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Quick Rules of Order Primer

Many of our meetings are held informally, with people raising their hand to talk. When a meeting must be more formal, either because there is a lot of business to cover, or for some other reason, we will use a simplified version of the standard rules of parliamentary order as set down in Robert's Rules of Order.

Our simplified version is an edited form of the 1915 public domain edition of Robert's Rules of Order, with 1996 modifications by the Constitution Society. Materials are used with permission of the society. We have included only the most basic of the rules in order to facilitate quick understanding. If we have missed something both basic and important, please let the webmasters know.

Obtaining the floor

Before a member can make a motion, or address the assembly in debate, it is necessary that he should obtain the floor -- that is, he must rise after the floor has been yielded, and address the presiding officer by his official title. If the member is entitled to the floor, the chairman "recognizes" him, or assigns him the floor, by announcing his name.

Motions and Resolutions

A motion is a proposal that the assembly take certain action, or that it express itself as holding certain views. It is made by a member's obtaining the floor as already described and saying, "I move that" (which is equivalent to saying, "I propose that"), and then stating the action he proposes to have taken. As a general rule, every motion should be seconded. This is to prevent time being consumed in considering a question that only one person favors, and consequently little attention is paid to it in routine motions.

Stating the Question and Debate

When a motion has been made and seconded, it is the duty of the chair, unless he rules it out of order, immediately to state the question -- that is, state the exact question that is before the assembly for its consideration and action. This he may do in various ways, depending somewhat on the nature of the question, as illustrated by the following example: "It is moved and seconded that the following resolution be adopted [reading the resolution]". After a question has been stated by the chair, it is before the assembly for consideration and action. Debate must be limited to the merits of the immediately pending question -- that is, the last question stated by the chair that is still pending. Speakers must be courteous in their language and deportment, and avoid all personalities, never alluding to the motives of members.

Putting the Question and Announcing the Vote

When the debate appears to have closed, the chair asks again, "Are you ready for the question?" If no one rises he proceeds to put the question -- that is, to take the vote on the question, first calling for the affirmative and then for the negative vote. In putting the question the chair should make perfectly clear what the question is that the assembly is to decide. If the question is on the adoption of a resolution, unless it has been read very recently, it should be read again, the question being put in a way similar to this: "The question is on the adoption of the resolution [which the chair reads]; those in favor of the resolution say aye; those opposed say no. The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted;" or, "The noes have it, and the resolution is lost."

Questions of Order and Appeal

A Question of Order takes precedence of the pending question out of which it arises; is in order when another has the floor, even interrupting a speech or the reading of a report; does not require a second; cannot be amended or have any other subsidiary motion applied to it; yields to privileged motions and the motion to lay on the table; and must be decided by the presiding officer without debate.

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Last Modified October 28, 2006 9:33 AM , Site Hits: