Parliamentary Procedure

1. Parliamentary Procedure Get ready to take some notes. 

2. Why do we have Parli Pro? • Without Parliamentary Procedure there would just be chaos everywhere you look. The Chamber of Commerce, legislature, congress, small business meetings, churches, schools, and just about everyone use parliamentary procedure. • Why should you know it? • When you are at church, or business, or somewhere one day you need to know when and how to speak to keep from getting laughed at. You have to be able to speak the language of a profession. What if a surgeon said, What we gone do is saw off da top ya head, root round in nere wid a stick and see if we can’t find that dad burn blood clot? • YOU CAN MAKE MONEY AND WIN A COMPETITION! • PROVE HOW SMART YOU ARE AT DEBATING! • HAVE SOME FUN! • HARD TEST ON FRIDAY!

3. 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

4. Terms • Quorum • 1/2 of members in a club plus 1 • Minimum number of members that must be present at a meeting for legal business to be transacted • 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 Chair • 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

5. Types of Motions • IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AND RANK • Privileged • Subsidiary • Main Motions • Incidental Motions • Unclassified

6. Privileged • Privileged • Fix Time which to adjourn • Adjourn • Recess • Question of Privilege • Call for the orders of the Day

7. Fixed Time to Adjourn • Sets time to end a meeting. • Second Required • Not debatable • Amendable • Majority vote required • Can be Reconsidered • Proper Example: • Mr President, I move to fix the time to adjourn at 7:00pm.

8. Adjourn • Immediately end a meeting. • Second Required • Not Debatable • Not Amendable • Majority Vote Required • Can’t be reconsidered • Proper Example: • Mr President, I move to adjourn.

9. Recess • Take a Break in the Meeting • Must state a length of time in the motion such as 10 minutes • Second Required • Not debatable • Amendable • Majority Vote required • Not to be reconsidered • Proper example • Mr President, I move to take a 5 minute recess.

10. Question of Privilege • 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. • No second required • Not debatable • Not amendable • Chair decides • Not reconsidered • 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.

11. 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 : 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.

12. Subsidiary Motions • Lay on the Table • Previous Question • Limit or extend debate time limits • Postpone definitely • Refer to committee • Amend • Postpone indefinitely

13. 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

14. 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

15. Limit or extend debate time limits • 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.

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. 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 • Proper example: • Mr President, I move that we refer this motion to the Leadership Committee

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. Incidental Motions • Appeal • Division of the Assembly • Division of a question • Object to consideration • Parliamentary Inquiry • Point of Order • Suspend the rules

25. 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 I, all opposed same sign.”

26. Division of the assembly • 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”

27. Division of a Motion • 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

28. Division of a Motion Continued • 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 tow motions. The first stating the we buy a boat and the second that we go to the zoo.

29. 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.

30. Parliamentary inquiry • Purpose: It is used to allow members to ask a question about parliamentary procedure. • Example: • Kristen: “Parliamentary inquiry” • President: “Kristen” • Kristen: “Does object of the consideration require a 2/3 vote?” • President: Yes it Does, Is there any new business that should be attended to at this time?

31. 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”

32. 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, Because of the lack of time tonight, I move to suspend the rules and skip directly to new business.

33. Unclassified Motions • Reconsider • Rescind • Take from the Table

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. Recind • Purpose • To REPEAL PREVIOUS ACTION • Requires a Second • Debatable • Amendable • 2/3 majority vote • Can not interrupt another speaker • Proper Example • Madam President, I move that we reconsider the vote to buy a boat.

37. 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.

38. Effective Debate • So many points come from how well the students debate an issue. This is the area where you guys get to challenge either others mental power and how some fun with parli pro.

39. Effective Debate • The purpose of debate is to persuade the assembly to vote in a certain way. • Beginning Statement • How do you feel about the motion? Do you want it to be adopted? How do you want people to vote? • Example: This motion is an asenine idea! • Middle Statement • Present Sound logical evidence to back up your beginning statement. • Effective debate should have complete thoughts, logical reasoning, and conviction of theory • Example: The FFA Simply can not afford this speed boat. We only have $500 in our account right now. Furthermore we need a new tablesaw that could benefit everyone in the Ag. Department. We also do not have anywhere to store the boat nor the funds to properly maintain a boat.

40. Effective Debate • Ending Statement • Reinforce your statement and how you want people to vote. • Example: So for these reasons I beg you to vote against the horrible motion.

41. The Competition • The teams competing in this event will be composed of a maximum of six members. • District AWARDS • First Place $250.00 Second Place 150.00 Third Place 75.00 Fourth Place 50.00 STATE AWARDS First Place $2,500.00 Second Place 100.00 Third Place 75.00 Fourth Place 50.00

42. Parts of Competition • Written Examination-25 questions 4 pts each 100 points • Presentation 750 Points • One Main Motion • Two subsidiary motions • Two incidental • One privileged motion • Oral Questions- Individual or General 100 pts. • Minutes of the Meeting-50 pts • The specific types of motions and the motion will be given to each student on an index card.

43. Sample Card: Main Motion: I move that our chapter sell citrus as a fundraiser. Required Motions: Lay on the Table Amend Suspend the Rules Appeal Reconsider

44. Competition • There will be one chair, and 5 members at the meeting. • Each student will have one minute only to review the card before the presentation must begin. STUDENTS CAN NOT COMMUNICATE DURING THIS MINUTE!

45. Starting the Presentation • The team demonstrating shall assume that a regular chapter meeting is in progress and new business is being handled on the agenda. • The Chair should tap the gavel once to signify the end of the previous item of business then start the presentation by saying, “Is there any new business that should be presented at this time?” A team member should then move the assigned main motion as written on the card. This main motion must be first.

46. Debate Rules • Debate • The top four debates per member will be tabulated in the presentation score. No more than two debates per member per motion will be tabulated, even the subsidiary motion to extend the limits of debate has been passed.

47. Time Limits • A team shall be allowed 10 minutes in which to demonstrate knowledge of parliamentary law. Thirty (30) seconds past 10 minutes will be allowed without penalty. A deduction of 2 points/second for every second over 10:30 will be assessed. Example: 10:35 =10 point deduction. A timekeeper will furnish the time used by each team at the close of the event.

48. Minutes • One student must keep notes during the meeting of what has happened in the presentation. This student will have thirty minutes after the presentation to prepare a detailed minutes to turn in with the notes he or she took.

49. Instructions on Minutes • 1. Use the example of proper minutes as illustrated in the Official FFA Secretary’s Book and/or outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. • 2. A dictionary will be permitted for writing the official minutes of the presentation. • 3. The minutes will begin by recording the first item of business presented. Opening ceremonies and other preliminary information will not be used. Example: “It was moved by John Smith to conduct a Food for America program during the month of April.”  • 4. The chair and the secretary may consult in preparing the official minutes of the presentation. A total of 30 minutes will be allowed to prepare the minutes. 5. A judge will read, review and grade the official minutes of the presentation after completion of each round of the event. The scores will be provided to the presentation judges for use in computing final scores.