Parliamentary Procedure Wilcox Central High School.

Parliamentary Procedure

Wilcox Central High School

Objectives

Learn the rules of a meeting and the order of operations.

Discuss vocabulary needed to know when participating in Parliamentary Procedure.

Opening Ceremony

Taps gavel 3 timesGroup risesPresident states: “FFA members,

why are we here?”Members reply: “To practice

brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess.”

Parliamentary Procedure

Definition Correct rules for conducting or running a successful

meeting

3 goals of Parliamentary Procedure Make meeting run smoothly Assure everyone gets to voice their opinion Maintain Order

History of Parliamentary Procedure

Better known as “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

Written by Henry M. Robert in 1876.First revised in 1915.Last revised in 1990.

VocabularyQuorum

1/2 of members in a club plus 1Minimum number of members that

must be present at a meeting for legal business to be transacted

Majority1/2 of members present at any

meeting plus 1minimum number of members that

must vote for a motion for it to pass

Other Important Information

Presiding Officer referred to as: Mr/Madam President Mr/Madam Chairperson

Everyone gets the chance to voice their opinionEveryone gets the chance to Vote

Must take yes and no votes

Only one topic at a time can be discussedWho ever makes a motion has the right to

discuss it first

Other considerations

The taps of the gavel (symbol of leadership, represents chair’s authority).1 tap: be seated, announce vote.2 taps: call to order3 taps: all riseSeries of taps: restore order

• Used to introduce ideas to the group• Must be stated in the form

– I Move that– I Move to

• Can not be in negative form• Only one main motion at a time• Require a second• Amendable

– Can Be Changed

• Debatable– Can be talked about

• Majority Vote– Can be voice

Main Motions

Main Motions Continued

Main Motions that are not Legal Break any Local, State or National Laws Any motion that brings up a motion that has already been failed Items that are outside the power of the group Negative motions Political or religious Support

The person who makes a motion can not talk against it

Main motions can be reconsidered Can not interrupt another speaker Proper Example: Mr President, I move that the

chapter participate in crops judging this year.

Steps to handling a Main Motion

Stand Ask to be recognized by President President recognizes you by name Motion is correctly stated Motion is seconded Motion is repeated by President Motion is discussed President restates motion Motion is voted on Results of vote announced by President

Postpone Indefinitely

PurposeTo kill a main motion

Requires a second Not Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Can not interrupt another speaker Can be reconsidered only if passed Proper Example: Mr President, I move to

Postpone this motion indefinitely

Amendments

Purpose Used to modify a main motion

Must be germane Closely related to the original topic

Can be amended in 4 ways Inserting in middle Adding to end Striking Out Striking out and inserting

Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote

Amendments continuedCan not interrupt another speakerCan be reconsideredImproper amendments

any thing not germane frivolous or absurd leave an incoherent wording

Proper Example: Motion on floor: That the FFA Chapter buy a boat. Amendment: Mr President, I move to amend the motion by

inserting speed in front of boat. So the motion would read, I move that the FFA Chapter buy a speed boat.

Amendment to an Amendment

Purpose To modify an amendment to make it more specific

Requires a second Debatable Not amendable Majority vote Can not interrupt a speaker Proper Example:

Madam President, I move to amend the amendment by inserting Johnson in front of speed. So the final motion with if all amendments pass would read, I move that the FFA chapter buy a Johnson speed boat.

Refer to Committee Purpose

used to send a pending question to a small group so that the question may be carefully investigated

Requires a Second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote 2 ways to appoint a committee

Standing Committee one of the 15 listed in the Program of Activities

Special Committee Appointed by the president Number of members can be 3 or more

Refer to Committee Continued

Can interrupt another speakerPresident must specify when the

committee should report back to the chapter Usually next regular meeting

Committee can be give full power to actProper example:

Mr President, I move that we refer this motion to the Leadership Committee

Mr President, I move we refer this motion to a committee of three appointed by the chair

Postpone Definitely

Purpose allow for the motion on the floor to deferred to a different day, meeting,

or until after a certain event

Requires a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Can interrupt a speaker Proper example:

Madam President, I move to postpone this motion until the December Regular Meeting.

Limit or Extend Debate

Purpose To limit or lengthen the time allowed for discussion on a

motion when it is clear that there will be an excessive amount of discussion or when the amount of time for the meeting is limited.

Requires a secondDebatableAmendable

amount of time or number of speakers only

2/3 Majority VoteCan not interrupt another speaker

Limit / Extend Debate Continued

Maker of the motion must specify the amount of time the number of speakers that can debate the motion

Proper Example Madam President, I move that we limit debate on this motion to 3

discussions for the motion and 3 discussions against the motion. Madam President, I move to limit debate to a maximum of 5 minutes.

Previous Question

Purpose To force an immediate Vote on the motion

Requires a secondNot amendableNot Debatable2/3 VoteCan not interrupt another speakerProper example:

Madam President, I move the previous question Mr President, I call for the previous question

To lay on the tablePurpose

To defer action on the motion until later in the meeting or until the next meeting

Requires a secondNot amendableNot debatableMajority VoteCan not interrupt another speakerProper example:

Mr. President, I move to lay this motion on the table

To take from the table

Purpose To take a motion that is on the table off of the table.

Requires a secondnot amendableNot debatableMajority voteCan not interrupt another speakerProper Example

I move to take the motion that reads to buy a boat from the table.

Reconsider Purpose

to reevaluate a decision that was made earlier

Requires a second Not amendable Debatable Majority vote Can not interrupt another speaker If passed, the motion to be reconsidered is handled

just as if it was never voted on Only can be made by a person who voted on the

winning side If passed the motion is handled immediately if:

only a main motion with amendments is on the floor.

Reconsider Continued Handled after the current business if:

discussion on refer to committee, or postponement has started.

Motions that can be reconsidered Main motions Amendments Refer to committee Postpone definitely Previous question Appeal the decision of the chair Only if failed

withdraw Only if passed

Postpone indefinitely

Proper Example Mr President, I move to reconsider the motion to buy a boat.

RecindPurpose

To REPEAL PREVIOUS ACTION

Requires a SecondDebatableAmendable2/3 majority voteCan not interrupt another speakerProper Example

Madam President, I move that we reconsider the vote to buy a boat.

Suspend the Rules

Purpose allows the chapter to break the rules of parliamentary procedure, or the

current constitution for a short period of time.

Requires a secondNot amendableNot debatable2/3 voteCan not interrupt another speaker Proper example:

Mr President, Because of the lack of time tonight, I move to suspend the rules and skip directly to new business.

Modify or WithdrawPurpose

This motion allows for the maker of a motion to change a motion or completely take it off the floor for discussion.

Not amendableNot debatableIf made before President first states the

motion it is automatically withdrawn with no second or vote.

If made after President first states the motion the following steps must be taken.

Modify or Withdraw cont’d 1) President must asks if anyone objects to the maker withdrawing the

motion if someone objects must be seconded, and passed with majority vote

On no one objects the motion is automatically withdrawn

Can not be made after discussion has begun

Proper form Mr President, I would like to withdraw my motion.

Divide a Motion

Purpose This motion allows a motion that has been made to be split into two

different motions

This can only be made on motions that have two main ideas that are not dependent on each other

Requires a second Not debatable Amendable Majority vote Can not interrupt another speaker

Divide a Motion Con’t

Proper example Motion on the floor, I move to buy a boat and go to the zoo. Madam President, I move to divide this motion into tow motions. The

first stating the we buy a boat and the second that we go to the zoo.

Object to the Consideration Purpose

Used when a member thinks that the activity or action of the group is not appropriate.

Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable 2/3 vote Can interrupt another speaker Proper form

Mr President, I object to the consideration of this question. President should say “Objection to the consideration has

been called. All those who wish to consider the motion raise your right hand. All those who object to the consideration of this question same sign.

Division of the house

Purpose When called, this forces a immediate revote by hand

Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable No vote needed Can interrupt another speaker Proper form

Can be made by saying “division” loud enough for the entire group to hear

Or by standing and saying “I call for a division of the house”

Point of Order Purpose

Used when a member thinks that the rules of the group or the rules of parliamentary procedure are being violated.

Does not require a second Not amendable Not debatable President decides on verdict Can interrupt another speaker Proper example

Mr President, I rise to a point of order. President says, “State your point” After member states point, president says “your point is well taken” or

“Your point is not well taken”

Appeal Purpose

To reverse the decision of the chairman, after they have made an error.

Requires a second Not amendable

Debatable (this is the only motion where President can discuss)

Majority vote Can interrupt another speaker Most of the time you should support the decision of

your president. Proper Example

Mr President I appeal the decision of the chair. President should say “Appeal the decision of the chair has

been called, all those who wish to uphold the decision of the chair say I, all opposed same sign.”

Orders of the Day

Purpose This motion forces the group to return to the set agenda,

without finishing the current business.

Does not require a second Not Amendable Not Debatable 2/3 vote against to fail

Can only be made on motions that are not on the set agenda for that meeting.

Mr. President, I call for the orders of the day. President should say, Orders of the day has been called. All

those who wish to return to the orders of the day, raise your hand. All those opposed to returning to the orders of the day, same sign.

Question of Privilege Purpose

This allows for people in the group to ask for changes in the temperature, for ideas to clarified, for motions to be explained, for others to repeat their discussion or motions, and anything that may help the meeting run more smoothly.

Does not need a second Not amendable Not debatable No Vote, Presidents decision Can interrupt another speaker Proper Example

Madam President, I Rise to a question of privilege. President says, “State Your Question” Then the member says whatever they have to and the

president decides on whether it will be allowed or not.

Recess

Purpose This allows for a short break in the meeting

Needs a second Amendable Debatable Majority Vote Can not interrupt another speaker Must specify the length of time in the motion Proper example

Mr President, I move to take a 5 minute recess.

Adjourn

Purpose To end the Meeting

Needs a secondNot AmendableNot DebatableMajority VoteCan not interrupt another speakerProper example

Mr president, I move to adjourn.

Fix time to Reassemble

Purpose To arrange time for next meeting

Needs a SecondAmendableDebatableMajority VoteCan interrupt a speakerProper example

Mr. President, I move to adjourn until 7 pm on December 12th.