Parliamentary Procedure

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Parliamentary Procedure

• The Key to Meeting Success

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Parliamentary Procedure

• What is Parliamentary Procedure
• Why is an understanding of Parliamentary
  Procedure Important
• How did Parliamentary Procedure Originate

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Basic Definitions

• Quorum
• Minimum number of members required
• Bylaws
• Basic regulations and laws
• Standing Rules
• Administration rules (may not be formally
  recorded)

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Basic Definitions (Continued)

• Motion
• A formal proposal
• Presiding Officer
• Person conducting the meeting (Chairman)
• All debate, questions and conversations pass
  through the chairman

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Handling a Main Motion

• A member makes a motion
• The motion is seconded
• The motion is placed before the group
• The motion is debated
• The motion is put to the vote
• The result is announced

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Question

• Can two motions be placed before the group at the
  same time?

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Subsidiary Motions

• What is meant by pending question
• Order of Precedence
• What are subsidiary motions

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Seven Subsidiary Motions

• Postpone Indefinitely
• Amend
• Refer to a Committee
• Postpone to a Certain Time
• Limited or Extend Debate
• Previous Question
• Lay on the Table

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Seven Subsidiary Motions

• Postpone Indefinitely
• Must be seconded
• Can debate the spirit of the main question
• Can not be amended
• Majority vote required
• Can not reconsidered

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Seven Subsidiary Motions

• Postpone Indefinitely
• Amend
• Insert words or add words at the end
• To strike out words
• To strike out and insert words

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Insert words or add to the End

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer.
• I amend the motion by adding to the end for an
  amount not to exceed 100.00.
• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer for an amount not to exceed 1000.00.

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Insert words or add to the End

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer.
• I amend the motion by inserting the word Personal
  after the word a and before the word computer.
• I move that the social committee purchase a
  personal computer.

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To Strike Out Words

• I move that the social committee purchase an AST
  Advantage 9303 personal computer
• I amend the the motion by striking the words AST
  Advantage 9303.
• I move that the social committee purchase a
  personal computer

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Strike Out and Insert Words

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  typewriter.
• I amend the motion by striking the word
  typewriter and inserting in its place the words
  personal computer.
• I move that the social committee purchase a
  personal computer.

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Amending the Amendment

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer.
• I amend the motion by adding to the end for an
  amount not to exceed 100.00.
• I amend the amendment by striking the words
  100.00 and inserting in its place the words
  1000.00.

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Amending the AmendmentDefeated

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer.
• I amend the motion by adding to the end for an
  amount not to exceed 100.00.

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Amending the AmendmentCarried

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer.
• I amend the motion by adding to the end for an
  amount not to exceed 1000.00.

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Amending the AmendmentAmendment Carried

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer.
• I amend the motion by adding to the end for an
  amount not to exceed 1000.00.
• Motion as amended
• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer for an amount not to exceed 1000.00.

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Amending the Amendment

• I move that the social committee purchase a
  computer for an amount not to exceed 1000.00.

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Seven Subsidiary Motions

• Postpone Indefinitely
• Amend
• Refer to a Committee
• Postpone to a Certain Time
• Limited or Extend Debate
• Previous Question
• Lay on the Table

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Privileged Motions

• Call for Orders of the Day
• Question of Privilege
• Recess
• Adjourn
• Fix the Time to which to Adjourn

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Privileged Motions

• Call for Orders of the Day
• The mover does not required to be recognized
• May interrupt a member on the floor
• Second not required
• Not debatable
• Vote required
• Renewable after due process

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Privileged Motions

• Question of privilege
• May interrupt a speaker
• Mover need not be recognized
• Second not required
• Vote not required but, resulting motion will be
• Renewable after process

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Privileged Motions

• Recess
• Adjourn
• To fix the time to which adjourn

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Incidental Motions

• Point of Order
• Appeal
• Point of Information
• Suspension of the Rules
• Objection to consideration to a Question

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Point of Order

• May interrupt a Speaker
• Need not be recognized
• Second not required
• Not Debatable
• Vote not required (appeal)
• May not be renewed

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Appeal

• May interrupt a speaker
• Second required
• Debatable
• Majority vote required
• Not renewable

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Point of Information

• May interrupt a Speaker
• Need not be recognized
• Second not required
• Not Debatable
• Vote not required (appeal)
• May not be renewed

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To Suspend the Rules

• Mover needs to be recognized
• Requires a second
• Not Debatable
• Two third vote required
• Not Renewable

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Objection to Consideration

• May interrupt a speaker
• Mover need not be recognized
• Second not required
• Not debatable
• Vote Required (2/3 in the negative)
• Not Renewable

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Additional Motions

• Can an assembly change a motion once it has been
  carried?
• Can a motion be adopted when many members
  abstain?
• Can a member be required to vote on any motion?

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Special Problems

• Adopting Motions
• Plurality versus Majority
• Presiding Officer
• Requirements for voting
• Presiding Officers
• Introduction Motions
• What is an ex officio member

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For more information or to request a consultation
session on Roberts Rules contact Patrick Dunne at
pbdunne_at_nl.rogers.com