close of the session that adopts them

45. Logistics of the House
Pre-HOD activities are organized to occur while onsite, but before the House actually begins, to allow delegates from different components to have some preliminary discussions on the issues
Chief/Section/Assembly strategies meetings
Motion Discussion groups
Independently scheduled Regional Caucus meetings, if desired by delegates
Once the HOD begins, motions are taken up in the order assigned by the Reference Committee
RC 1-07, RC 2-07, RC 3-07, RC 4-07, etc.

46. Logistics of the House
The Speaker of the House (Speaker) conducts the proceedings of the HOD in accordance with Association Bylaws, Standing Rules and our parliamentary authority
The merits of a motion may be discussed as long as the deliberative body chooses to discuss it.

47. Logistics of the House
The Speaker makes an attempt to alternate debate between opposing viewpoints so that discussion can flow and all views may be heard
For most motions, a majority vote of those present is necessary to adopt a motion (others require 2/3)
If adopted, the motion becomes an Association position, policy, guideline, or standard.
If the motion is defeated, the next order of business is taken up and the process begins again

48. “Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of liberty.” …..Henry M. Robert