1

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

Three basic principles of Parliamentary Procedures:– MAJORITY RULES– EQUAL RIGHTS OF ALL MEMBERS

TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCEEDINGS– ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF ALL

MATTERS WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION (Operative Words Highlighted)

NECESSARY OFFICERS

Presiding Officer – President– Chairman– Moderator– Speaker

Recorder – Secretary– Clerk

QUORUM

The minimum number of members within a society required in order to officially conduct business.

Minimum number that must be present. A quorum is different in various venues; i.e., the Region that is based on the number of financial chapters, a Chapter on a number or percentage of financial members, and Delegates Assembly on the number of authorized delegates (Majority).

CONDUCTING BUSINESS

Business is brought before the assembly by motion of a member or in the form of a resolution. Greater formality desired on a long complicated motion that is prepared in advance).

Members must receive recognition from the presiding officer before speaking, with the exception of specific motions (Point of Order, Order of the Day, and Previous Question/Close Debate).

Motions are stated as “I move that…..”

FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES Only one subject may claim the

attention of the assembly at a time. Each proposition presented for

consideration is entitled to full and free debate.

Each member has rights equal to every other member.

The will of the majority must be carried out, and the rights of the minority must be preserved.

The personality and the desires of each member should be merged into the larger unit of the organization.

MOTIONS

The process by which business or a proposal is brought to the assembly for action.

Give thought to the motion and put it in writing so that it can be stated or read properly.

MAIN MOTION

The business of the organization is carried out through the main motion. – The object of the main motion is to

introduce new business for consideration of the group.

– The main motion brings before the members a proposed course of action, and there can be only one main motion under consideration at a time.

THE MOTION TO AMEND

An amendment may be made by anyone to modify an original motion. – Amendments change or modify a motion

by striking out, adding or substituting language to the original motion.

Only two amendments may be considered on any motion at any time.

REFER TO A COMMITTEE

This process is used to address business which cannot or should not be disposed of immediately by the group.

Standing vs. Ad Hoc Committees.

Appointment of Committees• Vote• Appointment• Volunteering

POSTPONE TO A DEFINITE

TIME

This motion postpones or delays action until a certain time.– It is the proper way to delay action on a

motion until later in the agenda, or the next business meeting, but not beyond that meeting.

CLOSE DEBATE

When members of a group continue to discuss a motion until it becomes tiresome or after the issues have been presented, someone may move to close debate and vote.

The motion to close debate requires a 2/3 majority vote of the assembly.

THE MOTION TO TABLE

The motion to table is used to lay aside an item of business temporarily in order to attend to more urgent business. – It is NOT intended to kill a motion.– Only to lay it aside in a way that its

consideration may be resumed as easily as if it was a new motion.

THE MOTION TO ADJOURN

The business meeting is closed by a motion to adjourn.

This motion cannot be debated or amended.

The meeting is not adjourned until the chairman announces “The meeting is adjourned.”

MOTION TO TAKE A RECESS

The motion to recess allows for a break in proceedings.

The motion to recess is not debatable, but it is amendable.

MOTION TO FIX TIME IN WHICH TO ADJOURN

The motion to fix time in which to adjourn is to set the time, and sometimes the place, for another meeting to continue business of the session, with no effect on when the present meeting will adjourn.

INCIDENTAL MOTIONS

Various types of incidental motions allow for speakers to interrupt the activity at hand.

Point of Order– Question concerning a breach of parliamentary

law.

Call for the Order of the day– Calls to the attention of the assembly a problem

in the agenda or procedure.– To get back on the agenda or follow the

Standing Rules of Order.

INCIDENTAL MOTIONS (CON’T)

Questions of Privilege

(1) Those relating to the privileges of the assembly as a whole;

– Motion that permits a request or main motion relating to the rights and privileges of the assembly or any of its members.

(2) Questions of personal privilege

Point of Information

- A request directed to the chair or through the chair to another officer or member to the business at hand but not related to parliamentary procedures.

Questions of PrivilegeTYPES OF QUESTIONS 0F PRIVILEGE. Questions of privilege are of two types: (1) those relating to the privileges of the assembly as a whole; and (2) questions of personal privilege. If the two come into competition, the former take precedence over the latter. May relate to its organization or existence.

INCIDENTAL MOTIONS (CON’T)

Point of Clarification– Motion which allows the chair to explain

pending actions of the assembly prior to a vote.

Division of the House or Assembly– Calling for a recount of the vote by an

alternative method other than voice vote; i.e., standing, show of hands, a count.

PRESIDENTAL VOTING

The President, although not prohibited, should avoid voting in almost all instances, except when his/her vote can directly impact the outcome of a vote– Voting to break a tie.– Voting to make a tie (Motion is lost).– Voting to create a required majority.

23

QUESTIONS ?

QUOTATIONS

THREE THOUGHTS– To Every Purpose there is Time

and Judgment.– Everything should be done in a

Fitting and Orderly Way (Let all Things be done Decently and in Order).

– I Hear and I Forget. I See and I Remember. I Do and I Understand.