Practicing Parliamentary Procedure

Practicing Parliamentary Procedure How can I survive a formal meeting?

Have you ever experienced… • Meetings that seem endless because the business could have been completed hours ago? • Confusion as to what exactly is being discussed and voted on? • Irritation because one person or a small group of people dominate a meeting? • The feeling that you never get your voice heard in group discussion? • Anger about decisions made that do not reflect the feelings of the majority of the group?

Let’s put a stop to the Frustration ! • How? Use parliamentary Procedure • What is Parliamentary Procedure? • Why use Parliamentary Procedure? • The Importance of an Agenda • The Role of the Members • Basic Parliamentary Procedure Skills

What is Parliamentary Procedure? • Set of rules and guidelines that allow the following: • Majority rules • Minority is heard • Handling one item at a time • Maintains order

Why use Parliamentary Procedure? • Focus on one item at a time - no more than one issue will be discussed • Extend courtesy to everyone - all members have an opportunity to participate • Observe the rule of the majority - no group decision is granted without majority • Ensure the rights of the minority - all members have equal access to decision-making

The Importance of an Agenda • An agenda is a formal listing of the business that is to be conducted at a meeting • The agenda must be approved by the membership at the start of the meeting in order to follow it • Whenever possible, an agenda should be presented to membership well in advance of the meeting for membership review • REMEMBER – a well-planned agenda is critical to a well run, organized meeting

Sample Agenda • Each individual organization needs to adopt an order of business to be used at every meeting – if it has not, the official order is as follows: 1. Reading and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting 2. Reports of standing committees and officers 3. Reports of any special committees 4. Special orders (guest speakers, etc.) 5. Unfinished business 6. New Business 7. Adjournment

FFA Meeting Sample Agenda: 1. Opening Ceremonies 2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting 3. Officer Reports (Treasurer, Reporter, etc.) 4. Vice-President Report on Chapter Program of Activities 5. Special Features (guest speakers, videos, team- building activities, etc.) 6. Unfinished Business 7. Committee Reports 8. New Business 9. Ceremonies 10. Closing Ceremonies 11. Entertainment, Recreation, Refreshments

The Role of Members • Follow the leadership of the chair • It is the the responsibility of the membership of any organization to establish and maintain effective meeting structure • Every member has the right and responsibility to participate in meetings and the process of parliamentary procedure (voting, debating) • Members must educate themselves regarding the Constitution and By-Laws of the group • REMEMBER – Strong group discussion and interaction leads to strong decisions made by the group

Duties of the Chair • To use Parliamentary Procedure • To follow the agenda • To follow the order of business for a meeting • Dispose of motions • Recognize persons wishing to gain the floor • Maintain order • State or restate motions • Inform the group of the requirements of a motion • Count votes • State outcome of a vote • Call for old or new business

Getting Down to Business… • Parliamentary Procedure and the rules that govern the conducting of business is based on motions • The key to Parliamentary Procedure is learning and using these motions during meetings **Refer to handout entitled “Summary of Motions” • Do not be intimidated by the list of motions – anyone can learn to use these motions; the strongest organizations educate their members on the use of these tools • REMEMBER – Using Parliamentary Procedure correctly takes practice and effort!!

History of Parliamentary Procedure • Better known as “Robert’s Rules of Order.” • Written by Henry M. Robert in 1876. • First revised in 1915. • Last revised in 1990.

How do we get things done? • Through Motions • Types or classifications of motions • Main Motions • Privileged Motions • Incidental Motions • Subsidiary Motions • Unclassified (Bring Back)

Classification of Motions • Main Motion (1) – used to bring up a new subject or idea to the group • Privileged Motions (5) – do not relate to a pending question, however are of such great importance that they take precedence of all other questions (motions) • Incidental Motions (8) – arise from another question that is pending and must be decided before the question out of which they arise (are made as the result of another motion) • Subsidiary Motions (7) – applied to other motions for the purpose of appropriately disposing of them • Unclassified (3) – have a definite purpose but are not classified as any other

Terminology • The floor: point where attention of meeting should be focused. • Germane: discussion or motion pertains to main motion being considered. • Quorum: amount of members present required to conduct a meeting.

Other considerations • The taps of the gavel (symbol of leadership, represents chair’s authority). • 1 tap: be seated, announce vote. • 2 taps: call to order • 3 taps: all rise • Series of taps: restore order

Other Considerations • The two-thirds vote: • Motions that require a two-thirds vote are those that limit or eliminate the members’ rights in some way.

** Main Motions ** • Means of introducing business to a meeting. • Requires: • Second • Is debatable • Is amendable • Majority vote

Anatomy of a Main Motion • Always starts with “I move…” • May be prefaced

Seconding a motion • Seconding ensures the following: • Get on record as supporting motion. • Puts the motion to a vote.

Debating a motion • Raise concerns about the motion. • Persuade others to vote one way or another. • Provide information about motion.

Amending a Motion • Allows for changes to a main motion to appease both sides or improve the motion. • Ways to amend…. • Striking out • Inserting • Striking out and inserting • Adding

Amend • No more than two amendments can be considered at one time. • Requires: • Second • Debatable • Amendable • Majority Vote

Main Motion Main Motion – used to bring items of business to the group; can not be used if any other motion is on the floor **The only acceptable way to start a motion is to say… “I move…” *recognition required “M/M President, I move that we take a trip to City Hall to learn about our city’s government.” *second required, debatable and amendable, majority vote (the main motion is the lowest ranking of all motions)

Putting it All Together… A common “agenda item” might look like this… President: “Is there any new business…The chair recognizes John.” John: “M/M President, I move that we use Parliamentary Law according to Robert’s Rules of Order at all of our meetings.” Sue: “I second that motion.” President: “Is there any discussion?” (blah, blah, blah) President: “Seeing no further discussion, we will now proceed to vote. All those in favor say “Aye”; all opposed same sign. Motion passes.”

Voting on a Motion • Can be done by the following means: • Voice • Visual—Show of hands or standing • Ballot • Roll call • Mechanical device • General (Unanimous) Consent

Other Considerations • Types of votes: • Simple majority: one more than half the votes cast. • 2/3 majority • Plurality: the most votes received, but not always a simple majority.

** Privileged Motions ** • Motions that fulfill individual needs or the interest of the group individually. • Motions do not pertain directly to the business being discussed.

Privileged Motions • Include the following: • Fix Time to Which to Adjourn • Adjourn • Recess • Raise a Question of Privilege • Call for Orders of the Day

Fix Time to Which to Adjourn • Set date and time to adjourn meeting • Requires: • Second • NON-Debatable • Amendable • Majority Vote

Adjourn • Privileged motion that ends current meeting immediately. • Requires: • Second • Non-debatable • Non-amendable • Majority vote

Recess • Temporary break in a meeting. • Requires: • Second • Non-debatable • Amendable to time only • Majority vote

Raise a question of Privilege • Secures comfort/convenience for members. • Requires: • Nothing. Question posed by member is decided upon by the chair.

Call for Orders of the Day • Demand compliance with agenda, or seek information on order or agenda. • Requires: • Nothing. Addressed by chair when posed by member.

Privileged Motions 1. Adjourn – allows the meeting to be officially over *gain recognition from chair “Mr./Madame President, I move to adjourn the meeting.” *second required, not debatable, not amendable, majority vote 2. Question of Privilege – may be a group or personal request from the chair *no recognition needed “M/M President, I rise to a group question of privilege – it is difficult to hear you would you please speak up?” *no second, not debatable or amendable, no vote

Privileged Motions (cont.) 3. Fix a Time To Which to Adjourn – allows for a continuance of the current meeting when it is obvious the meeting will not end in the allowable time frame “M/M President, seeing we will be unable to finish today’s business in the time available, I move that when we adjourn we stand adjourned until 3:00 pm tomorrow.” 4. Recess – a short break or intermission in the proceedings which does not close the meeting *gain recognition from chair “M/M President, I move that we take a five minute recess to gather our thoughts on this matter.” *second required, not debatable, is amendable as to time only, majority vote

Privileged Motions (cont.) • 5. Call for the Orders of the Day – used when the group deviates from the agenda and you would like to follow the agenda *no recognition needed, not debatable or amendable “M/M President, I call for the orders of the day.” President then asks the secretary to read the orders (agenda) President then asks members if there are objections to following the orders of the day If there are objections, a vote must be taken and need 2/3 vote of the membership to not follow the orders of the day

** Incidental Motions ** • Motions that: • Correct ill-advised actions • Correct improper use of parliamentary procedure.

Include the following: Object to the Consideration of Question Appeal from the Decision of the Chair Rise to a Point of Order Withdraw a Motion Suspend the Rules Call for Division of the House Rise to Parliamentary Inquiry Incidental Motions

Object to the Consideration of Question • Stops offensive or inappropriate measures. • Requires: • NO Second • Non-Debatable • Non-Amendable • Two-thirds Vote

Appeal from the Decision of the Chair • Allows members to overrule chair • Requires: • Second • Debatable only if motion being overruled was debatable • NON-Amendable • Majority Vote

Rise to a Point of Order • Have parliamentary errors corrected. • Requires: • Nothing. Error presented by member is decided by the chair.

Rise to Parliamentary Inquiry • Check on parliamentary questions, or ask how to carry out a parliamentary ability. • Requires: • Nothing. Question presented by member is address by the chair.

Call for a Division of the House • Requires countable vote, if voice vote was announced incorrectly by chair. • Can only be called for after vote has been announced. • Requires: • Nothing. Addressed by chair upon being called.

Withdraw a Motion • Retracts motion proposed. Can only be moved by member or proposed motion being withdrawn. • Requires: • Nothing. If chair asks for objections and there is none, withdraw stands. If there is an objection, a majority vote is needed for passage.

Suspend the Rules • Make exceptions to by-laws of organization’s constitution. • Requires: • Second • Non-Debatable • Non-Amendable • Two-thirds Vote

Incidental Motions 6. Point of Order – made when a member of the assembly makes a parliamentary error *no recognition needed “M/M President, I rise to a point of order.” President asks member to state his/her point Member states parliamentary error and chairperson agrees or disagrees *no second, not debatable or amendable, no vote 7. Appeal – used when member feels that the chairperson has made a decision not in agreement with the group *no recognition needed Chairman says the group was volunteered to clean all of main street “M/M President, I appeal the decision of the chair.” *requires second, is debatable but not amendable, majority vote

Incidental Motions (cont.) 8. Suspend the Rules – used to deviate from the agenda or allow for special circumstances *need recognition “M/M President, I move to suspend the rules so that our guest speaker may speak at this time.” *requires a second, is not debatable or amendable, 2/3 vote 9. Division of the House – used when a member disagrees with the vote result stated by the chair *no recognition needed “I call for the Division of the House!” President then calls for a revote – any other than voice and states result *no second, not debatable or amendable, no vote

Incidental Motions (cont.) 10. Parliamentary Inquiry – used when there is a question about parliamentary law *no recognition needed “I raise a parliamentary inquiry.” President then asks member to state his/her inquiry “Is this motion debatable?” President responds *no second, not amendable or debatable, no vote 11. Withdraw – used when a member wishes to withdraw his/her motion Member may say “I withdraw my motion” before President restates it and it is dropped. If the President restates the motion, requires a majority vote by the members to withdraw it. *no second, not debatable or amendable, no vote

Incidental Motions (cont.) 12. Division of the Question - used when a member feels the motion is really two motions in one *recognition required Example: “M/M President, I move that our group have a bake sale for a fundraiser and we go out for pizza after our meeting.” “M/M President, this motion is really two motions in one. Therefore, I move to divide the question into two parts; the first stating that we have a bake sale and the second stating that we go out for pizza after our meeting.” *second required, not debatable but is amendable as to how the question is divided, majority vote

Practicing Parliamentary Procedure