The Power of Parliamentary Order

1. The Power of Parliamentary Order Presented by: Scott Alvarado Jeremy Suttles the University of Iowa

2. What is this again??? A Brief Overview. • Basics of Parliamentary Order • basic history • variation by version • basic terms • basic motions • Necessity of Parliamentary Order at Meetings • do you really need it??? • What about the learning curve??? • When can we dispense with all of this??? • Practice Round • differences inherent to organizations • learning by watching vs. by doing • practice, practice, practice • Open Forum for Questions and Discussion

3. Example of Application University of Iowa. • 6000 Residents. 50 person House meetings. 9 Hall Governments, of roughly 300 to 1000+ plus. 114 Floors and RA’s. 15 Necessary HC’s and AHC’s. RHA board of 8 people. A Department of 7 separate administrators, in 2 offices. 3 Separate University Departments at any one place in the dorm [ITS, Res Serv., FSG]. University Office of Student Life overseeing it all… it covers all 30,000 students. UISG [campus government]. About a billion student org’s and groups... • Smile! Its bureaucracy at its best!

5. BASIC TRAINING! THE BASICS OF PARLIAMENTARY ORDER • Basic History • Began as a necessary ‘evil’ of running a meeting of group of people. really before ‘Bob’ takes over and writes his form of rules in the late 1800s, nothing was formalized. • The other main places of use began in British parliament and later in the united states congress, again as civilized ways was holding meetings… remember, duels were frequent, and P.A. systems hadn't been invented yet. People needed an organized way to get things done • Variation By Version… • Multiple versions of ‘parliamentary order’ exist: [37 that I know of!] • Roberts Rules of Order • Oregon Rules • All are fairly uniform and similar, but have small discrepancies • Your organizations rules will probably supercede any listed books… more important to learn your rules, then where to go after that

6. BASIC TRAINING! [PART 2] The basic Idea… • Its used to facilitate a meeting and promote fairness and equity. • All members are treated as equals; majority rule with minority respect. • Quorum must be present to function. • Consider only one item at a time, all ways reserving the right to discuss and debate almost anything at any time. • Chair is to keep order in fairness and with respect to the group.

7. [MORE]BASIC TRAINING!!! Terms, words, jargon, funny sounding crap Chair - Person who is running the meeting in official capacity. Member - Person who is attending the meeting, voting or making a motion. Motion - An instruction or request being made. Vote - To make a final agreement on something, by all members opinions. Debate - Organized discussion for and against a proposed action. Bill/Resolution - Item of action to be considered for group approval. “Rules” - Bylaws or instructory codification of meeting procession. Germane - Relevance to the issue at hand. Quorum - Minimum number of members needed to conduct business.

8. [still more] BASIC TRAINING! Basic marching orders… • Motions. Making your move!1. A member must make the motion.2. The chamber [or member] must second the motion.3. The chair states, and handles the motion. • Motion Handling. Get a grip already!1. The Chair restates the motion.2. The Chair acts on the motion [some will be dispensed with, some will be acted on; the rest follow:]3. The Chamber debates the motion.4. The Chamber ends debate, and votes on motion.

9. [yet again…] BASIC TRAINING!!! • Next page contains the common table of motions… flip to it in the handout if you have it… or look up here! • Formal expression table is right after it… be sure to flip to it too… or look up here! • Note--- A lot of what Scott will say next is ultra boring… err informative… and is NOT included in the packet or on slides...

12. [back to this again?!?] BASIC TRAINING! Just think how much he would talk if this wasn’t time limited… • Debate1. No one speaks unless recognized by the Chair.2. Follow the established rules for debate; time length, germanity etc.3. Keep on topic! The chair must keep order over the debate.4. End debate either by rule, or by motion from chamber. • When Speaking: 1. Be loud and clear.2. No ad homonym attacks.3. Stand when speaking.4. Speak only to what is at issue.5. Be prepared to offer written statements.6. If cut off, or time expires; obey the rule of the Chair.

13. [end it already!] BASIC TRAINING! • Legislation. • Remember if there are rules about form and introduction [most likely there are!] to follow them. • When writing.. Get the S.H.I.T.S… 1. Significance - is the problem significant? 2. Harms - who/what is it affecting with achievement? 3. Inherency - why should your solution be followed? 4. Timeliness - is it current and necessary? 5. Solvency - is this solving the problem? • Be prepared to deal with full house debate and q/a sessions. -= EXAMPLE ON THE NEXT SLIDE =-

15. Final Thoughts on the Chair You can never be too prepared! Learn all the motions, no matter how obscure they seem. Have parliamentary numbers figured out before any motions made [1/2, 1/3, 2/3, 3/4 etc] Keep order, and keep on truckin’! Don’t attempt to do more than moderate the debate, and moderate all proceedings. Know when to relax protocol Always act with assertion, you have control over everything. Final Thoughts on Members Do your homework in advance. Know the motions and rules before the meeting starts. Have everything prepared before you need it. Be respectful of the rules and Chair, but do not hesitate to object if the rules and procedures are violated. Use Cagel’s 5 forms of knowledge! Be aware of others in the debate, make sure to debate points and clarify what needs to be clarified. Act professional; stand up, use correct terms, be clear, be courteous. [rambling on…] BASIC TRAINING!

16. The Necessity of Meetings... Oh lord… he’s on a side tangent… he warned us about this… Your goals of any meeting: • Meetings require planning. For those running and coming to it! • Don’t meet unless its necessary. Find another way to communicate if not. • Keep it moving. Minimize games, discussions, and disruptions. Keep all meeting members focused to the group meeting goal. • Understand Cagle’s 5 kinds of knowledge; and how they will be used or appear at your meetings: • subject matter • parliamentary order • rhetoric • problem solving • social-emotional dynamics • Keep control of the meeting and its proceedings. • Know when to end it already!

17. The Necessity at Meetings? [look for the exit doors now, this is getting to be more than you bargained for…] • Do you really need all this? • Balance the work to be done with the way its to be done • Ensure that the meeting can run with everyone being heard. • Ensure that everything is clear, that the meeting has focus. If so then, maybe not! • But when you do need it… • Understand you still need everything from above. • Know that this is the best solution, make it workable and flexible. • Keep order! Keep it clear! And Keep it moving!

18. The Learning Curve Gosh this hill is steep! • Patience. • Know it can take months to master, minutes to familiarize, and seconds to screw it up! • Work with the group! Learn it all together. Everyone can learn the same material at the same time in the same way. Answer questions in groups, so that everyone hears it. • Learning curve doesn’t exist… Break the barrier between those that profess they can’t do it and their learning. • #1 problem - misinterpretation of rules; expect that, combat it with proper learning in the first place.

19. Learning is by doing! You can do it! All night long!!! • Remember the differences in organizational rules, your groups supercedes what any book says! • Learning by doing vs. learning by watching: • Watching is excellent for basic knowledge and to get a good start… most members will get away with this. • Doing it involves reading the rules and books, you will have the best knowledge, but it takes time… only chairs and board members, plus that one smarty-pants kid in the back will do this. • Encourage everyone to learn, make information available; but expect them to do the bare minimum… important to set right examples every time • Practice. The key to it all is practice it.

20. ~Practice Time~[tables of motions and statements to follow for your reference]

24. Questions and Discussion Boo and throw rotten fruit at him now! Questions ? Comments ? Snide remarks ? Informal discussion.

25. LINKS AND MORE INFO.[what?!?! You actually want more?!?!] he hasn’t shut up yet?!?! The end is near… MANY MANY MORE LINKS AND INFO… but here is what will cover you 9/10 times Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised [2000 ed.] Cagle’s Parliamentary Procedure [website][http://www.csufresno.edu/comm/cagle-p3.htm] National Association of Parliamentarians Website http://www.parliamentarians.org/parlipro.htm

26. Scott R. Alvarado the University of Iowa 100 Quadrangle Building #2303 Iowa City, IA 52242-1123 scott-alvarado@uiowa.edu Jeremy Suttles University of Iowa 100 Hillcrest Hall #N250 Iowa City, IA 52242 jeremy-suttles@uiowa.edu Associated Residence Halls - [ARH] the University of Iowa 40 Burge Hall Iowa City, IA 52242-1213http://www.uiowa.edu/~arh tel. - 319-335-3173 Contact Information: