B'nai B'rith Youth Org. - 6600 West Maple Road - W.

Bloomfield, MI 48322 (248) 432-5684

Basic Parliamentary Procedure

Often when someone mentions "Roberts Rules of Order" or "Parliamentary Procedure," one of
two things happens. Either a battle breaks out as to who can out "point of..." the other, or a
cry of "who needs that?" is heard. Parliamentary Procedure, when correctly and wisely used,
can make a meeting run smoothly and allow everybody to participate and make meetings
more fun. It is not designed to be a tool for a "stall" or add to confusion and frustration.
Knowing Parliamentary Procedure can make you a better leader.
PRINCIPLES
Parliamentary Procedure is the most common systematic plan for carrying out the business of
any group. It is based on:
1. Justice and courtesy to all
2. One thing at a time
3. The rule of the majority
4. The rights of the minority
5. The desires of individuals to be merged into the needs of the group
These principles should be used as a basis for democratic and effective operation in the best
interest of the group.
QUORUM
One half plus one of the nationally-registered membership of the chapter constitutes a quorum
for meetings at which business is transacted. (1/2 x membership + 1 member = quorum)
CONDUCTING BUSINESS
Decision-making in a chapter can take place only in Old Business, New Business, and, in
the case of elections, Special Business. Decision-making starts with the introduction of a
motion.
A MOTION
A motion is the means used to transact business in a meeting. It provides a basis for
discussion by the group. To introduce a motion, the member raises his/her hand and waits for
recognition from the Chair. When called on, he/she makes the proposal by stating "I move
that..." After the motion is made, any other member has the opportunity to "second the
motion." If there is no second (indicating approval from another group member), the motion
is dropped. If there is a second, the motion now belongs to the group and the Chair opens the
motion for discussion. A motion can only be withdrawn by the maker before it is seconded.
A motion must be specific, with regard to the following:
1. Intent
What kind of program it is
2. Date and Time
When it is to take place
3. Place
Where it is to be held
4. With whom
With whom will it take place
DISCUSSION
Discussion requires real leadership on the part of the Chair so that fair and courteous
opportunity is provided for all sides of a question to be heard. The first part of discussion is
questions on the intent of the motion. After questions are resolved, the Chair must make
sure that the discussion is pertinent to the motion at hand. If the possibility of too much
discussion arises, the Chair may limit discussion by setting, for example, a five-minute time
limit or three pros and three cons.
(continued)

DISCUSSION (CONTINUED)
The Chair must remain neutral in the discussion unless he/she chooses to hand down the
gavel. In that case, the next officer in line becomes the Chair of that discussion, and the
previous officer does not resume the Chair until after the vote on that motion has been taken.
It is during discussion that members have the opportunity to amend the motion.
AMENDMENTS
After a motion has been made and seconded, any other member may make an incidental
change to the motion by "moving to amend the motion" in one of the following ways:
1. Inserting or adding a word, phrase, or sentence
2. Deleting a word, phrase or sentence
3. Replacing a word, phrase or sentence
In this way a date, time, or location may be changed, but not the intent of the motion. The
amendment must be seconded to be considered. Then discussion follows in the same way
as on the main motion, but is limited to the amendment only. After discussion, the Chair
conducts the vote and announces whether the amendment was approved or defeated.
Discussion then continues on the main motion. If the amendment was approved, the
amended motion is then discussed. If not, the motion remains as originally made. You may
not amend an amendment!
MAKING THE DECISION: THE VOTE
When the discussion stops, the Chair moves into a vote on the motion. Voting is a way of
finding out the wishes of the majority (sometimes 2/3) on the question being discussed. The
Chair says, "All in favor say Aye; all opposed say No; all abstentions (those who can't
decide or who have no opinion) say Oink (or whatever)." If the Chair is unable to tell from the
voice vote whether there are more "Aye's" or "No's," he/she may call for a show of hands or
ask members to rise in place. This is called "a division of the house" and may also be
requested by any member who questions the voice vote. This basically asks for a physical
demonstration of each person's vote. If the majority demands, the vote may be taken by
written ballot. In the case of elections, a closed or written ballot is mandatory.
In BBYO, it is customary that in regard to votes on programming, the member vote "Aye" if
they plan to attend the function; "No" if they are unable to attend or don't think it is a good
idea; and abstain if they are unable to commit at that time or are not sure if they can attend.
The Chair should be sure to announce these choices prior to the vote.
CALLS
1. Call for order - When a member feels that the meeting is too rowdy or out of control,
he/she raises his/her hand, waits to be recognized, then "calls for order." The Chair then
announces that there has been a call for order and raps his gavel once. This may be
repeated until the members quiet down, or failing that, the Chair may rap the gavel three times
and require everyone to stand until order is restored.
2. Call for the vote - When a member feels that discussion on a motion has gone on long
enough, he/she raises his/her hand, waits to be recognized, then "calls for the vote." The
Chair then announces that there has been a call for the vote and asks if there is any objection
to calling for the vote. If none, the Chair then moves directly into the vote. If there are a few
objections, those people are recognized to speak, and then the Chair moves into the vote. If
many object, then the Chair must indicate that due to the demands of the group, discussion
will
continue. A similar procedure is when someone "moves the previous question." This requires
a second and a 2/3 vote, but it takes the decision out of the hands of the Chair.
(continued)

POINTS
1. Point of order - When a member feels that something is wrong with the order of the
meeting,
he/she raises his/her hand and calls out "point of order." This requires the Chair to
immediately ask him/her to "rise to your point," that is, state what he/she feels is wrong with
what's happening. Some examples are: The speaker is not speaking directly on the motion;
the motion was not seconded before discussion; voting cannot take place in officer or
chairman reports; part of the agenda was inadvertently skipped; the Chair cannot take a
position on an issue.
Just because a member rises to a point of order does not mean that he/she is automatically
right. The Chair rules on the matter, and if he/she disagrees, he/she may "appeal the
decision of the Chair" to a chapter vote.
2. Point of Personal Privilege - When the room is too warm or too cold, when a member
cannot hear the speaker, or when other problems occur due to the conditions of the meeting, a
member raises his/her hand and calls out "point of personal privilege." This requires the Chair
to immediately ask him or her to "rise to your point," which he/she then does. It is not a
means of gaining the floor for discussion.
3. Points of Clarification or Information - There are no such things! Clarification is
handled during questions on the intent of the motion, and information is handled in the context
of the discussion.
DISPOSING OF A MOTION
1. To suspend further consideration of an issue a member raises his/her hand, waits to be
recognized by the Chair, and states, "I move to table the motion." This requires a second,
is neither debatable nor amendable, and passes on a majority vote. To reintroduce a matter
previously tabled, a member raises his/her hand, waits to be recognized by the chair, and
states, "I move to take from the table the motion that..." This requires a second, is neither
debatable nor amendable, and passes on a majority vote.
2. To postpone discussion until a certain time a member raises his/her hand, waits to be
recognized by the Chair, and states, "I move to postpone the discussion until..." This
requires a second, is debatable and amendable, and passes on a majority vote. It is then the
obligation of the chair to see that the issue reappears on the agenda at that time.
3. To recommend that an issue receive further study a member raises his/her hand, waits
to be recognized by the Chair, and states, "I move to refer the matter to committee." This
requires a second, is debatable and amendable, and passes on a majority vote. It reappears
on the agenda after the committee has had the opportunity to give it further consideration.
RECONSIDERING AN ACTION
After a motion is passed, any member of the group who feels that the motion should be
reconsidered raises his hand and calls out "motion to reconsider." This requires the Chair to
immediately recognize the motion and seek a second. After a second the motion is debatable
only if the original motion was debatable. It is not amendable and passes on a majority vote.