Parliamentary Procedure and Roberts Rules

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
• All have equal rights, privileges and obligations

• A quorum must be present for group to act
• Robert’s Rules is handbook of operation
• Use of Motions (A proposal for assembly to take a stand or take action)
FIVE TYPES OF MOTIONS
MAIN MOTION
Introduce subjects for consideration

Cannot be made when another motion is before assembly
Yield to privileged, subsidiary, incidental motions
“I move that we purchase a…”
SUBSIDIARY MOTION PRIVILEGED MOTION
Change / affect main motion for consideration Concern special matters not related to pending business
Voted on before the main motion Considered before other motions
“I move to amend the motion by striking out…” “Because of the time, I move that we adjourn…”
RENEWAL MOTION INCIDENTAL MOTION
Allow certain items to be reconsidered Questions of procedure

Usually brought up when no business is pending Considered before other motions
“I move to reconsider…” “I move to divide the motion so that the question of
purchasing … can be considered separately.”
406.994.6694 Local Government Center www.msulocalgov.org

ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
Typically, organizations using Robert’s Rules follow the prescribed order of business during meetings to
provide a framework for conducting orderly meetings.
TYPICAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
• The Chair calls the meeting to order.

• A roll is called of all present members.
• The secretary reads the minutes of the last meeting.
• Each officer gives a report.
• Each committee representative gives a report.
• Special orders (by way of motions) are called for and consist of any
important business that was previously set aside to discuss at the meeting.
• Unfinished business from a previous meeting is discussed.
• New business can be brought forth at this time.
• Announcements are made.
• The meeting is adjourned.
MEETING GROUND RULES WHEN DEBATING YOUR MOTIONS
• Meetings will start and end on time • Listen to the other side
• Every member’s opinion is valuable • Focus on issues, not personalities
• Avoid sidebar conversations • Avoid questioning motives
• Focus on the meeting • Be courteous
• Decisions will be criteria-based • Keep cool
• Address any concerns • Speak clearly and concisely
Meeting ground rules are an agreed upon list of behavior expectations for members while
participating in a meeting. These are a few examples that should be established to ensure a
successful meeting.

VOCABULARY
Robert’s Rules of Order and other parliamentary procedures contain specific vocabulary to be used at
meetings.
POINT OF PRIVILEGE This term refers to the right of the person speaking to
have the floor and not be interrupted by others.
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY Method to raise a point of order or to ask how to

proceed when unsure of the proper motion.
POINT OF INFORMATION This term refers to the method used to ask the speaker a
question.
ORDERS OF THE DAY (AGENDA) If the meeting is not following the agenda a member may
call orders of the day to remind the assembly to adhere
to the agenda. If the members would like to deviate from
the agenda, “suspending the rules” is necessary.
POINT OF ORDER Point of order is raised if a rule has been broken or a

member is not using the proper meeting protocol to
speak. A point of order needs to be raised right after the
error occurs.
DIVIDE THE QUESTION This term is used when a motion is split into two or more
new separate motions.
CONSIDER BY PARAGRAPH When considering adoption of a document, adoption of

the full document can be postponed until each and every
paragraph has been debated and if necessary amended.
WITHDRAW / MODIFY MOTION After the question is stated; the person who made the
motion may accept an amendment to the motion.
COMMIT / REFER / RECOMMIT TO Sometimes a committee is needed to research a motion.

COMMITTEE In this case, an already established committee is assigned
the question or a new committee is appointed. If a new
committee is necessary, the chairperson may indicate
how many members are needed and how selection of
committee members should occur.

EXTEND DEBATE Calling to extend debate can be used for the question
currently under debate and usually has a time limit.
LIMIT DEBATE This term is used to refer to the time limit placed upon
debate and when debate should be considered closed.
POSTPONE If a motion or agenda item needs to be postponed,

it is necessary to determine and state when it will be
resumed.
OBJECT TO CONSIDERATION Objection must be stated before discussion or another

motion is stated.
LAY ON THE TABLE This tool is used after a motion is closed to debate or
is pending closure and can temporarily stop further
consideration or action on the open motion.
TAKE FROM THE TABLE If a motion has been previously “laid on the table,” it can
be opened and considered again by stating the motion
to “take from the table.”
RECONSIDER If a member on the prevailing side of a debate changes

their view, they can state they have reconsidered.
POSTPONE INDEFINITELY Postponing a motion indefinitely stops the motion from

proceeding forward just in that particular session, unless
a motion to reconsider is made.
INFORMAL CONSIDERATION This term refers to changing the debate to an informal

format similar to that of a committee. To move to an
informal consideration format a member moves that the
assembly go into "Committee of the Whole." Voting is
still done formally and is still valid while the meeting is in
an informal mode.
APPEAL DECISION OF THE CHAIR The membership may appeal a decision made by the
chair if the appeal does not relate to the violation of
order of business or parliamentary rules. Appeals must
also take place prior to other unrelated business.
SUSPEND THE RULES This allows specific, stated rules with the exception of the
assembly’s constitution to be suspended.

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PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

• All have equal rights, privileges and obligations

FIVE TYPES OF MOTIONS

Introduce subjects for consideration

SUBSIDIARY MOTION PRIVILEGED MOTION

RENEWAL MOTION INCIDENTAL MOTION

Allow certain items to be reconsidered Questions of procedure

406.994.6694 Local Government Center www.msulocalgov.org

TYPICAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

• The Chair calls the meeting to order.

MEETING GROUND RULES WHEN DEBATING YOUR MOTIONS

406.994.6694 Local Government Center www.msulocalgov.org

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY Method to raise a point of order or to ask how to

POINT OF ORDER Point of order is raised if a rule has been broken or a

CONSIDER BY PARAGRAPH When considering adoption of a document, adoption of

COMMIT / REFER / RECOMMIT TO Sometimes a committee is needed to research a motion.

406.994.6694 Local Government Center www.msulocalgov.org

POSTPONE If a motion or agenda item needs to be postponed,

OBJECT TO CONSIDERATION Objection must be stated before discussion or another

RECONSIDER If a member on the prevailing side of a debate changes

POSTPONE INDEFINITELY Postponing a motion indefinitely stops the motion from

INFORMAL CONSIDERATION This term refers to changing the debate to an informal

406.994.6694 Local Government Center www.msulocalgov.org

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