ATTENTION MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATIONS
How many times have you attended a meeting which promised to be "brief", and then has gone on and on and on for hours?
There is a solution. Know the rules of order in a meeting and use them!
In order for an organization to conduct business in a professional and efficient manner, rules and procedures should be adopted so that all members know the correct process. Roberts Rules of Order is the most commonly used "rule-book" for the conduct of business in organizations. This publication is designed to provide some basic information about parliamentary procedure to assist student leaders as they work within their organizations. For additional information about parliamentary procedure, obtain a copy of Roberts Rules of Order from the University Library System or the local bookstore.
When a member wishes to bring a matter before the house, he /she must first secure the floor. To do this, the following steps are necessary:
Having passed the first stage in the process of a motion, that of securing the floor, the member is now ready for the second stage, that of introducing the business. As in the first stage, there are three distinct steps to be taken:
Debate, or remarks on the motion, are not in order until after the chair has stated the motion and called for remarks. In the interval between the second and third stages, after the motion is stated and before it is put to vote, the motion may be debated.
There are several way of taking the vote. The most common one is viva voice, by the voice, or by acclamation. This is the form generally used when taking the vote on an ordinary main motion. The form is "All who are in favor of the motion will say aye," (meaning yes). In response, the members who are in favor of the motion should say "aye," clearly and distinctly, and loud enough to be heard. The chair will then put the negative in this manner: "All who are opposed will say No," and those opposed will say "No". After the negative vote has been taken, the chair announces the result by saying either, "The ayes have it, the motion is carried," or the no's have it, the motion is lost," and lightly touches the gavel to the table, which completes the transaction so far as that particular motion is concerned.
General Statement. When a motion has been made, seconded and stated by the chair, the assembly is not at liberty to consider any other business until the motion has been disposed of. If the motion is long and involved, the chairman asks the mover to hand it in writing to the secretary. The mover cannot withdraw his motion after it has been stated by the chair. In general, all important motions should be seconded, which may be done without rising or addressing the chair.
This motion is "to change, add, or omit words" in the original main motion, and is debatable; majority vote.
This is a motion to change, add, or omit words in the first amendment; debatable, majority vote.
Method. The first vote is on changing words of second amendment, the second (if first vote adopts change) on first amendment as changed; the third vote is on adopting main motion as changed.
When a motion becomes involved through amendments or when it is wise to investigate more carefully, it may be moved to commit the motion to a committee for further consideration. Debatable - Amendable
Committee must make report on such question.
The object of this motion is to postpone the subject under discussion in such a way that it can be taken up at some time in the near future when a motion "to take from the table" would be in order. These motions are not debatable or amendable; majority vote.
A motion to postpone the question before the assembly to some future time is in order, except when a speaker has the floor. Debatable: majority vote.
This motion is always in order except:
Under all of the above circumstances, the motion is not debatable. When a motion is made to adjourn to a definite place, and time, it is debatable.
The motion to reconsider a motion that was carried or lost is in order if made on the same day or the next calendar day, but must be made by one who voted with the prevailing side. Motion in question can be twice reconsidered. Debatable: majority rule.
Is to close debate on the pending question. This motion may be made when debate becomes long drawn out. It is not debatable. The form is "Mr. (Madam) Chairman, I move the previous question." The Chairman then asks, "Shall debate be closed and the question now put?" If this is adopted by a two-thirds vote, the question before the assembly is immediately voted upon.
This motion is always in order, but can be used only to present an objection to a ruling of the chair or some method of parliamentary procedure. The form is "Mr. (Madam) Chairman, I rise to a point of order." The Chairman: "Please state your point of order." After the member has stated his objection, the chair answers:
If the member is not satisfied, he/she may appeal from the decision of the chair. The Chairman then addresses the assembly. "Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?" This is debatable and the presiding officer may discuss it without leaving the chair. It is voted on like any other motion:
majority or tie vote sustains the decision or reverses the decision of the chair.
Request by member to have an item of some concern to himself as a member of the organization considered by those attending the meeting.
Request that is made when a member desires clarification of details. The member may interrupt a speaker and need not obtain the floor.
Privileged motion concerned with the welfare of the total meeting, such as the comfort of those in attendance, or the reputation or integrity of members, either present or absent.
When called for, indicates that a member is ready to vote on the question being considered in the form of a motion. It does not necessarily close discussion but often expedites the voting.
Motion to revoke a former action by the group. It may completely remove the motion that originated the action. It may or may not include that the former motion be "struck from the records."
A class of "orders of the day." They take precedence for consideration over all motions except another (previously made) special order, or motion for adjournment, or questions of privilege.
Serves to delay the consideration of a motion. Although this motion is intended to return the motion being tabled before the members later, it can be used as a delaying tactic to prevent or discourage any further action on the issue.
The removal from the table a motion that has been previously tabled. It may be at the same or a later meeting. This returns the motion for further consideration; not debatable or amendable, and can have no subsidiary motion applied. It takes precedence over any main motion.
Parlimentary Procedure at a Glance
To Do This... | You Say This... | May You Interrupt the Speaker? | Do You Need a Second? | Is it Debatable? | Can it be Amended? | What Vote is Needed? | Can it be Reconsidered? |
ADJOURN MEETING | "I move that we adjourn." | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
CALL AN INTERMISSION | "I move that we recess for..." | No | Yes | No | Yes | Majority | No |
COMPLAIN ABOUT NOISE, HEAT, ETC. | "I rise to a question of privilege..." | Yes | No | No | No | No vote | No (usually) |
TEMPORARILY SUSPEND CONSIDERATION OF AN ISSUE | "I move to table the motion." | No | Yes | No | No | Majority | No |
END DEBATE AND AMENDMENTS | "I move the previous question." | No | Yes | No | No | 2/3 | No *1 |
POSTPONE DISCUSSION FOR A CERTAIN TIME | "I move to postpone the discussion until..." | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
GIVE CLOSER STUDY OF SOMETHING | "I move to refer the matter to committee." | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes *2 |
AMEND A MOTION | "I move to amend the motion by..." | No | Yes | Yes *3 | Yes | Majority | Yes |
INTRODUCE BUSINESS | "I move that..." | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Majority | Yes |
The motions listed above are in order of precedence...In the table below, there is no order...
PROTEST BREACH OF RULES OR CONDUCT | "I rise to a point of order." | Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No Vote *4 |
No |
VOTE ON A RULING OF THE CHAIR | "I appeal from the chair's decision." | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Majority *5 |
Yes |
SUSPEND RULES TEMPORARILY | "I move to suspend the rules so that..." | No |
Yes |
No |
No |
2/3 |
No |
AVOID CONSIDERING AN IMPROPER MATTER | "I object to consideration of this motion." | Yes |
No |
No |
No |
2/3 *6 |
- *7 |
VERIFY A VOICE VOTE BY HAVING MEMBERS STAND | "I call for a division" or "Division!" | Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No Vote |
No |
REQUEST INFORMATION | "Point of information." | Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No Vote |
No |
TAKE UP A MATTER PREVIOUSLY TABLED | "I move to take from the table..." | No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Majority |
No |
RECONSIDER A HASTY ACTION | "I move to reconsider the vote on..." | Yes |
Yes |
- *8 |
No |
Majority |
No |
Notes: | |
*1 = Unless vote on question is not yet taken | *5 = A majority vote in negative needed to revert ruling of chair |
*2 = Unless the committee has already taken up the subject | *6 = A 2/3 vote in negative needed to prevent consideration of main motion. |
*3 = Only if the motion to be amended is debatable | *7 = Only if the main question or motion was not, in fact, considered |
*4 = Except in doubtful cases. | *8 = Only if motion to be reconsidered is debatable. |