The Essentials of

Parliamentary Procedure

by
fgs gujilde
 Parliamentary law and procedure
Origin. It refers originally to the customs and
rules of conducting business in the English
Parliament and secondarily to the customs and
rules of American legislative bodies.
Definition. It is the manner or method of
conducting business in a deliberative
assembly.
Purpose. It ensures orderly discussion where
well-thought decisions may be reached. It
enables free men to articulate their thoughts,
reconcile their conflicts, determine the will of
the majority, and take unified action for
themselves and the organization.
 Frequently used terms.
 Chair – the presiding officer or the position
from which that person presides.
Floor – the position of persons other than the
presiding officer or the right to have the
attention of the group.
Meeting – an official gathering of members in
one area transacting business for a period
during which there is no interruption longer
than a recess.
Member – a person with the right to full
participation including the right to vote.
Motion – a formal proposal by a member in a
meeting that the assembly take certain action.
Pending – being processed by the Chair.
Precedence – priority of rank applied to
motions.
Question – a synonym for motion.
Table – the desk and, by extension, the care
of the Secretary.
Session – denotes a simple meeting or series
of meetings which may last from, and to, any
length of time.
August – having a formal and impressive
quality, marked by majestic dignity or
grandeur.
 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Members have equal rights and
obligations
The majority rules
The minority must be protected
Singularity of subject matter
Full and free debate must be allowed
Group interest must prevail
Every motion must be voted upon
The Presiding Officer must be impartial
  Fundamentals of Debate
Definition. It refers to a discussion on any
subject to elucidate the truth or influence
action.
Basic rules.
Relevancy and decorum are two important
cardinal rules.
Relevancy means that all discussion must be
related to the question at issue.
Decorum means courtesy in speech and
propriety of action.
All remarks of the speaker should be
addressed to the Chair.
  Motion
It is a proposal of a member of a
deliberative body calling for a specific
action to be taken and a decision to be
made on a particular issue before that
body or any of its committees.
Characteristics.
Specific in its content.
Simple and easy to understand.
Well-structured.
Contains only one subject matter.
Personal to the movant.
  Motion, classification.
Privileged.
Those entitled to highest precedence.
Subsidiary.
Main.
The formal presentation of any substantive
proposition to the sanggunian for its
consideration and decision.
General main motion.
Covers a wide range of subject.
Specific main motion.
Covers limited range of subject.
Incidental.
Those that have no individual or
collective ranking and no order of
precedence.
They arise only incidentally out of a
pending question.
Privileged motions,
enumerated.
Fix the time at which to
adjourn
Adjourn
Take recess
Raise a question of privilege
Call for the order of the day
Motion to fix the time at which to adjourn.
Member: “I move that we adjourn until the next
regular session.”
Purpose. It provides a future time and place for
the continuation of the session in progress or for
an adjourned session.
Limitation. The time fixed should not extend
beyond the next regular session.
It is not privileged per se, it becomes so only when
made while another question is still pending or
when the sanggunian had not made any provision
for the succeeding session.
Otherwise, it is treated only as a main motion.
  Motion to Adjourn
It formally terminates a session in progress.
Kinds.
Unqualified – where no condition is attached.
Member: “I move that we adjourn.”
It requires a full debate to decide the time and
place of the next session before it becomes
privileged.
Qualified – where condition is attached, in which
case, it is treated as a main motion.
“I move that we adjourn at 5 o’clock.”
Limitation. It cannot interrupt voting.
  Motion for Recess
It provides intermission in the proceedings.
Privileged form – “I move that we take a 20-
minute recess.”
It takes effect immediately unless a definite
time is specified.
Underprivileged form – “I move that we take a
recess at 1030am.”
It needs no second.
Undebatable.
Limitation. It cannot be made while someone
has the floor.
  Motion to Raise Question of Privilege
Purpose. It enables a member to secure
immediate action upon a question involving
comfort, convenience, rights or privileges of the
organization.
Kinds – to make a request or motion.
To make a request.
Member: “I rise on a question of privilege.”
Chair: “State your question of privilege.”
Member: “I request that the speaker speak
louder.”
Chair: “The request is granted.”
To make a motion.
Member: “I rise on a question of privilege.”
Chair: “State your question of privilege.”
Member: “I move that those who do not
wear IDs be barred from the hall for the
reamining time of the meeting.”
Urgency.
It may be raised while another business is
pending and may even interrupt a speaker.
 Motion to Call for the Order of the Day
Purpose. It calls the attention of the
sanggunian that the matter under discussion
does not conform with the Order of Business
for the session day.
Member: “Mr. Chair, I call for the order of
the day.”
Subsidiary motions, enumerated.
Lay on the Table
Call for the Previous Question
Modify the Limits of Debate
Postpone Definitely
Commit or refer to a committee
Amend (unadopted questions)
Postpone Indefinitely
 Motion to Lay on the Table
Purpose. It sets aside a pending question for
consideration at an undetermined time later
to enable the sanggunian to attend to more
urgent business.
Member: “I move to lay the question on the
table.”
Limitation. Only questions that are actually
pending may be laid on the table.
Cannot be made while a member has the
floor.
Non-debatable. Not subject to amendment.
 Motion to Call for the Previous Question
It closes a debate on a pending question and
to put it immediately to a vote.
Member: “I call for the previous question on
the motion to increase the registration fee.”
Limitation. Generally requires 2/3 vote.
Motion to Modify Limits of Debate
It limits discussion on a pending question.
Member: “I move to limit the time of each
speaker on the pending question to 10
minutes.”
 Motion to Postpone Definitely
It defers consideration of a question to a
definite time in the future.
Member: “I move to postpone consideration
of the question until the next session.”
 Motion to Commit or Refer
It secures a careful and thorough
investigation of a question before it without
loss of time or of its right to finally decide the
same.
Member: “I move to refer the question
before the body to the Committee on Laws
with an instruction that it submits report of
its findings and recommendations at the next
session.”
  Motion to amend
It modifies a question in order to make it more
satisfactory to the body.
Degrees of amendment.
1st degree – amendment to a main motion
2nd degree – amendment to an amendment
Amendments, how voted upon.
In reverse order.
If amendment of second degree is lost, vote
upon the first degree.
If amendment of second degree is carried, it
replaces the amendment of the first degree.
 Motion to Postpone Indefinitely
It suppresses or rejects a question without
allowing it to be voted upon on its merits.
Member: “I move that the motion before the
body be postponed indefinitely.”
Effect. Approval of this motion is virtually a
negative vote on the main question.
Remedy against. Propose it again like it was
the first time at a future session.
Main motions, enumerated.
General Main Motion
Specific Main Motion
Taken from the Table
Reconsider on the Minutes
Rescind or Repeal
Expunge
Adopt a Committee Report or a Resolution
Amend (adopted questions)
Adjourn (if qualified)
  Main motion
Definition. It is the formal presentation of any
substantive proposition to the sanggunian for
its consideration and decision.
Classes.
General main motion – covers a wide range of
subjects without a specific name
Specific main motion – with specific names
because of their long and common usage
Specific main motions, enumerated.
Motion to take from the table – it revives
consideration of a question previously laid down
Motion to reconsider – It sets aside the vote
previously taken on a question to reopen it to
a new discussion and vote.
It may be proposed only at the same session
where the question sought to be considered
has been decided.
Motion to Rescind or Repeal – it nullifies in
part or in full, a question previously passed,
regardless of the time that lapsed since its
adoption.
This is debatable and not subject to
amendment.
Motion to expunge
Purpose. It strikes or blots out certain
statements or questions made during the
session which are deemed objectionable.
Motion to adopt a committee report
 It accepts a report as an official act of the
constituted body.
Incidental motions, enumerated.
Suspend the Rules
Withdraw or modify motion
Point of Order
Parliamentary Inquiry
Appeal the Decision of the Chair
Divide the House
Divide the Question
Motion to Suspend the Rules, purpose.
It frees the constituted body from
technicalities so that it may be able to act with
dispatch on an urgent question without
violating its internal rules.
Motion to Withdraw or Modify, purpose.
It allows the proponent to change mind.
Motion to Raise a Point of Order, purpose.
It calls attention to an error in the observance
or enforcement of the rules of parliamentary
procedure or internal rules of procedure.
Motion to Raise a Point of Order, urgency.
It must be raised immediately after the
supposed error has been committed.
It may interrupt speaker or the taking of a
vote.
Member: “Mr. Chair, point of order!”
Chair: “State your point of order.”
Member: “My point of order is that the
amendment is not relevant to the question.”
Chair: “Your point of order is well taken. The
amendment is not relevant to the question.”
Motion to Raise a Parliamentary Inquiry.
It clarifies or informs a question pertaining to
a parliamentary procedure or the internal
rules of procedure.
It may be raised anytime, even if someone
has the floor.
Member: “Mr. Chair, I rise to a parliamentary
inquiry.”
Chair: “State your inquiry.”
Member: “What vote is necessary to pass the
question?”
Motion to Raise a Point of Information,
purpose.
It seeks information on any matter related to
the pending business or to the sanggunian and
its activities.
It interrupts the pending business until the
Chair either answers or states he will answer
later.
Member: “I rise on a point of information.”
Motion to Appeal from the Decision of the
Chair, purpose.
It asks the sanggunian to decide whether the
decision of the Chair be upheld or overruled.
Chair: “The amendment is out of order.”
Member: “I appeal the decision of the Chair.”
Chair: “The question before the body is on
the decision of the Chair ruling that the
proposed amendment is out of order.”
An appeal need not be seconded and cannot
be subject to amendment.
Appeal from the Decision of the Chair,
urgency.
It must be immediately made after the Chair
decides.
If sanggunian decides, it is final.
Motion to Divide the House, purpose.
It verifies the vote taken on a question or to
secure a more accurate count of vote.
Divide the House, urgency.
It must be made immediately after the results
of the vote have been announced.
• Motion to Divide the Question, purpose.
• It divides long and complicated propositions
into separate and distinct parts to facilitate
considerations.
• It needs no second and is not debatable.
• Member A: “In connection with the Clean and
Green Program of this town, I move that the
municipal officials and employees undertake
the cleaning of the park and planting of shade
trees along Greenbelt Avenue, including the
holding of civil program to raise community
awareness.”
• Member B: “Mr. Chair, I move to divide the
question as follows: A motion for the cleaning
of the park, another motion for the planting of
shade trees, and final motion to cover civic
program.”
• Chair: “It is moved that the original motion be
divided into three as suggested by Member B.
Any objection?”
• Members: (silent)
• Chair: “I hear none. The proposed division of
the question is in order. Member A, please
restate your motion as divided.”
 Precedence of Motion
Definition.
It means that any motion of a rank
higher than the one under
consideration is in order, and
conversely, any motion of a rank
lower than the one immediately
pending would be out of order.
Precedence of Motion, order.
Privileged Motions
(1) Fix the time at which to
adjourn
(2) Adjourn
(3) Take recess
(4) Raise a question of privilege
(5) Call for the Order of the Day
Subsidiary Motions
(6) Lay on the Table
(7) Call for the Previous Question
(8) Modify the Limits of Debate
(9) Postpone definitely
(10) Commit or refer to a Committee
(11) Amend (unadopted questions)
(12) Postpone indefinitely
Main Motions
 (13) General Main Motions
Specific Main Motion
Taken from the Table
Reconsider on the Minutes
Rescind or Repeal
Expunge
Adopt a Committee Report or a Resolution
Amend (adopted questions)
Adjourn (if qualified)
(14) Incidental Motions – no individual or
collective ranking and thus have no order of
precedence. They may arise only
incidentally out of the pending question:
Suspend the Rules
Withdraw or modify motion
Point of Order
Parliamentary Inquiry
Appeal the Decision of the Chair
Divide the House
Divide the Question
 Progress of Motions
(1) Obtaining the Floor
(2) Recognition by the Chair
(3) Presentation of Motion – specific, simple
and easy to understand, well-structured and
contains one subject matter only.
(4) Seconding the Motion
(5) Statement of Motion
(6) Discussion on the Motion
(7) Voting
(8) Announcement of vote
  Progress of Motions
(1) Obtaining the Floor
Member: (Raises right hand for recognition)
(2) Recognition by the Chair
Chair: “Hon. Ochavillo is recognized.”
(3) Presentation of Motion – specific, simple
and easy to understand, well-structured and
contains one subject matter only.
Member: “I move that we refer the question to
the Committee on Laws.”
Chair: “There is a motion to refer the question
to the Committee on Laws. Any second?”
(4) Seconding the Motion
Member B: “I second the motion.”
(5) Statement of Motion
Chair: “It has been moved and seconded that
the question be referred to the Committee on
Laws. Any objection?”
(6) Discussion on the Motion
Member C: (raises right hand for recognition)
Chair: “Hon. Durens is recognized.”
Member C: “blah blah blah blah”
Member D: “blah blah blah blah”
 (7) Voting
Member E: (raises right hand for recognition)
Chair: “Hon. Bonghanoy is recognized.”
Member E: “I move to call for the previous
question.”
Chair: “There is a motion to call for the previous
question. Any second?”
Member F: “I second the motion.”
Chair: “It has been moved and seconded to call
for the previous question. Any objection?”
Member G: “I rise to a parliamentary inquiry.”
Chair: “State your inquiry.”
Member G: “What is the vote necessary to
approve the motion to call for the previous
question?”
Chair: “2/3. Again, any objection to the motion
duly seconded to call for the previous question?
Body: (silent)
Chair: Hearing none, the motion carries. As
many as those who are in favor of the motion
to refer the question to the Committee on
Laws, please raise your right hand. Madame
Secretary, please count.”
Secretary: “Eight are in favor, Mr. Chair.”
Chair: “As many as those who are against the
motion to refer the question to the
Committee on Laws, please raise your right
hand. Madame Secretary, please count the
votes.”
Secretary: “Four are against, Mr. Chair.”
(8) Announcement of vote
Chair: “There being 8 votes in favor of and 4
against the motion to refer the question to
the Committee on Laws, the motion carries.”