Parliamentary Procedure Flashcards
What is the parliamentary authority?
The book of rules an organization/group designates to govern its meeting procedure.
Most popular parliamentary authority?
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (12th Edition)
What is parliamentary procedure?
Generalization of the traditions and customs used to deal with the items of an assembly
What is a deliberative assembly?
Assembly that decides on actions to be taken
Who wrote Robert’s Rules of Order?
Henry Martyn Robert (1837-1923)
Who presides over a meeting?
The presiding officer
Elected specifically for a single meeting or group of successive meetings: The CHAIR
Elected to serve a term of more than one year: The PRESIDENT
Both referred to the CHAIR while presiding
Who takes the minutes (written record of what is done)?
The secretary
What is a quorum?
The minimum number of minutes that MUST be present to conduct SUBSTANTIVE BUSINESS
What is usually considered the quorum for an assembly?
The majority of the members of an organization, but can be designated in the bylaws
Is business conducted without a quorum valid or invalid?
Invalid
An assembly without a quorum may set new meeting time and place.
When does a meeting begin?
When it is CALLED TO ORDER by the chair
- “The meeting will come to order”
- TWO GAVEL TAPS
What is the standard order of business?
- Reading and approval of the minutes
- Reports
- Unfinished Business
- New Business
Describe the processes of reading and approval of the minutes.
- Secretary reads the minutes
- Corrections can be made
- Disputes on something in the minutes can lead to debate
OR
- Secretary sends out draft minutes
- Do not need to be read, but still need to be approved by the assembly. Debate still may occur.
Describe the processes of reading the reports.
- Officers, boards, and committees read reports
- Information beneficial to the assembly is given
- Recommendations in reports are debated at the end of said report, new business is discussed later
Describe unfinished business.
Items are unfinished when they are still pending when the previous meeting is adjourned
This includes:
- Items in the PROCESS of being considered when the meeting was adjourned
- Items scheduled to come up at previous meetings but were NOT reached
Describe new business
New items that are brought up by making a motion.
Who provides the agenda, and when is it adopted?
The chair provides the agenda at the beginning of the meeting when it is adopted before the meeting begins/goes too far.
What does it mean to adjourn?
Close the meeting when no more business or if a majority vote is reached.
- ONE tap of the gavel
- Not debatable nor amendable (immediate vote)
What does it mean to recess?
Take a short break (time is set by the assembly or until the presiding officer decides)
Not a debatable motion, but amendable (meaning an amendment must be voted on immediately without discussion)
May leave the meeting hall
What does it mean to stand at ease?
A brief pause in the proceedings until the chair calls the meeting to order
- Stay in your seats
What is a motion?
Formal proposal by a member that begins the process of making a decision relating to the assembly
What is a MAIN motion?
Its introduction brings business before the assembly
Example of a main motion.
“I move that…” + the EXACT wording of your proposal
Ex. “ I move that the tennis league create a division open to high school students”
What is a “second”?
It is when at least one other member shows that they want a debate on a main motion/want it considered.
Call out “second” and remain seated.
What does it mean to “state the question”?
The chair says “It is moved and seconded that…” + EXACT wording of the motion
a) Make sure it is in order at that time
b) Make sure it is clearly phrased
When is a motion considered to be “pending”?
After the main motion has been stated by the chair
What is debate?
Discussion of the benefits of a motion, as well as whether it should be adopted (carried) or lost (rejected).
What are secondary motions?
Motions that either relate to or interrupt the consideration of a motion
What are abstentions?
When some members do not vote/refrain from voting
Does not affect the final result (pretend they don’t exist, but they still count for the quorum)
What is the most common type of voting?
Voice vote/viva voce/acclamation
“Those in favor of the motion, say aye”
“Those opposed say no”
How to say the motion is passed?
“The ayes have it and the motion is passed/adopted/carried”
How to say the motion is lost?
“The noes have it and the motion is lost/rejected”
What are the SPEECH LIMITS FOR DEBATE?
You make speak up to:
1) Twice (2) on any debatable motion on the same day
2) Up to ten minutes each time (20 minutes per motion)
How many gavel strikes after a business has been completed (motion has been passed/adopted)?
One gavel strike after the business has been completed
Who gets preference when getting recognized for debate?
a) The person who made the motion gets a one-time right of preference in speaking about it.
b) Chair recognizes the first person to rise after the previous speaker has sat down.
c) Chair gives priority to those who have not spoken over those who have.
d) Chair should alternate between those who are for the motion and those who are against it.
What does germane mean?
Applies to the subject/ has a bearing on whether the pending motion should be adopted
What motions are debatable?
Every main motion is debatable, a few secondary motions are not.
Limiting or extending the limits of debate.
- Changes the limits of debate previously mentioned (ten minutes and two times).
- Cannot be debated, but CAN be amended
- 2/3 vote required to change the limits of debate
- “I move that in the debate on the pending amendment, each member be given three speeches of fifteen minutes”
- “I move that at 7:30 p.m. debate be closed and the question on the motion be put.”
Closing debate immediately
- Prevents most secondary motions from being passed (amendments, commit, postpone to a certain time, etc.)
- In order at any time the debatable motion is pending
- Requires 2/3 vote, and then move from debate to vote on the motion
- “I move the PREVIOUS QUESTION”
Amendments
- CHANGE TO THE PROPOSAL IN SOME FORM
- The motion to amend should include EXACTLY where the change is to be made.
- “I move to amend by inserting the words ‘and Krishna’ after ‘I move to slap Naveen’” (I move to slap Naveen AND KRISHNA if we don’t win HOSA ILC)
- The motion to amend should include EXACTLY where the change is to be made.
- Majority vote
Amendments: Simple word changes
Inserting words (between two pieces of text)
- “I move to insert the words…”
Adding words (end of the motion)
- “I move to add the words…”
Strike out the words (Remove)
- “I move to strike out the words…”
Strike out and insert words (Replace)
- “I move to strike out the words… and insert the words…”
Amendments: Paragraphs
Insert or add a paragraph
Strike out a Paragraph
Substitute (the equivalent of strike our and insert)
- “I move out to substitute for the third paragraph the following:…”
Amendments: Amending amendments ._.
- Also known as SECONDARY AMENDMENTS
- Secondary amendments are the final amendments, meaning they cannot be amended
- Same process as the other amendments
Motion to Postpone to a Certain Time
- Put off taking a vote on a main motion
- May be amended (when?) and debated
- Majority vote required
- You CANNOT postpone a motion beyond:
a) Beyond the next regular meeting
b) Beyond the third month after the present moth
Ex: 14 February - May 31
Motion to commit/refer
- Turn the motion over to a committee for their insight, additional info, redrafting, and further study.
- Majority vote required
Commit/refer: Standing committees
- Committees with continued existence and function
- Ex: Executive committee, education committee, socials committee
- “I move that the motion be referred to the _____ committee.”
Commit/refer: Special committees
- Committees created for a specific task
- “I move to refer the motion to a committee of 12 people including myself, Mr. Das, and Mr. Vempati.”
How are committee members chosen?
a) Appointed by le president
b) Elected with the other officers in an election