Parliamentary Procedure

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Parliamentary Procedure

• Simplified

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Reasons to Use Parliamentary Procedure

• To enable the Grange to transact business with
  speed efficiency.
• Protect the rights of each member.
• Ensure the rule of the majority.
• To preserve a spirit of harmony within the Grange.

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Basics

• All Grange action happens because of
• A motion
• A committee report
• A resolution

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How to Make a Motion

• Stand up
• Address the Presiding Officer (Worthy Master,
  Mr./Madam President)
• When recognized, say, I move that (use action
  words like do, work toward, promote, etc.)
• Sit down and wait

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Seconding a motion

• Seconding a motion means you want it discussed,
  not necessarily that you support it.
• A motion must be seconded or it dies (is dropped
  from the floor and not discussed.)
• Once it is seconded it is the property of the
  Grange.
• The Master restates the motion (to ensure that
  the intent is correct Sec. has it) and asks for
  discussion.

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Discussing a Motion

• The maker of the motion has the first right to
  discuss.
• Except for the maker of the motion (who gets to
  be first and also has a second opportunity) each
  member has the right to talk on the subject once.
• Each subsidiary motion (amendments, referrals,
  etc) are different subjects.

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Discussing a Motion

• Each member should stand.
• No discussion of personalities is permitted.
  (civility is required)
• No one should interrupt the speaker unless there
  is a rules violation.

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Discussing a Motion

• Discussion must be relevant to the motion. (The
  Chair will refocus debate that wanders from the
  topic, or as a last resort end the speakers
  comments)

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Changing motions

• Member stands and says, I move to amend by
• Substituting replace or change something in the
  motion
• Add add or insert something
• Strike remove something

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Changing Motions

• Now the amendment is the subject
• You can not amend the main motion again until you
  have dealt with the amendment
• You can amend the amendment, but that is the most
  you can have on the floor at any time

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Dealing with a motion

• Postpone indefinitely Kills the motion without
  a negative vote on the issue.
• Postpone definitely will bring it back at a
  specific time. (normally the next meeting)
• Refer to a Committee allows research or action.
  Maker of motion can designate how many members,
  what their power will be, and even who will serve
  on the committee. If unstated, normally 3
  appointed by the chair to report back

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Dealing with a motion

• Table In the Grange Only to be used to get off
  floor for more important business, then brought
  back. (Other groups can use it to kill the
  motion, but the chair may ask if that is their
  intent.)
• Vote on it

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Voting

• Voting can be forced by motion for the previous
  question (requires 2/3 vote to pass or end
  debate)
• Calling for the previous question is not a
  motion
• Majority of votes required to pass (50 1)
• Any member can call for a secret ballot
• Master declares result and moves on to next
  subject

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Division of the House

• Division is a count of the votes
• Any member can call for a division of the house
  (Must be called for before the next order of
  business) I call for a division of the house!
• A count is taken and recorded in the minutes
• Master declares result and moves on

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Gavel

• Tool for control
• Rap or raps for order
• Represents closure of topic
• After votes are announced.
• After rulings are made

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Point of Order

• Means a mistake has been made
• Can interrupt a speaker
• After rising to a Point of Order, you state what
  was wrong
• Master rules yes or no
• If no, you can appeal the decision of the chair
  and members vote/decide

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Committee Reports

• Reports that call for action are treated like
  motions
• (The committee report is before you with a
  favorable recommendation, will you discuss it?)
• Reports on facts or happenings do not need to be
  adopted
• Everything you do to a motion you can do to a
  report

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Resolutions

• When submitted by a committee are part or all of
  the committee report and are treated the same as
  the committee report
• When submitted by a member, they need a motion to
  adopt
• Everything you do to a motion you can do to a
  report

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Additional Resources

• Parliamentary Procedure Made Easier Available
  from the Oregon State Grange
• Roberts Rules of Order

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Parliamentary Procedure

• Simplified