Parliamentary Procedure
Robert’s Rules of Order,
RONR 10th Ed.
Senate Retreat 2008
Parliamentary Procedure
 Definition
Parliamentary procedure, often used interchangeably with
"parliamentary law," is more correctly defined as
parliamentary law in combination with the rules of order
that a given assembly or organization has adopted.
Parliamentary law is:
 rules of the game of democracy.
 rules and customs that govern deliberative and decisionmaking assemblies and organizations.”
Parliamentary Procedure
 “The term rules of order refers to written rules of parliamentary
procedure formally adopted by a group of people or by an organization.
These rules relate to the orderly transaction of business in meetings and
to the duties of officers in facilitating the conduct of business. An
organization's rules of order may include bylaws, standing rules, policy
manuals, and other rules.
(RONR 10th ed.)
 Objectives
Parliamentary procedure
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establishes the purpose and structure of organizations;
defines membership classifications, rights, and obligations; and
defines rules and procedures for conducting business.”
 http://parliamentarians.org/definition.php
Rules of Order
 The Law
 The SGA Constitution
 The SGC-UP Bylaws
 Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR 10th ed.)
 Custom
Outline
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I. Meetings
II. Motions
III. Debate
IV. Amendments
V. Postponing & Referring to a Committee
VI. Voting
VII. Rules
VIII. Motions Guide
I. Meetings Outline
 A. Presiding Officer and Secretary
 B. Quorum
 C. Order of Business
 D. Agenda
 E. Adjournment/Recess/Stand at Ease
I. Meetings, A. Presiding
Officer & Secretary
 Preside: The process of
overseeing a meeting and
the enforcement of rules.
 Chairman: Individual
specifically elected to
preside over the meeting.
(i.e. Senate Speaker,
President)
 “The Chair”: The title
given and addressed to the
chairman when he/she is
actually presiding the
meeting.
 President: Title given
usually to an individual
elected to preside over the
meeting for an elongated
period of time (i.e. 1 year,
etc).
 Secretary: Individual
elected or appointed to take
minutes of the meeting.
 Minutes: Written record of
what is done during the
meetings. They are
approved by majority vote.
I. Meetings,
B. Quorum
 Quorum: This is the minimum amount of members needed
in attendance to get any formal business done (i.e. approving
minutes, voting on legislation, etc).
 SGC-UP quorum is a simple majority of members.[1] SGCUP Senate Quorum is 14 or more Senators. University Wide
Council is a simple majority given restrictions.[2]
 “Any substantive action taken in the absence of a Quorum is
invalid.”[3]
I. Meetings,
C. Order of Business
 Call to order: The beginning of the meeting as
called by the residing chair. “The meeting will come
to order.”
 Order of Business: The set order of discussing and
tackling various issues. Exp:

Simplified Standard of Order of Business
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Reading and Approval of Minutes
Reports
Unfinished Business
New Business
I. Meetings,
C. Order of Business
 1.
Reading and Approval of Minutes: Chair states:
“The secretary will read the minutes.” Then Chair will ask
“Are there any corrections to the minutes?” Disputes are
debated and corrections made via vote (majority). Chair then
states “If there are no [further] corrections, the minutes are
approved.”
 2.
Reports: The chair asks for reports to be read; “May
we have the Treasurer’s Report?” Reports generally give
information as well as include recommendations of action
for the assembly. Recommendations are debated and voted
upon.
I. Meetings,
C. Order of Business
1.
2.
Unfinished Business: After reports, Chair asks, “Under
unfinished business, the first item of business is the motion
relating to…, which was pending when the last meeting
adjourned. The question is on the adoption of the motion
[stating the motion]… [After item debated and voted on:]
The next item of business is…” Unfinished business is
defined as:
New Business: After unfinished business, Chair asks, “Is
there any new business?” Members may then bring new
items forward via motions
I. Meetings,
D. Agenda
 Agenda: Agenda is a scheduled adopted and
voted upon by the group. It may set exact
voted upon times and order of business.
I. Meetings, E. Adjournment/
Recess/Stand at Ease
 Adjournment: Chair states, “Is there any further
business?... Since there is no further business the meeting is
adjourned.” An adjourned meeting means it is closed. A
majority may vote to close a meeting given there being untackled orders of business.
 Recess: A majority may vote to have a timed period of
recess to leave the room.
 Stand at Ease: The chair may call for a stand at ease where
the meeting is paused and members talk in their seats until
the chair calls the meeting to order.
II. Motions Outline
 A. Motions
 B. Speaking at a Meeting
 C. How a Motion Gets Before the Group
 D. How a Group Considers a Motion
II. Motions,
A. Main Motions
 Motion: Formal proposal by a member
during a meeting that leads the group to take
certain action.[1]
 Main Motion: A motion that brings business
before the assembly. Only one main motion
is allowed on the floor at a time. No debate is
done on a subject unless first brought forth
by a motion.[2]
II. Motions,
B. Speaking
 Recognized: To make a motion or speak in a debate, you
stand up immediately after the previous speaker and address
the chair by their title; “Madam Chairperson”, etc. The chair
then designates you as the new speaker, recognizing you by
usually calling you by your name or title, “Mr. Goenaga”.
 Have the Floor: When authorized to speak by the
Chairperson, you are said to “Have the Floor.”
 Yield the Floor: When you finish, you sit down and thus
“Yield the Floor” to other speakers.
II. Motions,
B. Speaking, EXP:
 Getting Recognized to Speak
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MEMBER A [Stands]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mr A.
MEMBER A: It’s not a very good idea to… [Sits
down when finished speaking].”
II. Motions,
C. Making a Motion
 How to Make a Motion: To make a motion,
you simply say “I move that…” when you
Have the Floor. You then describe the
proposal.
II. Motions,
C. Making a Motion, EXP:
 Making a Motion
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MEMBER A [Stands]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mr. A.
MEMBER A: I move that the Tennis League
establish a division open to juniors and seniors
enrolled in city high schools.
[When finished making the motion, be seated.
Wait until later to explain why the motion is a
good idea.]
II. Motions,
C. Making a Motion
 “Seconding” a Motion: After a motion is made, a
Senator/Member needs to second it in order for said
Motion to be discussed. The person seconding a
motion doesn’t need to agree with it, but only have
the desire to consider it.
 The Chair “States” a Question: After a motion is
moved and seconded, the Chair states the question
on the motion. The chair says “It is moved and
seconded that”, and then repeats the motion exactly.
II. Motions
C. Making a Motion, EXP:
 Making, Seconding, and Stating a Motion
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MEMBER A [Stands]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mr. A.
MEMBER A: I move that the Tennis League establish a
division open to juniors and seniors enrolled in city high
schools.
[When finished making the motion, be seated. Wait until
later to explain why the motion is a good idea.]
MEMBER B [Seated]: Second!
CHAIR: It is moved and seconded that the Tennis
League establish a division open to juniors and seniors
enrolled in city high schools.
II. Motions
D. Group Consideration
Debate on Motion
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Pending: When motion stated by chair, it is
pending or “on the floor”.
Debate: When motion is pending/on-the-floor,
it is now open to debate. Debate is the
discussion of the merits of the question. After
stated, Chair usually turns to Maker of Motion
to see if he/she wished to be assigned to the
floor.
II. Motions
D. Group Consideration, EXP:
 Debate
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MEMBER A [Stands]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mr. A.
MEMBER A: We need to bring young people into tennis
to keep the sport
alive… [Sits when finished].
MEMBER B [Stands after Member A sits]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mrs. B
MEMBER B: Most of our members are adults. High
school students should establish their own league… [Sits
when finished].
II. Motions,
D. Group Consideration
 Chair “Puts” The Question
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When no one is left seeking Recognition for
debate, the chair may ask “Are you ready for the
question?” or “Is there any further debate?” If
no further debate, the Chair stands and puts the
question to a vote.
II. Motions,
D. Group Consideration, EXP:
 Putting the Question
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CHAIR: The question is on the adoption of the
motion that the Tennis League establish a
division open to juniors and seniors enrolled in
city high schools. Those in favor of the motion,
say aye, those against no. [Calls Senators one by
one]
Some Members, when called [Seated] Aye!
Some Members, when called [Seated]: No!
II. Motions,
D. Group Consideration
 Chair Announces Results of the Vote
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After the votes are collected, the Chair announces the
results. It has four parts:
i.
Reporting which side “has it”. “The ayes have
it, and the motion is adopted.”
ii.
Reporting that the motion/bill/resolution is
adopted or lost.
iii.
Reporting the effects of the vote.
iv.
Reporting the next item of business (if any).
II. Motions,
Review
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MEMBER A [Stands]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mr. A.
MEMBER A: I move that the Tennis League establish a division open to juniors and seniors enrolled in
city high schools.
[When finished making the motion, be seated. Wait until later to explain why the motion is a good idea.]
MEMBER B [Seated]: Second!
CHAIR: It is moved and seconded that the Tennis League establish a division open to juniors and
seniors enrolled in city high schools.
MEMBER A [Stands]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mr. A.
MEMBER A: We need to bring young people into tennis to keep the sport alive… [Sits when finished].
MEMBER B [Stands after Member A sits]: Mr. Speaker!
CHAIR: Mrs. B
MEMBER B: Most of our members are adults. High school students should establish their own
league… [Sits when finished].
CHAIR: Is there any further debate?...The question is on the adoption of the motion that the Tennis
League establish a division open to juniors and seniors enrolled in city high schools. Those in favor of
the motion, say aye, those against no. [Calls Senators one by one]
Some Members, when called [Seated] Aye!
Some Members, when called [Seated]: No!
CHAIR: The ayes have it, and the motion is adopted. The Tennis League will establish a division open
to juniors and seniors enrolled in city high schools. Is there further new business?
III. Debate Outline
 A. Rules of Debate
 B. Limit or Extend Limits of Debate
 C. Close Debate Immediately: Move to the
Previous Question
III. Debate,
A. Rules of Debate
 Speech Limits in Debate: Each member may
speak twice on any debatable motion for up to 10
minute each. This does change with secondary's.
 Recognition: The Chair designates, or recognizes,
who to speak by addressing the first person who
rises after Speaker finishes talking and sat down.
You cannot stand for recognition and interrupt
someone recognized until they finish speaking and
sit down (unless with an Incidental Motion) .
III. Debate,
A. Rules of Debate
 Germane: Your speech must have bearing on
whether the pending motion/bill should or
should not be adopted. One cannot talk about
things at random.

Stick to the subject.
 Debate issues, not personalities.
III. Debate,
A. Rules of Debate
 Formalities
 You never address another individual, but always
speak as if to the Chair. “Mr. Speaker, the previous
speaker’s points were wrong for the following
reasons…”
 Instead of names, officers are addressed by titles
and members usually as “the previous speaker” or
“Gentleman/Gentlewoman”.
III. Debate
B. Limit or Extend Limit
 Limit & Extend Limit
 This is a motion made
to limit the time of
debate.
 Debate Timeframe
(debate for 1 hour).
 Member Debate Time
(from 10 minutes to 2).
 EXP:
 MEMBER A: “I move
that in debate on the
pending amendment,
each member be
limited to one speech of
three minutes.”
III. Debate, C. Motion for
Previous Question
 Motion for Previous
Question: A motion to end
debate. It also ends
secondary motions (such as
Amend, Commit, etc), as
well as prevents it from
being moved later during
the meeting. It requires a
2/3 vote, and is also
undebatable. Also needs to
be seconded.
 EXP:
 MEMBER A: “I move
the previous question.”
IV. Amendments Outline
 A. Definition
 B. Word Changes
 C. Amending Paragraphs
 D. Amending Amendments
 E. Germaneness & Amendments
 F. Settled
IV. Amendments,
A. Definition
 Amendments: Sometimes you may hear a
motion but may want to change a specific
word, or remove one. When you want to
modify the motion, you propose an
amendment.
 It is important to be specific with your
proposed amendment.
IV. Amendments,
B. Simple Word Changes
Insert or Add
Words
Strike Out
Words
Strike Out and
Insert Words
If you wanted to insert
words somewhere in a
motion, you would wait
until recognized and say
“I move to insert words
‘…’ before ‘…’ ”
If you wanted to add
words at the end of a
motion, you would wait
until recognized and say
“I move to add words
‘…’ ”
If you want to strike out
a word or words from a
motion, you make an
Amendment to Strike Out
“I move to strike out the
words ‘…’ ”
If you want to strike out
a word or words, and
insert in their place other
words, you make an
Amendment to Strike Out
& Insert, or “I move to
strike out the words ‘…’
and insert the words ‘…’
”
IV. Amendments,
C. Amending Paragraphs
Insert or Add a Strike out a
Paragraph
Paragraph
Same process as the
Insert or Add
word/words.
Same process as the
Strike-out word/words.
Substitute
(strike out and
insert)
Same process as the
strike out and insert
word/words.
IV. Amendments,
D. Amending Amendments
 Secondary Amendment: An amended
motion can be amended a second time,
however secondary amendments cannot be
amended. You cannot have a third layer of
amendments.
IV. Amendments,
E. Germaness & Amendments
 All amendments proposed must relate
somehow to the initial proposed motion and
the raised question it concerns itself with.
IV. Amendments,
F. Settled
 Settled: “The basic rule is that after the
group has voted that certain words shall, or
shall not, be part of a motion, you cannot
offer another amendment that raises the same
question of content and effect. Common
sense is necessary to apply this principle
from case to case.”[1]
V. Postponing & Referring
Outline
 A. Postpone to a Certain Time
 B. Commit or Refer
V. Postponing & Referring,
A. Postponing
 Postpone to a Certain
Time: This is a subsidiary
motion made to postpone
discussion on a main
motion till a later time
(some meeting or next).
 Adopted by Majority Vote.
 Also known as Motion to
Postpone Definitely, or
Postpone
 I move to postpone the
motion until 3pm
 OR
 I move to postpone the
motion to the next meeting.
(In this case it will come
up right after unfinished
business at the next
meeting.)
V. Postponing & Referring,
B. Committing & Referring
 Motion to Commit: If
you feel the Main
Motion would best be
drafted & edited in a
committee, you can
motion it to one.
Standing Committees have a
continuing existence and
function, normally
responsible over a particular
subject matter.
Special Committees are
created for a particular task,
and go out of existence when
that task is completed.
VI. Voting,
Outline
 A. Types of Voting
 B. Unanimous Consent
VI. Voting,
A. Types of Voting
Majority
Vote
Simple
majority of
those voting.
Plurality
Vote
The largest
number of
votes when
there are three
or more
alternatives
President
(Not RONR)
Two-Thirds Majority of
Vote
Entire
At least two Membership
thirds of the
Vote
votes cast by
persons
legally
qualified to
vote.
A majority
of the total
number of
those who are
members.
VI. Voting,
B. Unanimous Consent
 Unanimous consent enables a motion to be adopted
or some action to be taken without the necessity of
having the process for routine matters. It even
permits taking action without the formality of a
motion being made at all.
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The Chair asks the assembly for any objections to the
procedure.
If no member objects (by simply saying “I object), then
the chair declares the action has been agreed to.
VII. Rules,
Outline
 A. Point of Order
 Appeal
 Parliamentary Inquiry
VII. Rules,
A. Point of Order
 When you believe there to be a violation of the
Rules of order, you may interrupt the Chair or a
Speaker and call out “Point of Order!” without
being recognized.
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
“The member will state her point of order.” You then
explain why you believe a rule has been broken and then
sit down.
The chair then rules on your Point of Order, saying “The
chair rules that the point of order is well taken.” Or
the opposite, and then explaining why or why not.
VII. Rules
B. Appeal
 If you believe the Chair to be wrong still, you
may Appeal to the entire Senate/Group.
Without being recognized, you stand and
state “I appeal from the decision of the
chair.” If it is seconded, it is debated, and
then goes for a majority vote.
 Majority in the negative is needed.
VII. Rules
C. Parliamentary Inquiry
 When you want to ask a question concerning
Parliamentary procedure, and how it relates
to the discussion pending, you may, without
recognition, stand and state “A
parliamentary inquiry, please.”
VIII. Motions, Guide
Outline
 Main Motion:“is a motion whose introduction brings
business before an assembly.”
 Subsidiary/Secondary Motions: “assist the assembly in
treating or disposing of a main motion”
 Immediately Pending Motions: This is the motion, main or
secondary, that is currently being discussed before the
group.
 Incidental Motion: These are motions that do not fall under
the Precedence of Motions chart, and are made to challenge
rules of order (Point of order, Appeal. Etc). They arise
incidentally out of other motions and rules of procedure.
These take precedence over all other pending motions.
VIII. Motions Guide,
Tactics
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The Common Motions Classified According to Their
(4) To Suppress the Question.
Objects.
(a) Objection to Its Consideration
(1) To Modify or Amend.
(2/3 Vote) .............................23
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(2) To Defer Action.
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(a) Amend ..............................33
(b) Commit or Refer ....................32
(a) Postpone to a Certain Time .........31
(b) Make a Special Order (2/3 Vote) ....20
(c) Lay on the Table ...................28
(3) To Suppress or Limit Debate (2/3 Vote).
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(a) Previous Question (to close debate
now) (2/3 Vote) ........................29
(b) Limit Debate (2/3 Vote) ............30
(b) Previous Question and Reject
Question ...............................29
(c) Postpone Indefinitely ..............34
(d) Lay on the Table ...................28
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(5) To Consider a Question a Second
Time.
(a) Take from the Table ................35
(b) Reconsider .........................36
(c) Rescind ............................37
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(6) To Prevent Final Action on a
Question
in an Unusually Small or
Unrepresentative
Meeting.
(a) Reconsider and have Entered on
the Minutes ............................36
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VIII. Motions Guide,
Precedence of Motions
 Taking Precedence: When one motion
yields to another, the latter motion takes
precedence and becomes the immediately
pending motion. If you are discussing a
Motion, and someone motions to amend it,
the main motion yields to the motion to
amend.
In Conclusion You Learned…
Presiding
Officer
Quorum
Order of
Business
Agenda
Adjournment
Recess
Stand at Ease
Motions
Speaking at a
Meeting
Getting a
Motion before
a Group
Seconding
Chair
‘Stating’
Debating
Chair
‘Putting’
Debate
Limits
Previous
Question
Amendments
Word
Changes
Paragraph
Changes
Germaness
Settled
Postpone to a
Certain Time
Commit or
Refer
Standing &
Special
Committees
Types of
Voting
Unanimous
Consent
Point of
Order
Appeal
Parliamentar
y Inquiry
Main Motion
Subsidiary/Se
condary
Motions
Immediately
Pending
Motions
Incidental
Motions
Precedence
of Motions
Order of
Precedence
Thank You!
Move to Adjourn Robert’s Rules…?
Any Parliamentary Questions?
Email me at LGoen001@fiu.edu
Or Call me at 786.223.2404
Sources: http://parliamentarians.org/definition.php
RONR 10th Edition, RONR Brief 10th Edition,
http://constitution.org/rror/rror-00.htm