Parliamentary Procedure

National Association of Parliamentarians

Parlipro Online ~ Promoting the study and teaching of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised

US House of Representatives Committee on Rules

Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site

Parliamentary Points ~ Available through Department or National Emblem Sales

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (10th Edition) Available through National Emblem Sales or a local book store

Basic Parliamentary Procedure ~ from National ALA
 
Principles of Parliamentary Law
are based on:
  • Justice for all (equal rights)
  • Courtesy to all (as in life)
  • One thing at a time (keep order)
  • Rule of the majority
  • Rights of the minority

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1. an expert in the rules and usages of a deliberative assembly
2. usually quiet and neutral
3. should be completely familiar with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, Parliamentary Law, and the Constitution and Bylaws of the organization
4. appointed by presiding officer
5. expresses opinions to the Chair (who may follow or disregard the advice)
 
Forms of Voting Resources
Procedures for Handling a Main Motion For Your Information
Processes of Amending Voting
Wording a Motion  
Types of Motions Definitions Procedures

Motions that bring a Question again before the Assembly

Take from the Table Requires a second
Requires a majority vote

Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted ** * Requires a second
Debatable
Can be amended

Discharge a Committee ** * Requires a second
Debatable
Can be amended

Reconsider * Requires a second
Debatable
* Requires a majority vote
Incidental Incidental motions are related to the parliamentary situation in such a way that it must be decided before business can proceed.

Appeal In order when another has floor
Requires a second
Debatable
* Requires a majority vote
* May be reconsidered

Close Nominations or Polls Requires a second
Can be amended
Requires a 2/3 vote

Consideration by Paragraph
or Seriatim		 Requires a second
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote

Create a Blank

Requires a second
* Requires a majority vote

Division of a Question Requires a second
* Can be amended
Requires a majority vote

Assembly * In order when another has floor 

Objection to the Consideration
of a Question		 * Requires a 2/3 vote

Parliamentary Inquiry In order when another has floor
No vote taken
Chair responds

Point of Information In order when another has floor
No vote taken
Chair responds

Point of Order * In order when another has floor 

Reopen Nominations or Polls * Requires a second
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote

Request for Permission to
Withdraw a Motion		 * Requires a majority vote

Suspend the Rules Requires a second
*Requires a 2/3 vote
Privileged Privileged motions deal with special matters of immediate importance.  They do not relate to pending business.

Fix the Time for Adjournment Requires a second
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote
May be reconsidered

Adjourn Requires a second
Requires a majority vote

Recess Requires a second
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote

Raise a Question of Privilege In order when another has floor 
Usually no vote is taken
The chair decides

Call for the Orders of the Day In order when another has floor 
Usually no vote is taken
The chair decides
Subsidiary Subsidiary motions are those applied to other motions for the purpose of appropriately disposing of them.

Lay on table - a temporary delay, but will die at end of next meeting if not addressed Requires a second
Requires a majority vote

Previous Question (Close debate) Requires a second
Requires a 2/3 vote
May be reconsidered

Limit or Extend (Limit Debate) Requires a second
Can be amended
Requires a 2/3 vote
May be reconsidered

Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely) Requires a second
Debatable
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote
May be reconsidered

Comment or Refer Requires a second
Debatable
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote
May be reconsidered

Amend Requires a second
* Debatable
*Can be amended
Requires a majority vote
May be reconsidered

Postpone Indefinitely Requires a second
Debatable
Requires a majority vote *May be reconsidered
Main Main motions bring new propositions before the assembly.  Main motions are debatable, subject to amendment, and can have subsidiary motions applied to them. Requires a second
Debatable
Can be amended
Requires a majority vote
May be reconsidered
* See Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised for more details
** An incidental main motion which usually requires a majority vote with previous notice or a 2/3 vote without previous notice
 

Forms of Voting


A voice vote is the most commonly used form of voting.

A rising vote is the normal method of voting on motions requiring a two-thirds vote for adoption.  It is also used to verify a voice vote or a vote by show of hands.  The chair can order a rising vote or a single member can call for a division of the assembly.

A show of hands is an alternative for a voice vote, sometimes used in small boards, committees, or very small assemblies if no member objects.

A count can be ordered by the chair or by a majority vote of the assembly.

General consent is a vote of silent agreement without a single objection.

A ballot or roll call vote can be ordered by a majority.

Rulings of the chair can be appealed.


Procedure for Handling a Main Motion

1. Obtaining and assigning the floor
  a.  Member rises and address chair

b.  Chair recognizes member
2. How the motion is brought before the assembly

a.  Member makes motion

b.  Another member seconds motion

c.  Chair states motion
3. Consideration of the motion

a.  Members debate motion

b.  Chair puts question and members vote

c.  Chair announces result of vote



Processes of Amending

1. To insert or to add (a word, consecutive words, or a paragraph)
2. To strike out (a word, consecutive words, or a paragraph)
3. To strike out and insert (which applies to words) or to substitute (which is not applied to anything less than a complete paragraph of one or more sentences)



Resources

Parliamentary Points - Available through Department or National Emblem Sales

Robert's Rules of Order , Newly Revised (10th Edition)
Available through National Emblem Sales or a local book store



Did You Know . . .

If the chair calls the meeting to order, but there is not a quorum present, the chair can close the meeting and it will count as a meeting.

"Are you ready for the question" means either be quiet or debate?  The chair can say, "Is there any question?"  No answer should be given.

"Stand at ease," is a new statement that means members may stand and chat while preparations are made for a program, etc.  Members may not leave the area.  1 rap of the gavel brings the meeting back to order.

The president does not have to yield the chair to make a report.  It is a custom in the ALA.


Voting

Plurality Most votes regardless of majority
Majority The number greater than half the votes cast
Two-Thirds To determine a 2/3 vote quickly, double the negative votes cast, and if it is equal to or less than the affirmative votes cast, a 2/3 vote has been cast
Abstention Means going along with the will of the majority

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