Practicing Parliamentary Procedure

1. Practicing Parliamentary Procedure How can I survive a formal meeting?

2. What is Parliamentary Procedure? • Set of rules and guidelines that allow the following: • Fair debate • Majority rules • Minority is heard • Handling one item at a time • Maintains order • A code of ethics to follow as business is conducted.

3. Main Motion • To present an item of business for consideration and action by the chapter. • Requires: • Second • Is debatable • Is amendable • Majority vote

4. Steps in Presenting a Motion • Rise and address the president-”Mr./Mdm. President…” • Recognition by the president-(Name or office) • Presenting the motion-“Mr/Mdm. President, I move that…” • Seconding the motion-”Mr./Mdm. President, I second the motion” • Statement of the question- “It has been moved and seconded that…”

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

6. Debating a motion • Raise concerns about the motion. • Persuade others to vote one way or another. • Provide information about motion. • Can be done at any time while the motion is on the floor.

7. Voting on a Motion • Can be done by the following means: • Voice • Rising (show of hands) • Ballot • Roll call • General consent

8. Types of Votes • Majority: one more than half the votes cast. (50% + 1) • Plurality: the most votes received, for example a candidate, but not always a majority. • Two-thirds: two-thirds of the members

9. Other Facts • Putting the Question refers to taking the vote- “Those supporting the motion that…say aye. Those opposed say no.” • Tie vote-motion is lost if requires majority vote. • The president may leave the chair to debate a motion.

10. Amend • Purpose: Modify the motion that is under consideration. • 2nd required • Debatable usually • 1st rank is amendable • Majority vote • 2nd rank amendment max-2nd rank must apply to 1st rank.

11. Ways to Amend • Striking out words • Adding or inserting words • Striking out and inserting words

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

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

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

15. Subsidiary Motions • Motions that alter, change or dispose of main motions.

16. Subsidiary Motions • Include the following: • Lay on the Table • Call for Previous Question • Postpone Definitely • Refer to a Committee • Amend • Postpone Indefinitely

17. Lay on the Table • Delays motion briefly, until taken from table. • Requires: • Second • Non-debatable • Non-amendable • Majority vote

18. Call for Previous Question • Ends debate immediately. • Requires: • Second • Non-debatable • Non-amendable • Two-thirds vote

19. Refer to a Committee • Assign main motion to a committee. • Requires: • Second • Debatable • Amendable • Majority vote

20. Refer to a Committee • Two types of committees: • Standing. • Ad Hoc, or special committee appointed by the chair.

21. Refer to a Committee • Reasons for referring to a committee: • Gather more information • Act on a motion

22. Amend • Changes or alters a main motion by: • Striking out • Inserting • Striking out and inserting • Adding

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

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

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

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

32. Unclassified Motions • Motions that do not fit other parliamentary categories • Motions usually pertain to actions already taken at previous meetings.

33. Unclassified Motions • Include the Following: • Reconsider • Rescind • Take from the Table

34. Correct ill-advised or erroneous action. Member who moves to reconsider must have been on prevailing side of motion being reconsidered. Requires: Second Debatable NON-Amendable Majority Vote Reconsider

35. Rescind • Revoke or nullify previous action. • Requires: • Second • Debatable • Amendable • Two-thirds Vote

36. Take from the Table • Resume consideration of tabled motion. • Requires: • Second • Non-debatable • Non-amendable • Majority Vote