Robert's Rules:

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• Robert's Rules
• The RHA Way

It is difficult to find another branch of
knowledge where a small amount of study produces
such great results in increased efficiency in a
country where the people rule, as in
parliamentary law. -Henry M. Robert
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John Sturk, Internal Vice-President RHA
Parliamentarian
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Overview

• Motions are our Friend!
• Meeting Protocol Debate How We Do It
• Cast Your Vote How to Make Your Voice Heard
• Attendance Policies Be Here or Be Square!
• Conclusion/Questions

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Parli-Pro Lingo
AKA SturkSpeak

• The Question
• The current proposal before the body
• The Chair
• Whoever is presiding over the meeting, usually
  Tim
• The Floor
• The person who has been recognized and may speak

• Germane
• Relevant to the Question
• Representative
• YOU!!
• Quorum
• The minimum number of people needed to conduct
  Business

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Motions Are Our Friend!

• What is a motion?
• Any formal proposal for action by the body.
• How do I make a motion?
• Obtain the floor, and state Mr. President, I
  move
• Do not say I motion Thats incorrect!
• If you dont know exactly how to word the motion
  you want to make, simply ask for assistance when
  you obtain the floor! Were happy to help you.

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Types of Motions

• Four Types of Motions
• Main
• Subsidiary
• Incidental
• Privileged
• Bills are proposals for action, and considered
  Main Motions

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Types of Motions, cont.

• Main
• Lowest Rank
• Brings a New Topic before the Body
• Require a Second Majority vote (50 1)
• Subsidiary
• Propose action on the Main Motion
• Most require a Second Majority vote
• Some require a 2/3 vote

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Types of Motions, cont.

• Privileged
• When something needs to be taken care of NOW
• Most require a Second Majority vote
• Incidental
• Miscellaneous
• Pointing, Questions, Yellow Fruit, and
  Court-Speak
• Points of Order/Info/Clarify/Pers. Priv.,
  Appeals, Objections, and Parliamentary Inquiry

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Motion Order

• Introducing the Motion
• Seconding
• Questions on the Motion
• Debate
• NOT ALL MOTIONS ARE DEBATABLE!
• Voting

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Common RHA Motions

• To Amend
• May not interrupt a Speaker, Requires a Second
• Must be worded exactly
• If you need some assistance, go ahead and ask!
  Were here to help you!
• Refer to Chapter 2 in Roberts Rules The RHA
  Way in your binders

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Common Motions, cont.

• Calling the Previous Question
• Obtain the floor, and say Call the Question
• Theres been enough debate
• Pretty much everyones ready to move on
• If theres any Objection, debate will continue
• Moving the Previous Question
• Obtain the floor, and say I move the Previous
  Question
• Theres been enough debate
• At least 2/3 of the people are ready to vote
• Voting to Vote on the Question

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Did your mom ever tell you

• Points of Order, Information, Clarification,
  Personal Privilege
• Order When the Rules have been breached
• Information Offering a pertinent and germane
  fact to the discussion.
• Clarification Clarify something you said that
  may sound confusing.
• Personal Privilege Something relating to the
  privileges of members, such as room conditions

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Meeting Protocol Debate

• Pick up the papers from your folder!
• Agenda, Bills, RHA Today, Voting Cards
• Start promptly at 7 PM!

• Officers Reports
• E-Board
• Reps to the Body
• General Assembly
• Old Business
• Discussion
• Approval of the Minutes
• Roll Call

• Agenda Items
• Roll Call
• Intro of Guests
• Presentations
• Committee Reports
• New Business
• Reps of the Body

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Protocol Decorum

• Behave, baby! Yeah!
• Always be respectful of others!
• Personal attacks and Cross-Debate will be gaveled
• Keep your speeches germane!
• Avoid using names in debate
• Two speeches per Question per Day
• You may only yield the floor to another
  representative for a question.
• You may NOT give them the floor for debate
  purposes!

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The Joy of Cards!
During Debate of a Question

• If you want to speak in favor
• GREEN CARD
• If you want to speak in opposition
• RED CARD
• If you agree with the current speaker
• ORANGE CARD
• If you are lost or confused
• BLUE CARD
• Blue cards are not meant for Points of Info

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Vote, Voting, Voted

• When the Previous Question is ordered, debate is
  cut off, and Tim will take the vote on the
  pending Question(s).
• Viva Voce By voice
• Division Raise cards in the air, or stand up
• Yeas and Nays Calling the Roll, or Presenting
  Cards
• Also known as Roll Call vote

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Voting, cont.

• Tim will almost always call for viva voce.
• If hes in doubt, or if you disagree with his
  call, yell out Division!
• Tim will direct you to either raise the
  appropriate card in the air, or ask you to rise
  from your seat.
• If you want to put individual votes on record,
  you may move for the Yeas and Nays.
• Rise, and say Mr. President, on that I request
  the Yeas and Nays.
• Youll need a second and a majority vote
• The vote may NOT be by the Yeas and Nays!

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Attendance We want to see your smiling face!

• Must be present for both roll calls to be deemed
  present for the meeting
• Absences/Leaving Earlies must be cleared with
  Secretary Dave Warden (rhasecretary_at_hotmail.com)
  or your committee chair.
• Two excused absences PER SEMESTER
• Penalties will be swift and harsh BWA HA HA!

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What? You werent here?!

• 1st Unexcused E-mail from me.
• 2nd Unexcused Letter from me.
• CCed to your President and Advisor.
• 3rd Unexcused Meeting with me.
• No organization within your hall (like Caucuses)
  can receive funds until regular attendance is
  resumed.
• 4th Unexcused Suspended voting rights.
• You may not offer motions or vote
• Must attend 3 consecutive meetings, have
  attendance form signed by me/committee chair.

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Resources

• ME! John Sturk, IVP
• rha_at_msu.edu
• RHA Constitution/Bylaws
• Roberts Rules The RHA Way
• National Assoc. of Parliamentarians
• www.parliamentarians.org
• Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 11th
  Edition

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Summary

• Motions
• Meeting Protocol Debate
• Voting
• Attendance Policies

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Questions?