Parliamentary Procedure Workshop

Micanopy Friendship 4-HSeptember 2016

Icebreaker•What bothers you most about working in a

group?•What are some benefits of parliamentary

procedure?

Have you ever experienced…•Meetings that seem endless because the

business could have been completed hours ago?•Confusion as to what exactly is being discussed

and voted on?•Irritation because one person or a small group

of people dominate a meeting?•The feeling that you never get your voice heard

in a group discussion?•Anger about decisions made that do not reflect

the feelings of the majority of the group?

Why do groups use parliamentary procedure? •Focus on one item at a time

▫No more than one issue will be discussed•Extend courtesy to everyone

▫All members have an opportunity to participate

•Observe the rule of the majority▫No group decision is granted without majority

•Ensure the rights of the minority▫All members have equal access to decision-

making

Gavel Says1. Sit down, Motion

passes/fails, Adjourn2. Call meeting to order3. Stand up

Many raps – restore order, get attention of group

What is Parliamentary Procedure? •Rules that limit, guide, and protect the

individual•Protect the rights of the minority•It’s not that the decision you make must

be correct, but each decision you make must be correctly made

Parli Pro Video• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfnBGolKmb

M

Five Basic Principles1. Discuss one subject at a time2. Allow full and free discussion of each

idea presented3. Treat all members with justice and

courtesy4. Carry out the rule of the majority, and

respect the rights of the minority5. Bring together the wishes of all group

members to form a cooperating, united club

Basic Meeting Rules•A quorum must be present for the group

to act•Only one motion should be considered at

any given time•No member should speak until recognized

by the chair•The chair should maintain strict

impartiality during discussion

Main Motion•Bring before the floor a question or

business •In order only when no other motion is

pending•Only one main motion on the floor at any

time•Requires second, debatable, usually

approved by majority vote

Amendments•Only two amendments can be pending at

any one time▫Primary

Applied to main motion▫Secondary

Applied to primary amendment•Vote on amendments in reverse order

Amending a Motion•Most used Subsidiary Motion

▫Methods of Amending▫Insert (inside the motion)▫Add (at the end)▫Strike out▫Strike out and insert (words only)▫Substitute (a paragraph)

•Must be related to main motion

Question or Call for the Question•Actual motion is “Call the Previous Question”•Must be recognized by chair to make motion,

cannot be just shouted out•Is a vote to stop debate and not to vote on

pending motion•Requires a 2/3 vote, motion passes and

debate is stopped and a vote is taken immediately on pending question

•If does not receive a 2/3 vote, motion fails and debate continues

Call for the Division of the House•Question results of a vote•Can be made by a single member•Can interrupt speaker•Is not debatable•Does not require a vote•Made only by rising vote or show of hands

Refer to Committee•Allows for additional information or study

of issue before voting•Motion to refer should include details of

who the committee will be and who will appoint

•Usually defines time for committee to report

Adjourn•Next to highest ranking motion•Fix the time to which to adjourn is highest•Can not interrupt a speaker•Requires a second•Not debatable•Majority rules•Chain can adjourn without motion

▫If no other business is pending▫If time is reach on an adopted agenda

Procedure for Handling Main•Member rises and addresses the Chair

▫“Mr./Madame Chair”•Chair recognizes the member

▫“The chair recognizes Mr./Ms.____” •Members states:

▫“I move that______(states motion).”•Second to motion (does not need to stand)

▫“I second the motion.”

Procedure for Handling Main•Chair states motion:

▫“It has been moved by (member name) and seconded that___________(state motion). Is there any discussion?”

•Discussion•Proposer of motion has first right to debate•If debatable, every member has the right to

debate•Chair refrains from debating•Discussion must be related only to motion

Procedure for Handling Main•The Chair says:

▫“If there is no further discussion, the motion is____________(restate motion). All those in favor, say ‘aye’. Those opposed say ‘nay’.”

•If motion requires 2/3 vote, ask for show of hands.▫“The motion is carried” or “the motion is

lost.”

Debate•Chair begins debate by asking for

discussion•Maker of motion has right to speak first, if

properly recognized•Can only speak twice on same question

during same day•Remember – Strong group discussion

and interaction leads to strong decision made by the group

What if no one or few will debate?•President asks specific questions

▫“Roger what do you think of…”▫“John, from your experience at the county

fair, would you share your feelings…”▫“Does anyone know of situations where this

has worked?”

What if no one or few will debate?• Buzz Group – member ideas needed, divide

into small groups and report back best ideas

• Circle Response – chair calls on each person in group for an idea

Discussion is not solving the problem•President asks questions to redirect the

discussion▫That’s interesting, but just how does this point

fit in with the issue being considered?▫Let’s take a look at the problem from another

point of view. What would the person looking at the display be interested in learning?

▫We haven't heard from several members. Would you be willing to share your ideas with us?

▫Are we missing some important info?

Discussion is not solving the problem•President proposes that a committee be

appointed to consider information presented, locate new information, and propose a course of action

Time is short and a decision must be made•President tells of time limitation and asks

for motion or proposed discussion▫“May I ask for two final comments before

we vote?”▫“According to my watch, we’re scheduled

to finish discussion in 5 minutes. Is there a final comment?”

Time is short and a decision must be made•President summarizes discussion and

proposes a decision ▫“It appears that our group favors several

courses of action. Would someone like to make a motion on the first suggestions so we can vote?”

▫“As I listen to the discussion, I hear the group saying that we should have a Share-the-Fun number. Would anyone like to make a motion in that regard?”

Minutes•Only record what was done, not

everything that was said•Seconder of motion need not be recorded

Parli Pro Pizza•Each table will receive a pizza pie with

sauce and cheese•Mr. John and Ms. Emily will be the chairs•You’ll have 10 minutes to design your

pizza using parliamentary procedure•After each passing vote, you MUST put

that ingredient on the pizza.

Parli Pro Pizza•Did your group reach consensus?•How did parli pro help your group achieve

your goal of making a pizza?•How did parli pro hamper your efforts?

Parli Pro Jeopardy•https://jeopardylabs.com/play/4-h-parliam

entary-procedure

Pizza Break

Agenda & Parli Pro Activity•Create an agenda using 3 of the business

items.•Conduct a mock meeting. •You must have 3 main motions and at

least 2 amendments during your meeting. •For each main motion, a new person must

be chair.

Business Items – select 3 • Cap club membership at

35 members• Participate in the Florida

4-H Clothing the World service project

• Provide member shirts with club funds

• Host a winter dance and invite all the clubs in your county

• Change the name of the club to a really outrageous new name (make up a new name)

• Hold a family picnic at the end of the 4-H year

• Sell candy bars as a fundraiser to buy a club pig

• Participate in National 4-H Week

• Host a workshop for National Youth Science Day

• Nominate two members to attend Citizenship Washington Focus

• Host a Cookie Bake-Off

October 4-H Meeting Agenda •Use the 2015 October and 2016

September agendas to create your 2016 October agenda

•Assign agenda items •Decide which agenda items will need to

have a motion and vote

Final Thoughts •Have a parli pro exhibition at county

events •Count it as a leadership activity in your

record book•Practice, practice, practice!