Robert’s Rules of Order

1. Robert’s Rules of Order

2. Purpose of Parliamentary Procedure • Protects the rights of people to join together to accomplish common goals and enable them to debate and take action in a fair manner with the least amount of controversy

3. Parliamentary rules Protect: • The rights of the majority to decide • The rights of the minority to be heard • The rights of individual members • The rights of absentees

4. Basic Rules of Parliamentary Procedure • The rights of the organization supersede the rights of the individual members • All members are equal and their rights are equal. Those rights are: • To attend meetings • To make motions and speak in debate • To nominate, To vote, and To hold office

5. Basic Rules of Parliamentary ProcedureContinued • A quorum must be present to do business • Majority Rules • Silence means consent • One question at a time and one speaker at a time • Debatable motions must have full debate • Once a question is decided buy it • Personal remarks are always out of order

6. What officers need to know Running a Meeting Effectively

7. Duties of the Presiding Officer • Maintain order • Enforce the rules so the work gets done • Be on time - start on time • Stick to the agenda • Know the rules and bylaws • Control the floor • Recognize the member who wishes to speak by name • Request remarks be held until the floor has been assigned to him or her • Private discussions between members while another has the floor is out of order and disruptive

8. Duties of the Presiding Officer (Continued) • Focus - keep discussion relative • Be impartial - both sides gets an opportunity to speak • Presiding officer does not vote unless there is a private ballot • Restate motions before voting

9. Duties of the Secretary • Keep the minutes of an organization • Report minutes from previous meetings • Sign the minutes and date • Write minutes promptly and send copy to head of organization

10. Minutes Should include • Adopted or defeated motions • Name of the maker of a motion • Name of second of a motion • Names and office of those reporting • Names of those elected or appointed • Number of votes on each side of a ballot • Time meeting begins and time of adjournment

11. Roll of the Treasurer • Responsible for the funds of the organization • Reports the standing of funds to the group

12. Motion - “I Move” • Motion is the way to introduce business to a meeting • Debate on a motion should continue as long as the members choose unless it is redundant, personal or argumentative

13. How a motion is made and acted upon • A member requests the floor • The floor is assigned • The motion is made • The motion must be seconded • Debate is held • Chair puts the motion to a vote • Chair announces the result of the vote

14. Voting • Majority vote is more than half of the votes • Voting can be done by voice (all in favor) • Show of hands • Ballot • The Chair does not break ties, and should be impartial and not vote except by ballot

15. Vocabulary • Will be Assigned Next Week !!