Practicing Parliamentary Procedure

How can I survive a formal meeting?

What is Parliamentary Procedure?Set of rules and guidelines that allow the following:

Fair debateMajority rulesMinority is heardHandling one item at a timeMaintains order

A code of ethics to follow as business is conducted.

Main Motion

To present an item of business for consideration and action by the chapter.

Requires:Second

Is debatable

Is amendable

Majority vote

Steps in Presenting a MotionRise and address the president-”Mr./Mdm. President…”Recognition by the president-(Name or office)Presenting the motion-“I move that…”Seconding the motion-”Mr./Mdm. President, I second the motion”Statement of the question- “It has been moved and seconded that…”

Seconding a motion

Ensures the following:Get on record as supporting motion.

Puts the motion to a vote.

Debating a motion

Raise concerns about the motion.

Persuade others to vote one way or another.

Provide information about motion.

Can be done at any time while the motion is on the floor.

Voting on a Motion

Can be done by the following means:Voice

Rising (show of hands)

Ballot

Roll call

General consent

Types of Votes

Majority: one more than half the votes cast. (50% + 1)

Plurality: the most votes received, for example a candidate, but not always a majority.

Two-thirds: two-thirds of the members

Other Facts

Putting the Question refers to taking the vote- “Those supporting the motion that…say aye. Those opposed say no.”

Tie vote-motion is lost if requires majority vote.

The president may leave the chair to debate a motion.

6th per. 10/14

Amend

Purpose: Modify the motion that is under consideration.

2nd requiredDebatable usually1st rank is amendableMajority vote

2nd rank amendment max-2nd rank must apply to 1st rank.

1st per. 10/14

Ways to Amend

Striking out words

Adding or inserting words

Striking out and inserting words

Privileged motions

Motions that fulfill individual needs or the interest of the group individually.

Motions do not pertain directly to the business being discussed.

6th per. 10/15

Privileged Motions

Include the following:Fix Time to Which to Adjourn

Adjourn

Recess

Raise a Question of Privilege

Call for Orders of the Day

Adjourn

Privileged motion that ends current meeting immediately.

Requires:Second

Non-debatable

Non-amendable

Majority vote

Subsidiary Motions

Motions that alter, change or dispose of main motions.

Subsidiary Motions

Include the following:Lay on the Table

Call for Previous Question

Postpone Definitely

Refer to a Committee

Amend

Postpone Indefinitely

Lay on the Table

Delays motion briefly, until taken from table.

Requires:Second

Non-debatable

Non-amendable

Majority vote

1st , 6th per. 10/16

Call for Previous Question

Ends debate immediately.

Requires:Second

Non-debatable

Non-amendable

Two-thirds vote

Refer to a Committee

Assign main motion to a committee.

Requires:Second

Debatable

Amendable

Majority vote

Refer to a Committee

Two types of committees:Standing.

Ad Hoc, or special committee appointed by the chair.

Refer to a Committee

Reasons for referring to a committee:Gather more information

Act on a motion

Amend

Changes or alters a main motion by:Striking out

Inserting

Striking out and inserting

Adding

Amend

No more than two amendments can be considered at one time.

Requires:Second

Debatable

Amendable

Majority Vote

Incidental Motions

Motions that:Correct ill-advised actions

Correct improper use of parliamentary procedure.

Incidental Motions

Include the following:Object to the Consideration of Question

Appeal from the Decision of the Chair

Rise to a Point of Order

Withdraw a Motion

Suspend the Rules

Call for Division of the House

Rise to Parliamentary Inquiry

Appeal from the Decision of the Chair

Allows members to overrule chair

Requires:Second

Debatable only if motion being overruled was debatable

NON-Amendable

Majority Vote

Rise to a Point of Order

Have parliamentary errors corrected.

Requires:Nothing. Error presented by member is decided by the chair.

Rise to Parliamentary Inquiry

Check on parliamentary questions, or ask how to carry out a parliamentary ability.

Requires:Nothing. Question presented by member is address by the chair.

Call for a Division of the House

Requires countable vote, if voice vote was announced incorrectly by chair.

Can only be called for after vote has been announced.

Requires:Nothing. Addressed by chair upon being called.

6th per. 10/20

Withdraw a Motion

Retracts motion proposed. Can only be moved by member or proposed motion being withdrawn.

Requires:Nothing. If chair asks for objections and there is none, withdraw stands. If there is an objection, a majority vote is needed for passage.

1st per. 10/20

Suspend the Rules

Make exceptions to by-laws of organization’s constitution.

Requires:Second

Non-Debatable

Non-Amendable

Two-thirds Vote

Unclassified Motions

Motions that do not fit other parliamentary categories

Motions usually pertain to actions already taken at previous meetings.

Unclassified Motions

Include the Following:Reconsider

Rescind

Take from the Table

Reconsider

Correct ill-advised or erroneous action.

Member who moves to reconsider must have been on prevailing side of motion being reconsidered.

Requires:Second

Debatable

NON-Amendable

Majority Vote

Rescind

Revoke or nullify previous action.

Requires:Second

Debatable

Amendable

Two-thirds Vote

Take from the Table

Resume consideration of tabled motion.

Requires:Second

Non-debatable

Non-amendable

Majority Vote