Parliamentary ProcedureFor MSBA Delegates

Based on:Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th

Edition)

Dr. Leonard M. YoungProfessional Registered

Parliamentarian

First Things First1. Credential Check In – Stop at the table to check in and get your voting device 

2. Name Badge – You must wear your name badge. 

3. Electronic Voting System – The electronic voting system will be used and explained at the beginning of the session.

Conventions in GeneralDefinition of Convention: An assembly of delegates chosen as representatives for the session of constituent units or subdivisions:

Examples: Congress – Conference – Convocation – General Assembly – House of Representatives – Delegate Assembly

Opening: 3 ReportsCredentials CommitteeA representative of the Credentials Committee:

“Attached is the list of names of the voting members of the convention and their alternates who have registered up until _______________.” (hour to which the report is accurate) [Statistical Summary, if applicable]

MOTION: “On behalf of the committee, I move that the roll of delegates hereby submitted be the official roll of the voting members of the convention.”

VOTE REQUIRED: Majority

Opening: 3 ReportsStanding Rules Committee1. A voting member of the assembly moves:

“By direction of the committee, I move the adoption of the convention standing rules [as read or as follows.”

Vote Required: 2/3rds

2. The rules can be amended or rescinded by 2/3rds vote or majority vote of the entire number of registered delegates.

3. The rules can be suspended by a 2/3rds vote. 

4. When a rule is suspended any applicable parliamentary rule from RONR then comes into play.

Opening: 3 ReportsProgram Committee (Adoption of the

Agenda)

A voting member moves:“By direction of the committee, I move the adoption of the program (or agenda) as printed (with the following corrections.)”

The agenda can be amended by 2/3rds vote; often this is done by unanimous consent.

MSBA Delegate Assembly Rules of Order

Article III, Section 5 of the Bylaws of the Missouri School Boards’ Association states: The Board of Directors shall promulgate rules for conducting business of the annual meetings. Such rules shall be subject to approval by the Delegate Assembly. Where these rules are inadequate, the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall prevail. 

In accordance with this provision, the following rules for the conduct of the Delegate Assembly business meetings have been adopted by the Board of Directors and are recommended to the Delegate Assembly for approval:

Standing Rules1. The meeting will begin promptly at

the hour announced and order must be maintained at all times.

2. Voting delegates will be certified by the Credentials Committee and seated in the section reserved for delegates. The district’s alternate delegate may sit with the other delegate(s) from the district.

Standing Rules3. Only a member of the Board of

Directors, the Advocacy Committee or a delegate (or an alternate delegate in the delegate’s absence) may address the chair. The speaker must give his or her name and school district before speaking.

Standing Rules4. A person may not speak for more than

three minutes on any question under discussion, nor more than twice on the same question. Speakers shall conform to the ruling of the timekeeper.

5. All amendments or substitutes shall be presented to the chair clearly written and signed by a delegate, with his or her school district noted, as soon as they have been made. The amendment or substitute must be seconded by a delegate from a school district other than that of the maker.

Standing Rules6. Platform statements and resolutions will

be presented for approval in parts according to their subject matter. An entire part shall be considered collectively and may be adopted by a single vote. Upon the request of any delegate, a platform statement or resolution shall be separated from those remaining for the purpose of its consideration. The remaining platform statements or resolutions in a section shall be considered prior to those previously separated.

Standing Rules7. Platform statements or resolutions

proposed by school districts must be postmarked 30 days prior to the Delegate Assembly meeting. The district delegate should sign the proposed platform statement or resolution with his or her school district noted. No new platform statement or resolution may be introduced from the floor that has not been submitted to the MSBA office 30 days prior to the meeting.

Standing Rules8. The Board of Directors shall be

allowed to present platform statements or resolutions from the floor during the Delegate Assembly.

9. The written rationale provided for the platform or resolution is not part of the platform statement or resolution and is provided only to help inform the delegates.

Standing RulesAll cell phones and pagers shall be silenced during the business meeting. 

There shall be no smoking in the meeting room.

These rules may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Delegate Assembly.

MSBA DELEAGATE ASSEMBLY AGENDA

I Pledge of Allegiance II Explanation of Voting ProcessIII Report of the Credentials CommitteeIV Adoption of Rules of OrderV Adoption of AgendaVI FY 2015-216 MSBA Budget VII Consideration of Proposed MSBA Legislative

ResolutionsVIII Closing RemarksIX Adjournment

Electronic Response SystemA for YESB for NO

Elections – Same A/B for two choices

MSBA ResolutionsMSBA’s Resolutions provides the

positional framework, which enables the association to significantly influence the agenda for public education in Missouri. It serves as a guide for the association’s policy and political leadership activities. The Platform also provides guidance to the MSBA Board of Directors and Advocacy Committee as they develop specific legislative initiatives. Specific legislative issues will be considered at the fall meeting of the Delegate Assembly.

MSBA ResolutionsResolutions will also be handled using

a “Consent Agenda” format.Any delegate can request any resolution

proposed for amendment to be pulled out of the package for separate debate and vote.

Those not pulled out will be adopted in one package by unanimous consent (no one objecting).

Any resolution that is pulled out for separate debate and vote will require a majority vote for adoption. – Only one this year.

STEPS IN HANDLING OF A MOTION

A member makes the motion. Another member seconds the motion.

The Chair states the question The members debate the motion. The Chair puts the question

(takes the vote).The Chair announces the results of the vote.

AmendAn amendment is a “change

wording.”Amendments, like main motions,

require a second, are amendable, are debatable, and require a majority vote.

An amendment should be stated so that indicates exactly what is being done to the main motion.

An amendment must always be handled before voting on the motion to which it was applied.

Issue of GermanenessAn amendment must be germane to

the motion to which it applies.

Germane means “Closely Related To”

An amendment can be hostile to or complete change the original intent as long as it is closely related to the subject at hand.

Main Motion"That we sponsor a delegate to NSBA Convention in March."

AMENDMENT BYSTRIKING OUT:

"That we sponsor a delegate to NSBA Convention in March."

AMENDMENT BY ADDITION:

"That we sponsor a delegate to NSBA Convention in March providing, however, that this board shall not be responsible for expenses in excess of $150.00."

AMENDMENT BY STRIKING OUT AND INSERTING

"That we sponsor a delegate two delegates to NSBA Convention in March."

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AMENDMENTS

▲SECONDARY AMENDMENT

PRIMARY AMENDMENT

MAIN MOTION

SECONDARY AMENDMENT "That we sponsor a delegate to NSBA Convention in March providing, however, that this board shall not be responsible for expenses in excess of $150.00 $100.00."

SUBSTITUTE MOTION Whenever it is desired to change the wording of a motion so substantially that several amendments would be required, a substitute motion may be used. A substitute motion has the same status as a primary amendment. The term substitute is usually used when an amendment applies to a large block of text, one or more paragraphs, or the entire document.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION"That we encourage all of our members to

attend the Association's National

Convention."

Missouri School Boards Association

Delegate Assembly Training