1. Parliamentary Procedure
Making meetings more effective

2. Workshop Objectives
State the purposes of following parliamentary procedure.
Recognize the five basic principles of parliamentary procedure.
Identify steps involved with presenting a motion.
Recognize various methods of voting.
Differentiate the types of motions.

3. Purposes of Parliamentary Procedure
To give every member a chance to be heard.
To allow everyone to participate.
To establish and maintain order in a meeting.
To prevent confusion when discussing meeting’s agenda.
To keep meeting moving.

4. Principles of Parliamentary Procedure
Discuss one subject at a time.
Allow full and free discussion of each idea presented.
Treat all members with justice and courtesy.
Carry out the rule of the majority, and respect the rights of the minority.
Bring together the wishes of all group members to form a cooperating, united organization.

5. Who is this Robert Anyway?
Official Rule Book is Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Written by U.S. Army general Henry Martyn Robert.
Who is this Robert Anyway?

6. Parliamentary Procedure Terms
What is a quorum?
½ of the members in a chapter plus 1.
Minimum number of members that must be present at a meeting for legal business to be transacted.
What is a majority?
½ of members present at any meeting plus 1.
Minimum number of members that must vote for a motion for it to pass.
Parliamentary Procedure Terms

7. Parliamentary Procedure Basics
Presiding Officer referred to as:
Mr./Madam President
Mr./Madam Chairperson
Everyone gets a chance to voice their opinion or debate.
Everyone gets the chance to vote
Must be a yes or no vote.
Parliamentary Procedure Basics

8. Parliamentary Procedure Basics
There are four methods of voting.
Voice
Standing
Roll Call
Secret Ballot
Can the chairman (president) vote?
YES, in order to force a tie or to break one if they are a member of the group.
When secret ballot is used.

9. Parliamentary Procedure Basics
Only one topic at a time can be discussed.
The person who makes a motion has the right to discuss it first.

10. Parliamentary Procedure Basics
The Gavel
A symbol of power and authority.
Used by the presiding officer to give instructions to the members.
The number of taps have a specific meaning.

11. Taps of the Gavel One Tap Two Taps Three Taps Series of Taps
Follows the announcement of adjournment.
Completion of a business item.
Members to be seated.
Two Taps
Call the meeting to order.
Three Taps
All members to stand.
Series of Taps
Restores order to a meeting.

12. Order the Business A meeting should have a set agenda.
Purpose is of the Order of Business (Agenda) is to keep the meeting moving forward.
The agenda forms the framework for the development of a good business meeting

13. Steps to the Order the Business
Call to Order by the President & the opening ceremony by the ULYP officers.
Minutes of previous meeting read by the Secretary and approved by the body in accordance to organizational by-laws and parliamentary procedure.
Treasurer reports on the financial standing of the chapter.

14. Steps to the Order the Business
Report on Chapter program of Activities (by officers and committee chairmen).
Unfinished (Old or Continuing) Business (Business leftover from the previous meeting)
New Business (Presented by members in the form of motions)
Adjournment & Closing Ceremony
Steps to the Order the Business

15. How does one conduct the meeting as it is laid out in the order of business (Agenda)?
Order of Business (Agenda) handled by using various motions and rules governing them which are part of parliamentary law.
Order of Business

16. Types of Motions Main Motions Privileged Motions Incidental Motions
Subsidiary Motions
Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Group

17. A motion is a formal way to bring an idea, proposal, or plan of action before a group.
A motion is part of an orderly way to conduct business using parliamentary procedure.
A motion calls for discussion and action by the group.
Motion

18. Discussing a Motion
A member who wants the organization to do something makes a motion by addressing the presiding officer.
The member must be called on by the presiding officer.
The member makes a motion by saying, “I move…
The motion is then seconded by another member.
The presiding officer restates the motion and asks for discussion.

19. Discussing a Motion Discussion is held on the motion.
The presiding officer repeats the motion and says, “Are you ready for the question? All in favor say Aye; all opposed say No.”
A vote is taken to ask who is in favor of and who is opposed to the motion.
The presiding officer announces the result and declares, “The motion is passed.”-OR- “The motion is lost.”
Discussing a Motion

20. Main
Motions

21. Main Motions
A main motion introduces a new item of business, the matter to be considered by the group.
It can be ruled out of order if it conflicts with the organization’s by-laws, constitution, standing rules or any resolution already agreed upon.
Only one main motion can be considered at a time.

22. Main Motions CHARACTERISTICS Lowest-ranking motions
Cannot be made when another motion is being considered
Yield to subsidiary, incidental, and privileged motions
Cannot be applied to any other motion, but other motions can be applied to it

23. Main Motions CHARACTERISTICS
Can be amended in five different ways, debated, divided, laid on the table, objected to, postponed, reconsidered, referred to committee, renewed (if rejected), rescinded (after approval), seconded, terminated, voted on, withdrawn
Require majority vote
A vote on a main motion is not valid when it supersedes the rights of members, in which case a two-thirds vote is needed

24. Main Motions CLASSIFICATION OF MAIN MOTIONS Resolutions
Original main motions
Incidental main motions

25. Main Motions RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions are a type of main motion. Resolutions and main motions differ only in their format.
All resolutions are main motions, but not all main motions are resolutions.
Resolutions usually state a policy, principle, feeling, or sentiment. They tend to have explanatory preamble that usually begins with the word whereas, which serves a bridge to introduce the explanation for the resolution.

26. Main Motions ORIGINAL MAIN MOTIONS
An original main motion presents a new topic for debate or discussion. I move that our cooperative invest in the Cooperative Bank of Misamis Oriental.

27. Main Motions INCIDENTAL MAIN MOTIONS
An incidental main motion is tied into events before the assembly.
Unlike a main motion or a resolution, it does not initiate business.
Like a main motion or a resolution, an incidental main motion can only be proposed when there is no other motion on the floor.

28. Main Motions TYPES OF INCIDENTAL MAIN MOTIONS Adjourn
Adopt a matter previously considered
Adopt a report (accept, agree to)
Adopt by-laws
Adopt constitution
Adopt agenda
Adopt standing or special rules
Amend agenda
Amend rules

29. Main Motions TYPES OF INCIDENTAL MAIN MOTIONS
Annul or rescind or repeal
Approve the minutes
Confirm or ratify
Discharge a committee
Extend debate
Nominations
Order of the Day
Question of Privilege
Recess
Voting

30. Main Motions Main Motions that are not legal:
Break any local, state, or national law.
One that brings up a previously failed motion.
Items that are out of the power of the group.
Negative motions.
Political & religious support.

31. Main Motions The person who makes a motion cannot speak against it.
Main motions can be reconsidered.
Cannot interrupt another speaker.
Proper Example:
Mr. President, I move that the chapter hold a cookout for all ULYP members.

32. Making Another Motion
Before another motion can be made, a motion that is seconded must either be:
Voted on
Withdrawn
Amended
Tabled

33. Withdrawing a Motion
Both the person who made the motion and the person who seconded the motion must agree that it be withdrawn.

34. Privileged
Motions

35. Privileged Motions
A privileged motion deals with a special matter of pressing importance and does not relate to the business on the floor.
Privileged motions are the highest ranking motions, taking precedence over all other motions.
They can interrupt any business on the floor, without requiring debate or discussion.

36. Types of Privileged Motions
DESCRIPTION
Adjourn
Ending the meeting
Call for the Orders of the Day
Requiring the agenda be followed
Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn
Setting the time for the next meeting
Question of Privilege
Allowing members to make urgent requests about the rights of the assembly and its members
Recess
Taking a short break in a meeting

37. Incidental
Motions

38. Incidental Motions An incidental motion comes from another motion.
It is always directly related to the business on the floor.

39. Incidental Motions CHARACTERISTICS
Incidental motions take precedence over main motions and subsidiary motions but yield to privileged motions.
They must be decided before the meeting can continue.
They must be decided before other motions.
They cannot be amended.
They cannot be debated, except for the motion to Appeal.

40. TYPES OF INCIDENTAL MOTIONS
DESCRIPTION
Appeal
Challenging the Chair’s ruling
Consideration by Paragraph
Separating a long document or motion into different parts and voting on each part separately
Division of the Assembly
Calling for retaking a vote
Division of a Question
Separating the main motion into different parts to vote on each part differently

41. TYPES OF INCIDENTAL MOTIONS
DESCRIPTION
Objection to the Consideration of a Question
Avoiding motions that are off the topic or disruptive
Point of Order
Compelling the Chair to adhere to the rules of the assembly
Request (Parliamentary Inquiry, Point of Information, Reading Papers)
Making inquiries about the business at a meeting and asking permission for meeting-related activities
Suspend the Rules
Temporarily setting aside the organization’s rules

42. Subsidiary Motions

43. Subsidiary Motions
A subsidiary motion is linked to a main motion to aid in its disposition.
Subsidiary motions can be made while a main motion is still being considered.

44. Subsidiary Motions CHARACTERISTICS
A subsidiary motion can never stand alone. It is always applied to another motion.
It always changes the status of the motion to which it is applied by modifying it in some way.
It must be decided before the assembly can act on the main motion.
Subsidiary Motions

45. TYPES OF SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS
DESCRIPTION
Amend
Tailoring a motion to be more specific and acceptable
Commit to Refer
Sending a motion to a committee for further study
Lay on the Table
Setting aside a main motion to deal with more urgent business
Limit or Extend Debate
Decreasing or increasing the time to debate an issue

46. TYPES OF SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS
DESCRIPTION
Postpone to a Certain Time
Moving consideration of the motion to a later time
Postpone Indefinitely
Removing the motion from consideration during the current meeting or session
Previous Question
Closing debate and forcing an immediate vote on the motion

47. Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly

48. Reconsider Purpose: Requires a second Not amendable Debatable
To reevaluate a decision made earlier.
Requires a second
Not amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Cannot interrupt another speaker
If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is handled as if it were never voted on.
Can only be made by a person who voted on the winning side.

49. Reconsider If passed, the motion is handled immediately if:
Only a main motion with amendments is on the floor.
Handled after the current business if:
Discussion on refer to committee or postponement has been started.
Reconsider

50. Reconsider Motions that can be reconsidered: Main Motions Amendments
Refer to Committee
Postpone Definitely
Previous Question
Extend/Limit Debate
Appeal
Fix Time to Adjourn

51. Reconsider Motions that can be reconsidered if they passed:
Postpone Indefinitely
Motions that can be reconsidered if they failed:
Object to Consideration of Question
Rescind
Proper Example:
Mr. President, I move to reconsider the motion to have a cookout on March 1st for all ULYP members.

52. Rescind Purpose: Requires a second Amendable Debatable
To repeal a previous action.
Requires a second
Amendable
Debatable
2/3 Majority Vote without prior warning
Cannot interrupt another speaker
Proper Example:
Mr. President, I move to rescind the motion adopted at the January meeting have a cookout on March 1st for all ULYP members.

53. Take from the Table Purpose: Requires as second. Not amendable
To take a motion that is on the table off of the table.
Requires as second.
Not amendable
Not debatable
Majority Vote
Cannot interrupt another speaker
Proper Example:
Mr. President, I move to take the motion that the chapter have a cookout for the members off the table.

54. Miscellaneous Info

55. Voice Vote
Show of Hands
Rising to Vote
Ballot Vote
Methods of Voting

56. The chair asks those in favor to say, “Aye” or “Yes
The chair asks those in favor to say, “Aye” or “Yes.” Those who are opposed are asked to say, “Nay” or “No.”
Voice Vote

57. Show of Hands This method is recommended for small groups.
The Chair asks members who are in favor to raise their right hands. After the count is taken, those who are opposed are then asked to raise their right hands.
Show of Hands

58. This method should be used to verify a voice vote and on motions requiring 2/3 majority vote.
Chair asks those in favor of the motion to rise. After counting, these members are asked to sit. The chair then asks those opposed to rise.
Rising to Vote

59. Ballot Vote This method involves writing a vote on a slip of paper.
This is a good way to vote for officers, or to vote upon controversial motions.
The chair should appoint individuals to distribute, collect, and tally the ballots.
Ballot Vote

60. Chair’s Vote The Chair only votes: In the event of a tie
To make a vote a tie
When secret ballot is used
When he is part of the assembly
Chair’s Vote

61. Order of Business Call to order (two taps of the gavel)
Pledge of Allegiance (three taps of the gavel to stand, one to sit)
Roll Call
Reading and Approval of minutes
Reports
Unfinished Business
New Business
Announcements
Adjournment (one tap)
Order of Business

62. There can only be one MAIN MOTION on the floor at one time.
A member CANNOT TALK against his own motion, but he CAN VOTE against it.
A vote that is tied fails.
Only qualified members are allowed to vote.
Miscellaneous Info

63. Miscellaneous Info The Chair may ask for a standing vote when:
A 2/3’s vote is needed (suspend the rules, close nominations, previous question, rescind a motion)
Someone has called for a division.
Miscellaneous Info

64. Q&A

65. Thank You!
Presenter: CARLOS J. CLANTON Mobile Phone: Fax: Web: