1. Parliamentary Procedure
Study Material

2. Basic Principles Only one subject at a time The Majority Rules
Rights of the Minority are Protected
Organized way of conducting business

3. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order (newly revised)
Some Competitive event traditions supersede the rules of RONR;
Ie:
1. FFA president stands during entire event.
2. Gavel is used by FFA for all rulings.

4. Precedence of Motions
Motions have a rank and precedence that must be followed.
Main motion is lowest.
Fix time at which to adjourn is highest.
Exceptions: Amend and Previous Question.

5. Minutes
Provides a written record of the meeting that can be looked back on to see what items were transacted.
Records all motions and their outcome.
Must be given to members and looked over for corrections.
Then voted on, to approve or not

6. Order of business or Agenda
1. call to Order
2. Reading and approval of munites
3. Officer and Committee Reports
4. Special Committee Reports
5. Special Orders
6. Unfinished business
7. New Business
8. Announcements
9. Program
10. Adjournment

7. Debating motions (convincing others to vote your way)
Must be germane – relate to the subject
Members must not disturb by talking to each other.
Members can only debate 2 times on the same motion with 10 minute limit per debate.
No member can have a second turn until all others have been given the chance for a first.

8. Debating motions (Cont.)
Obtain the floor by rising and addressing the chair.
Address all debate through the chair.
The motion and not the person is the subject of debate. Personal remarks must be avoided.
You may not speak against your own motion; but you can vote against it.
The chair can debate but must relinquish the chair first.

9. Proper Debate Techniques
Have a:
Beginning statement
How do you feel about the motion?
Do you want it adopted?
Middle statement
Present sound logical evidenced to back up the beginning statement.
Ending statement
State how you want others to vote.

10. Good Public Speaking Practice good eye contact. Use good posture.
Use appropriate gestures.
Speak at a suitable volume.
Pronounce and enunciate correctly.
Use loudness to stress points.
Speak at an appropriate pace.
Exhibit poise

11. Methods of Voting (4) Two Types
Simple Majority – 1 more than ½ the members present
Voice Vote
Ballot
Acclamation
2/3rds Majority – If the motion infringes on rights of members
Must be a counted vote by hands or standing

12. Privileged Motions
Deal with special matters of importance to the business of the assembly.
Do not relate to the motion on the floor
Only privileged when another motion is on the floor otherwise they are treated like a main motion

13. Fix Time to Which to Adjourn
Sets the time for the continuation of the present meeting.
Does not adjourn the present meeting.
Time and place can be amended.
Does not need a quorum to vote on.

14. Adjourn Ends the current meeting
Qualified means there is a time attached to the motion.
Unqualified means that the meeting is adjourned immediately if passed.
If no motion is on the floor it is treated as a main motion.
Meeting may be adjourned by no further business.

15. Recess Provides a short break when business is pending.
In some cases it is used so members may discuss the motion among themselves.
Can be amended but only the amount of time.
Does not require a quorum
If no motion is on the floor it is treated as a main motion.

16. Question of Privilege
Permits urgent requests pertaining to the rights and privileges of the assembly.
Examples may relate to heating, ventilation, lighting, outside disturbances and etc.
Do not need to be recognized by the chair and may interrupt a speaker.
The chair makes a ruling there is no vote required. May be appealed.

17. Call for orders of the day
Forces the meeting to stay on the agenda.
Must be made as soon as a motion that is not on the agenda has been made but before the chair restates it.
May interrupt a speaking
The 2/3 vote is on whether to proceed with the agenda. If there is not 2/3 then the motion that is not on the agenda may proceed.

18. Subsidiary Motions
Aid the assembly in handling or disposing of a main motion

19. Lay on the Table Sets aside a motion for more urgent business.
The maker of the motion must state the purpose of the Lay on the Table before it is made. If not, the chair should ask for the purpose.
Cannot be qualified
The tabled motion be taken from the table before the end of the next regular meeting or it dies.

20. Previous Question
Closes debate and stops all other subsidiary motions except lay on the table.
Can be applied to the motions, fix time to which to adjourn, adjourn and recess. Even thought they have higher precedence.
Can be specified as to which motions or amendments it should apply to.
Requires a 2/3rd majority vote.

21. Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate
Lengthens or shortens debating time.
Can be applied to the present debatable motion, or the entire series of motions.
Requires a 2/3rd majority vote.
Debate is normally limited to 2 per motion for 10 minutes each.

22. Postpone Definitely Defers action on a motion until a definite time.
A motion cannot be postponed beyond the next regular meeting.
Debate must pertain only to why the motion should be postponed.
Must be qualified as to the specific meeting or time when the motion should be brought back.

23. Refer to a Committee Place business in the hands of a committee.
Special committee motion should include; minimum size, method of appointment, when to report, and what power the committee has.
Standing committee motion must include the committee name and when to report.
Debate must be confined to whether to commit or not

24. Amend Modifies the wording of a motion before action is taken.
Insert words, strike out words, or both.
Used to make the main motion complete. (Who, what, How, Where, Why.
Only 2 amendments may be applied to a motion at a time.

25. Postpone Indefinetly
Used to permanently postpone, or kill the motion, also used to put the motion to a trial vote.
The merits of the main motion may be debated while postpone indef. Is on the floor.
Can only be applied to the main motion.

26. Main Motion Used to introduce new business.
Can only be made when there is no other pending business on the floor.

27. Incidental Motions
Related to pending business and must be taken care of immediately.
Have no rank of precedence among themselves.

28. Appeal the decision of the Chair
Secures a ruling of the group and not the presiding officer.
Keep the chair from improperly controlling the group.
The chair can give reasons for their decision.
Cannot be used for a ruling on the result of a voice vote.

29. Division of the Question
Used to consider separately a motion that has distinct parts.
Must state exactly how the motion should be divided.

30. Division of the Assembly
Verifies the accuracy of a voice vote by making it a standing vote.
Recognition by the chair is not required.
Must be called immediately after the chair rules on a voice vote.
The chair can decide if the vote should be counted, w/o division being called.
After a division the results of the counted vote must be recorded in the minutes.

31. Object to the consideration of the Question
Avoids the consideration of a main motion.
Must be made before debate has begun or any subsidiary motion has been made.
May interrupt a speaker.
Recognition by the chair is not required.
2/3rd majority vote
You are voting on whether to consider the main motion or not.

32. Parliamentary Inquiry
To obtain information about Parliamentary Law. Ask a question
Questions must be directed to the chairman.
It is not necessary for the chair to state rules of motions because members can ask. (except limit or extend debate)
Can interrupt a speaker, no need to be recognized by the chair.

33. Point of Information
Used to ask a question of the chair or someone in the group.

34. Point of Order
Enforces the rules of Parliamentary Procedure and the rules of the group.
If there is an error in procedure or a violation of the rules.
Can interrupt a speaker, no need to be recognized by the chair.
Chair either says point well taken or point not well taken.

35. Suspend the Rules Set aside a special or parliamentary rule.
Can be made while no pending business is on the floor.
If made while a motion is on the floor it must relate to the motion.
Bylaws cannot be suspended
Used to;
change the order of business
Adopt a motion without debate
Allow a member to continue to speak after their time has expired.
Increase or decrease annual dues

36. Withdraw a Motion Withdraws a motion before it is voted on.
Maker of the motion can withdraw the motion with no vote if it has not been restated by the chair.
If it has been restated then the maker may withdraw the motion on a vote by acclamation.
If another member wants the motion withdrawn it must be by permission of the maker. Otherwise a second and a vote is required.

37. Reconsider Brings back a motion that has already been voted on.
Maker of the motion to reconsider must have been on the prevailing side.
Chair must ask if they were on the prevailing side.
A motion may only be reconsidered on the same day and same meeting in which it was voted on.
Debate can go into the merits of the motion being reconsidered.

38. Rescind Cancels a previous action or order.
There is no time limit of when a motion may be rescinded.
Usually written notice is given to the secretary before the meeting starts.
Used for out-of-date or inappropriate actions.

39. Take from the Table
Brings back a motion that has been laid on the table.
Can only be taken from the table after at least one item of business has been transacted.
All amendments and etc. are still attached
If the motion is not taken from the table before the end of the next regular meeting it is lost.