Parliamentary Procedure

1
Parliamentary Procedure

• Definition
• Correct rules for conducting or running a
  successful meeting
• 3 goals of Parliamentary Procedure
• Make meeting run smoothly
• Assure everyone gets to voice their opinion
• Maintain Order
• Started
• 1562 in England
• Sir Thomas Smyth
• Official Rule Book
• Roberts Rules of Order
• Written by Henry M. Robert 1876
• 1st Revised in 1915
• Last revised in 1990

2

• Other Important Information
• Quorum
• Minimum number of members that must be present at
  a meeting for legal business to be transacted
• Usually 1/2 of members in a club plus 1
• Majority
• 1/2 of members present at any meeting plus 1
• minimum number of members that must vote for a
  motion for it to pass
• Presiding Officer referred to as
• Mr/Madam President
• Mr/Madam Chairperson
• Everyone gets the chance to voice their opinion
• Everyone gets the chance to Vote
• Must take yes and no votes
• Only one topic at a time can be discussed
• Who ever makes a motion has the right to discuss
  it first

3
Terminology

• Floor Point where the attention of the meeting
  should be focused
• Germaine Discussion or motion pertains to main
  motion being considered
• Precedence order of rank.

4
Use of the Gavel

• 1 tap Be seated
• Announce vote
• 2 Taps Call meeting to order
• 3 Taps All rise
• Series of sharp taps Restore order

5
Types of Votes

• Voice vote - aye or no.
• Rising vote - standing or show of hands.
• use with 2/3 votes.
• Secret ballot written vote, use with elections.
• Roll call - secretary calls vote by name, boards.

6
How do we get things done?

• Moving Main motions
• Using subsidiary motions
• Related to the pending motion.
• Using Privileged motions
• exercise of right
• Using incidental motions
• unrelated to the pending motion
• has first rank
• Using unclassified motions
• old business

7
Main Motions

• Used to introduce ideas to the group
• Must be stated in the form
• I Move that
• I Move to
• Can not be in negative form
• Only one main motion at a time
• Require a second
• Amendable
• Can Be Changed
• Debatable
• Can be talked about
• Majority Vote
• Can be voice

8
Main Motions Continued

• Main Motions that are not Legal
• Break any Local, State or National Laws
• Any motion that brings up a motion that has
  already been failed
• Items that are outside the power of the group
• Negative motions
• Political or religious Support
• The person who makes a motion can not talk
  against it
• Main motions can be reconsidered
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper Example Mr President, I move that the
  chapter participate in crops judging this year.

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Steps to handling a Main Motion

• Stand
• Ask to be recognized by President
• President recognizes you by name
• Motion is correctly stated
• Motion is seconded
• Motion is repeated by President
• Motion is discussed
• President restates motion
• Motion is voted on
• Results of vote announced by President

10
Postpone Indefinitely

• Purpose
• To kill a main motion
• Requires a second
• Not Amendable
• Debatable
• Majority Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Can be reconsidered only if passed
• Proper Example Mr President, I move to Postpone
  this motion indefinitely

11
Amendments

• Purpose
• Used to modify a main motion
• Must be germane
• Closely related to the original topic
• Can be amended in 4 ways
• Inserting in middle
• Adding to end
• Striking Out
• Striking out and inserting
• Requires a second
• Amendable
• Debatable
• Majority Vote

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Amendments continued

• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Can be reconsidered
• Improper amendments
• any thing not germane
• frivolous or absurd
• leave an incoherent wording
• Proper Example
• Motion on floor That the FFA Chapter buy a boat.
• Amendment Mr President, I move to amend the
  motion by inserting speed in front of boat. So
  the motion would read, I move that the FFA
  Chapter buy a speed boat.

13
Amendment to an Amendment

• Purpose
• To modify an amendment to make it more specific
• Requires a second
• Debatable
• Not amendable
• Majority vote
• Can not interrupt a speaker
• Proper Example
• Madam President, I move to ament the amendment by
  inserting Johnson in front of speed. So the
  final motion with if all amendments pass would
  read, I move that the FFA chapter buy a johnson
  speed boat.

14
Refer to Committee

• Purpose
• used to send a pending question to a small group
  so that the question may be carefully
  investigated
• Requires a Second
• Amendable
• Debatable
• Majority Vote
• 2 ways to appoint a committee
• Standing Committee
• one of the 15 listed in the Program of Activities
• Special Committee
• Appointed by the president
• Number of members can be 3 or more

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Refer to Committee Continued

• Can interrupt another speaker
• President must specify when the committee should
  report back to the chapter
• Usually next regular meeting
• Committee can be give full power to act
• Proper example
• Mr President, I move that we refer this motion to
  the Leadership Committee
• Mr President, I move we refer this motion to a
  committee of three appointed by the chair

16
Postpone Definitely

• Purpose
• allow for the motion on the floor to deferred to
  a different day, meeting, or until after a
  certain event
• Requires a second
• Amendable
• Debatable
• Majority Vote
• Can interrupt a speaker
• Proper example
• Madam President, I move to postpone this motion
  until the December Regular Meeting.

17
Limit or Extend Debate

• Purpose
• To limit or lengthen the time allowed for
  discussion on a motion when it is clear that
  there will be an excessive amount of discussion
  or when the amount of time for the meeting is
  limited.
• Requires a second
• Debatable
• Amendable
• amount of time or number of speakers only
• 2/3 Majority Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker

18
Limit / Extend Debate Continued

• Maker of the motion must specify
• the amount of time
• the number of speakers that can debate the motion
• Proper Example
• Madam President, I move that we limit debate on
  this motion to 3 discussions for the motion and 3
  discussions against the motion.
• Madam President, I move to limit debate to a
  maximum of 5 minutes.

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Previous Question

• Purpose
• To force an immediate Vote on the motion
• Requires a second
• Not amendable
• Not Debatable
• 2/3 Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper example
• Madam President, I move the previous question
• Mr President, I call for the previous question

20
To lay on the table

• Purpose
• To defer action on the motion until later in the
  meeting or until the next meeting
• Requires a second
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• Majority Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper example
• Mr. President, I move to lay this motion on the
  table

21
To take from the table

• Purpose
• To take a motion that is on the table off of the
  table.
• Requires a second
• not amendable
• Not debatable
• Majority vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper Example
• I move to take the motion that reads to buy a
  boat from the table.

22
Reconsider

• Purpose
• to reevaluate a decision that was made earlier
• Requires a second
• Not amendable
• Debatable
• Majority vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is
  handled just as if it was never voted on
• Only can be made by a person who voted on the
  winning side
• If passed the motion is handled immediately if
• only a main motion with amendments is on the
  floor.

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Reconsider Continued

• Handled after the current business if
• discussion on refer to committee, or postponement
  has started.
• Motions that can be reconsidered
• Main motions
• Amendments
• Refer to committee
• Postpone definitely
• Previous question
• Appeal the decision of the chair
• Only if failed
• withdraw
• Only if passed
• Postpone indefinitely
• Proper Example
• Mr President, I move to reconsider the motion to
  buy a boat.

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Rescind

• Purpose
• To REPEAL PREVIOUS ACTION
• Requires a Second
• Debatable
• Amendable
• 2/3 majority vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Taken from previous meeting
• Proper Example
• Madam President, I move that we rescind the
  motion to buy a boat.

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Suspend the Rules

• Purpose
• allows the chapter to break the rules of
  parliamentary procedure, or the current
  constitution for a short period of time.
• Requires a second
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• 2/3 vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper example
• Mr President, I move that we suspend the the
  standing chapter rule that states we must wear
  official dress during meetings.
• Mr. President, I move that we suspend the
  parliamentary rule governing debate rights so
  that we can debate more than 2 times per motion.

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Modify or Withdraw

• Purpose
• This motion allows for the maker of a motion to
  change a motion or completely take it off the
  floor for discussion.
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• If made before President first states the motion
  it is automatically withdrawn with no second or
  vote.
• If made after President first states the motion
  the following steps must be taken.

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Modify or Withdraw cont

• 1) President must ask if anyone objects to the
  maker withdrawing the motion
• if someone objects
• must be seconded, and passed with majority
  vote
• On no one objects
• the motion is automatically withdrawn
• Can not be made after discussion has begun
• Proper form
• Mr President, I would like to withdraw my motion.

28
Divide a Motion

• Purpose
• This motion allows a motion that has been made to
  be split into two different motions
• This can only be made on motions that have two
  main ideas that are not dependent on each other
• Requires a second
• Not debatable
• Amendable
• Majority vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker

29
Divide a Motion Cont

• Proper example
• Motion on the floor, I move to buy a boat and go
  to the zoo.
• Madam President, I move to divide this motion
  into two motions. The first stating the we buy a
  boat and the second that we go to the zoo.

30
Object to the Consideration

• Purpose
• Used when a member thinks that the activity or
  action of the group is not appropriate.
• Does not require a second
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• 2/3 vote
• Can interrupt another speaker
• Proper form
• Mr President, I object to the consideration of
  this question.
• President should say Objection to the
  consideration has been called. All those who
  wish to consider the motion raise your right
  hand. All those who object to the consideration
  of this question same sign.

31
Division of the house

• Purpose
• When called, this forces a immediate revote by
  hand
• Does not require a second
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• No vote needed
• Can interrupt another speaker
• Proper form
• Can be made by saying division loud enough for
  the entire group to hear
• Or by standing and saying I call for a division
  of the house

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Point of Order

• Purpose
• Used when a member thinks that the rules of the
  group or the rules of parliamentary procedure are
  being violated.
• Does not require a second
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• President decides on verdict
• Can interrupt another speaker
• Proper example
• Mr President, I rise to a point of order.
• President says, State your point
• After member states point, president says your
  point is well taken or Your point is not well
  taken

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Appeal

• Purpose
• To reverse the decision of the chairman, after
  they have made an error.
• Requires a second
• Not amendable
• Debatable (this is the only motion where
  President can discuss)
• Majority vote
• Can interrupt another speaker
• Most of the time you should support the decision
  of your president.
• Proper Example
• Mr President I appeal the decision of the chair.
• President should say Appeal the decision of the
  chair has been called, all those who wish to
  uphold the decision of the chair say Aye, all
  opposed same sign.

34
Orders of the Day

• Purpose
• This motion forces the group to return to the set
  agenda, without finishing the current business.
• Does not require a second
• Not Amendable
• Not Debatable
• 2/3 vote against to fail
• Can only be made on motions that are not on the
  set agenda for that meeting.
• Mr. President, I call for the orders of the day.
• President should say, Orders of the day has been
  called. All those who wish to return to the
  orders of the day, raise your hand. All those
  opposed to returning to the orders of the day,
  same sign.

35
Question of Privilege

• Purpose
• This allows for people in the group to ask for
  changes in the temperature, for ideas to
  clarified, for motions to be explained, for
  others to repeat their discussion or motions,
  and anything that may help the meeting run more
  smoothly.
• Does not need a second
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• No Vote, Presidents decision
• Can interrupt another speaker
• Proper Example
• Madam President, I Rise to a question of
  privilege.
• President says, State Your Question
• Then the member says whatever they have to and
  the president decides on whether it will be
  allowed or not.

36
Recess

• Purpose
• This allows for a short break in the meeting
• Needs a second
• Amendable
• Debatable
• Majority Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Must specify the length of time in the motion
• Proper example
• Mr President, I move to take a 5 minute recess.

37
Adjourn

• Purpose
• To end the Meeting
• Needs a second
• Not Amendable
• Not Debatable
• Majority Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper example
• Mr president, I move to adjourn.

38
Fix time to Reassemble

• Purpose
• To arrange time for next meeting
• Needs a Second
• Amendable
• Debatable
• Majority Vote
• Can interrupt a speaker
• Proper example
• Mr President, I move to adjourn until 7 pm on
  December 12th.