What are Robert’s Rules of Order? (Douglas N. Case; San Diego State University)
The first edition of the book was published in February, 1876 by U.S. Army Major Henry Martyn Robert. Its procedures were loosely modeled after those used in the United States House of Representatives. Robert wrote Robert’s Rules of Order after presiding over a church meeting and discovering that delegates from different areas of the country did not agree about proper procedure. The book is now in its 10th edition; Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR).
General Points on Parliamentary Procedure Applicable to Parentcrew:
- All members have equal rights, privileges and obligations.
- A quorum must be present for the group to act – if the bylaws of the organization do not establish a quorum, the general rule is that a majority of the entire membership must be present in order to transact business.
- Full and free discussion of every motion is a basic right.
- Only one question at a time may be considered, and only one person may have the floor at any one time.
- Members have a right to know what the immediately pending question is and to have it restated before a vote is taken.
- Personal remarks are always out of order.
- Silence gives consent. Those who do not vote allow the decision to be made by those who do vote.
General Procedure for Handling a Motion:
1. A member normally must obtain the floor by being recognized by the chair.
2. Member makes a motion (state a motion affirmatively. Say, "I move that we ..." rather than, "I move that we do not ...").
3. A motion must be seconded by another member before it can be considered (the Chairman can call for a second); if there is no second to your motion, the motion is lost.
4. Before the motion is restated by the chair, any member can rise, without waiting to be recognized, and suggest a modification of the wording to clarify the motion. The maker of the motion can choose to accept or reject the modified wording (does not require a second).
5. If the motion is in order, the chair will restate the motion and open debate (if the motion is debatable).
6. The maker of a motion has the right to speak first in debate.
7. Debate is closed when:
a. Discussion has ended, or
b. A two-thirds vote closes debate ("Previous Question")
8. The chair restates the motion, and if necessary clarifies the consequences of affirmative and negative votes.
9. The chair calls for a vote.
10. The chair announces the result.
11. Any member may challenge the chair's count by demanding a “Division of the Assembly.”
Typical Order of Business in Parentcrew Board Meetings:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call/Determination of a Quorum (done informally)
3. Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
4. Reports of Officers
5. Reports of Standing Committees
6. Reports of Special (Ad hoc) Committees
7. Special Orders & Unfinished Business and General Orders
8. New Business/Announcements
9. Adjournment
Recommended Books:
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, Tenth Edition, 2000
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, In Brief, 2004
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Robert’s Rules, Nancy Sylvester, 2004
Robert’s Rules for Dummies, C. Alan Jennings, 2004
Recommended Web Sites:
www.robertsrules.com
www.robertsrules.org
parliamentarians.org
www.rulesonline.com
www.parlipro.org
