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Parliamentary Procedure
• Definition
– Correct rules for conducting or running a successful
meeting
• 3 goals of Parliamentary Procedure
– Make meeting run smoothly
– Assure everyone gets to voice their opinion
– Maintain Order
• Started
– 1562 in England
– Sir Thomas Smyth
• Official Rule Book
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Roberts Rules of Order
Written by Henry M. Robert – 1876
1st Revised in 1915
Last revised in 1990
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• Other Important Information
– Quorum
» Minimum number of members that must be present at a
meeting for legal business to be transacted
» Usually 1/2 of members in a club plus 1
– Majority
» 1/2 of members present at any meeting plus 1
» minimum number of members that must vote for a
motion for it to pass
– Presiding Officer referred to as:
» Mr/Madam President
» Mr/Madam Chairperson
– Everyone gets the chance to voice their opinion
– Everyone gets the chance to Vote
» Must take yes and no votes
– Only one topic at a time can be discussed
– Who ever makes a motion has the right to discuss it first
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Terminology
• Floor: Point where the attention of the meeting
should be focused
• Germaine: Discussion or motion pertains to
main motion being considered
• Precedence: order of rank.
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Use of the Gavel
• 1 tap: Be seated
– Announce vote
• 2 Taps: Call meeting to order
• 3 Taps: All rise
• Series of sharp taps: Restore order
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Types of Votes
• Voice vote - aye or no.
• Rising vote - standing or show of hands.
» use with 2/3 votes.
• Secret ballot – written vote, use with elections.
• Roll call - secretary calls vote by name, boards.
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How do we get things done?
• Moving Main motions
• Using subsidiary motions
– Related to the pending motion.
• Using Privileged motions
– exercise of right
• Using incidental motions
– unrelated to the pending motion
– has first rank
• Using unclassified motions
– old business
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Main Motions
• Used to introduce ideas to the group
• Must be stated in the form
– I Move that
– I Move to
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Can not be in negative form
Only one main motion at a time
Require a second
Amendable
– Can Be Changed
• Debatable
– Can be talked about
• Majority Vote
– Can be voice
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Main Motions Continued
• Main Motions that are not Legal
– Break any Local, State or National Laws
– Any motion that brings up a motion that has already been
failed
– Items that are outside the power of the group
– Negative motions
– Political or religious Support
• The person who makes a motion can not talk
against it
• Main motions can be reconsidered
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Proper Example: Mr President, I move that the
chapter participate in crops judging this year.
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Steps to handling a Main Motion
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Stand
Ask to be recognized by President
President recognizes you by name
Motion is correctly stated
Motion is seconded
Motion is repeated by President
Motion is discussed
President restates motion
Motion is voted on
Results of vote announced by President
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Postpone Indefinitely
• Purpose
– To kill a main motion
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Requires a second
Not Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Can be reconsidered only if passed
Proper Example: Mr President, I move to
Postpone this motion indefinitely
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Amendments
• Purpose
– Used to modify a main motion
• Must be germane
– Closely related to the original topic
• Can be amended in 4 ways
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Inserting in middle
Adding to end
Striking Out
Striking out and inserting
Requires a second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
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Amendments continued
• Can not interrupt another speaker
• Can be reconsidered
• Improper amendments
– any thing not germane
– frivolous or absurd
– leave an incoherent wording
• Proper Example:
– Motion on floor: That the FFA Chapter buy a boat.
– Amendment: Mr President, I move to amend the motion by
inserting speed in front of boat. So the motion would read, I
move that the FFA Chapter buy a speed boat.
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Amendment to an Amendment
• Purpose
– To modify an amendment to make it more specific
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Requires a second
Debatable
Not amendable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt a speaker
Proper Example:
– Madam President, I move to ament the amendment by
inserting Johnson in front of speed. So the final motion
with if all amendments pass would read, I move that the FFA
chapter buy a johnson speed boat.
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Refer to Committee
• Purpose
– used to send a pending question to a small group so that
the question may be carefully investigated
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Requires a Second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
2 ways to appoint a committee
– Standing Committee
» one of the 15 listed in the Program of Activities
– Special Committee
» Appointed by the president
» Number of members can be 3 or more
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Refer to Committee Continued
• Can interrupt another speaker
• President must specify when the committee
should report back to the chapter
– Usually next regular meeting
• Committee can be give full power to act
• Proper example:
– Mr President, I move that we refer this motion to the
Leadership Committee
– Mr President, I move we refer this motion to a committee of
three appointed by the chair
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Postpone Definitely
• Purpose
– allow for the motion on the floor to deferred to a different
day, meeting, or until after a certain event
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Requires a second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can interrupt a speaker
Proper example:
– Madam President, I move to postpone this motion until the
December Regular Meeting.
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Limit or Extend Debate
• Purpose
– To limit or lengthen the time allowed for discussion on a
motion when it is clear that there will be an excessive
amount of discussion or when the amount of time for the
meeting is limited.
• Requires a second
• Debatable
• Amendable
– amount of time or number of speakers only
• 2/3 Majority Vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
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Limit / Extend Debate Continued
• Maker of the motion must specify
– the amount of time
– the number of speakers that can debate the motion
• Proper Example
– Madam President, I move that we limit debate on this motion
to 3 discussions for the motion and 3 discussions against
the motion.
– Madam President, I move to limit debate to a maximum of 5
minutes.
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Previous Question
• Purpose
– To force an immediate Vote on the motion
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Requires a second
Not amendable
Not Debatable
2/3 Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example:
– Madam President, I move the previous question
– Mr President, I call for the previous question
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To lay on the table
• Purpose
– To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or
until the next meeting
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Requires a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example:
– Mr. President, I move to lay this motion on the table
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To take from the table
• Purpose
– To take a motion that is on the table off of the table.
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Requires a second
not amendable
Not debatable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper Example
– I move to take the motion that reads to buy a boat from the
table.
Reconsider
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• Purpose
– to reevaluate a decision that was made earlier
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Requires a second
Not amendable
Debatable
Majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is
handled just as if it was never voted on
• Only can be made by a person who voted on the
winning side
• If passed the motion is handled immediately if:
– only a main motion with amendments is on the floor.
Reconsider Continued
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• Handled after the current business if:
– discussion on refer to committee, or postponement has
started.
• Motions that can be reconsidered
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Main motions
Amendments
Refer to committee
Postpone definitely
Previous question
Appeal the decision of the chair
Only if failed
» withdraw
– Only if passed
» Postpone indefinitely
• Proper Example
– Mr President, I move to reconsider the motion to buy a boat.
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Rescind
• Purpose
– To REPEAL PREVIOUS ACTION
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Requires a Second
Debatable
Amendable
2/3 majority vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Taken from previous meeting
Proper Example
– Madam President, I move that we rescind the motion to buy
a boat.
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Suspend the Rules
• Purpose
– allows the chapter to break the rules of parliamentary
procedure, or the current constitution for a short period of
time.
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Requires a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
2/3 vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example:
– Mr President, I move that we suspend the the standing
chapter rule that states we must wear official dress during
meetings.
– Mr. President, I move that we suspend the parliamentary rule
governing debate rights so that we can debate more than 2
times per motion.
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Modify or Withdraw
• Purpose
– This motion allows for the maker of a motion to change a
motion or completely take it off the floor for discussion.
• Not amendable
• Not debatable
• If made before President first states the motion
it is automatically withdrawn with no second or
vote.
• If made after President first states the motion
the following steps must be taken.
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Modify or Withdraw con’t
– 1) President must ask if anyone objects to the maker
withdrawing the motion
» if someone objects
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must be seconded, and passed with majority vote
» On no one objects
• the motion is automatically withdrawn
• Can not be made after discussion has begun
• Proper form
– Mr President, I would like to withdraw my motion.
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Divide a Motion
• Purpose
– This motion allows a motion that has been made to be split
into two different motions
• This can only be made on motions that have
two main ideas that are not dependent on each
other
• Requires a second
• Not debatable
• Amendable
• Majority vote
• Can not interrupt another speaker
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Divide a Motion Con’t
• Proper example
– Motion on the floor, I move to buy a boat and go to the zoo.
– Madam President, I move to divide this motion into two
motions. The first stating the we buy a boat and the second
that we go to the zoo.
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Object to the Consideration
• Purpose
– Used when a member thinks that the activity or action of the
group is not appropriate.
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Does not require a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
2/3 vote
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper form
– Mr President, I object to the consideration of this question.
» President should say “Objection to the consideration
has been called. All those who wish to consider the
motion raise your right hand. All those who object to
the consideration of this question same sign.
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Division of the house
• Purpose
– When called, this forces a immediate revote by hand
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Does not require a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
No vote needed
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper form
– Can be made by saying “division” loud enough for the entire
group to hear
– Or by standing and saying “I call for a division of the house”
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Point of Order
• Purpose
– Used when a member thinks that the rules of the group or
the rules of parliamentary procedure are being violated.
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Does not require a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
President decides on verdict
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper example
– Mr President, I rise to a point of order.
– President says, “State your point”
– After member states point, president says “your point is
well taken” or “Your point is not well taken”
Appeal
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• Purpose
– To reverse the decision of the chairman, after they have
made an error.
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Requires a second
Not amendable
Debatable (this is the only motion where President can discuss)
Majority vote
Can interrupt another speaker
Most of the time you should support the
decision of your president.
• Proper Example
– Mr President I appeal the decision of the chair.
– President should say “Appeal the decision of the chair has
been called, all those who wish to uphold the decision of the
chair say Aye, all opposed same sign.”
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Orders of the Day
• Purpose
– This motion forces the group to return to the set agenda,
without finishing the current business.
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Does not require a second
Not Amendable
Not Debatable
2/3 vote against to fail
• Can only be made on motions that are not on the set agenda for
that meeting.
• Mr. President, I call for the orders of the day.
• President should say, Orders of the day has been called. All
those who wish to return to the orders of the day, raise your
hand. All those opposed to returning to the orders of the day,
same sign.
Question of Privilege
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• Purpose
– This allows for people in the group to ask for changes in the
temperature, for ideas to clarified, for motions to be
explained, for others to repeat their discussion or motions,
and anything that may help the meeting run more smoothly.
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Does not need a second
Not amendable
Not debatable
No Vote, Presidents decision
Can interrupt another speaker
Proper Example
– Madam President, I Rise to a question of privilege.
– President says, “State Your Question”
– Then the member says whatever they have to and the
president decides on whether it will be allowed or not.
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Recess
• Purpose
– This allows for a short break in the meeting
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Needs a second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Must specify the length of time in the motion
Proper example
– Mr President, I move to take a 5 minute recess.
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Adjourn
• Purpose
– To end the Meeting
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Needs a second
Not Amendable
Not Debatable
Majority Vote
Can not interrupt another speaker
Proper example
– Mr president, I move to adjourn.
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Fix time to Reassemble
• Purpose
– To arrange time for next meeting
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Needs a Second
Amendable
Debatable
Majority Vote
Can interrupt a speaker
Proper example
– Mr President, I move to adjourn until 7 pm on December
12th.