Robert’s Rules of Order

Name Course
 Two alternatives to Robert’s

•
-introductions
• to the procedures for meetings and
are intended as an alternative to reading Robert’s
-second type of book encourages simple rules as a
replacement for formal procedure, generally
focusing on the small board, committee, or
informal group
 Why the rules?

Understanding parliamentary procedure opens

the door to public performance, and in stepping
onto that stage, you may find a once scary and
terrifying experience becomes an opportunity to
satisfy an inherent need to perform— and the
opportunity to have fun
1. Ranking of Motions

The basic concept on which

parliamentary procedure is built, the
concept that underlies the relationship
—the ranking—of motions, is called the
order of precedence
 Order of Precedence

members (delegates) tend to blame those

who are running the convention, as often
as not the problem is simply that they do
not understand the order of precedence of
motions
 Uses of Order of precedence

1. when a motion is in order- motion higher in

rank than the immediately pending motion
(being considered by the body) may be
introduced, but a motion lower (or equal) in
rank is not in order
2. in what order to vote on pending motions.
 Order of Precedence

If a main motion is pending, the

order of precedence tells a member
that it would be in order to move to
Amend the main motion because the
motion to Amend is higher in rank
than the main motion.
 Order of Precedence

If a main motion and a motion to Amend are pending, the

order of precedence tells a member that a motion to Refer to
committee would be in order because the motion to Refer is
higher in rank than the motion to Amend.• If a main motion, a
motion to Amend, and a motion to Refer are pending, the
order of precedence tells a member that a motion to Recess
would be in order because it is higher in rank than one to
Refer, but a motion to Postpone Indefinitely would not be in
order because it is lower in rank than a motion to Refer.
Four Motions Pending

Recess – Y/No
Refer – Y/No
Amend – Y/No
Main motion – Y/No
The final vote is on the main motion
 Order of Preference

Parliamentary motions, then, are

• Prior to the vote on handled like children’s play blocks:
the main motion, other when working upward (making
motions may be made, motions), one goes on top of another;
when working downward (voting on
considered, and voted motions), the top one is taken off first
upon, so long as they to ensure proper dismantling in orderly
are higher in rank than fashion. When the members do not
any pending motion adhere to the order of precedence and
the bottom block is pulled out of turn,
the result is a mess
 2. Handling a Motion

• Before making a motion, a

member must obtain the floor.
• a member rises and addresses
the chair by title
• The term the chair refers to
the person in a meeting who is
actually presiding at the time,
whether that person is the
regular presiding officer or not
• chair then recognizes the
member by announcing the
member’s name or title
• Members are not required to
rise in smaller boards and
committees to be recognized
 6 steps for handling main motions

1. A member makes the motion

by stating, “I move that . . .” 4. Members debate the
2. Another member seconds the motion
motion by calling out, 5. The chair takes the
“Second!” vote
3. The chair states the motion, 6. The chair announces
“It is moved and seconded the result
that . . .”
 May the chair simply place a motion before
the body?
-Generally NO.
-When, YES?
- where members are
generally in favor of an action
- there seems to be “no
opposition in routine business
- on questions of little
importance
• Is there an objection
to approve minutes?
• Is there an objection
to allowing a student
to observe the
proceedings?
The goal of parliamentary procedure is to
balance individual and majority rights.

• the requirement of the second is a

fine-tuning device that restores the
balance by requiring at least one
other member who thinks the
motion is worth talking about.
What if the chair forgets to ask for a
second?
• Prior to debate, a member may raise a Point
of Order that the motion has not received a
second.

• In handling routine motions, less attention is

paid to meets with wide approval but
members are slow in seconding it, he can
state the question without waiting for a
second
3 misconceptions from excessive concern
about a second

• Misconception 1
- motion is out of order if it is
discovered during debate that the
motion was not seconded
- rationale for requiring a second is to
ensure that at least one other
member thinks the motion is worth
talking about.
3 misconceptions from excessive concern
about a second

Misconception 2
- that an adopted motion is null and
void if it is later discovered that the
motion was never seconded

Avoid parliamentary
hassle
3 misconceptions from excessive concern
about a second

Misconception 3
-chair must obtain the permission of
the seconder when the maker of the
motion requests permission to
withdraw or modify it

chair asks for the permission of all

members, including the seconder
 Seconding a motion does not give that member
power to grant or deny a request to modify or
withdraw the motion.
Questions: 2. Must the seconder
be in favor of the
1. Do all motions require a motion?
second?

•No
 Statements which means that a motion has
been seconded

“I second the motion”

“I second it,”
“Second”

“Support”
 Guidelines when a motion is open for
debate
1. The maker of the main
motion must be recognized
first.
2. Members who have not
yet spoken must be
recognized
3. Debate should alternate
between pro and con
 Other questions:

• May a speaker yield his

or her time?
• May the maker of a
motion speak against
his or her motion?
• May a nonmember
debate a motion?
 Responsibilities of Chair after a vote

1. Report the vote, plus count

2. State whether rejected or
accepted
3. Announce the effect of the vote
(includes the chair’s stating the
next item of business or, if there
are other motions pending, “the
next motion that consequently
comes up for consideration” )
Which one is correct?
1. “By a vote of nineteen to one,
the motion to declare losses is
rejected.”
2. “By a vote of one to nineteen,
the motion to declare losses is
rejected.”