Robert's Rules of Order - Summary Version

For Fair and Orderly Meetings & Conventions

Provides common rules and procedures for deliberation and debate in order to placethe whole membership on the same footing and speaking the same language. Theconduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of the whole membership -the right of the deliberate majority to decide. Complementary is the right of at leasta strong minority to require the majority to be deliberate - to act according to itsconsidered judgment AfTER a full and fair "working through" of the issues involved.Robert's Rules provides for constructive and democratic meetings, to help, not hinder,the business of the assembly. Under no circumstances should "undue strictness" beallowed to intimidate members or limit full participation.

The fundamental right of deliberative assemblies requires all questions to bethoroughly discussed before taking action!

The assembly rules - they have the final say on everything! Silence means consent!

Procedure:

e Obtain the floor (the right to speak) by being the first to stand when the personspeaking has finished; state Mr./Madam Chairman. Raising your hand meansnothing, and standing while another has the floor is out of order! Must berecognized by the Chair before speaking!

® Debate cannot begin until the Chair has stated the motion or resolution and asked"are you ready for the question?" if no one rises, the chair calls for the vote!

e Before the motion is stated by the Chair (the question) members may suggestmodification of the motion; the mover can modify as he pleases, or even withdrawthe motion without consent of the seconder; if mover modtfies, the seconder canwithdraw the second.

e The "immediately pending question" is the last question stated by the Chair!Motion/Resolution - Amendment ~Nlotion to Postpone

@ The member moving the "immediately pending question" is entitled to preferenceto the floor!

e No member can speak twice to the same issue until everyone else wishing to speakhas spoken to it once!

~ AU remarks must be directed to the Chair. Remarks must be courteous in languageand deportment - avoid all. personalities, never allude to others by name or tomotives!

~ The agenda and all committee reports are merely recommendations! Whenpresented to the assembly and the question is stated, debate begins and changesoccur!

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Robert's Rules of Order sa Summary Version

The Rules

Point of Privilege

Pertains to noise, personal comfort, etc. - may interrupt only if necessary!

Parliamentary Inquiry

Inquire as to the correct motion - to accomplish a desired result, or raise apoint of order

Point of Information

Generally applies to information desired from the speaker: "I should like to askthe (speaker) a question."

Orders of the Day (Agenda)

A call to adhere to the agenda (a deviation from the agenda requiresSuspending the Rules)

Point of Order

Infraction of the rules, or improper decorum in speaking. Must be raisedimmediately after the error is made

Main Motion

Brings new business (the next item on the agenda) before the assembly

Divide the Question

Divides a motion into two or more separate motions (must be able to stand ontheir own)

Constder by Paragraph

Adoption of paper is held until all paragraphs are debated and amended andentire paper is satisfactory; after all paragraphs are considered, the entirepaper is then open to amendment, and paragraphs may be further amended.Any Preamble cannot be considered until debate on the body of the paper hasceased.

Amend

Inserting or striking out words or paragraphs, or substituting whole paragraphsor resolutions

Withdraw/Modify Motion

Applies only after question is stated; mover can accept an amendment withoutobtaining the floor

Commit/Refer/Recommit to Committee

State the committee to receive the question or resolution; if no committeeexists include size of committee desired and method of selecting the members(election or appointment).

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Robert's Rules of Order ~Summary Version

Extend Debate

Applies only to the trnrnediately pending question; extends until a certain timeor for a certain period of time

limit DebateClosing debate at a certain time, or limiting to a certain period of time

Postpone to a Certain Time

State the time the motion or agenda item will be resumed

Object to Consideration

Objection must be stated before discussion or another motion is stated

Lay on the Table

Temporarily suspends further consideration/action on pending question; maybe made after motion to dose debate has carried or is pending

Take from the Table

Resumes consideration of item previously "laid on the table" - state the motionto take from the table

Reconsider

Can be made onlv by one on the prevailing side who has changed position orview

Postpone Indefinite!y

Kills the questton/resoiutton for this session - exception: the motion toreconsider can be made this session

Previous Question

Closes debate if successful - may be moved to "Close Debate" if preferred

Informal Consideration

MOVE: that the assembly go into "Committee of the Whole" - informal debate asif in committee; this committee may limit number or length of speeches ordose debate by other means by a 2i3 vote, AU votes, however, are formal.

Appeal Decision of the ChairAppeal for the assembly to decide - must be-made before other business isresumed; NOT debatable if relates to decorum, violation of rules or order ofbusiness

Suspend the Rules

Allows a violation of the assembly's own rules (except Constitution); the objectof the suspension must be specified

© 1997 Beverly Kennedy

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Robert's Rules of Order - Summary Version

Explanation of Summary Charts

Must be Recognized?

If Yes, the maker of the motion must be recognized by the Chair in order forthe motion to be considered.

If No, the maker may call out the motion without being recognized.

Requires Second?

If Yes, the motion must be seconded by someone other than the maker.

If No, the motion does not require seconding.

Debatable?

If Yes, the motion may be debated from the floor prior to a vote.

If No, the motion cannot be debated, and must be voted or acted uponimmediately.

May be Amended?

If Yes, a subsequent motion to amend the motion IS in order.

If No, the motion cannot be amended

Vote Required

Indicates the vote result necessary for the motion to be accepted by thebody. If None, no vote is taken or in order.

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Robert's Rules of Order - Summary Version

Main Motions

These motions are listed in order of precedence. A motion can be introduced if it is higher on the chartthan the pending motion.

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PURPOSE: YOU SAY: I...

Close meeting Move to adjourn Yes Yes No No MajorityTake break Move to recess for ... Yes Yes No Yes MajorityRegister complaint Rise to a ouestion of privilege No No No No NoneMake follow agenda Call for the orders of the day No No No No NoneLay aside temporarily Move to lay the question on the table Yes Yes No No MajorityClose debate Move the previous Question Yes Yes No No 213Limit or extend debate Move that debate be limited to ... Yes Yes No Yes 213Postpone to a certain time Move to postpone the motion to ... Yes Yes Yes Yes MajorityRefer to committee Move to refer the motion to ... Yes Yes Yes Yes MajorltyModify wording of motion Move to amend the motion by ... Yes Yes Yes Yes MajorityKill main motion Move to postpone indefinitely Yes Yes Yes No MajorityMake a motion Move that ... Yes Yes Yes Yes Majority

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Robert's Rules of Order = Summary Verston

incidental MotionsThese motions arise incidentally and are decided immediately

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PURPOSE: YOU SAY: s....-_.----.-------

Enforce rules Point of Order Yes No No No None-

Submit matter to assembly Appeal the decision of the chair Yes Yes Varies No MajoritySuspend rules Move to suspend _the rules No Yes No No 2/3Avoid main motion Object to consideration Yes No No No 2/3Divide motion Move to divide the question No Yes No Yes MajorityDemand a rising vote Move for a r'ising vote Yes No No No None

Parliamentary law question Parliamentary inquiry Yes No No No NoneRequest for information Point of information Yes No No No None

Motions That Bring a Question Again Before the Assembly.No order of precedence. introduce only when nothing else is pending.1--- •..... 1'0.

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Take matter from table Move to take from the table ... No Yes No No MajorityCancel previous action Move to rescind ... No Yes Yes Yes 2/3Reconsider motion Move to reconsider ... No Yes Varies No Majority

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