Dan Gerth, P.D.D.G.E.R
2010 NMEA Leadership Seminar
 The chief purpose is to protect the rights of the
minority
 All sides treated equally
 Promotes orderly discussion
 Focuses the group’s actions on the matter at hand
 The Statutes require it. Section 1.130:
 “Parliamentary Procedure: - Robert’s Rules of Order
shall govern all proceedings unless contravened by the
Constitution or Laws of the Order or the By-Laws of a
Lodge”
 There must be a motion on the floor for discussion to
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occur
Anyone may make a motion except the chair, who may
only “suggest” one.
Motions may be made during any section of the
meeting
The member proposing the motion must be
recognized by the Chair
Most motions require a second
Depending upon the motion, different passage
requirements must be met
 Lowest precedence, cannot be anything else on the
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floor
It is the item of business at hand, also known as the
“Question”
The Chair may require that the motion be put in
writing
May be divided (“Division of the Question”)
Must be seconded
Is open for discussion prior to voting
 Simple majority required for passage – there are
exceptions
 The Chair must recognize all speakers
 Members may speak twice on the same question
 You cannot move to limit discussion
 You can move to close discussion
 Calling the Question
 Requires a second
 Requires a two-thirds vote
 Is not subject to debate
 Apply to the Main Motion and take precedence over it
 Have a strict order of precedence
 Tabling
 Close Debate
 Postpone Definitely (to a certain day)
 Refer to committee
 Amend
 Postpone indefinitely
 To lay on the Table
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Takes precedence over all other subsidiary motions
Requires a second
Not subject to debate or amendment
Majority vote required
 To take from the Table
 Precedence is the same as any main motion
 May be moved at the same session in which the motion
was tabled
 Requires a second
 Is not debatable
 Majority vote
 Takes precedence of all debatable questions and all
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subsidiary motions except “to lay on the table”
Affects only the immediately pending question unless
specifically indicates otherwise
Not subject to debate
Not subject to amendment
Requires two-thirds majority vote
 Also known as Postponing to a Certain Day
 Takes precedence over motions to refer, amend, or
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postpone indefinitely
May be amended, but only by altering the time
If passed, the motion postponed cannot be taken up
sooner except by two-thirds vote
Debatable only as to the propriety of postponement
Majority vote
 Takes precedence over amendments and motion to
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postpone indefinitely
Debatable both as to instructions to the committee
and the advisability of referral
May be amended
May recommend, as part of the motion, the formation
of a new committee if none exists
Requires a second
Majority vote
 Takes precedence over Main Motion only
 May be amended or divided
 Chair decides the propriety of amendments, subject to
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appeal
Can use “executive privilege” to treat as a “friendly
amendment” or demand the amendment in writing
An amendment to an amendment cannot be amended
Tabling, postponing, or referring an amendment is the
same as tabling, postponing, or referring the main question
Debatable
Majority vote
 Takes precedence over the Main Question only
 Opens the main Question for debate
 Removes the subject for the session
 Motion postponed can only be brought back by a
motion to reconsider
 Debatable
 Majority vote
 Used when a violation of the rules occurs or is
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suspected
May interrupt a speaker or a vote
The point of order is decided by the Chair, subject to
appeal
Must be raised immediately
No second required
Not debatable
 Used to ask questions not answered during discussion
 All requests for information are addressed to the Chair,
even though aimed at another member
 All answers to questions are addressed to the Chair
 A member rising too often should not be recognized
 Used to make a request that affects the assembly or an
individual
 May interrupt a speaker
 Decided by the Chair (subject to appeal)
 Must be made immediately after a decision by the
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Chair
Requires a second
Cannot be amended
Sometimes debatable
Two-thirds majority vote required to overturn
 Nominating Committees are prohibited
 No nominations may be made at election meetings
 Nominations do not require a second
 Chair may request a unanimous ballot be cast by the
Secretary for all candidates
 Must be unanimous; any objection will force a vote
 Manual on Protocol
 Appendix covers Robert’s Rules of Order and covers
changes in B.P.O.E. usage
 “Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance” O. Garfield
Jones