NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
POSTMASTERS
PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURES

PARLIAMENTARY WORKSHOP
National Association of Postmasters
8 Herbert Street
Alexandria VA 22305
703-683-9027

• SOMEONE MUST MAINTAIN ORDER
• MEMBERS HAVE A RIGHT TO BRING UP
IDEAS
• MEMBERS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT
COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE
• MAJORITY RULES
• PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE
MINORITY

• TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS IN AN
EFFICIENT MANNER
• EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK
AND VOTE
• TAKES UP BUSINESS ONE ITEM AT A
TIME
• PROMOTES COURTESY, JUSTICE AND
IMPARTIALITY

• MEMBERS ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICERS
• REFER TO OTHER MEMBERS &
OFFICERS IN THE THIRD PERSON
• OFFICERS ARE REFERRED BY TITLE
• ALL REMARKS ARE MADE THROUGH
THE CHAIR
• ONLY MAJOR INFRACTIONS ARE
CORRECTED

CONDUCTING A MEETING
WITHOUT ROBERT’S RULES?
• NO ORDER
• NO RULES
• NO BUSINESS

WHO USES ROBERT’S RULES
OF ORDER?
• U.S. CONGRESS
• STATE LEGISLATURES
• SCHOOL BOARDS
• BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
• UNIONS
• PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

CHANGE!
• WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS!
• CHANGE MUST BE FROM THE TOP
DOWN!
• WE ARE ALL CUSTOMERS!

STANDING RULES OF THE
CONVENTION/CHAPTER
• CONDUCT
• DEBATE
• RULES OF ORDER
• 2/3 VOTE TO APPROVE

ORDER OF BUSINESS
• THE AGENDA – ITEMS THAT WILL BE
ADDRESSED IN THE MEETING
• THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MUST BE
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY
• DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS MAY
ESTABLISH ITS OWN STANDARD
ORDER OF BUSINESS PURSUANT TO
ITS BY LAWS

• CALL TO ORDER
• ROLL CALL
• APPROVAL OF AGENDA
• READING & APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• OFFICERS’ REPORTS
• COMMITTEE REPORTS
• SPECIAL ORDERS
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS
• NEW BUSINESS
• ADJOURNMENT

• RECOGNIZES SPEAKERS
• RENDERS DECISIONS
• KEEPS ORDER
• APPOINTS COMMITTEE CHAIRS

• CALL FOR DIVISION
• POINT OF ORDER
• ORDER OF THE DAY
• SPEAK
• PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
• CALL FOR ADJOURNMENT

• PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT - A
REPORT IS NOT REQUIRED AT EACH
MEETING
• USUALLY FOR INFORMATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY
• RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT
SHOULD BE MADE FROM THE FLOOR

• BEGINNING BALANCE
• TOTAL RECEIPTS
• TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS
• ENDING BALANCE
• ALWAYS FILED WITH THE SECRETARY
• NEVER APPROVED OR ADOPTED BY
THE ASSEMBLY

• SUBMITTED IN WRITING
• SUBMITTED ORALLY ONLY IF IT IS BRIEF
• RECOMMENDATIONS MUST BE
CONSIDERED AT THE END OF THE REPORT
• EACH RECOMMENDATION MUST BE
CONSIDERED AS A SEPARATE MOTION
• COMMITTEE OF MORE THAN ONE DOES
NOT REQUIRE A SECOND

• PARLIAMENTARIAN
• TELLERS’ REPORT
• THE FIRST THREE CONVENTION REPORTS:
– CREDENTIALS
– STANDING RULES
– THE PROGRAM (AGENDA)
• DILATORY PRACTICES
• UNANIMOUS CONSENT
• AUDIT REPORT

• TO MAKE A MOTION, THE MAKER
SHOULD SAY: “I MOVE THAT…” OR
• “I MOVE TO…”
• NEVER SAY “I MAKE A MOTION TO…”
• ONCE A MOTION IS MADE AND
SECONDED….THE CHAIR RESTATES
THE MOTION AND PLACES IT BEFORE
THE BODY FOR CONSIDERATION

ONCE A MOTION IS RESTATED BY THE
CHAIR, THE MOTION BELONGS TO THE
ASSEMBLY
“SO MOVE” IS NOT A MOTION!

• MODIFYING A PENDING MOTION
• AMENDMENT MUST BE GERMANE
• REQUIRES A SECOND
• IS DEBATABLE
• MAJORITY TO ADOPT
• CAN BE RECONSIDERED
• TO INSERT OR TO ADD WORDS
• TO STRIKEOUT WORDS

SPECIFIC TYPES OF MOTIONS
• NOMINATIONS
• LAY ON THE TABLE
• APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE CHAIR
• DIVISION OF THE HOUSE
• QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE
• PREVIOUS QUESTION/CLOSE DEBATE

PRIVILEGED MOTIONS
• FIX THE TIME TO WHICH TO ADJOURN
• ADJOURN
• RECESS
• RAISE A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE
• CALL FOR THE ORDERS OF THE DAY

SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS
• LAY ON THE TABLE
• PREVIOUS QUESTION (CLOSE DEBATE)
• LIMIT OR EXTEND LIMITS OF DEBATE
• POSTPONE TO A CERTAIN TIME
• COMMIT OR REFER
• AMEND
• POSTPONE INDEFINITELY
• MAIN MOTION

• POINT OF ORDER – BREACH OF THE RULES
• PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY – REQUEST
THE CHAIR’S OPINION ON PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURE
POINT OF INFORMATION – AN INQUIRY AS TO THE
FACTS AFFECTING THE BUSINESS
DIVISION OF THE ASSEMBLY – REQUIRE A STANDING
VOTE BUT NOT A COUNTED VOTE WHICH ONLY THE
CHAIR OR THE ASSEMBLY CAN DO

UNANIMOUS CONSENT
• IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO TAKE CARE
OF NONCONTROVERSIAL ISSUES OR
MOTIONS FOR WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE
THERE WILL BE NO OBJECTION.
• EXAMPLE: “WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.”
• IF A MEMBER CALLS OUT “I OBJECT,”
THEN THE PRESIDENT PUTS THE
MOTION TO A FORMAL VOTE.

• NEED A SECOND
• VOTED ON THE WINNING SIDE
• DEBATE
• MAJORITY VOTE TO ADOPT
• MUST BE MADE ON THE SAME DAY OR
THE NEXT SUCCEEDING DAY WITHIN
THE SESSION

AMEND SOMETHING
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED
• NO TIME LIMIT
• PREVIOUS NOTICE/MAJORITY VOTE
TO ADOPT
• WITHOUT PREVIOUS NOTICE/TWO-
THIRD VOTE OR MAJORITY OF THE
ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP
• (WHICHEVER OF THESE IS THE
SMALLER NUMBER AT THE TIME)